Rice transplanting is in progress.  The total area under rice is 12.8 lakh hectare against 13.41 lakhhectare during the corresponding period of last year, which is slightly lower than last year.  Higher area has been reported from Tamil Nadu (0.29 lakh hectare), Odisha (0.13 lakh hectare) and West Bengal (0.20lakh hectare).

Pulses have been sown in 145.12 lakh hectare as against 146.47 lakh hectare last year. The area under gram which is a dominant pulse crop of rabi season has been reported at 89.31 lakh hectare against 93.32lakh hectare during the corresponding period last year. Significantly higher area has been reported under gram in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Bihar.

Total area under oilseeds cultivation is reported to be 83.80 lakh hectare against 90.36 lakh hectare last year.

The cropped areas as on today are as follows:

lakh ha

So, Polman reckons that food prices will rise 2% to 3% every year. Yet, things might not be so dire after all. In India, a second green revolution is waiting for the right nudges to take off. The first made India self-sufficient in grains; now a grain mountain of over 50 million tonnes towers in government storage. The second green revolution will boost output and productivity of vegetables, fruit, meat, fish and milk.

For further reading:

Chhatisgarh procured 29,43,058 tonne followed by Andhra 24,98,224 and Haryana 197,00,20 tonne of rice. This procurement is 1,11,984 tonne more than the corresponding day of last marketing season.

Chhatisgarh procured 26,19,139 tonne of rice followed by Andhra Pradesh 20,90,594 tonne and Haryana 19,66,167 tonne of rice.

  Rice transplanting is in progress in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha and Tamil Nada. The total area under rice is 6.61 lakh hectare against 6.35 lakh hectare during the corresponding period of last year.

Pulses have been sown in 140.66 lakh hectare as against 142.38 lakh hectare last year. The area under gram which is a dominant pulse crop of rabi season has been reported at 87.22 lakhhectare against 92.77 lakh hectare during the corresponding period last year.

Total area under oilseeds cultivation is reported to be 80.96 lakh hectare against 85.5 lakhhectare last year.

             The cropped areas as on today are as follows:

                                                                                                                     lakh ha

The World Bank today approved a $250 million credit and loan to the West Bengal Accelerated Development of Minor Irrigation Project(ADMIP) for increasing agricultural production of small and marginal farmers. About 139,000 hectares (ha) of irrigated area are expected to be developed under the Project, benefitting an estimated 166,000 farm families.

Agriculture serves as the backbone of West Bengal’s rural economy. It accounts for about 20 percent of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides employment to more than 55 percent of workers in the state. Agricultural growth over the past decade was on average about 3 percent per annum.

Maintaining this growth rate requires infrastructure support, crop diversification and market access. There is, however, very little scope for increasing the current cultivable area with more than 93 percent of landholders belonging to small and marginal farmer categories with land areas of less than one or two ha respectively.

“Average agricultural productivity levels are still low in West Bengal in comparison to that of advanced agricultural states in the country. Given the importance of irrigated agriculture for increasing agricultural growth and providing rural employment round the year, the government attaches high priority to expanding irrigation facilities in the state and optimizing the utilization of available water resources. The Project approved today will focus on investments targeted at strengthening community-based institutions for the management of minor irrigation schemes; development of surface and ground water based irrigation systems; and agricultural development along with improved support services to farmers to enhance agriculture productivity and income in 4,660 minor irrigation schemes to be developed under the Project,” said Mr. Venu Rajamony, Joint Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

“Irrigation will continue to be critical to increasing agricultural production, incomes, and rural livelihood. A recent World Bank study, ‘The Impact of Irrigation on Agriculture Productivity: Evidence from India,’ on the impact of irrigation on India’s agricultural productivity shows that irrigation has a strong and significant impact on land productivity, cropping intensities, and land prices,” said Mr. Roberto Zagha, World Bank Country Director for India. “The study makes the case for continuing support for investments in improving both access and quality of irrigation.” 

The absence of assured irrigation supplies inhibits the use of improved seeds, fertilizers, and other complementary inputs, which in turn affects production levels.  In West Bengal, the average yield of paddy – which accounts for more than half the annual cultivated area in the state — is about 70 percent of the India average and less than half of what is obtained in more advanced agricultural states.  An important reason behind the low productivity is that large cultivated areas are still rainfed and exposed to weather fluctuations.

“The World Bank is well placed to assist West Bengal with an integrated approach that strengthens community-level institutions, develops small-scale irrigation infrastructure, and provides support services for the improvement of agriculture based livelihoods, said Mr. JoopStoutjesdijk, Lead Irrigation Engineer and Task Team Leader for the West Bengal Accelerated Development of Minor Irrigation Project.

The Water Users Associations (WUA) will be the focal point for both organization and implementation of all schemes. They will play an active role in the planning and supervision of the schemes, and the subsequent management, operation and maintenance of the systems. In West Bengal, the state’s commitment to the WUA approach is already very strong. As per a government order, the WUA has the right to charge irrigation service fees that can be kept with the WUA.  

For schemes constructed under the Project, the Government of West Bengal will transfer the responsibility of levying and collecting fees to the WUAs. The WUAs will use the fees for Management, Operation and Maintenance of these minor irrigation schemes. “There is sufficient basis to start the implementation of the Project with the full and active participation of WUAs,” Mr. Stoutjesdijk added. 

The Project will also support training of the WUAs and involve other line agencies (agriculture, horticulture, and fisheries) to implement targeted programs to help farmers get the maximum benefits of the water that will be made available.

The credit from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessionary lending arm, has a 25 year maturity, including 5 years grace period.  The loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a repayment period of 18 years, including 5 years grace period.

Lab results showed that remains of glutinous millet found at archaeological sites in Cishan village in the city of Wu’an were harvested during the neolithic era between 8,700 to 10,000 years ago, said scientists with the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of China Academy of Sciences.

This means Cishan was the birthplace of the crop, said Xinhua.

They have also found remains of foxtail millet, which could date back to between 8,700 and 7,500 years, said Lu Houyuan, a scientist.

Cultivating small-seeded dry crops was more prevalent than cultivating rice in pre-historic times, especially in China’s semi-arid northern regions, Lu said.

A total of 50,000 kg of grains have been stored in 88 pits for thousands of years at the Cishan site, a Neolithic site discovered in 1972.

In addition to grain remnants, pottery, stone tools, animal bones and bone artefacts have also been excavated from the site.

SB:CP: first advance estimates (13.10.2011)

PM chaired a high level meeting to discuss the FDI policy in drugs and pharmaceutical sector. The meeting was attended by Finance Minister, Sh Pranab Mukherji, Health Minister Sh Ghulam Nabi Azad, Commerce, Industry and Textile Minister Sh Anand Sharma, Pharmaceutical and Chemical Minister Sh MK Alagiri, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Montek Singh Ahulwalia, Member Planning Commission.

The meeting deliberated upon the Maira committee report , which followed a CCEA decision to get greater clarity on the issue of FDI policy governing mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical sector , while striking a balance between larger public health concerns and strengthening domestic manufacturing capacities. The meeting took the following considered decisions:

a) India will continue to allow FDI without any limits(100%) under the automatic route for Greenfield investments in the pharma sector. This will facilitate addition of manufacturing capacities, technology acquisition and development.

b) In case of brownfield investments in the pharma sector, FDI will be allowed through the FIPB approval route for a period of upto six months. During this period, necessary enabling regulations will be put in place by the CCI for effective oversight on mergers and acquisitions to ensure that there is a balance between public health concerns and attracting FDI in the pharma sector. Thereafter, the requisite oversight will be done by the CCI entirely in accordance with the competition laws of the country.

In a letter to Gandhi, Aparna Malikar, 27, narrates how she is subjected to severe mental harassment and injustice after her husband committed suicide in 2008 due to crop failure, leaving behind a huge debt.

‘My in-laws, who are very well to do and have political affiliations, are harassing me as they want the 12-acre piece of land I am cultivating,’ Malikar told IANS.

‘After my husband died, I was forced by his brothers to leave the house. They locked the house and threw me and my two daughters out. I built a hut near the farm and have been staying there with my daughters,’ Malikar said.

She said her in-laws did not even pay off the Rs.50,000 debt of her late husband. ‘They took away the house and want the farm too, then why not the debt too? I am the one toiling hard to pay it off,’ she said.

In her letter in Marathi, Malikar has also narrated the plight of 8,000 other Vidarbha farm widows who are facing similar fate after their husbands committed suicide. Like Malikar, these widows were also denied the right to cultivate their lands.

She urged Gandhi to make a law to protect the rights of farm widows and provide a complete rehabilitation package.

Malikar’s late husband Sanjay was the younger brother of Nagpur-based Congress leader and former deputy mayor of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, Raghunath.

‘My husband was the official cultivator of the land, but the income was also shared by other brothers Raghunath, Sunil and Raju who didn’t even stay in our village (Varha Kawatha),’ Malikar said.

‘When the debt started rising owing to the agrarian crisis in 2005, harassment from the family members added to the agony of my husband and hence he was forced to kill himself,’ Malikar added.

She also accused Raghunath of using his political contacts to turn the case of suicide into a case of culpable homicide against her father and brother.

‘Raghunath lodged an FIR against my father Arun Tathe and brother Amol Tathe. They were arrested and put behind bars for many days,’ Malikar said.

State-wise allocation of additional funds for increasing crop production and productivity of pulses are as under:

State	Additional allocation (in Rs. crore)
A.P.	8.23
Assam	3.78
Bihar	3.20
Chhattisgarh	8.80
Haryana	5.32
Jharkhand	4.55
Karnataka	8.88
MP	7.56
Maharashtra	7.83
Orissa	7.20
Punjab	2.73
U.P.	11.92

Gujarat and Tamil Nadu will meet the expenses of additional area expansion from their normal allocation under NFSM-Pulses.

                As per the current coverage of area under pulses during Kharif2011, there is a shortfall of 10.89 lakh hectare as against area coverage during last Kharif season. Less acreage during Kharif 2011 may lead to shortfall of 0.70 MT as per 1^st Advance Estimates of Production.

                The production and productivity of pulses have increased during last three-four years from 14.20 MT in 2006-07 to 14.66 MT during 2009-10. Likewise the productivity of pulses has also increased from 612kg/ha during 2006-07 to 630 kg/ha during 2009-10. As per 4^th Advance Estimates of Crop Production, the production of pulses has increased from 14.66 MT (2009-10) to 18.09 MT during 2010-11. Productivity of pulses has also increased from 630 kg/ha during 2009-10 to 689 kg/ha during 2010-11.

MP:SB:CP: contingency plan (26.9.2011)

Rs.in Crore

Source: Ministry of Agriculture

This information was given by Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the RajyaSabha

The key issues discussed at length are:  Is deployment strategy of GM crops scientific?  What should be the role of government on GM crops in the present scenario? Can the Government play a proactive regulatory role in promoting technology access at affordable price? How to protect the interest of the farmers and domestic  industry? What  are the guiding principles in fixing trait value / royalty on GM technology, if it is patented?

The main outcomes and recommendations of the meeting that are arrived at after detailed discussions and consensus among all participants.

1. At the outset, it was agreed that the future agriculture would be a science-driven.  Thus, technology development process should be strengthened both in public and private sector.  In particular, the public investment should be increased to state agricultural universities to face the competition from private sector in development of competitive biotech-based technologies for the modern agriculture.
2. State Government should strengthen core biotechnology research programme in potential crops such as cotton, rice, maize, sunflower, soyabean, vegetables, etc., by creating “core commodity based researchers team” with time-bond task and required resources and infrastructure in ANGRAU and APHU” for developing GM crop technologies of high market value.  This helps to create a healthy competition with private sector including MNCs and protect the interests of farmer, seed producers and domestic industry.
3. In view of the fact that the Gene Revolution of 21^st Century is largely in the domain of private sector-particularly MNCs while the Green Revolution of the 1960s and 70s was in the public domain, it was unanimously agreed that a proactive regulatory mechanism needs to be created at state level to monitor, and regulate quality of technology, pricing of technology (trait value / royalty)  and as a whole to ensure fair trade in gene market-provision of genes/traits of real economic value to seed industry at affordable trait value/royalty.
4. The present AP Cotton Seed Act 2007 should be amended by adding new clauses on royalty rates on patented technologies wherever such technologies are sold to industry. Royalty/trait value of the patented GM technology should always be declined over the period i.e., at initial period of technology introduction, it may be somewhat high, but as technology spreads in large area over the period, the rate of trait value/royalty should come down.  Such provisions and methods  are to be incorporated in AP cotton seed Act 2007 through necessary amendments.
5. As agriculture is a “State” subject in the Constitution of India, the state government should also explore possibility to bring-out a new act / law to regulate various aspects of GM crop technology application lncluding royalty rates / trait value on patent technologies related to agriculture. In general, trait value / royalty on patented technologies related to agriculture

should be about 5 to 15% for the maximum of ten years,  beyond which such technologies will be in the public domain.  Like-wise compulsory licensing provision should be incorporated n the act/law for accessing patented technologies by all interested stakeholders. Further there should be a provision for appointment of regulator for all matters of Bt / GM technologies in agriculture

1. The AP Seeds Development Corporation and/or Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural should apply for license to access presently available Bt technology from the technology provider, and use it for production of Bt-cotton hybrid seed of ANGRAU’s origin own hybrids.  Further, APSSDC / ANGRAU should supply such Bt-technologies to small seed industry to create a healthy competition in the market.
2. The APSSDC and / or ANGRAU should take-up hybrid seed production in non-Bt cotton hybrids / varieties which have a huge yield potential to cater the needs of the cotton farmers, and to preserve biodiversity.
3. State government should explore possibility to create a PPP model between ANGRAU and private sector for accelerating joint efforts to develop need-based GM crop technology for meeting farmers’ needs at affordable prices.

Source : Proceedings of the Brainstorming Session on Technology Policy in GM Crops: The Role of Government-  held at ANGRAU’s Teachers’ Home, Boiguda, Hyderabad.  (01 June 2011)

A Statement showing the State-wise number of landless agricultural workers (men and women) is annexed. The per thousand distribution of female and male workforce in agriculture sector is 463 and 536 respectively.

State-wise male and female agricultural workers

 (Source, Census 2001)

* NOTE:  India and Manipur figures exclude Mao Maram, Paomata and Purul sub-divs of Senapati District in Manipur State as census results were cancelled due to administrative and technical reasons.

As per Economic Survey, 2010-11, the agriculture sector accounts for 12.3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2009-10.

With a view to providing social security to unorganized workers, including agricultural workers, the Government enacted the “Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008”.  The Act provides for constitution of National Social Security Board to recommend social security schemes viz.  life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection and any other benefit as may be determined by the Government for unorganized workers.

The Government launched the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana to provide smart card based cashless health insurance cover of Rs. 30,000/- per annum on family floater basis to BPL families ( a unit of five) in the unorganised sector, including agricultural labourers.  The scheme became operational from 01.04.2008.  The scheme is presently being implemented in 25 States/ UTs and more than 2.4 crore smart cards have been issued as on 31.08.2011. Remaining States are in the process of implementing the scheme.

               The Aam Admi Bima Yojana (AABY) was launched on 02.10.2007 with a view to providing insurance cover to the head of family or one earning member of rural landless households between the age of 18 years and 59 years. Under the scheme, the head of the family or an earning member of the family is eligible to receive the benefits of Rs. 30,000/- in case of natural death, Rs.75, 000/- accidental death, Rs. 75000/- for total permanent disability (loss of two eyes or two limbs or loss of one eye or one limb in accident) and Rs. 37,500/- for partial permanent disability (loss of one eye and one limb in accident).  AABY also includes Shiksha Sahyog Yojana (SSY), a free add-on benefit of scholarship of Rs. 100 per month up to a maximum of two children of the beneficiaries studying between class IX and XII.  More than 1.78 lives have been covered as on 31.07.2011

The Government has been implementing Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension which has been expanded by revising the criteria of eligibility.  All citizens above the age of 60 years and living below poverty line are eligible for benefits under the scheme.  For persons above the age of 80 years, the amount of pension has been raised from Rs. 200 to Rs. 500 per month.

The Minister of  Labour and Employment Shri Mallikarjun Kharge  gave this information in reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha .

*******

Frozen Shrimp continued to be the major export value item accounting for 44.17% of the total US $ earnings. Shrimp exports during the period increased by 16.02%, 36.72% and 42.90% in quantity, rupee value and US$ value respectively. Fish, has retained its position as the principal export item in quantity terms and the second largest export item in value terms, accounted for a share of about 38.42% in quantity and 20.42% in US$ earnings.

Fr. Cuttlefish recorded a growth of 19.56% in rupee value and 25% in US dollar terms. Unit value also increased by 34.18%, however, there is a decline in quantity (6.84%). Items like dried items, live items and chilled items showed an increase in US $ terms compared to the previous year. Export of Fr. Squid showed a remarkable increase in quantity 42.53%, 62.31% in rupee value & 69.14% in US dollar realization. Unit value also increased by 18.67%.

European Union (EU) continued to be the largest market with a share of 26.78% in US $ realization. Followed by South East Asia 16.43%, China with a share of 15.41%, USA 15.35%, Japan 13.06%, Middle East 5.19% and Other Countries 7.79%. The export to the US market shown an exponential growth of 50% in quantity, 97% in rupee value and 105% in US$ terms, unit value also increased by 8.75% compared to the last year. The Marine Products exports have strengthened India’s presence in Southeast Asia and Middle East where the increase in quantity has been 57% and 26% respectively. There is a significant increase in exports to African countries in comparison to previous year.

The officers at MPEDA are upbeat as the growth was amidst the scenario of continuing recession in the international markets, debt crisis in EU economies, continuing antidumping duty in US and the sluggish growth in US economy, political instability in the Arab world. MPEDA envisage an ambitious target of 4 Billion US$ Marine Products Exports for the year 2011-12. Increased production of L.Vannamei shrimp, increase in infrastructure facilities for production of Value added items and the regaining pace of Japanese arket after tsunami etc. are the helping factor to achieve this target.

The Government announced a policy for new investments in urea sector on 4^th September 2008 which is aimed at revamp, expansion, revival of existing urea units and setting up of Greenfield projects.  The fertilizer industry responded positively to the new investment policy only for revamp projects.  In order to attract investments under greenfield, brownfield and expansion projects, department has proposed amendment to the new investment policy.  Group of Minister (GOM) on fertilizers policy has constituted a committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. SaumitraChoudhuri, Member Planning Commission for formulating amendment to the new investment policy report of the committee is awaited.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Shri Srikant Kumar Jena in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha

Production of foodgrains increased from 212.85 million tonnes in 2001-02 to 241.56 million tonnes during 2010-11(4th advance estimates). The production target of foodgrains for the year 2011-12 has been fixed at 245.00 million tonnes which is likely to be achieved in view of favourable weather conditions so far. To increase production and productivity of foodgrain crops, various schemes/programmes like National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna and Macro Management of Agriculture etc. are implemented in the country.

This information was given by Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha

            Oilseeds have been sown in 173.09 lakh hectare. Compared to last year, sown area is higher by 6.53 lakh hectare. Higher area coverage has been reported in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

            Coarse cereals have been sown in 189.07 lakh hectare. Compared to last year, higher area coverage has been reported from Jharkhand and Jammu & Kashmir.

Cotton has been sown in 118.05 lakh hectare as against 107.53 lakh hectare last year on this date representing an increase of 10.52 lakh hectare.

The cropped areas as on today are as follows:

FOR MORE READING. . .

FOR MORE READING. . .

The State-wise share of exports and value is not maintained centrally.

The Cashew Export Promotion Council of India under the Department of Commerce has initiated various programmes including participation in International food fairs, International conventions and Seminars, sponsoring trade delegations, market surveys, disseminating trade enquiries and market information, publishing statistics and journals, organizing Buyer Seller Meets etc. It is also implementing schemes to promote cashew exports by assisting the exporters to improve processing technology, quality of cashew kernels etc. under the schemes of Department of Commerce namely, Marketing Development Assistance (MDA), Market Assessment Initiatives (MAI) and Assistance to States for Infrastructure Development of Exports (ASIDE) in addition to its Plan Schemes for the cashew exporters.

Besides, the registered exporters are eligible for other schemes of the Department of Commerce including Duty Entitlement Passbook Scheme (DEPB) and Vishesh Krishi and Gram Udyog Yojana(VKGUY).

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, ShriJyotiraditya M. Scindia, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha

In his Independence Day speech Manmohan Singh has emphasised on the need for a second green revolution and the Food Security Bill. While making these comments, he has completely ignored the Supreme Court’s proposal to distribute surplus food rotting in the open among the poor

Political observers, who watch the Congress-led ruling coalition’s moves with suspicion, are somewhat alarmed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s refrain of launching a second green revolution, as well as the implications of the Food Security Bill. He stressed the need for a second green revolution in his Independence Day speech as well. Baffled commentators have since long been pointing out that before initiating this exercise, which requires enormous investment, policy-makers should try and implement the Supreme Court’s proposal that surplus foodgrains be distributed free or at minimal cost to the poor and hungry, instead of rotting in warehouses or wherever.

FOR MORE READING. . .

AGRISNET envisages promotion of e-Governance by use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT). The objective of the programme is to provide IT enabled services to farmers and also for computerization of various offices in the States in agriculture & allied sectors. Funds under AGRISNET are provided to the State Governments/Union Territories on the basis of specific project proposals submitted by them. The States are given funds for software development, hardware (including system software) and other genuine ICT needs of the State upto district level. Requirements of hardware/software below district level are considered as per justification given by the States in their proposal.

Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Puducherry, Punjab, Sikkim, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand. States have so far availed funds under AGRISNET Project The projects are at various stages of implementation in these States.

Regular follow-up is being done with the States by writing letters and telephonic conversations. Discussions have been held and the States have also been advised to adopt standard packages developed by NIC instead of doing everything ab-initio. Proposals under AGRISNET Scheme from the States, which have not yet availed assistance under this Scheme, have also been sought.

This information was given by Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha

The demand for cotton seeds has increased from 1.95 lakh quintals in 2009-10 to 2.30 lakh quintals during Kharif 2011.  The availability position against the requirement in the country is as under:

                                 (Quantity in Lakh Quintals)

Under Technology Mission on Cotton, Government provides assistance for cotton seed production and distribution as under:

(i)         50%  of the cost or Rs.50/- per kg. whichever is less for foundation seed production.

(ii)        25% of the cost or Rs.15/- per kg. whichever is less for certified seed production.

(iii)       Rs.20/- per kg. for certified seed distribution.

(iv)       50%  of the  cost of seed treatment limited to Rs.40/- per kg.

This information was given by Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha

The crop-wise productivity of various foodgrains crops and oilseeds from 2006-07 to 2010-11 is as under:

                                 (Yield in Kg/ha)

*     Fourth Advance Estimates.

For enhancing the productivity of various foodgrains and oilseeds crops further in the country, various crop development programmes such as National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Integrated Cereals Development Programmes (ICDP) under Macro Management Mode of Agriculture, Rashtriya Krishi  Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oilpalm & Maize (ISOPOM) are being implemented. Besides, new initiatives have also been taken by  the Government to enhance productivity of various crops by launching Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BGREI), Initiatives for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millet Promotion (INSIMP) and Integrated Development of 60,000 Pulses Villages inRainfed Areas as sub-schemes of RKVY.

 In addition, frontline demonstrations of various crops are also organized by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for transfer of latest technology among the farmers at their fields.

This information was given by Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha

Organic farming has the potential to generate over 20 lakh jobs in the state according to independent research study by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) titled ‘Organic Bihar – Way to Agricultural Prosperity.’

Around seven lakh additional jobs can also be generated if on-farm storing, processing, value addition, packaging and marketing facilities are included, considering organic farms provide over 30 per cent more jobs per hectare as against non-organic farms.

“Adoption of organic farming can increase net per capita income of a farmer in the state by a whopping 250 per cent to over Rs 4,445 in next five years,” said chamber’s secretary general D.S. Rawat while releasing the ASSOCHAM study.

“This will also arrest migration of people from Bihar to other states in search of jobs”.

At least 35 per cent of cultivable land can be converted into organic farms in next five years, thereby converting seven per cent of cultivable land annually into organic farming.

Of the total 135 products in organic product portfolio, India exports 86 products worth 100 million dollars to the global market which currently stands at around 60 billion dollars and is growing by five billion dollars annually.

Bihar is an ideal state for organic farming as it is home to unique commodities such as jute, litchi and cosmetic raw materials like herbals, aromatic plants and makhana. Besides, the state has the potential of being India’s export hub for certified organic food to different world markets, said the ASSOCHAM study.

Organic agriculture should be recognised and integrated in main policies of the central government like those on agriculture, food, health and environment. This will ensure all needs of organic sector are properly addressed and considered in government programmes and budgetary allocations.

ASSOCHAM proposed formation of a national commission for organic agriculture with participation of all stakeholders including private sector. Besides, an organic food council can also be set up to institutionalise policy dialogue between the government and the organic sector.

Mapping the status of organic farming and certification along with agro-climatic zones must be carried out to tap the potential of organic crops and understand micro level production potential. Interventions must be carried out to raise production levels.

The area under crops may be increased through cluster approach to generate marketable surplus and provide economy of scale in marketing the production.

Regional action plans should be developed for organic farming stating direction and target for adoption and combination of specific measures including direct income support, marketing and processing support, certification support, consumer education and infrastructure support, said the ASSOCHAM study.

The state government should promote a concept to set up an organic village in each district to encourage usage of organic fertilisers to protect the land from residual affect of chemical fertilisers.

Organic certification is imperative for adding value to default organic system and enable farms to explore domestic and export markets for fetching better prices.

ASSOCHAM supported formation of an institute for training, certification, production, packaging, processing and marketing organic products through PPP model a value chain in consultations with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

The state government must provide information on new technologies and rural credit to farmers through co-operatives, commercial, regional rural banks.

The chamber said it will work along with farmers to promote organic farming at different levels by adopting potential clusters and will convert them into organic farms. Development programmes can be organised to nurture entrepreneurial skills of farmers and help linking them with certification agencies and markets – both domestic and international.

ASSOCHAM also plans to organise product fairs and buyer-seller meetings to enable farmers to get premium pricing for their produce.

              The programme is being implemented as a sub Scheme of RashtriyaKrishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) in seven eastern States namely Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh (Eastern) and West Bengal. Theprogramme is intended to improve the crop productivity of the Region by addressing the underlying constraints.

The State wise funds allocated during 2010-11 and 2011-12 are as under:

                                                               (Rupees in lakh)

                  Green Revolution was launched in India in 1970s specially for  Rice and Wheat crops. The North Western States of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh (Western UP) were the major beneficiary States of Green Revolution. These States have been producing food grains to meet the requirements of the country, which has resulted in over exploitation of the natural resources so much so that the production levels are now stagnating. To meet the growing demand, and sustain the agriculture operations in North Western States, there is need to develop other potential areas in the country to produce additional quantities of food grains. Programs like National Food Security Mission andRashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana were launched to develop the potential districts and revive agriculture sector all across the country.

This information was given by Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha

CONTOURS OF 

A NASTY DESIGN

Though India admitted at Stockholm that endosulfan is a hazardous chemical, it sought exemptions and utilising some loopholes it wanted to postpone the banning for up to 11 years. The affidavit filed by the central government, the latest report of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), subsequent to the one day field study in the affected areas of Kasargod and the legal action initiated by Excel against the Calicut Government Medical College scientist who had conducted a study on the health hazards of endosulfan are indicators of a nasty design.

The centre’s much repeated argument is that no scientific study has found endosulfan as the root cause of health hazards in Kasargod. Another vicious argument from the central government is that its impact is evident only in some areas of Kasargod, which does not necessitate a national ban. These arguments are ridiculous. At least 10 studies have concluded that endosulfan is causing health hazards. Further, its disastrous consequences are being witnessed in many countries and acknowledged by them. It was by neglecting the findings of the earlier studies that the ICMR ridiculously suggested to conduct one more expert study to find out the health hazards in the affected areas. It is like adding insult to injury.

On this issue, the Congress party in Kerala is caught between the devil and the deep sea, as it was union food minister K V Thomas who sparked off the controversy by his public support to the chemical. Expecting an outcry, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee did not support him while chief minister Oomen Chandy is vociferous about banning endosulfan. But the party’s national leadership is unmindful. The Kerala government and KPCC are in a dilemma due to their own party spokesman in Delhi and high profile lawyer, Manu Abhishek Singhvi, is batting for the endosulfan in Supreme Court. Many top leaders of the party in Kerala have sought his ouster from the position of Congress party’s spokesman. Earlier the same Singhvi had appeared before Kerala High Court for the powerful lottery lobby in the controversial lottery case — against the KPCC’s official stand in the issue. Due to the influx of complaints from Congress leaders of Kerala, Singhvi was then prevented for some time from conducting Congress briefings. Now too, the Congress high command is facing similar situation.

THREATS: AN

OLD TACTIC

It may be noted that the Department of Community Medicine, Calicut Medical College had conducted a study on the health hazards endosulfan poses in the cashew plantations in Kerala and Karnataka and its findings were alarming. (It was funded by the Kerala government’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) However, Excel Crop Care, the producer of endosulfan, sent a legal notice to the researchers, asking them to withdraw their findings or face legal action. The doctors who have been sent these notices are T Jayakrishnan, C Prabhakumari and Thomas Bina, as well as C Ravindran, the principal of the college.

The notices were sent on July 20 and the company has asked the college to withdraw its report and apologise publicly by July 28. “It is a government report. We just conducted the study and submitted it to them. Now it is the prerogative of the government to withdraw it or keep it,” said Ravindran.

The company has also sent a legal notice to S Muralidharan, a scientist at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), in Kerala. Muralidharan had analysed the data that were sent to SACON by the Calicut Medical College. He said it was unethical, unfair and unheard of and if some people have a problem with a scientific study, they should challenge it with another study rather than sending legal notices and asking for withdrawal of the study.

“This is an old tactic of the endosulfan manufacturers. They always try to attack scientists who indict endosulfan. They know that this study will be cited by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) in the Supreme Court. As it is against them, they want to apply all kinds of pressure,” said P Karunakaran, CPI(M) leader and a member of parliament from Kasaragod. It should be the State’s responsibility to stand up for the doctors and take cognisance of the legal notice, he added.

This, in fact, is not the first time the endosulfan manufacturers have used such scare tactics. The Centre for Environment and Agrochemicals (CEA), started by the endosulfan manufacturers, had previously sent notices to the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) in 2006, asking for an unconditional apology in writing and withdrawal of its report with immediate effect. In the same year, another organisation, the Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI), sent a legal notice to Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a non-profit organisation based in Delhi, demanding immediate withdrawal of the study that probed the health hazards endosulfan had been posing.

But the legal notices sent to the Calicut Medical College are ill timed. The ICMR has been heavily relying on this study to prepare its interim report for the Supreme Court. Along with the agriculture commissioner, the organisation is part of the joint committee appointed by the Supreme Court, which has to file an interim report before the Court when it summons them on August 5. The Supreme Court had imposed an interim ban on the pesticide on May 13 and will take a decision on either imposing a permanent ban or lifting the ban on the basis of the report the joint committee would file. The leader of opposition in Kerala assembly and the former chief minister, V S Achuthanandan, is seeking to persuade the present chief minister, Oomen Chandy, to stand up for the doctors and scientists.

Following the study, the ICMR team visited Kasaragod once in May and again in July end. An expert team headed by Viswa Mohan Kadoch, DG ICMR, conducted a field study in the affected regions of Kerala and Karnataka. Their visit was fascinating because they hardly spent one day in Kasargod. In fact, the people in the affected regions are getting tired of the incessant study tours of the so called experts. After spending few hours in this region, the committee submitted its report on August 4. Their suggestions were pre -determined. By dancing to the tune of corporate giants, the committee denounced the demands for a country wide ban of endosulphan and suggested to confine the banning to only Kerala and Karnataka – as though the lives of people elsewhere in the country do not matter!

STOCKHOLM

CONVENTION

On the other hand, April 29, the last day of the Stockholm convention at Geneva brought some good news for those crusading against endosulfan in India. Endosulfan was finally brought under the Annex A of the convention, which means it should be banned globally. But the caveat is that a country can ask for exemptions from the global ban on its production and use for five years and that this period can be extended to ten years, following which it will take another one year for the ban to be executed. India, China and Uganda, are the only three countries that have asked for exemptions. For the majority of countries that have not asked for exemptions, the ban will come into force in a year.

India now has to ratify its decision in a cabinet meeting and convey it to the Stockholm convention so that the exemptions and financial support are granted to India. From the global ban, India has asked for an exemption for pests affecting 14 crops, which in effect means it is for all the crops for which endosulfan has been registered with the Central Insecticides Board. Later, India softened its stand but only after it had earned notoriety for having opposed a ban on endosulfan in the international arena ever since it was introduced as a persistent organic pollutant in the fourth Stockholm convention in 2008.

“The efforts also assure that the Stockholm convention POP Review Committee will work with parties and observers to come up with alternatives. Further, it is also decided that the convention will provide financial assistance to the developing countries to replace endosulfan with alternatives,” said C Jayakumar who attended the convention as an observer from India.

Back home, after the union agriculture ministry wrote on April 27 to all the states seeking their views on the use of endosulfan, theFarmers Welfare and Agriculture Development Ministry of Madhya Pradesh, in its reply on April 28, registered its support to the Kerala ban on the pesticide. On his part, the then Kerala chief minister V S Achuthanandan appealed to all the other chief ministers to support a ban on endosulfan and write to the centre.

On April 28, talks opened on the continuation of DDT that is listed under Annex B of the Stockholm convention. A listing in Annex B means that a chemical or pesticide has to be phased out gradually; it would continue with certain exemptions and till such time that an alternative can be found. In India, DDT is being used as a vector disease control. On its part, India reported that it is producing DDT under strict control and that its use has come down by half — from 10,000 metric tonnes in 1997 to 5,500 metric tonnes in 2010.

On the other hand, endosulfan is now moving towards a global ban.

The Indian delegation that had been claiming that FAO reports said endosulfan was not hazardous, received a jolt when the FAO refuted India’s claim and stated that endosulfan is a hazardous pesticide.

Addressing the Consultative Committee attached to his ministry, Shri Pawar said that one of the interventions could be an integrated approach with effective forward and backward linkages through production chain to marketing. He said “the existing Fish Farmers Development Agencies and Brackish water Fish Farmers Development Agencies also need to be revamped; large scale adoption of culture based capture fisheries in reservoirs and larger water bodies should be encouraged for optimizing the productivity of aquatic resources.”

Shri Pawar said that keeping in view the importance and growth of inland fisheries sector, the Government has formulated several centrally sponsored and central sector schemes which are being implemented through the respective State Governments and Union Territories. Rs. 300 crore was allocated for the inland fisheries development scheme during the XIth Plan. In addition, Rs. 215 crore has been provided for welfare, training and strengthening of fishery database. A National Mission for Protein Supplement has been launched with an outlay of Rs. 100 crore for inland fisheries sector.

The Minister informed the Committee that some major initiatives has been undertaken for the development of fisheries sector. These include introduction of high value commercial species, pilot projects on cage and pen culture, guidelines for modern bill on inland fisheries and aquaculture and guidelines for development of seed certification and accreditation system.

India is one of the leading producers of fish, contributing to 5.54% of global fish production. Out of total fish production of 8 million tonnes in the country, contribution of inland sector is 5 million tonnes which is about 63% of total fish production. Total value of output from fisheries sector during 2009-10 is estimated at nearly Rs. 68,000 crores which is about 5% of the total production of agriculture and allied sectors. During 2010-11, 7.5 lakh tonne of fish and fish products worth Rs. 12,100 crore were exported.

Ministers of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Shri Harish Rawat and Dr. Charan Das Mahant were present in the meeting.

MPs who participated in the meeting are: Shri Sharief-ud-din Sharif, Shri Dhruva Narayana Rangaswamy, Shri M. Krishnaswamy, Shri K. Sugumar, Shri K.P. Dhanapalan, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Shri Kunvarjibhai Bavalia and Smt. Santosh Chowdhary of Lok Sabha, Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, Shri Govindrao Adik, Dr. K.P. Ramalingam, Shri T.M. Selvaganapathi and Ms Mabel Rebello of Rajya Sabha.

The Minister said that based on this analysis and criteria laid down in the scheme, State wise capacity requirement and locations were identified. Under the scheme, the Food Corporation of India would now give a guarantee of ten years for assured hiring to the private entrepreneurs . A capacity of about 152.97 lakh tonnes is to be created in 19 states under the scheme through private entrepreneurs and Central and State Warehousing Corporations. Out of this tenders have been finalized for creation of storage capacity of 52.32 lakh tonnes by the private entrepreneurs. CWC and SWCs are constructing 5.31 and 15.49 lakh tonnes respectively under the Scheme, out of which a capacity of about 3.5 lakh tonnes has already been completed by CWC/SWCs.

In the 11th Five Year Plan an allocation of Rs.154.82 crore has been made to FCI for construction of storage godowns . This is likely to result in the construction of about 1.2 lakh tonnes capacity.

He said to tide over the problem of shortage of storage space, FCI hires storage space from CWC/SWCs/Govt. agencies and private parties etc. Executive Directors(Zones) and General Managers (Region) of FCI have also been given full powers for hiring of private godowns for short term usage to store the procured foodgrains as per their requirement if the capacity available with FCI is not sufficient to store the foodgrains .

It is also not a fact that a large quantity of foodgrains are rottening in the precincts of Food Corporation of India. However, a meagre quantity of 366.33 MT during 2011-12 (upto 01.06.2011) accrued as damaged. The details are at Annexure.

No report has been received regarding large quantity of foodgrains rottening and generating widespread discontentment among masses in Orissa Region, the minister added

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reported that the total amount of loan given to priority sector during the year 2009-10 was Rs.11,38,406.35 crore.  The target of Rs.3,75,000 cores was approximately 33% of the total priority sector loans for 2009-10.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Finance, Shri NamoNarain Meena in written reply to an Unstarred Question in Rajya Sabha

Government has a National Policy on organic farming which seeks to promote technically sound, economically viable, environmentally non-degrading and socially acceptable use of natural resources in favour of organic agriculture. To encourage and facilitate organic farming in the country, the Government has launched a National Project on Organic Farming during 2004-05.

This information was given by Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha

Through the conscious efforts of the Government, the investment in Agriculture and Allied sectors as a percentage of agriculture sector Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased from 13.5% in 2004-05 to 20.3% in 2009-10 at constant prices. Annual plan allocation for the agriculture sector has increased from Rs 7058.50 crore in 2007-08 (actual) to Rs. 17122.87 crore in 2011-12 (BE). Further the flow of agricultural credit has been considerably increased and is targeted at Rs. 4.75 lakh crore in 2011-12. The minimum support prices of crops have been significantly increased. Several schemes are being implemented with a view to increase public investment in agriculture and allied sector to increase farm growth rate in the country.

This information was given by Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture & Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha

Oilseeds have been sown in 157.92 lakh hectare. Compared to last year, sown area is higher by 4.86 lakh hectare.

Coarse cereals have been sown in 163.38 lakh hectare. Compared to last year, higher area coverage has been reported from Madhya Pradesh, Uttrakhand.

Cotton have been sown in 109.92 lakh hectare as against 104.36 lakh hectare last year on this date.

The cropped areas as on today are as follows:

India is the second largest producer of fish in the world contributing to 5.5 per cent of global fish production. India is also a major producer of fish through aquaculture and ranks second in the world after China. The total fish production achieved during 2010-11 (provisional) is at 8.03 million metric tonnes and the contribution of fish from inland sector alone is at 5.07 million metric tonnes which is about 63% of overall fish production. As per the estimates of Central Statistical Organization (CSO), the values of output from fisheries sector at current price during 2009-10 was 67,913 crore which is 4.9 per cent of the total output of Agriculture and allied sectors. It is one of the major contributors to India’s exports. During 2010-11 (Provisional) the volume of fish and fish products exported was 7,52,791 tonnes worth 12,100 crore.

Aquaculture is the fastest growing food production sector with an annual growth of around 7 per cent. It has been estimated that by the end of XI Five Year Plan (2011-12) the demand for fish and fish products would be around 9.74 million tons, and this increase has to be mostly met from aquaculture and culture based captured fisheries in reservoirs. Taking into consideration the vast aquatic resources in the country, the target seems achievable.

Although, it has long been recognized that fish production from inland waters can play a definite role in mitigating the protein deficiency in India, this resource is not contributing to the nutrition requirement of Indian masses to the extent that it should have been .This has been mainly on account of more emphasis on marine fishery in the past and due to lack of awareness and proper training skills for fishing community.

Recognising the economic, social, nutritional, environmental and aesthetic importance of inland fisheries and aquaculture, the Government through several measures have aspired to introduce buoyancy in the inland fishery sector .Therefore, to draw the economic, social and nutritional benefits from inland fisheries and aquaculture in a sustainable manner, it has been perceived to adopt a judicious combination of implementation and effective regulatory framework, eco-friendly fishing and aquaculture practices with the larger involvement of the fisher communities and fish farmers.

With this objective in mind, the Government recently drafted model guidelines on Inland fisheries and aquaculture, which has been circulated to all State Governments for effective implementation. Through these guidelines, the Government intends to ensure sustainable fish productive to meet the needs of food and nutritional security, generation of gainful employment in rural sector and to improve the socio-economic condition of the target groups.

The Government recognizes the need for availability of quality seed and feed if the growth in inland fish production has to be sustained in the long run. Therefore, the Government circulated guidelines to all the State Governments for establishment of a seed certification and accreditation system in their respective States. These guidelines, inter-alia, provide procedures for accreditation of hatcheries and seed farms, quality benchmarks, seed certification process and the structure of the implementing agency.

It has been observed that inland fishery today is dominated mainly by the freshwater fishery. In order for enhanced production, there is a need for diversification of fish production in other areas like integrated fish farming, cold water fisheries, riverine fisheries, capture fisheries, brackish water fishery etc. The recent measures therefore have targeted Intensive Aquaculture in ponds and tanks through integrated fish farming, carp polyculture, freshwater prawn culture, running water fish culture and development of riverine fisheries. The reservoir fisheries is being promoted through cage culture and pen culture and by setting up fish rearing units on large scale.

The Centrally Sponsored Scheme –“Development of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture” provide assistance to fish farmers through State Governments, with the objective of developing various components of inland fisheries and aquaculture that include development of freshwater, brackish water, cold water, reservoir fisheries and also to encourage integrated fish farming.

A new mission mode scheme called “National Mission for protein Supplements (NMPS)” was launched very recently with an outlay of Rs 100 crore for undertaking cage and pen culture in reservoirs and for intensive aquaculture in ponds and tanks in 12 identified States with an objective of enhancing the fish production and productivity of reservoirs and ponds and tanks.

All these measures are expected to improve the fisheries and aquaculture sector further and will consolidate the position of India in the Global fish production and aquaculture. (PIB Features)

*Inputs from the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries

In view of the emerging challenges and threats to agriculture sector, vis-à-vis national food security, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed a strategic framework to improve food security, enhance opportunities for inclusive growth, augment competitiveness of Indian agriculture and create adequate and quality human resources to address the concerns. Some of the major concerns include, natural resources degradation, increasing biotic and abiotic pressures, declining input use efficiency, post-harvest losses, decreasing profitability in farming, quality human resource and farm extension. To deal with the challenges effectively, ICAR is coordinating, guiding and managing research, education and extension in agriculture, including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences, in the country. It has a vast network with 97 ICAR institutes, 54 state agricultural universities; five deemed universities and one Central Agricultural University and 592 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) spread across the country. The research programmes under umbrella of the ICAR are designed and undertaken for harnessing power of science that ensures food, nutrition and livelihood security for all.

The comprehensive initiatives taken by the Council have led to notable accomplishments in natural resource management, input use efficiency, climate resilience, secondary agriculture and economic transformation of farmers through technological interventions. The year 2010-11 has been agriculturally rewarding as we have observed record food grain production touching 242 million tonnes in farm season (July-June) according to the 4^th advance estimates released recently. The food grains comprise rice, coarse-cereals and pulses. The record output was largely because of a sharp rise in production of wheat to 86 million tonnes against 81 million tonnes in the year before. The record high oilseed production of 31 million tonnes is another notable accomplishment to cheer. Further, a high production in horticulture, 234.4 million tonnes could also be achieved through policy and technological support.

The bygone year has thrown many challenges also. These include perceptible climate change, as seen by the dry spells in the Eastern India, despite normal rainfalls across the country; degrading land and water environment; need for quality inputs; emerging problem of agricultural labour; and post-harvest losses across the commodities. It was here that the ICAR provided, both directions and solutions, in terms of crop varieties suitable for both drought and submergence; defined elements of fertilizer application, based on the nutrient deficiencies; farm mechanization for both field and horticultural crops; and developed clear estimates of post-harvest losses of various crops and commodities, as the basis for formulating future approaches. The paradigm shift from ‘primary to secondary agriculture’ was focused in our discussions and research process, as was demonstrated through the projects in the value chain component of the National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP); that is planned to be further enlarged in the coming years. A parallel development has been the establishment of agri-incubators, a new concept in the Indian agriculture; expected to develop entrepreneurship in a big way. In our efforts at institutionalizing the research extension continuum, the ‘Farm Innovators’ meet held during the year, the second in the series, added a new dimension to our approach of innovative agriculture.

Among new projects, a National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture is a noteworthy one launched with the objective to assess impact of climate change on the agriculture and allied sectors, and for evolving cost-effective adaptation and mitigation strategies. The Project has a budget outlay of Rs 350 crore for XI Plan; out of which Rs 200 crore is allocated for 2010-11, and Rs 150 crore for 2011-12 on the research infrastructure, capacity-building and on-farm demonstrations of available climate-resilient technologies.

During the year 2010-11, 60 varieties/hybrids of crops including major food crops of rice, wheat, maize, pearl millet and pulses were released/ recommended for cultivation in different agro-climatic regions of country. During the year, 629 tonnes of nucleus seed, 9,554 tonnes of breeder seed, 7,745 tonnes of foundation seed, 3,471 tonnes of certified seeds and 10,443 tonnes of truthfully labeled seed were produced for large scale multiplication to ensure timely supply of quality seeds to farmers.

To address the problem of decreasing soil and water productivity, the GIS based soil fertility maps, using soil-test data was prepared for 500 districts spread over 21 states of India. The data have revealed that soils of most of the districts have low to medium amount of nitrogen and phosphorus and medium to high amount of potassium. Existing ridge-and-furrow system of irrigation was modified for in-situ rain water harvesting (10% than the earlier 1% of rain), which increased castor yield by 30%. A decision support system was developed for facilitating location specific nutrient management.

With a view to enhance profitability and livelihood security, integrated farming is being promoted in all the ecological regions with the desired technological backstopping. An Integrated Farming System Component Selection Model is found useful for selection of the components of the integrated farming system based on the expected profit under the prevailing constraints, and also for suggesting beneficial components from profit as well as land and water productivity point of view.

To improve the quality and productivity of livestock population, artificial insemination is being standardized and adopted in field situations. Successful pregnancy from artificial insemination with extended semen is reported for the first time in Indian dromedary camels. The first mithun calf was born at farm-gate level through artificial insemination using cryo-preserved semen from genetically superior mithun bulls. Semen collection by ‘Gloved Hand Method’ and AI technique were standardized for pigs, and by using AI technology, highest litter size (15 piglets) at birth was recorded from a Ghungroo sow in the farm.

With repositioning of its approach towards entrepreneurship and livelihood security, the ICAR has made a strong commitment for socio-economic transformation of the Indian rural population. The research programmes, educational initiatives and extension activities have been reoriented to meet the objective. Efforts are being made to ensure free flow of knowledge, crossing all barriers on the way. The ICAR has adopted open-access policy for its highly-rated research journals and other literature of importance. The website (www.icar.org.in) has transformed into a treasure house of agricultural information and knowledge for various categories of stakeholders. On an average, more than 2, 00,000 visits are recorded per month from around 166 countries reflecting the global presence of Indian agriculture. Consortium for e-Resources in Agriculture (CeRA) is providing free online access to more than 2,900 international journals and 124 libraries of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS). During the year 2010-11, 64 patent applications were filed and 10 were granted making the total as 481 and 58 respectively.

As a special thrust to North-East region, Knowledge Information Repository in Agriculture for North-East has been launched by the ICAR with a mission to empower the agricultural production system of North-East region with right technology and methodology emphasizing innovative approach and solutions. It will act as a platform to foster linkages among partners and collaborate with public, private, state and regional organizations functioning in the region.

Partnerships grew at the national level and also across the globe with the projected Borlaug Institute for South Asia and enhanced Indo-African and India-Afghanistan Fellowships in Agricultural Universities. An ICAR–Industry meet was also convened in New Delhi in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) which received an overwhelming response from the private sector. Twenty-five new Units were added to the existing 220 Units in 49 universities to develop entrepreneurship skills among students. Niche Area of Excellence was also supported at 30 locations to achieve global competence in agricultural research and education.

Under the ICAR award scheme, two new prestigious awards have been instituted, namely ICAR Norman Borlaug Award and ICAR Challenge Award. The total numbers of awards to be given annually in specific categories have been increased from 13 to 22. Similarly the award money has also been enhanced in most of the categories.

The ICAR has repositioned its approach in the formulation of 12^th five year plan to bring a demand driven and technology led revolution in the country. The Council will focus more on the commodities and the areas where private sector would be reluctant to venture. Secondary and specialty agriculture and the strength inter-departmental platforms will be harnessed to sustain the benefits of agricultural research and development. At national level, initiatives such as National Agricultural Education Project, National Agricultural Entrepreneurship Project, National Agricultural Science Foundation and National Agricultural Innovation Foundation have been envisaged to further strengthen and accelerate the process of transformation. However, in all these initiatives the Council is making a forward march with Farmers First approach.

The research and development programmes during the year have armed ICAR with preparedness to meet future challenges, especially of prospective global climate change vis-à-vis depleting and degrading natural resources. We envision that innovations in agriculture would transform existing slowdown in agriculture sector into a vibrant and competitive sector by harnessing untapped opportunities in domestic and global markets. The Council firmly believes that agricultural research and development would augment farmers’ income, generate employment opportunities, conserve natural resources, restrict imports, promote exports and increase value addition for higher and inclusive agricultural growth.

Appropriately backed by frontier sciences and techniques, a surge in production and productivity of major commodities is on the way to realize the dream of rainbow revolution.(PIB Features)

*Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research

The famous saffron-coloured Kesar variety of mango, largely grown around foothills of Girnar mountains in Gujarat’s Junagadh district, has got global recognition as ‘Gir Kesar’ mango after being granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

The Kesar mango is the second variety of mango in India to get GI registration after the Dussheri mango variety grown in Uttar Pradesh.

“GI registration will help the farmers of Junagadh and Amreli district immensely. From now onwards, no other Kesar mango variety, grown in other parts of Gujarat like Kutch, Valsad…can be sold as ‘Gir Kesar’ mango,” Junagadh Agriculture University (JAU) Vice Chancellor N C Patel said.

After the GI registration, mango growers in 18 talukas of Junagadh and Amreli districts, located on the periphery of the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, will be able to reap the benefits of added value attached to their produce, a JAU officials said.

Nearly 20,000 hectares of area is under mango cultivation in both these districts and close to two lakh tonnes of production per annum is estimated, they added.

“As per the GI laws, if anyone, apart from Junagadh and Amreli farmers, are found selling Kesar mango as Gir Kesar, then they could be put behind bars for 1-2 years and a fine of more than Rs 50,000 could be imposed as penalty,” Patel said.

The JAU University had filed for the GI application last year.

The GI registration of this luscious fruit will convey assurance of quality and distinctiveness essentially attributed to the place of its origin in a defined geographical locality.

Talala, Keshod, Vanthali, Una, Kodinar and Mangrol talukas are the main production centres of Kesar mango in Junagadh district, while for Amreli, the centres are Dhari, Khambha, Rajula and Jaffrabad.

Throwing light on the history of the Kesar variety of mango, a JAU official said, “The Kesar mango was first spotted by Junagadh Wazir Sale Bhai in Vanthali taluka of Junagadh.”

Subsequently, it was sent to Mangrol’s Sheikh Jehangir Mia, who, after having the delicious fruit sowed the kernel in his garden and named it as ‘Saale ki Aambdi’, he added.

Coming to know about the fruit, the Junagadh garden superintendent A S K Iyengar gathered information about this king of fruits from Jehangir Mia and visited Vanthali to prepare few grafts for planting them in the district, the official said.

“Later, around 75 grafts prepared by him were planted at the Junagadh Laal Dori farm situated on the foothills of Girnar mountains and after three years Junagadh Nawab Babi Mahabat Khanji-III was offered the fruit to taste,” he said.

“The nawab liked the taste of this delicious fruit and gave it the name of Kesar in around 1934,” he said.

A hand-written note of the garden superintendent, documented with the government, narrates the trail of events which eventually led to naming of this Junagadh mango variety as Kesar, the official said.

Coarse cereals have been sown in 151.88 lakh hectare. Compared to last year, higher area coverage has been reported from Madhya Pradesh and Uttrakhand.

Oilseeds have been sown in 149.73 lakh hectare. Compared to last year, sown area is higher by 7.6 lakh hectare.

Sugarcane has been planted in 51.81 lakh hectare so far.  Higher area has been reported from Karnataka, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Cotton have been sown in 105.56 lakh hectare as against 101.43 lakh hectare last year on this date.

The cropped areas as on today are as follows:

Black pepper prices have risen by a whopping 33 per cent from Rs 22,980 to Rs 30,500 during March-July without much local and international demand except artificial future demand created by speculators and trader cartels on NCDEX, said a report released by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

In a communication to minister of state for consumer affairs K.V. Thomas, ASSOCHAM called for an appropriate and stern action against such cartels in the interest of original traders, farmers and the common man.

“Large investors are indulging in misuse of narrow commodity contracts as rules and regulations at present are not strict enough to stop such malpractices,” said Mr D.S. Rawat, secretary general of ASSOCHAM.

An extreme price volatility and price hike in commodities like channa, guargum, guarseed, dhaniya has been witnessed during May-July as depicted in the table given below:

Source: ASSOCHAM

Future contract for black pepper have never been in negative in the history of NCDEX but have been closing at a negative badla of minus one per cent and above since February, said the report.

“Black pepper trade must be monitored closely to keep prices in moderate range and check food inflation.”

Hoarders and speculators get attracted to commodities as they are believed to move in an opposite direction to equity market thereby providing a hedge against inflation.

“Resultantly, original traders are not able to hedge their risk, farmers are not getting benefits of price rise while, manipulators make merry,” said the report.

Speculative activities are a primary source of volatility in commodity prices and controlling these activities through regulations would bring more stability to the commodity market.

Futures trading in food items distort price signals and encourage speculation and hoarding, thereby contributing to food inflation.

ASSOCHAM has suggested the central government to co-ordinate with state governments while taking measures against hoarding and black-marketing.

FOR MORE READING. . .

The case of non-Basmati rice is no different. Not only has the export ban been lifted too late but it has come with riders that will deter potential exporters. Given relatively low world prices of rice, Indian exports will perforce be relatively low. On the other hand, the government has not been able to find takers through the public distribution system (PDS) for the stocks of wheat and rice it holds.   The overall foodgrain inventories, consequently, have bulged to an unsustainable level of nearly 65 million tonnes, far in excess of the buffer stocking norm of 27 million tonnes and higher than the previous peak stockholding of 64 million tonnes in June 2002. Finding itself in similar predicament in 2002, the then National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government had chosen to export grains at highly subsidised prices, incurring heavy losses.

FOR MORE READING. . .

According to data released by the Department, Bt. cotton constitutes nearly 90% of total area under cotton cultivation. Out of total area of 111.42 lakh hectares under cotton cultivation, 98.54 lakh hectares are under Bt. Cotton. Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh are the top producers of cotton.

State-wise break up of estimated area under cultivation and production is as under: -

cotton estimates (25.7.2011)

Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd. (AIC) is the Implementing Agency. The main objective of the scheme is to protect the farmers against the crop losses suffered on account of natural calamities, such as, drought, flood, hailstorm, cyclone, pests and diseases etc. The scheme is available to all the farmers – loanee and non-loanee – irrespective of their size of holding. The scheme is operating on the basis of ‘Area Approach’.

Due to some limitations/shortcomings in the existing scheme, Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS) was approved for implementation on pilot basis in 50 districts from Rabi 2010-11 season in the country. It has been notified by the 12 States in 34 districts for Rabi 2010-11 season. Administrative approval for implementation of MNAIS during 2011-12 (Kharif and Rabi seasons) has already been issued. Six States have already notified the scheme in 19 districts.

During the Rabi 2010-11, about 3.66 lakh farmers have been covered over an area of about 3.64 lakh hectares insuring a sum amounting to Rs. 71921 lakh. Most of the claims are being worked out by the implementing agencies.

One of the major improvements made in MNAIS is that the unit area of insurance has been reduced to village panchayat level for main crops. The other improvements are actuarial premium with subsidy in premium at different rates i.e. 40% to 75% depending upon the slab is provided to farmers, all claims liability to be settled by the insurer, indemnity for prevented sowing/planting risk & for post harvest losses due to cyclone, on account payment up to 25% advance of likely claims as immediate relief, more proficient basis for calculation of threshold yield, minimum indemnity level of 70% instead of 60%, participation of private sector insurers with adequate infrastructure. Central and State Governments share upfront premium subsidy on 50:50 basis and claims are the liability of the insurance companies.

With food and agriculture exports totalling 15.6 billion dollars, India’s share is a meager 1.6 per cent of the total global trade. The trade index by Food and Agriculture Organisations (FAO) of the United Nations positions India’s exports in quantity terms at 222nd place and in value terms at 237th place.

Agriculture and related activities account for employment to 60 per cent of the population in the country, 19 per cent of the GDP and nine per cent of total exports, said The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India.

“It is critical to have consistency in export promotion policies,” said ASSOCHAM secretary general D.S. Rawat. “The focus should be on commodities where India has marketable surplus and competitive strength in global markets.”

The country produced 90 million tonnes of rice last year, over 80 million tonnes of wheat, 34 million tonnes of coarse cereals, 15 million tonnes of pulses, 25 million tonnes of oilseeds and 278 million tonnes of sugarcane.

India is the largest producer of fresh fruits and vegetables, and ranks as the second in production of cashew, cabbage, cotton seed, garlic, cardamom, onions, sugarcane, tomatoes, coconut, ground nut, tea, green peas, cauliflower, potatoes and inland fish.

Total investments in AEZs across 20 states so far have been worth Rs 1,098 crore with exports valued at Rs 10,690 crore.

“Indian exporters have not succeeded in establishing direct linkages with consumers in importing countries,” said Mr Rawat. “A large proportion of exports are being further processed and re-exported by other countries.”

He said the agriculture sector has vast opportunity for employment generation and trade. There is need to have a long-term sustainable policy which attracts more investments and increase private sector’s participation in remote rural areas, said Mr Rawat.

“The government should introduce fresh initiatives to boost post-harvest and processing technologies so that farmers can get good returns.”

The AEZ concept has the potential to improve agriculture output and quality besides reducing post-harvest losses and upgradation of technology, farmers’ skills and income. “It can result in development of internationally competitive production base and increased private investments, leading to increased employment and overall economic development,” he said

As per the latest estimates, India has produced 241.56 million tonnes of foodgrains during 2010-11 compared to 218.11 million tonnes in the previous year. This is highest ever foodgrainsproduction, surpassing the earlier record of 234.47 million tonnes achieved in 2008-09.

It may also be noted that the production of wheat, estimated at 85.93 million tonnes, is an all time record. Similarly, production of pulses, estimated at 18.09 million tones, is an all time record.

Despite a setback in the production of kharifrice due to drought in some of the major rice producing areas in the country, significant improvement in production of rabi rice, wheat, pulses and coarse cereals has resulted in the higher ever production of foodgrains. Estimated production of maize stands at record level of 21.28 million tonnes which is significantly higher than the earlier record production of 19.73 million tonnes achieved during 2008-09. The production of  nine oilseeds estimated at 31.10 million tonnes is also an all time record.

Cotton production has increased from 24.23 million bales in 2009-10 to 33.43 million bales in 2010-11.

The production of sugarcane, which had attained a record level of 355.52 million tonnes during 2006-07 and declined in subsequent years, has again started witnessing increasing trend with an estimated production of 339.17 million tonnes in the current year.

The production estimates for major crops for 2010-11 are as follows:

Foodgrains  –  241.56 million tonnes:  highest ever

Rice  –  95.32 million tonnes

Wheat  –  85.93  million tonnes: highest ever

Coarse Cereals  –  42.22 million tonnes: highest ever

Maize  –  21.28 million tonnes: highest ever

Pulses  –  18.09 million tonnes: highest ever

Tur  –  2.89 million tonnes

Urad  –  1.74 million tonnes: highest ever

Moong  –  1.82 million tonnes: highest ever

Gram      –  8.25 million tonnes: highest ever

Oilseeds  –  31.10 million tonnes: highest ever

Soyabean  –  12.66 million tonnes: highest ever

Groundnut  –  7.54 million tonnes

Rabeseed & mustard – 7.67 million tonnes

Cotton  –  33.43 million bales (of 170 kg each): highest ever

Sugarcane – 339.17 million tonnes

Nevertheless, the challenges that India’s agriculture faces in the coming years remain enormous. Though we have achieved self sufficiency in cereal production, we continue to depend on imports for pulses and edible oils. We continue to face the problem of under-nutrition, particularly among our children and women. Ensuring food and nutritional security and eliminating hunger, including hidden hunger, remain a high national priority.

The inclusive strategies of development that we are pursuing should further increase the incomes of the poorer sections of our society. This will further increase demand for not only foodgrains but also fruits, vegetables and animal products. The total demand for foodgrains is projected to touch 280 million tonnes by the year 2020-21. Meeting this demand will necessitate a growth rate of nearly 2 per cent per annum in food production. The enormity of the task ahead is indicated by the fact that during the 10 year period 1997-98 to 2006-07, our foodgrain production grew at an average annual rate of only 1.00 per cent. Although foodgrain production has since regained the requisite momentum and the agriculture sector as a whole is set to grow at 3% per annum during the Eleventh Plan, we cannot be complacent. We must note that this is less than the targeted 4% and a consequence in recent years has been unacceptable levels of food price inflation. I expect the Twelfth Plan to contain all measures that are required to accelerate our agricultural growth rate.

We all look back proudly to our green revolution, which helped us overcome food shortages and banish the specter of starvation, or living from ship to mouth. But, today we find that the regions of the country which witnessed the green revolution are suffering from problems of environmental degradation. In many other regions of the country, particularly in eastern India, yields continue to be much lower than what is attainable. More generally, it should concern us that productivity in Indian agriculture has plateaued over the years.

We clearly need a second green revolution that is more broad-based, more inclusive and more sustainable; we need to produce more without depleting our natural resources any further, and we look towards our agricultural scientists for ushering this green revolution. India currently spends about 0.6 per cent of its agricultural GDP on agricultural Research and Development. This needs to be enhanced at least 2 to 3 times by 2020, since a substantial portion of our agricultural growth would come through the application of new technologies and new knowledge to production processes. But spending more on research is not enough unless this improves the quality of human resources in all areas of agriculture.

Today there are more than 50 State Agriculture Universities and institutions and one Central Agricultural University imparting higher agricultural education. All these institutions need to provide the best of academic inputs along with hands-on training to the students. I am very happy that the ICAR has been alive to these evolving needs and has recently revised syllabi to improve the quality of agricultural education. But much more has to be done. the ICAR and our State governments to ensure that our Agricultural Universities produce enough new scientists with the requisite skills. I also suggest that we re-examine the architecture of agricultural extension services so that our scientists, our administrators and the private entrepreneurs can together better help farmers to bridge the gap between yields that are possible and those which are actually achieved. I continue to hear that our agricultural services are not upto the mark in many of our states. I suggest further that the Krishi Vigyan Kendras which cover all the districts of our country, have a very important role to play a very important role in encouraging, what Jawaharlal Nehru used to call the growth of scientific temper for the management of India’s agricultural economy. I urge you all to pay particular attention to this aspect of managing India’s agricultural economy.

Rainfed agriculture continues to play a very important role in our economy, contributing about 60 per cent of the cropped area and 45 per cent of the total agricultural produce. Rainfed areas contribute more than 80% of the pulses and oilseeds grown as well as a substantial part of horticulture and animal husbandry produce. The second Green Revolution, that I have been talking about must therefore explicitly embrace dryland farming. Though many new technologies have been developed for our rainfed regions, yield gaps continue to be very large and not enough is being done to identify the most suitable farming systems and to ensure that they are effectively integrated with our watershed development projects. Our scientists must therefore work intensively to accurately assess the felt needs of our country, and develop new methods, new technologies and new knowledge for better soil and water management practices, improved cropping systems and better crop management.

The area that needs most attention is the management of water, which is going to be probably the most scarce factor in the twenty-first century. Our irrigation efficiency is estimated to be around 30% which needs to be raised to at least 50%. This could contribute considerably to increase in agricultural production. Resource conservation technologies that improve input use efficiency, and conserve and protect our natural resources need to be aggressively promoted. We must also recognize the risks of an excessive reliance on hydrocarbon inputs in increasing agricultural production and we should explore more systematically, organic alternatives like algae, for example.

Climate change has emerged as a major challenge to our agriculture, indeed to the management of our economy as a whole. The immediate problems that our farmers face relate to intra-seasonal variability of rainfall, extreme events and unseasonal rains. These aberrations cause heavy losses to our crops every year. There is therefore an urgent necessity for us to speed up our efforts to evolve climate-resilient crop varieties, cropping patterns and management practices. I am very happy that the ICAR is implementing a major scheme, the National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture and has set up the state-of-the-art National Institute on Abiotic Stress Management. The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, which is one of the eight Missions under our National Action Plan on Climate Change also seeks to devise appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies for ensuring food security, enhancing livelihood opportunities and contributing to economic stability at the national level.

we need to focus on for accelerating our agricultural performance. The first is the protection of crops, animals and farm produce against new and emerging diseases and pathogens. The second is careful application of biotechnology to improve productivity, enable better resilience to stress and also enhance the incomes of our farmers. I hope our agricultural Research and Development institutions will pay the required attention to these areas in the coming years.

Our government, in the last seven years has taken several new initiatives in the agricultural sector.Many of these initiatives have shown encouraging results. But we need to build upon this achievement in the Twelfth Five-Year Plan. The Twelfth Plan must ensure further progress in areas of achievement and also remove the deficiencies in areas where our achievements have fallen short of expectations or objective potential of our economy. I urge all our scientists, and technologists, and extension experts to share their experiences and personal assessments of these new initiatives with the Planning Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture so that the Twelfth Five-Year Plan can tackle the many new challenges that have emerged in the last few years. I urge you to introspect on how your own research can contribute to the achievement of higher goals for these initiatives.

As the country’s apex organization for coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences, the ICAR carries an enormous responsibility on its shoulders. Unfortunately there is an impression among many that the National Agricultural Research System has become somewhat insular over time and responds less well to specific demands from those in the field. You must never lose sight of the fact that your main client is the Indian farmer. Unless you engage with farmers and their problems, you will not succeed in transforming new knowledge into higher productivity and better incomes for our farmers. You must get your research questions primarily from the farmers. This is perhaps the most difficult of the challenges that you must overcome in the years ahead and which can test your commitment and ability.

the ICAR is already putting in place robust mechanisms to strengthen interaction between agricultural scientists and our farmers and also to ensure better convergence between research and development needs. I hope that you will use this occasion of the foundation day to reflect on your work and on your achievements. Such reflection, I am sure would spur you to look far and wide, look at the best research organizations in the country and abroad and adopt new, and more democratic systems and processes for organizing research free from the usual bureaucratic hierarchies and excessive rigidities.

Source : The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, addressed the 83rd Foundation Day of ICAR in New Delhi

Bulk of the people engaged in agriculture is also our targeted population under the Public Distribution Scheme. Recently food procurement and storage has been under immense media scrutiny. At this stage, the issues are complex and the government is working out the most judicious solution for feeding the nation and especially it’s poor.  Price inflation of food articles has also been a matter of great debate and concern. We have taken many steps to insulate the common man from the burden of rising prices, especially for essential commodities.

Coming to agriculture first, over the last few years been channelizing our efforts through effective policy instruments and programmes to ensure higher investments – both public and private. We have concentrated on enhancing production and productivity both by bringing in high yielding varieties, hybrids and efficient farm equipments. Our efforts towards increasing soil nutrients have seen to the new fertilizer subsidy regime. The Cabinet clearing the new Seeds Bill which we propose to introduce in the ensuing session of the Parliament. The provisions of the Bill will prove an effective check on the spurious and substandard seeds being sold in the market.  Simultaneously, the strategy has also been to provide the necessary infrastructure such as soil testing laboratories; water harvesting and micro irrigation structures; storage and processing facilities; sophisticated pest surveillance and monitoring systems; and IT-enabled knowledge dissemination systems for the farmers.

These strategies have clearly worked.  The country achieved record food production of 234 million tons in 2008-09; a substantial jump from the production of about 198 million tons of food grains in 2004-05.  That the interventions have worked was also borne out last year when, despite the severest drought in the past four decades, the production of food grains stood at about 218 million tons.  This year, overall rainfall has been good and we are estimating record production in Kharif pulses, sugarcane and cotton. However, due to deficit rainfall in Bihar, Jharkhand and parts ofWest Bengal there is likelihood of some loss in paddy area. Due to the good South West monsoon, reservoir levels are very comfortable and soil moisture levels are high, promising a record production year.

Some of the measures.

Investment plays an important role in achieving higher growth rate.  In recent years there has been an increase in the gross capital formation in agriculture as a proportion of agricultural GDP which has gone up from 14.1 per cent in 2004-05 to 21.3 in 2008-09.   The plan outlay for the agriculture & allied sector has increased substantially from Rs.7, 431crore in 2006-07 to Rs.19, 070 crore in 2010-11, an increase of about 156%.

The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), launched in August 2007, has become the principal instrument for increasing the States’ investment in agriculture and allied sectors.  Outlay under RKVY for 2010-11 have been substantially increased to Rs. 6,722 crore, which includes Rs. 400 crore for “Extending Green Revolution to the Eastern Region of India” and Rs. 300 crore for the ‘Special Initiative for Pulses and Oilseeds in Dry-land Areas by Organising 60,000 Pulses and Oilseeds Villages in rainfed areas. States have taken up major programmes for increasing production and productivity and made investments across all sectors of agriculture and allied sector comprising Crop Development, Watershed Development, Pest Management & Testing Labs, Micro / Minor Irrigation, Agri. Mechanization, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries.

Another path breaking programme has been the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) which was launched in 2007-08 to enhance the production of rice, wheat and pulses by 10 million tons, 8 million tons and 2 million tons respectively by the end of the 11^th Plan.  The Mission has helped to widen the food basket of the country with significant contributions coming from the NFSM districts.  During 2008-09 nearly 50% of the NFSM rice districts, 50% of NFSM pulses districts and 33% of NFSM wheat districts have recorded 10-20% increase in productivity compared to 2006-07.

water resource development, utilization and management for sustainable food grain production in the country, a Task Force was constituted in December, 2009 to make recommendations for efficient management of water, power and other inputs, as well as subsidy to maximize agricultural production on a sustainable basis.  The Task Force has observed, inter alia, that Eastern India receives 2-3 times more rain compared to North Western States and it has tremendous opportunities to utilize good quality untapped ground water for enhancing productivity which is in fact is the fulcrum around which the recently launched programme of ‘Extending Green Revolution to the Eastern Region’ revolves.

India is the second largest producer of fruits and for vegetables.  My Ministry is promoting Horticulture in mission mode for improving farm incomes and livelihood security and enhancing employment generation.  Due to interventions under the National Horticulture Mission and Technology Mission for North Eastern States the production of fruits, vegetables and spices has increased by 27%, 22% and 12% respectively during 2009-10 over 2005-06.

The Terminal Markets Complex (TMC) Scheme of government has finally taken off.  We have approved the proposal for setting up TMC in Bihar and the proposals for Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are also expected to be approved shortly.  These markets would provide state-of-art facilities for electronic auction, storage, handling and providing offline backward and forward linkages to agriculture produce.

Price signals are an extremely effective tool for increasing agricultural production and productivity.  Government has increased the MSP of major crops such as paddy, wheat and pulses by as much as 78.6%, 75% and 124.8% respectively between 2004-05 and 2010-11.  The increases in MSP of paddy and wheat have resulted in record production and procurement of wheat and rice during the last two years.  The substantial hike in MSP of kharif pulses is showing results this kharif season with increase in estimated production of kharif pulses from about 4.3 million tonnes in 2009 to 6 million tonnes in 2010.

Another necessary input for enabling farmers to increase their production is agricultural credit. A decision was taken by the Government in June, 2004 to double the flow of agriculture credit in three years with reference to base year 2003-04. The flow of agriculture credit since 2003-04 has consistently exceeded the target. From the level of Rs 86,981 crore credit flow in 2003-04, the agriculture credit disbursed in 2009-10 has touched Rs. 3,66,919 crore. The target of credit flow for 2010-11 is Rs. 3, 75,000crore. From this year onwards credit is available @ 5% rate of interest for those making timely repayment.

Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries sectors play a significant role in supplementing family incomes and generating gainful employment in the rural areas, particularly, among the landless labourers, small and marginal farmers and women.  Livestock is the best possible insurance against the vagaries of nature like drought, famine and other natural calamities.  The value of output from livestock and fisheries sectors together accounts for about 27 per cent of the value of the output from Agriculture & allied Sector during 2008-09.

India continues to be the largest producer of milk in the world. The estimate of milk production for 2009-10 was 112 million tons.  Egg production during the same period were 59.8 billion nos., wool production was 43.2 million kgs.  Fish production during 2009-10 was 78.52 lakh tons comprising of 29.89 lakh tons from marine resources and 48.62 lakh tons from freshwater resources.

To build a resilient agriculture and allied sector research plays a pivotal role. While ICAR through its network of institutions has done a commendable job over the last few decades, more recently their success has been in :

• Releasing eight varieties of wheat for different eco-systems;
  • Releasing three Maize hybrids and 2 composites.  Maize cultivation technology in upland fallows of Bastar region was introduced that enhanced productivity by 3-4 times.
  • Poultry breeds with 300 eggs/year has been developed;
  • In Animal biotechnology under cloned buffalo, two female calves Garima I&IIand male calf Shresth, have been successfully born at NDRI, Karnal. The technique will enable faster multiplication of highly productive animals with desired sex;
  • Appropriate stress-resistant varieties of crops are being developed. Research on protected horticulture is also being undertaken.
  • A state of the art National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Maharashtra has been established during XI Plan.
  • National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture along with the ongoing ICAR network on Climate Change that involves 25 centers across the country has been launched. The initiative is an attempt to develop and popularize climate resilient technologies in agriculture.

The rising demand coupled with higher purchasing power with the rural poor coupled with some supply side constraints saw 2009-10 witness a spurt in the prices of food articles.  However, the overall availability of essential commodities has generally remained satisfactory.  Inflation in food articles has been a matter of concern and the Government of India have taken several steps to arrest the increase in prices of essential commodities and improve domestic availability of essential commodities -

• Reducing/waiving import duties for rice, wheat, pulses, edible oils, sugar, maize and refined/hydrogenated oils and vegetable oils;
• Allowing import of raw/white/refined sugar at zero duty without levy obligation;
• Banning export of edible oils and pulses;
• Provision of Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane to provide reasonable margin to farmers on account of risk and profit.
• Permitting Public Sector Undertakings to import and sell pulses under a scheme in which losses would be reimbursed by the Government;
• Distributing imported pulses to State Governments for supply through PDS at a subsidy.

Main concern is to ensure the availability of food grain for the public distribution system so that the impact of inflation on the common man is minimised.  There has been increased procurement of food grain in the recent years.  We will be able to fully meet the demand of the public distribution system and other welfare schemes. Our procurement of food grain this year has been a record high of 57.4 million metric tons.

There has been significant criticism from various quarters mainly on the issue of storage of food grains. Though it has been our endeavour to achieve zero damage, some constraints stop us from achieving this. The biggest constraint has been the lack of adequate covered storage space with FCI and the State Governments. Right this wrong the government has initiated a public private initiative for building of godowns all across the country. We expect to create 150 lakh metric tons of storage space all across the country for which the tenders have already been floated and are receiving tremendous response.

The silver lining however has been on the food production and procurement side.  The advances in agriculture production & productivity. Coupled with it, the procurement level which had stagnated at some 35 million tons has increased to an average of around 55 million tons over the last couple of years.  This is of great significance in view of the forthcoming Food Security Act. The NAC has been deliberating on the Act and we are awaiting a formal communication from them in this regard.  I have read about the recommendations in the press but at this stage it will be presumptive on my part to say what shape this Act will finally take. However, irrespective of the fine print, it is certain that our outgo from the PDS will increase substantially from its current level once the Act is implemented.  The distribution of food grains through PDS which was just 120 lakh tons in 2001-02 has already jumped to 438 lakh tons today, mainly on account of the increased population as well as the favourable pricing policy under the PDS. We have as you very well know, not increased the Central Issue Price of rice and wheat since 2002 despite the huge jump in our procurement cost.  Our social commitment can be best seen through the 80% subsidy element in the food grain distributed under AAY and approx 73% and 60% in case of BPL and APL. This has had a sobering influence on the prices of wheat and rice which today, are perhaps, the lowest in the whole world. Hand in hand with procurement we have also launched a drive to streamline the delivery system under the PDS in collaboration with the State Governments. The Smart Card pilot has been successfully tested in Haryana and is ready to be rolled out nationwide. We are in consultation with the UID to effectively dovetail the “Aadhar” numbers with our ration cards. This may take some time, but once done it will go a long way in checking diversion and ensuring the delivery of food grain to the targeted population.

On the sugar front too, the news this year is good with record plantation of sugarcane, 250 lakh tons of sugar production this sugar year. Over the last few years worked and successfully delivered good returns to the sugarcane farmers. The introduction of FRP has ensured a minimum 20% return to the farmers besides covering their costs and risks. The response from the farming community has been overwhelming and I am happy to announce that like wheat and rice, the price of sugar in India is amongst the lowest. For the first time India is producing sugar in surplus while there is a shortage world over.

The interest of the weakest section shall always remain foremost in our heart and uppermost in our mind.

Source: Shri Sharad Pawar, Minister of Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution addressed the Economic Editors Conference, 2010.

For More Reading on Agriculture. .

Maharashtra has closely followed Gujarat registering almost 10.50 per cent of agri growth during the last decade, leaving behind many front running agricultural states.

“Revolutionary steps like investment in agricultural infrastructure to improve irrigation system, employment of latest technologies and establishment of a dedicated power grid to ensure regular power supply for agri sector together with a committed leadership are certain significant reasons behind high agricultural growth rate that Gujarat has achieved,” said Mr D S Rawat, secretary general of The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

Chhattisgarh has ranked 3^rd with 6 per cent of agricultural growth compounded annually followed by Orissa which registered 5.28 per cent and Andhra Pradesh ranked 5^th among top 5 states with 5.2 per cent CAGR, says the chamber’s analysis.

“Innovative and efficient management of state’s groundwater resources is a major turning point in Gujarat’s agricultural miracle which has converted barren lands into fertile farms thereby raising yields and resulting in fall of cultivation costs,” said Mr Rawat.

Revolution in agriculture has converted around 15 lakh hectare additional lands in largely semi-arid Gujarat fit for farming thereby, establishing the state on top in systematic and scientific development of farm sector.

Improved diffusion of technology and better utilization of water through various unconventional initiatives have helped expand area under cultivation and enhanced the crop productivity, highlights the ASSOCHAM analysis

“Current leadership in the state has immensely devoted a great deal of energy and resources to accelerate agricultural growth, thereby propelling the state as one of India’s fastest growing economies surpassing original green revolution states which have been lagging behind on agri growth due to laxity in developmental efforts together with over-exploitation of natural resources, including groundwater,” added Mr Rawat.

Reasonable monsoon season throughout the decade along with rising minimum support prices from centre and extension of profitable cash crop BT cotton are factors that lead to superlative performance byGujarat, says ASSOCHAM.

Farmers in the state are adopting more technology and value addition of agricultural produce to supplement their income.

Increased agri production has not only increased the state farmers’ income but it has also discouraged them to migrate to urban areas in search of jobs, points out ASSOCHAM analysis.

ASSOCHAM recommends other states to focus on small, minor irrigation projects and watershed facilities which are cheap and affordable considering, irrigation is a major bottleneck in agri sector across majority of states in India.

“Innovative initiatives carried out by Gujarat government must be followed by other states to disseminate technical knowledge and expertise to farmers for better productivity and increased income,” added Mr Rawat.

Full text of the Minister’s address is as follows-

Due to efforts of our farmers, the wheat production during this year has been an all-time record of 842 lakhtonnes. Similarly, wheat procurement during this year has reached an all-time record of 278 lakh tonnes and is expected to touch 280 lakh tonnes.

Stock position of wheat and rice in central pool as on 01.06.2011 has reached an all time high level of 654.73 lakhtonnes.   378.32 lakh tonnes of wheat and 276.41 lakh tonnes of rice are now available in the Central Pool.  Thus a total of 654.73 lakh tonnes of foodgrains are available in the Central Pool against a buffer norm requirement of 319lakh tonnes as on 1st July. It may be noted that the central pool availability was 604.28 lakh tonnes on 1.6.2010 and 535.25 lakh tonnes on 1.6.2009.   The Central Pool stocks as on 1.6.2011 are highest ever recorded level of stocks. The last time when we had similar high stock was 647.18 tonnes (wheat – 413.17 lakh tonnes and rice – 234.01 lakhtonnes as on 01.06.2002).  A good monsoon, adequate MSP and bonus given by the Government of India for both wheat and rice over the last several years, and even additional bonus announced by some of the State Governments have contributed to such a high level of stocks this year.

Against this scenario, the total storage capacity with FCI and state agencies as on 1.6.2011 is as follows  :

Figures in Lakh MTs

*Approx. Capacity on 31.03.2010 used for foodgrains. Storage capacity of State Agencies may not be very accurate.

Steps being taken to deal with the situation are as follows:-

Allocation and lifting

• Due to current high level of stocks of foodgrains in the Central Pool, in addition to normal annual allocations of foodgrains under TPDS and other welfare schemes, the Government has allocated an additional quantity of 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrains for BPL families in the month of May and another 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrainsfor APL families in the month of June.  Another 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrains will be allocated shortly for 150 poorer districts, as mandated by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, modalities of which are being worked out.
• To ensure that these additional allocations reach the targeted groups, the Government of India has been repeatedly emphasizing to State Governments to lift the additional allocated food grains and distribute the same expeditiously.
• The Government of India has also been continuously monitoring the lifting by State Governments and is also considering six months’ lump-sum allocation at a time for distribution to the targeted groups.
• This will help in faster evacuation of stocks from the Central Pool, particularly in States which have seen much higher level of procurement of wheat than was earlier expected, e.g., Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
• Instructions have also been given to FCI that FCI depots in various States should have adequate quantity of stocks for being utilized by the State Governments.  For this purpose, optimum movement of foodgrains to different States, particularly to the deficit States is being ensured.

Proper upkeep of stocks

• The Government is taking all necessary steps to ensure that stocks are safely kept and proper quality control measures are taken for the same.
• State Governments have also been requested to issue suitable instructions for safe upkeep of stocks.
• FCI has also been directed to hire as much additional godown space from private sources as possible to supplement its efforts for proper storage of foodgrains.

Creation of storage capacity

• Government is taking steps to create new additional covered storage capacity of more than 152 lakh MTs across 19 States under the Private Enterpreneur Guarantee (PEG) Scheme with the help of privateenterpreneus, CWC and SWC with a 10-year guarantee by FCI.
• By March 2012, 40 lakh MTs of new covered storage capacity will be created under this scheme.
• The State Governments are also being requested to introduce similar guarantee scheme for their own storage needs through similar PPP model.
• An additional new capacity of 5.4 lakh tonnes is proposed to be created in the North Eastern States by Government of India under a special plan scheme.  This will ensure that at least four months’ stocks are kept in North Eastern States at any point of time.
• Instructions have also been given to FCI for introducing mechanization of foodgrains handling and optimum utilization of existing storage space with FCI and Government agencies.

Movement Plan

• The Ministry is in constant touch with Railway authorities to ensure that timely movement of foodgrains takes place to consuming/deficit States and to also free up storage space in the surplus States.

Revamping of Public Distribution System

• There is an ambitious programme for the revamping of PDS system currently on the anvil. The computerization of Public Distribution Data and making the PDS data ADHAR compatible are already afoot in various States. States like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chattisgarh are going ahead in this regard.

Foodgrains losses and damages

• Due to large handling of foodgrains undertaken by FCI and other Government agencies, some storage and transit loss do occur due to various reasons.  However, due to constant efforts being undertaken to reduce such losses, the storage and transit losses of FCI have come down over the years.  Furthermore, quantity of damaged foodgrains with FCI has also been continuously coming down.
• The damaged foodgrains with FCI, which was 2.12 lakh tonnes in 1999-2000 came down to 0.34 lakh tonnes in the year 2007-08 and only 0.07 lakh tonnes in the year 2009-10 and 0.06 lakh tonnes during 2010-11.

***

Since he started farming in 2002, Dhamala has relied on organic farming techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests. Organic farming excludes or strictly limits the use of manufactured fertilizers, pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides), plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics, food additives, and genetically modified organisms.

He came to the notice of the State Horticulture Department when the then State Agriculture & Horticulture Minister, Somnath Poudyal visited his farm and was much impressed with his work.   From 2007, Dhamala started acquiring seeds of cucumber, bitter gourd, beans and ladyfingers along with other requirements like organic manure and pesticides from the Department.

The vision of State Government to make Sikkim an Organic State has helped his land acquire greater fertility. Earlier, not familiar with the organic farming methods resulted in the problems of pests and insects in the corps, but after embracing organic farming method,Dhamala says that production   of his farm has enhanced.

Dhamala is putting all his efforts to help the Government for achieving the goal of making Sikkim as an Organic State by 2015.  If it could happen then it would be an encouragement for the farmers and the production will automatically increase, he believes. He also opined that there should be security for the crops.

Besides horticulture,  livestock management and dairy farming helps him on two fronts-providing him steady supply of homemade organic manure and additional income. He has 10 cows of holiesten variety out of which five are milching that produce daily 50 litres of milk. He has also added a number of goats of Australian species to his livestock.

While the young farmer is doing well in horticulture, he is also facing the problem of marketing. But he remains satisfied with his annual profit of more than Rs.One lakh after meeting all the expenses. He has committed himself to farming and sharing about  hisknowledge and experience about organic farming with others. (PIB Features)

Sugarcane has been planted in 48.96 lakh hectare so far as compared to 45.65 lakh hectare at this point of time last year.

Cotton has been sown in 7.22 lakh hectare as compared to 6.5 lakh hectare last year.

Jute and Mesta have been sown in 7.74 lakh hectare (6.25 lakh hectare at this time last year).

Growing Area

Organic farming in India started receiving focused attention from 2004-05 when National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) was launched.  In 2004-05, area under organic farming was 42,000 hectares.  By March 2010 area  under  farming  had increased to 1.08 million hectares.  In addition, 3.40 million hectares is wild forest harvest collection area.  Thus total area under organic certification process by March, 2010 was 4.48 million hectares which is 25 fold increase in last 6 years.  In  cultivated organic land 7.56 lakh hectares is certified while 3.2 lakh hectare is under conversion.

The States doing well in organic farming are Madhya Pradesh(4.40lakh hectares), Maharashtra (1.50 lakh hectares) and Orissa (95,000 hectares), having largest area under organic.  Among crops cotton is the single  largest crop accounting for nearly 40 percent  of total area followed by rice, pulses, oilseeds and spices.  India is the largest organic cotton grower in world, and accounts for 50 percent share of total world organic cotton production.

Nearly 6.00 lakh  farmers under 920 grower groups produce 18.00 lakh tonnes of  different organic commodities valued  at Rs. 56-40 crores at farm gate price.  Out of 18 lakh  tonnesorganic produce, 54000 tonnes of produce valued at Rs. 561 crores was exported. Export of organic products has also grown steadily over the years.  Value of exports which was Rs. 301crores in 2006-07 has increased to 525.5 crores in 2009-10.

States Adopting Organic Farming

Nine States have drafted organic farming policies.  Out of these, four States viz;Uttarakhand, Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram have  declared  their intention to go 100 percent organic.  Sikkim has already converted nearly 40 percent of its total cultivated area under organic and has set target to convert entire State to organic by  2015.  Other States have also defined schemes to promote organic  farming.  Recently Bihar  has sanctioned a scheme worth Rs. 256 crores for promotion of organic farming for period 2010-11 to 2014-15.  This scheme is 100 percent State Plan Scheme and entire funds shall be borne by State Government.  The Scheme funded by  the Central Government will be in addition  to this scheme.

Promotion of Organic Farming

Organic farming is being promoted under National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF), National Horticulture Mission (NHM) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

Regulatory Mechanism

For qualify assurance country has internationally acclaimed certification process in place for export, import and domestic markets.  Foreign Trade Development and Regulation Act for exports and Agriculture Produce Grading, Marketing  and Certification Act for domestic.

Assistance

Important components of assistance being  provided under NPOF inter-alia include assistance  to input production (large compost plants and bio-fertilizers),  Quality control of organic inputs,  Human resource development through trainings, PGS facilitation, Biological soil health assessment and awareness creation.

Main components under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and National Horticulture Mission (NHM) to assist organic farming are financial assistance to States for adoption and certification and financial assistance to States for vermin-compost production.

While need to maximize crop yield to meet the growing demand for food grains is critical, agricultural productivity has to be sustained in long run.  There has been a deterioration in soil health due to removal of crop residues and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers, aided by distorted prices.  To address these issues, the Government proposes to promote organic farming, methods, combining modern technology with traditional farming practices like green manuring, biological pest control and weed management.  These measures will give further push to organic farming. (PIB Features)

India’s population is estimated to touch 1.4 billion by 2020 and thus agricultural sector must grow by 4 per cent each year to support this huge number, according to a study on “Second Green Revolution: Role in Transforming Indian Agriculture” released by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and ICRISAT at a Global Summit on ‘Green Revolution II: Growth Engine for Transformation’ in Hyderabad.

“Indian agricultural sector needs to be revamped to meet future demand and nutritional security of this huge population. Next green revolution with a focus on holistic development of agri sector is imperative to support small, marginal farmers in sustaining their livelihood,” said Mr. Dilip Modi, President, ASSOCHAM.

“Provision for end-to-end services, solutions to problems faced by farmers and providing a linkage to market is significant to facilitate access to better technology and other resources,” added Mr. Modi.

Introduction to new technologies is required to realize the business potential and employment opportunities in agri sector to boost income from agri sector together with growth and development of the sector, says ASSOCHAM study.

“An inclusive market oriented approach can revolutionise India’s agricultural sector, lure youngsters to take it as a business venture and shun conventional career options and come up with better agricultural practices to improve productivity and quality,” said Mr. D.S. Rawat, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM.

“Suitable technological advancements is the need of the hour to achieve new breakthroughs in agriculture. Besides, improving farmers’ skills will help diversify the sector and minimize risks involved and foster an ecosystem for innovations from within the agri community,” added Mr. Rawat.

The next green revolution should be focused on a convergence strategy involving significant roles for civil society, public sector and private sector to devise a mechanism together to sustain enhanced productivity, provide opportunities for agricultural growth and boost the economy.

Thus, revolution can leverage on strength of each sector to support almost 60 per cent of India’s population dependent on the sector as principal source of their livelihood, says the ASSOCHAM-ICRISAT study.

Investments in research and development (R&D) process enhances agricultural growth by a great extent and provides over 50 per cent return in research and extension process. The government has been under investing in agri sector considering only 0.5 per cent of India’s agricultural GDP is invested in R&D.

Investments in agricultural research and development process can be increased through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. A cost-sharing strategy can help minimize the financial woes of R&D in agri sector and encourage various stakeholders like local government, private sector to conduct agricultural research programs to inform and educate small-marginal, poor farmers about good production, says the study.

Such a mechanism would result in enhancing production of goods, services and technologies which cannot be produced alone by either of the sectors. PPP would effectively utilize global resources for development of sustainable agri system across India and good researchers for solving agricultural related problems, further points out the study.

Failed distribution system together with crippled post-harvest infrastructure leads to rotting of food grains. Thus, the next green revolution should focus on ensuring food and nutritional security to the masses especially, people living below poverty line constituting almost 30 per cent of India’s aggregate population, says the study.

Cropping pattern also needs to undergo transformation and to ensure nutritionally oriented cropping pattern, production technologies government should collaborate with nutrition and agricultural scientists, suggests ASSOCHAM-ICRISAT study.

Agency-wise, Commercial Banks with disbursal of Rs. 3.14 lakh crore are on the top followed by Cooperative Banks with 69 thousand crore and Regional Rural Banks with 43 thousand crore. Break up of credit financed by different agencies is as under:

(Rs. in crore)

The credit flow target for the current financial year ( 2011-12) has been fixed at Rs. 4.75 lakh crore. Banks have been asked to step up direct lending, especially to small and marginal farmers.

The Government has been providing crop loans at concessional interest rates since 2006-07. In the current financial year (2011-12), the government is providing interest subvention by 3%, thus bringing down the effective rate of interest to 4% per annum. This interest subvention is provided to those farmers who repay their short term crop loans on time. In 2009-10 the subvention rate for timely repayment of crop loans was 1% which was raised to 2% in 2010-11 and further to 3% this year.

Over the years, agriculture credit flow has registered significant jump. It has gone up from Rs. 86,981 crore in 2003-04 to Rs. 4,26,531 crore in 2010-11 which may be seen in the graph below:

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Land being the means of economic sustenance as well as emotional bedrock of the peasant, the moral dimension of its acquisition must not be ignored.

Rabindranath Tagore’s poem “Dui bigha jomi” (no connection with Bimal Roy’s classic film Do Bigha Zameen) poignantly expresses the anguish of a marginal farmer at losing his small farm of two bighas to an extortionist landlord. Having been forced to part with his land, the farmer migrates to a distant city. Returning after many years, he gets nostalgic about his land, which has since become a mango grove. He sits in the shade of a big mango tree to reminisce the good old days, when two ripe mangoes fall next to him. The farmer is overcome with emotion for he thinks the tree has gifted him its fruits in recognition of their old bonding.

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Aided by higher wheat output, Punjab has set a new record in wheat procurement for the central pool, with crop purchases touching 107.43 lakh metric tonnes (MT) in the ongoing rabi marketing season.

Punjab had previously recorded an all-time high in wheat procurement for the central pool at 107.36 lakh MT in 2009-10.

The total crop procurement in Punjab has reached 107.70 lakh MT, out of which the contribution to the central pool is 107.43 lakh MT.

Procurement by private traders and for the Punjab state pool has reached 25,282 MT and 1,797 MT, respectively, a FCI official said in Chandigarh on Monday.

Punjab has kept a target for 110 lakh MT of wheat procurement this season, amid a foodgrain storage crisis.

“As about 26,000 MT of wheat is still arriving in the grain markets, the total procurement may reach 109 lakh MT,” an official said.

The record wheat procurement has been possible due to bumper wheat output prospects, with the state anticipating the highest-ever wheat production of 160 lakh MT this season on account of favourable weather conditions.

Notably, the highest-ever wheat output achieved by the state in the last 10 years was in 2008-09, at 157.33 lakh MT, followed by 157.16 lakh MT in 2007-08.

Because of extended cold conditions, wheat growers this year witnessed an increase in wheat yield by up to 2 quintals per hectare, which has boosted overall ouput, an official of the Punjab Agriculture Department said.

Meanwhile, wheat procurement for the central pool in the neighbouring state of Haryana has touched the 67.09 lakh tonne-mark, short of the record of 69.24 lakh MT in 2009-10.

Total wheat procurement in the state has reached 67.13 lakh MT, out of which 67.09 lakh MT is toward the central pool and rest was bought by private traders, an official of the Haryana Food and Supply department said.

Punjab has led the States by making record procurement of 108,47,828 tonne wheat followed by Haryana with 67,84,124 tonne. Madhya Pradesh have also surpassed the previous marks by procuring 40,04,477 tonne wheat. This year Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have also made significant procurement by purchasing 17, 04,338 tonne and 9,49,065 tonne respectively

Rice procurement in the Kharif Marketing season 2010-11 has also crossed the last year mark on the day. As on 20.5.2011, the procurement is 280,80,570 tonne while procurement last year on the day was 278,68,159 tonnes.

Studies on benefits and usefulness of bio-fertilizers on agriculture production reveal that on an average 10-20% increase in production can be realised by use of bio-fertilizers. In terms of nutrients, bio-fertilizers can provide 10-20 kg Nitrogen and can solublize 10-12 kg of P2 O5 per hectare per cropping season. Use of bio-fertilizers also improves soil health by helping other beneficial micro-organisms to grow.

Use of bio-fertilizers is being promoted through Integrated Nutrient Management, enhancing awareness and field demonstration.

Financial Support for establishment of bio-fertilizer production units is also provided under the National Project on Organic Farming as back-ended subsidy of 25%, restricted to Rs. 40 lakh, through NABARD.

Bio-fertilizers are products containing living micro-organisms which are agriculturally useful. Most commonly produced and marketed bio-fertilizers are Rhizobium, Azotobacter and Azospirillum and one such bio-fertilizer is phosphate solubilizer, called Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB).

With SIMFED (Sikkim State Cooperative and Marketing Federation), a State Government subsidiary and NERAMAC (North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited), a Government of India enterprise partnering in procuring and marketing of oranges from Sikkim, the value return that the producers could get has been very much encouraging.

Mandarin orange has been one of the important commercial fruit of Sikkim being cultivated since time immemorial. According to a rough estimate, Sikkim has nearly 6 thousand hectares of area under orange plantation which produces on an average of 1667 kg/hectare.The advent of Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan State, a centrally sponsored scheme, rapid area expansion has been initiated with a set target to double the area under orange cultivation. Orange farmers/producers are being provided with financial assistance for maintenance and area expansion of orange orchards.

Apart from the financial assistance, the Department of Horticulture and cash crop, Government ofSikkim, has also been providing the enterprising farmers and producers with planting materials, bio-pesticides and fungicides, tools and equipment, intensive training and exposure visit to National Research Centre for citrus at Nagpur and other progressive farmers’ field. With a remarkable progress made in terms of area expansion and ray of hope coming in the direction of high returns, a number of nurseries have been established for producing healthy and quality planting materials, while tissue culture laboratories in the private sectors has also been supplementing the requirement of quality planting materials.

The Department of Horticulture and cash crops has also identified areas best suited for area expansion under the mission for rejuvenation of orange cultivation and production. Concentrated focus to provide missing link taking into account the entire gamut for its enhancement has been put to practice. And with the Government declaration of making Sikkim a fully organic state by the year 2015, emphasis is being laid on providing bio-organic input for cultivation and production of this fruit.

It is interesting to note that in the last quarter of the year 2009, Export Import Bank of India (EXIM) had recommended to the State government for rejuvenation of orchards of about 20 years of age, gradual replanting of the older ones, soil reclamation and manuring around the tree and planting of new orchards with saplings from certified nursery that can go a long way in helping to realize the untapped export potential of mandarin orange.The report also had pointed out that processing of mandarin oranges in the form of juices, squash, marmalade and jam is critical as it results in increased shelf life and a far higher per unit value realization. Such processing lends itself to easy transportation thereby facilitating its exports.

The Bank had summed up its study on mandarin orange export potential of Sikkim by concluding that a facility needs to be established for sorting, grading and processing of mandarin oranges and other horticulture products which could be simultaneously used so as to achieve optimal utilization of the unit. This would entail creating an enabling environment for private sector investments in the State, it said.

The Bank also noted in its report that Sikkim is ideally suited to the extension of acreage under orange as the State has favorable topography and climate.The Bank had in its recommendation also called for setting up an autonomous board for mandarin growers which would act as a nodal point for extension work, help in farmer education and work closely with farmers’ cooperatives to improve farm management practices and the quality of farm produce. The board could also help with credit, marketing and information on the market, the bank had suggested.

With all such positive indicators in all the areas of orange cultivation and production, and projected drastic fall in the exports of mandarin oranges from China, it is for sure that with guided policy intervention and development of required infrastructure, Sikkim can initiate to exploit this void in the global market.(PIB Features)

*Freelance Journalist

The workshop deliberated on the challenges faced by agriculture and allied sectors in the North East with the following aims:

• to establish a network of farmers’ field schools, rural labour group enterprises and women SHGs for the introduction and diffusion of ecologically and socially just practices of sustainable agriculture
• formulate a plan for the preparation and production of learning materials for cultivators and rural labour
• deliberate on the policy interventions to be undertaken for advocacy on the subject with the central and state governments and
• plan for a jatha for environment building to be taken up with the help of the network proposed to be set up for the diffusion of the idea of establishment of farmers’ field schools, rural labour group enterprises and women SHGs in the states of North East.

UNIQUE

INITIATIVES

A field trip was organised for the delegates to the paddy fields where the system of rice intensification (SRI) is being practiced and to the land developed and handed over to the tribal people as well as other traditional forest dwellers under the Forest Rights Act. Under the SRI with better agronomic practices, Tripura has managed to enhance productivity sustainably and 76,000 hectares of cultivable paddy lands have been brought under this method of cultivation. This is 31 per cent of total paddy area. More than 7 lakh farmers are engaged in this method of cultivation. In 2011-12, it is to be expanded to one lakh hectares. This system has enhanced productivity from the 3 tonnes/hectare under conventional method to more than 5 tonnes/hectare. Some farmers have also managed to get around 9 tonnes/hectare. The policy of developing seed villages and certified seed growers or seed guarantors has also ensured that Tripura which was dependent on outside agencies for paddy seeds is now seed surplus as far as high yielding varieties of paddy is concerned and also exporting to other states.

Under the Forest Rights Act, an area of about 1, 77,000 hectares has been distributed to 1,17,000 tribal beneficiaries. While a part of this land will be brought under zero tillage for agriculture a large part is being developed with horticultural crops to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities to the beneficiaries. This will retain their symbiotic relationship with the forest and also ensure their socio-economic development while conserving the ecological balance of the area. The Tripura government has taken up a programme to develop the lands given to tribals and other traditional forest dwellers under the FRA with horticultural crops like guava, papaya, pineapple, mango intercropped with leguminous crops which naturally fix nitrogen and providing irrigation facilities. Bamboo cultivation is also being encouraged on these lands. Tripura has been acclaimed for its excellent effort at implementation of the FRA. The delegates from other North Eastern states were impressed by the unique initiatives of the Tripura government on these fronts.

Representatives from the AIKS, the All Mizoram Farmers’ Union, the Naga Farming Association, Gana Mukti Parishad, Rashtriya Gramin Viksa Nidhi, Manipur Rongmei Naga Baptist Association, Manipur Kisan Sabha attended the workshop. The representatives of the Naga Farming Association traveled all the way from Tuensang in eastern Nagaland by road and reached Agartala after six days to take part in the workshop. The organic products like soyabean, rajma, jobs-tear, millets and ginger cultivated by them were also brought and exhibited. The huge size of the Nadia ginger evoked curiosity from all the delegates and the Tripura horticulture department took the Naga delegates for a live demonstration of their cultivation method at the research station.

Another important highlight of the workshop concerned experience sharing by the people’s science movement (PSM) groups on bio-farming, non-pesticide management of crops like cotton and chilly. The delegates deliberated on the challenges facing the ICAR, agricultural universities and government departments. The response offered by the ICAR scientists, agricultural universities and government departments to the proposals made on the basis of experience of PSM experiments was extremely positive. It was heartening to note that they were ready to collaborate with the farmers’ organisations and people’s science movements to build a movement which is active on the ground for the introduction of location-specific practices of sustainable agriculture.

INTEGRATED AGENDA

FOR AGRICULTURE

The workshop recommended that in order to institutionalise the practices of sustainable agriculture, it would be worthwhile for the state governments and local self-governing institutions to switch to area based development strategies. The state governments were called upon to take to strategies that are ecologically and socially just and sustainable and are embedded in the area specific common action plan. The workshop asked the state governments to develop area development based plans that also integrate the components based on the goal of meeting the local demands of nutrition, food self-sufficiency, sustainability and exportability within the North Eastern region. It was noted that if the true aspirations of peoples are to be currently addressed by the governments, the efforts of all line departments/developmental agencies should be coherently integrated. In the twelfth Five Year plan the state governments were advised to work on the basis of an integrated agenda for agriculture and allied sectors. The governments were asked to give up on the mindset of working in silos. It was noted that to bring this change in their mindset the Governments should forbid the line departments from working separately. They should make the departments to work on mainly those targets that have been derived from collectively prepared area development based plans. Inter-sectoral linkages should be built up by strengthening the process of preparation of area specific action plan and by abandoning the practice of depending on a individually worked out department wise target for that area.  It was noted that as rural development department is at the moment shouldering the responsibility of rural development but in essence it is not working on the basis of area based development plans in most of the North Eastern states. The governments should ensure the incorporation of components as per the people’s demands from the sectors of agriculture/horticulture/ARDD/ fisheries etc while framing an action plan for a specific area.  In the event of selection of beneficiaries, a line department as an experimental basis should have the freedom to choose 25 per cent of beneficiaries for developing demonstration plots / units in that area so that a comparative study with regards to the applicability and utility of this approach can be made.

It is further planned to collaborate with the ICAR and universities and government departments to build a movement which is active on the ground for the introduction of location-specific practices of sustainable agriculture. It has been decided to hold another workshop on shifting cultivation and redeveloped jhum in June involving practicing Jhumias from the different North Eastern states. State-wise workshops are also planned to disseminate the recommendations of the workshop. A jatha programme is planned in 2012 to take forward the suggestions of the workshop. The workshop undoubtedly was a significant beginning. The gains have to be consolidated and efforts have to be made to disseminate the best practices to the widest possible sections of the cultivating peasantry. The proposed workshop on shifting cultivation and redeveloped jhum as well as state-wise workshops and development of learning materials in regional languages and its dissemination is a step forward in the direction of promoting sustainable agricultural practices and making agriculture viable in the North East.

Conditions for allowing foreign investment for production and development of seeds and planting material have been liberalised. The government has granted unjustifiable concessions to the MNCs and has allowed 100 per cent FDI in development of seeds, horticulture, planting materials and services related to agro and allied sectors where the entry route is automatic and unrestricted. Floriculture, horticulture, vegetable cultivation, mushrooms, pisciculture, aquaculture and animal husbandry including poultry and rearing of animals under intensive farming systems under controlled conditions have been fully opened up for foreign agribusinesses that are purely driven by profit motive. This is bound to seriously compromise the interests of millions of peasants engaged in dairying, poultry and other such activities for their livelihood.

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) is of the opinion that the latest government’s move will lead to an accelerated dismantling of the National Seeds Corporation and the system of making quality seeds available to the peasantry at affordable rates. Indian seed manufacturers will be adversely affected and peasants would be at the mercy of the MNCs for the supply of seeds. There will be no control over seed prices or royalty and seed monopolies will be further strengthened. Dangerously, FDI has now been permitted in the development and production of seeds and planting material, without the stipulation of having to do so under “controlled conditions.” This could have serious implications and the possibility of contamination of strains in the case of open field trials as well as compromising our biodiversity cannot be altogether ruled out.

In the plantation sector also in tea plantations, 100 per cent FDI has been allowed. This could spark a wave of takeovers of small plantations and the possibility of future land use change to indulge in real estate speculative activities is also open. The lives of millions of small players and plantation workers (a large number of them tribals) will also be put into peril. States like Kerala, Tamilnadu, Bengal, Assam, Tripura and other north eastern states will be adversely affected by this move.

This premier organisation along with the state agricultural education universities (SAUs) plays a critical role in determining the quality of agricultural higher education in the country.

However, the ICAR and the SAUs are in deep crisis and questions are being raised over their abilities to cope with the new challenges.

The higher education goals in agriculture and its allied disciplines do not reflect the potential it enjoys in an agricultural country like India. At present, there are only 30,000 students in the 50-odd university-level agricultural institutions and there are hardly any institutes that offer courses on agri-entrepreneurship.

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In the first half of 2010-11, farm sector has achieved growth of 3.8%, rebounding from -0.1% and 0.4% in the preceding two years.  The full-year growth in farm sector is estimated to be 5.4%. Substantial expansion in area and production of major crops has been witnessed in both kharif and rabi seasons.  In the Annual Report of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (Ministry of Agriculture), the Department has expressed satisfaction over the growth of investment and capital formation in agriculture in the recent past. As per the Annual Report, the total expenditure in the first four  years of  the  Eleventh Plan is estimated
to be Rs. 44,413 crore, up from Rs. 14,952 crore in the entire 5 year period of the Tenth Plan.  The Gross Capital Formation, or investment, in agriculture sector related to GDP in this sector has shown a substantial increasing trend from 15.8% in 2005-06 to 22.3% in 2009-10. In absolute terms, the capital formation in agriculture and allied activities in 2009-10 was over Rs. 1.3 lakh crore.  As per the Central Statistical Organisation’s estimates, the share of agriculture in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has fallen from 17.4% in 2006-07 to 14.2% in 2011-11.  Agriculture Ministry feels that the falling share of agriculture in GDP is an expected outcome in a fast growing and structurally changing economy.

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Government has been implementing National Food Security Mission-pulses in 16 major pulses producing states in the country to enhance the production and productivity of pulses in the country.

Besides, Accelerated Pulses Production Programme (A3P) was also launched from Kharif, 2010 as a part of NFSM-Pulses for demonstration of Production and Protection Technologies as Village Level Compact Blocks for enhanced production and productivity of pulses as well as motivating farmers for increased investment in promoting pulses production. Assistance is also being provided to the farmers under other crop development programmes such as Integrated development of 60,000 villages of Pulses, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Macro Management of Agriculture (MMA) & “Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India” (BGEI) for enhancing agricultural production including that of pulses.

In 2010-11, in addition to above mentioned schemes, two new programmes relating to bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India and integrated development of 60000 Pulses and Oilseeds Villages in rainfed areas have been initiated under RKVY. National Food Security Mission has been strengthened with the merger of pulses component of ISOPOM and inclusion of two new potential States of Assam andJharkhand for Pulses production. A new programme Accelerated Pulses Productionprogramme (A3P) in the form of block demonstrations has been started to cover 1000 unit of 1000 hectare each of five pulses crops in 16 pulses growing States of the country.

Government has approved following crop production targets (Kharif/Rabi) for the year 2010-11.

(Million Tonnes)

The pulses acreage is up by 13.66 lakh hectare and oilseeds by 3.41 lakh hectare compared to last year.

The cropped areas this year and last year for major rabi crops are as follows:

Quantities of sugarcane crushed by sugar mills in the country and sugar produced during last three sugar seasons (Oct.-Sept.) are as under : -

Government did not export sugar on  its account during the last three year. Export of sugar is undertaken by sugar mills /merchant exporters, as per their commercial operations. The prices of sugar in the international market varied from time to time and data on export prices realized by such exporters are not maintained by Government.

As per data received from Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), Kolkata, 58.23 lac tons, 2.16 lac tons and 2.37 lac tons of sugar were exported during 2007-08,2008-09,and 2009-10 sugar seasons, respectively.

Government has taken number of steps to increase production of sugarcane and sugar in the country as detailed at Annex. As a result, the production of sugar during current sugar season 2010-11 is estimated to be higher than last sugar season.

This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Prof. K.V. Thomas  in a written reply to a question, in the Lok Sabha

To increase production of coarse cereals in the country, the Government is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Integrated Cereals Development Programme in Coarse Cereals Based Cropping Systems Areas (ICDP-Coarse Cereals)” subsumed under Macro Management Mode of Agriculture. Under this scheme, assistance is provided to farmers for demonstration of improved package of practices, support for quality seeds of high yielding varieties and hybrids, resource conservation technologies, integrated nutrient and pest management etc. The scheme also provides flexibility to the States to implement new/innovative activities as per their local needs. Besides, frontline demonstrations are also organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research/State Agriculture Universities on the farmers’ fields to popularize the frontier technologies among farmers. Further, Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil Palm and Maize” (ISOPOM), inter-alia, aims to increase the production and productivity of maize in the country.

This information was given by Shri Arun Yadav, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

Among the major agencies engaged in warehousing and storage, Food Corporation of India (FCI) constructs godowns for its own need of procurement and public distribution. The storage facilities of CWC and SWCs are by and large used by FCI, traders and for stocking fertilizers.

In 2000, a High Level Expert Committee set up by the government to consider various aspects of the problems related to storage of agricultural produce and to improve country’s storage space and also storage technology recommended creation of about 20 lakh tonne storage capacity in rural and semi-urban areas. The National Agriculture Policy has also emphasised creation of storage facilities for agri produce, particularly in rural areas. An Inter Ministerial Task Force set up by the Ministry of Agriculture has in its report recommended in 2002 that in addition to 78.83 MT available storage space in the country, 13 MT more space may be added during the 10^th Plan period.   Of this, 9 MT was to be created in private and cooperative sectors. Similarly, the 11^th Plan Working Group suggested for creation of 35 MT storage capacity with an investment of Rs. 7687 crore.

Accordingly, in 2001 the government launched Gramin Bhandaran Yojana for construction/renovation of rural godowns in the country. The main objectives of the scheme include creation of scientific storage capacity with allied facilities in rural areas to meet requirements of farmers for storing farm produce, processed farm produce, agricultural inputs, etc. and prevention of distress sale by creating the facility of pledge loan and marketing credit. The scheme is demand-driven and not location specific. Banks sanction the projects depending on the viability of the project.

Eligibility:

The project for construction of rural godowns can be taken up by individuals, farmers, group of farmers/growers, partnership, proprietary firms, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), companies, cooperatives, federations, Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees, Marketing Boards and Agro Processing Corporations. Assistance for renovation of godowns is, however, restricted to godownsconstructed by cooperatives only.

Under the scheme, the entrepreneur is free to construct godown at any place, as per his/her commercial judgment except for the restriction that it should be outside the limits of the Municipal Corporation area. Rural godowns constructed in the Food Parks promoted by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries are also eligible under the scheme for assistance. Capacity of a godown is to be decided by the entrepreneur. However, subsidy under the scheme is restricted to a minimum capacity of 100 tonnes and maximum capacity of 10, 000 tonnes.

Rural godowns of smaller sizes upto 50 tonnes capacity are also eligible for subsidy under the scheme as a special case based on viability analysis. In hilly areas, where the project site is located at a height of more than 1000 meters above mean sea level, rural godowns of smaller sizes upto 25 tonnes capacity are also eligible for subsidy.

A capacity of 271.97 lakh tonne has been sanctioned by NABARD and NCDC all over the country since the inception of the scheme. It includes subsidy release of Rs. 666.36 crore and total investment of Rs. 5764.85 crore.

Subsidy Pattern:

Under the revised scheme, subsidy @ 25% is given to all categories of farmers, agriculture graduates, cooperatives and CWC/SWCs. All other categories of individual companies and corporations are given subsidy @ 15% of the project cost. In case of NE States/hilly areas and SC/ST entrepreneurs and their cooperatives and women farmers, subsidy is 33.33%.

The scheme is being implemented by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, Faridabad and its sub-offices through NABARD and NCDC. Awareness and training programmes under the scheme are organized by the National Institute for Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), Jaipur.

Budgetary allocation for the scheme during Tenth and Eleventh Five Year Plan is given below:

Besides attracting FDI through schemes like Mega Food Park, the Government has also extended several fiscal incentives during this financial year to enhance FDI in food processing sector like:-

Full exemption from excise duty has been given to specified equipments for preservation, storage or transport of apiary, horticultural, dairy, poultry, aquatic & marine produce and meat and processing thereof.

Project imports status, with concessional rate of basic customs duty of 5% has been granted to the initial setting up or substantial expansion of a cold storage, cold room (including farm pre-coolers) for preservation or storage or an industrial unit for processing of agricultural, apiary, horticultural, dairy, poultry, aquatic & marine produce and meat.

Truck Refrigeration units manufacturing refrigerated vans/trucks have been fully exempted from basic customs duty.

Exemption from service tax has been provided to services relating to ‘Erection, Commission or installation’ of

• Mechanized Food Grain Handling Systems etc.
• Equipment for setting up or substantial expansion of cold storage; and
• Machinery/equipment for initial setting up or substantial expansion of units for processing of agricultural, dairy, poultry, aquatic, marine or meat products.

The scope of exemption of service tax has been expanded to include food grains and pulses in addition to fruits, vegetable, eggs and milk.

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]]> http://indiacurrentaffairs.org/agricultural-production-statistics-need-revisiting/feed/ 0 http://indiacurrentaffairs.org/growing-up-in-the-danger-fields/ http://indiacurrentaffairs.org/growing-up-in-the-danger-fields/#comments Thu, 17 Feb 2011 07:21:29 +0000 India Current Affairs http://indiacurrentaffairs.org/?p=18882 Introduction
Background

Objectives of the study

IntroductionBackgroundThe use of child labour in the production of hybrid seeds in India has received a lot ofattention in recent years. Though there are a number of studies available on the nature andmagnitude of child labour in hybrid cottonseed production, little information is available onthe situation of child labour in hybrid vegetable seed production. The principal aim of thepresent investigation is to examine the nature and magnitude of child labour in vegetableseed farms producing seed for both local and multinational companies. The present studyfocuses on five important crops namely tomato, sweet and hot pepper, okra and brinjal1which are highly labour-intensive.India currently produces vegetables on nearly 8 million hectares2 and about 30% of thisarea is covered with hybrid varieties. The market for hybrid vegetable seeds is high and landfor seed production is rapidly growing in the country. A number of seed companies, bothnational companies and multinationals, are involved in the production and marketing ofhybrid vegetable seeds in India. Hybrid seed production in crops like tomato, hot pepper,sweet pepper, brinjal and okra is a highly labour and capital-intensive activity. Seeds areproduced through cross-pollination which is done manually.Like in hybrid cottonseed production, there is a marked preference among vegetable seedfarmers for children, particularly girls, to undertake the hybridization activity which is themost labour-intensive activity in vegetable seed cultivation. Children are employed on along-term contract basis through advances and loans extended to their parents by local seedproducers. These producers, in turn, have agreements with the seed companies (local, nationaland multinational) who produce and market hybrid vegetable seeds. Children are made towork long hours and are paid less than official minimum wages. They are also exposed topoisonous pesticides which are used in high quantities in vegetable seed cultivation.Objectives of the study• To examine the nature and magnitude of child labour in hybrid hot and sweetpepper, tomato, okra and brinjal farms in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujaratstates in India.• To examine the working conditions (nature of labour arrangements, wages, workinghours etc) of children and adults employed on hybrid vegetable seed farms.• To examine the socio-economic background of children working on hybridvegetable seed farms.• To examine any discrimination by employers in the treatment of a) Dalit andAdivasi children and non-Dalit and non-Adivasi children and b) female childworkers and male child workers.• To explore the nature of linkages between national and multinational seedcompanies, and local seed producers who employ children in the production ofhybrid vegetable seed farms and their response to child labour in this industry.

FOR DETAIL BOOKLET CLICK HERE. . .dangerfields

The Committee of Experts, headed by Prof. A Vaidyanathan, was constituted in 2009 to study a system of agricultural statistics and recommend necessary improvements.

The Expert Committee today submitted its final report to Agriculture Secretary, ShriP.K. Basu.  The Committee had earlier submits its interim report in July, 2010.

The Report has brought out that the deficiencies in the current system, of both area and yield estimation, arise from serious lacunae in institutional arrangements to collect, supervise and validate basic data on large scale on diverse crops.  The immediate focus, therefore, should be on putting in place an institutional arrangement that would provide reliable and timely data needed for monitoring agricultural trends and for policy making at the state and national levels.

The Committee has recommended setting up of National Crop Statistics Centre (NCSC) as the nodal agency to undertake the work in collaboration with the Departments of Agriculture and Space. Its primary responsibility will be to provide reliable and timely estimates, at state and national levels, of area under major crops through complete enumeration of plots in selected sample villages and of crop yields based on properly conducted crop cutting experiments.

The Committee has also recommended the expansion of the present remote sensingprogramme.  The aim is to provide reliable and validated in-season forecasts and end-season estimates of area for a wider range of crops at state and national levels, as well as comprehensive and detailed plot level data of land use and crops at village level.

The remote sensing unit will be an integral part of the NCSC and will work under the guidance of its governing council. It should provide independent estimates of land use and crop area in the villages selected for NCSC’s field survey for a rigorous comparison of RS estimates with estimates based on plot wise data collected in these villages. In addition it should be responsible for developing improved techniques of image analysis and validation; arranging for training of personnel in the state and regional remote sensing centres; providing technical advice and analysis needed for informed decisions on the design of satellites and hardware to meet the data needs of users at affordable cost; and help in planning strategies for expanding the scope and scale of RS techniques. In all these activities, the unit is expected to function under the overall policy guidance of the NCSC governing council and work in close collaboration with the Ministry, NRSA and agricultural research organizations.

-2-

The Committee has also suggested strengthening of the Directorate of Economics & Statistics for effective implementation of the recommendations of the Committee.

Background on the setting up of  the Expert Committee

In pursuance to recommendations of Steering Committee on Agriculture & Allied Sector for formulation of 11^th Five Year Plan set up by Planning Commission for thorough review of Schemes for collection of Agricultural Statistics for bringing about lasting improvements in basic system of agricultural statistics and as per decisions taken in the meeting with National Statistical Commission (NSC), the Government constituted a Committee of Experts to (a) look into the problems relating to the methodology and procedures followed for the collection/ estimation of data on land use, cropping and yields and suggest measures for improvement and (b) assess the potential of remote sensing techniques to collect these data and to indicate how to utilize this potential and (c) suggest institutional framework for improvement of agricultural statistics.

The Composition of Committee is as follows:

Following from the first four, the final report focused on causes of famer distresses and the rise in farmer suicides, and recommends addressing them through a holistic national policy for farmers. The findings and recommendations encompass issues of access to resources and social security entitlements.

This 4-page summary is a quick reference point highlighting the key findings and policy recommendations under land reforms, irrigation, credit and insurance, food security, employment, productivity of agriculture and farmer competitiveness.

Background

The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) was constituted on November 18, 2004 under the chairmanship of Professor M.S. Swaminathan.  The Terms of Reference reflected the priorities listed in the Common Minimum Programme.  The NCF submitted four reports in December 2004, August 2005, December 2005 and April 2006 respectively.  The fifth and final report was submitted on October 4, 2006.  The reports contain suggestions to achieve the goal of “faster and more inclusive growth” as envisaged in the Approach to 11^th Five Year Plan.

Terms of Reference

The NCF is mandated to make suggestions on issues such as:

• a medium-term strategy for food and nutrition security in the country in order to move towards the goal of universal food security over time;
• enhancing productivity, profitability, and sustainability of the major farming systems of the country;
• policy reforms to substantially increase flow of rural credit to all farmers;
• special programmes for dryland farming for farmers in the arid and semi-arid regions, as well as for farmers in hilly and coastal areas;
• enhancing the quality and cost competitiveness of farm commodities so as to make them globally competitive;
• protecting farmers from imports when international prices fall sharply;
• empowering elected local bodies to effectively conserve and improve the ecological foundations for sustainable agriculture;

Key Findings and Recommendations

Causes for farmers’ distress

Agrarian distress has led farmers to commit suicide in recent years.  The major causes of the agrarian crisis are: unfinished agenda in land reform, quantity and quality of water, technology fatigue, access, adequacy and timeliness of institutional credit, and opportunities for assured and remunerative marketing.  Adverse meteorological factors add to these problems.

Farmers need to have assured access and control over basic resources, which include land, water, bioresources, credit and insurance, technology and knowledge management, and markets.  The NCF recommends that “Agriculture” be inserted in the Concurrent List of the Constitution.

Land Reforms

Land reforms are necessary to address the basic issue of access to land for both crops and livestock.  Land holdings inequality is reflected in land ownership.  In 1991-92, the share of the bottom half of the rural households in the total land ownership was only 3% and the top 10% was as high as 54%.

Table 1: Distribution of Land

Source: Table 1 of the Fifth NCF Report based on Some Aspects of Household Ownership Landholdings-1991-92. NSS Report-399

Some of the main recommendations include:

• Distribute ceiling-surplus and waste lands;
• Prevent diversion of prime agricultural land and forest to corporate sector for non-agricultural purposes.
• Ensure grazing rights and seasonal access to forests to tribals and pastoralists, and access to common property resources.
• Establish a National Land Use Advisory Service, which would have the capacity to link land use decisions with ecological meteorological and marketing factors on a location and season specific basis.
• Set up a mechanism to regulate the sale of agricultural land, based on quantum of land, nature of proposed use and category of buyer.

Irrigation

Out of the gross sown area of 192 million ha, rainfed agriculture contributes to 60 per cent of the gross cropped area and 45 per cent of the total agricultural output.  The report recommends:

• A comprehensive set of reforms to enable farmers to have sustained and equitable access to water.
• Increase water supply through rainwater harvesting and recharge of the aquifer should become mandatory. “Million Wells Recharge” programme, specifically targeted at private wells should be launched.
• Substantial increase in investment in irrigation sector under the 11^th Five Year Plan apportioned between large surface water systems; minor irrigation and new schemes for groundwater recharge.

Productivity of Agriculture

Apart from the size of holding, the productivity levels primarily determine the income of the farmers.  However, the per unit area productivity of Indian agriculture is much lower than other major crop producing countries.

Table 2: Comparative Yield of Select Crops in Various Countries (Kg/ha)

Source: Table 3 of the Fifth NCF Report based on Agriculture At a Glance [2002] Ministry of Agriculture

In order to achieve higher growth in productivity in agriculture, the NCF recommends:

• Substantial increase in public investment in agriculture related infrastructure particularly in irrigation, drainage, land development, water conservation, research development and road connectivity etc.
• A national network of advanced soil testing laboratories with facilities for detection of micronutrient deficiencies.
• Promotion of conservation farming, which will help farm families to conserve and improve soil health, water quantity and quality and biodiversity.

Credit and Insurance

Timely and adequate supply of credit is a basic requirement of small farm families.

The NCF suggests:

• Expand the outreach of the formal credit system to reach the really poor and needy.
• Reduce rate of interest for crop loans to 4 per cent simple, with government support.
• Moratorium on debt recovery, including loans from non-institutional sources, and waiver of interest on loans in distress hotspots and during calamities, till capability is restored.
• Establish an Agriculture Risk Fund to provide relief to farmers in the aftermath of successive natural calamities.
• Issue Kisan Credit Cards to women farmers, with joint pattas as collateral.
• Develop an integrated credit-cum-crop-livestock-human health insurance package.
• Expand crop insurance cover to cover the entire country and all crops, with reduced premiums and create a Rural Insurance Development Fund to take up development work for spreading rural insurance.
• Promote sustainable livelihoods for the poor by improving (i) Financial services (ii) Infrastructure (iii) Investments in human development, agriculture and business development services (including productivity enhancement, local value addition, and alternate market linkages) and (iv) Institutional development services (forming and strengthening producers’ organisations such as self-help groups and water user associations).

Food Security

The Mid-term appraisal of the 10^th Plan revealed that India is lagging behind in achieving the Millennium Development Goals of halving hunger by 2015.  Therefore, the decline in per capita foodgrain availability and its unequal distribution have serious implications for food security in both rural and urban areas.

The proportion of households below the poverty line was 28% in 2004-05 (close to 300 million persons). However, in 1999-2000, the percentage of population consuming diets providing less than 2400 kcal (underlines definition of below poverty line) per capita per day was almost 77% of the rural population.  Several studies have shown that the poverty is concentrated and food deprivation is acute in predominantly rural areas with limited resources such as rain-fed agricultural areas.

The report recommends:

• Implement a universal public distribution system. The NCF pointed out that the total subsidy required for this would be one per cent of the Gross Domestic Product.
• Reorganise the delivery of nutrition support programmes on a life-cycle basis with the participation of Panchayats and local bodies.
• Eliminate micronutrient deficiency induced hidden hunger through an integrated food cum fortification approach.
• Promote the establishment of Community Food and Water Banks operated by Women Self-help Groups (SHG), based on the principle ‘Store Grain and Water everywhere’.
• Help small and marginal farmers to improve the productivity, quality and profitability of farm enterprises and organize a Rural Non-Farm Livelihood Initiative.
• Formulate a National Food Guarantee Act continuing the useful features of the Food for Work and Employment Guarantee programmes. By increasing demand for foodgrains as a result of increased consumption by the poor, the economic conditions essential for further agricultural progress can be created.

Prevention of Farmers’ Suicides

In the last few years, a large number of farmers have committed suicide.  Cases of suicides have been reported from states such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh.  The NCF has underlined the need to address the farmer suicide problem on a priority basis.

Some of measures suggested include:

• Provide affordable health insurance and revitalize primary healthcare centres. The National Rural Health Mission should be extended to suicide hotspot locations on priority basis.
• Set up State level Farmers’ Commission with representation of farmers for ensuring dynamic government response to farmers’ problems.
• Restructure microfinance policies to serve as Livelihood Finance, i.e. credit coupled with support services in the areas of technology, management and markets.
• Cover all crops by crop insurance with the village and not block as the unit for assessment.
• Provide for a Social Security net with provision for old age support and health insurance.
• Promote aquifer recharge and rain water conservation. Decentralise water use planning and every village should aim at Jal Swaraj with Gram Sabhas serving as Pani Panchayats.
• Ensure availability of quality seed and other inputs at affordable costs and at the right time and place.
• Recommend low risk and low cost technologies which can help to provide maximum income to farmers because they cannot cope with the shock of crop failure, particularly those associated with high cost technologies like Bt cotton.
• Need for focused Market Intervention Schemes (MIS) in the case of life-saving crops such as cumin in arid areas. Have a Price Stabilisation Fund in place to protect the farmers from price fluctuations.
• Need swift action on import duties to protect farmers from international price.
• Set up Village Knowledge Centres (VKCs) or Gyan Chaupals in the farmers’ distress hotspots. These can provide dynamic and demand driven information on all aspects of agricultural and non-farm livelihoods and also serve as guidance centres.
• Public awareness campaigns to make people identify early signs of suicidal behavior.

Competitiveness of Farmers

It is imperative to raise the agricultural competitiveness of farmers with small land holdings.  Productivity improvement to increase the marketable surplus must be linked to assured and remunerative marketing opportunities.

The measures suggested by NCF include:

• Promotion of commodity-based farmers’ organisations such as Small Cotton Farmers’ Estates to combine decentralised production with centralised services such as post-harvest management, value addition and marketing, for leveraging institutional support and facilitating direct farmer-consumer linkage.
• Improvement in implementation of Minimum Support Price (MSP). Arrangements for MSP need to be put in place for crops other than paddy and wheat. Also, millets and other nutritious cereals should be permanently included in the PDS.
• MSP should be at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production.
• Availability of data about spot and future prices of commodities through the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCD) and the NCDEX and the APMC electronic networks covering 93 commodities through 6000 terminals and 430 towns and cities.
• State Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Acts [APMC Acts] relating to marketing, storage and processing of agriculture produce need to shift to one that promotes grading, branding, packaging and development of domestic and international markets for local produce, and move towards a Single Indian Market.

Employment

Structural change in the workforce is taking place in India albeit slowly.  In 1961, the percentage of the workforce in agriculture was 75.9%. while the number decreased to 59.9% in 1999-2000.  But agriculture still provides the bulk of employment in the rural areas.

The overall employment strategy in India must seek to achieve two things.  First, create productive employment opportunities and second to improve the ‘quality’ of employment in several sectors such that real wages rise through improved productivity.  The measures to do so include:

• Accelerating the rate of growth of the economy;
• Emphasizing on relatively more labour intensive sectors and inducing a faster growth of these sectors; and
• Improving the functioning of the labour markets through such modification as may be necessary without eroding the core labour standards.
• Encourage non-farm employment opportunities by developing particular sectors and sub-sectors where demand for the product or services is growing namely: (i) trade, (ii) restaurants and hotels, (iii) transport, (iv) construction, (v) repairs and (vi) certain services.
• The “net take home income” of farmers should be comparable to those of civil servants.

Bioresources

Rural people in India depend on a wide range of bioresources for their nutrition and livelihood security.  The report recommends:

• Preserving traditional rights of access to biodiversity, which include access to non-timber forest products including medicinal plants, gums and resins, oil yielding plants and beneficial micro-organisms;
• Conserving, enhancing and improving crops and farm animals as well as fish stocks through breeding;
• Encouraging community-based breed conservation (i.e. conservation through use);
• Allowing export of indigenous breeds and import of suitable breeds to increase productivity of nondescript animals.

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We are likely to produce 232.07 million tonnes of foodgrains during 2010-11 compared to 218.11 million tonnes last year. This is only marginally below the record production of 234.47 million tonnes of foodgrains in 2008-09.  We are likely to achieve record production of wheat (81.47 million tonnes), pulses (16.51 milliontonnes) and cotton (339.27 lakh bales of 170 kg. each) this year.

Central Statistics Office (CSO) has estimated that the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector is likely to show a growth of 5.4% in its GDP during 2010-11, as against the previous year’s growth of 0.4%.  The second advance estimates of crop production for 2010-11 confirm the findings of CSO.

It may be noted that such a high level of production will be achieved despite significant crop damage due to widespread drought in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal and the effects of cyclones, unseasonal & heavy rains, and severe cold wave & frost conditions in several parts of the country.

The major credit for this second highest ever production goes to the resilience shown by our farmers. However, their efforts would not have yielded such rich dividends without the backing of our scientists and the extension machinery in the States.  The Central Government has supported these efforts through several policy initiatives.  There has been huge increase in investment in recent years – Gross Capital Formation in Agriculture as a proportion of agricultural GDP has gone up from 14.1% in 2004-05 to 21.3% in 2008-09.  Flow of agriculture credit in 2010-11 is likely to reach Rs.4 lakh crore from the level of Rs.86,981 crore in 2003-04.  MSPs of major crops such as paddy, wheat and pulses have increased by between 75% to 125% between 2004-05 and 2010-11.  Adequate and timely supply of agricultural inputs including seeds and fertilizers has been ensured. Focused interventions under several schemes including Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Food Security Mission,Accelerated Pulses Production Programme have helped the farmers in achieving bumper crop production.

The production estimates for major crops for 2010-11 are as follows:

Foodgrains  –  232.07 million tonnes

Rice  –  94.01 million tonnes

Wheat  –  81.47 million tonnes

Coarse Cereals  –  40.08 million tonnes

Maize  –  20.03 million tonnes

Pulses  –  16.51 million tonnes

Tur  –  3.18 million tonnes

Urad  –  1.45 million tonnes

Moong  –  1.12 million tonnes

Oilseeds  –  27.85 million tonnes

Soyabean  –  10.47 million tonnes

Groundnut  –  6.81 million tonnes

Cotton  –  33.93 million bales of 170 kg each.

MP:CP:2^nd advance estimates (9.2.2011)

This came out in the meeting of the General Council of the Mission, which met under the Chairmanship of Shri Sharad Pawar, Agriculture Minister . The Council took stock of the implementation of Scheme over the years.

The interventions under the Mission have helped in increasing the production of horticultural commodities from 166.9 million tonnes in 2004-05 to 226.9 million tonnes by 2009-10, registering a growth rate of about seven percent per year. There has been consistent increase in the exports of horticultural produce, which has reached the level of Rs. 13,423.76 crore during 2009-10.

With the implementation of the Scheme in the last five years, an area of 16.57 lakh hectares has been brought under horticultural crops. About 2.78 lakh ha of senile orchards have been rejuvenated. Organic farming has been taken up in 1.37 lakh ha. Besides, 2.47 lakh honey bee colonies along with hives have been distributed to farmers for enhancing productivity through cross pollination.

High priority has been accorded under the Horticulture Mission to promoting protected cultivation, particularly for taking up cultivation of vegetables under green houses and shade net houses in the peri-urban areas. Besides, protected cultivation of flowers is gaining momentum in various parts of the country.

Collaborative efforts have been made with the Government of Israel for getting state-of-the-art technology for cultivation of fruits and vegetables by creating Centres of Excellence. One such Centre of Excellence for Vegetables has been commissioned at Karnal, Haryana in January, 2011 with Mission’s support to the tune of Rs.6.00 crore.

Infrastructure facilities such as 2192 nurseries, 309 number of scientific infrastructure viz. Leaf Tissue Analysis Lab, Disease Forecasting Units, Bio Control Labs and Plant Health Clinics have been established in the public and private sector with the active participation of ICAR Institutes, State Agriculture Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK).

Under post harvest management, 1091 pack houses, 285 cold storage units, 4 controlled Atmosphere (CA) stores, 16 refrigerated vans and 264 mobile/ primary processing units have been set up. Moreover, 172 markets, including 9 wholesale markets, have been established for facilitating marketing of horticulture produce. Two Terminal Markets, one at Patna and the other at Erode, Tamil Nadu have been approved for setting up under the Public Private Partnership mode during the current year. These markets will have facilities to ensure transparency in operation and better price realization by the farmers.

Rs. 8809 crore has been earmarked for the Mission during the Eleventh Plan, out of which Rs. 2728 has been released till 2009-10. A provision of Rs. 986 crore has been earmarked for the current year (2010-11) against which an amount of Rs. 779.20 crore has been released so far.

The Mission is being implemented in 371 identified districts, in eighteen States and three UTs covering about 60 major horticultural crops. The Scheme guidelines have been revised recently to provide better incentives to the farmers and entrepreneurs involved in the development of horticulture. Some of the key areas identified for action by the Mission include evolving a robust mechanism to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change, strengthening of cold chain and market infrastructure and better delivery mechanism.

It was noted by the General Council that with high potential for growth, the horticulture sector is expected to play a significant role in boosting the overall growth rate in the farm sector.

Very often it is the absence of critical information that prevents decisions being made in any timely manner. This is very much so in the matter of agricultural products that are extremely perishable. The farming community very often has to confront some vital questions which has a bearing on their livelihood such as to when should I harvest, at what price should I sell my products, what are the optimal ways in which I can boost my crop productivity, whether favorable weather conditions can be expected or not etc etc!

Information on Mobile Phones

NABARD has embarked on an innovative programme with the help of the modern technology to help rural farmers across this information hurdle. It has entered into an arrangement with the Reuters Market Light (RML), a unit of Thomson Reuters group, to provide farmers with vital information regarding crop prices, weather conditions etc., by using the short messaging services (SMS) that can be sent through mobile phones.

The service will be available on all hand sets and mobile operators. As per the arrangement, RML will provide SMS service connection to members of the NABARD Farmers Club for a period of one year for which NABARD is bearing the annual subscription charges out of its Farmers Technology Transfer Fund (FTTF) a fund maintained by it to promote latest technology among farmers.

RML have been requested by NABARD to provide to member farmers with customized information on a daily basis on spot crop prices of minimum two crops and three markets, taluk level weather forecast, crop advisory, commodity news and other relevant information on market geographies. Accordingly, RML will be seeking preferences from Farmers clubs about crops and markets of their choice for transmission of information.

Around 750 members of NABARD Farmers Clubs from across the Tamil Naduare to be benefited in the first phase of the programme. In Madurai alone around 200 members will benefit from this experiment.

The formal approval for the project has been accorded by a sanctioning committee headed by Shri R.Narayan, Chief General Manager of Tamil Nadu Regional Office of NABARD.

This arrangement has been commissioned by NABARD based on the data on interested Farmers Club members furnished by District level NABARD officials stationed in different districts across the State. Two members from each Farmers Club have been selected for this facility in whose mobiles the information shall be made available. In turn they are expected to disseminate the information among the fellow farmers.

Free for the First Time!

Shri R.Shankarnarayan, AGM, NABARD, Madurai says that the objective of the initiative to provide cutting edge information using the SMS route is to ensure that farmers get the latest real time price information as also technological inputs to maximize their returns. This facility from RML is already available as a paid service in 15 States across the country such as Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. However, the facility is being made available free to the farmers in Tamil Nadu, for the first time in India. The subscription is being made available by NABARD.

He also pointed out NABARD was encouraged by the fact that farmers practicing intensive farming of cash crops such as Grapes have leveraged the facility to secure better prices. The facility also gives them the much needed weather forecast to suitably time their harvest.

Development of Software

NABARD has also been instrumental in the development of modern technologies for providing more up to date information regarding agricultural inputs like weather, crop prices, market conditions etc. One of the recent examples of such an initiative is the experiment inPune, Maharashtra for developing computer software for making information available for farmers.

The Software Institute for Rural Development (SIRD), Pune, jointly funded by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) under its Rural Innovation Fund and by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India , has developed a unique web-based software to help the farmers of Maharashtra to take investment decisions on farming operations on their land. The Vanarai Trust, Pune, a NGO involved in rural development, under the Presidentship of Padmavibhushan (Dr.) Mohan Dharia has also helped in developing the programme.

The software covers 65 farm and allied activities which are relevant to the agro-climatic conditions prevailing in Maharashtra. The software provides all necessary information related to the selected farm/ allied activities like the quantity and source of inputs like seeds, the farm practices to be followed (spacing of plants, soil nutrient requirements, irrigation requirements, fertilizer/ preventive pesticides applications needed, etc.), expected yield under the farm conditions, the prevailing market prices for the produce and the overall profitability of taking up the activity at farm level. This software can also be used by the financing banks for appraising the farm investments. (PIB Features)

*Assistant Director, Press Information Bureau, Madurai

Research has to generate robust agricultural technologies and innovations that can enhance productivity and incomes while conserving natural resource base for sustainability of the whole development process.

Understanding of farming systems and the farmers’ resources is critical to design and develop technologies that are acceptable to the resource poor farmers. ICAR laid due emphasis on developing a decision support system tool (DST) to facilitate farmers in deciding the profitable components for farming systems suited to their specific requirements.”

ICAR  giving  a key role in providing technological solutions and human resource development to achieve inclusive growth,  ICAR’s R&D achievements during the year provide satisfaction, and do point to India’s preparedness to meet both present and future challenges.

Release of 52 improved varieties and hybrids of important crops; and production of over 30,000 tonnes of better seeds of different categories will significantly improve crop agriculture in different agro climatic regions of the country.

Diagnostic kit DIVA is released for differentiating Foot and Mouth Disease infected and vaccinated animals is an innovative technique with potential application. Designation of Project Directorate on Foot and Mouth Diseases as FAO Regional Reference Laboratory for South Asia speaks of our emerging state-of-art laboratory facilities, Shri Pawar added.

ICAR’s Vision 2030 document  articulates the strategies to overcome the challenges and tap the opportunities by harnessing the power of science and undertaking boundary less partnership with different stakeholders in food supply chain at national and international level.

Source : Ministers Address at  the 82nd Annual General Meeting of ICAR

Silk Production

Over the last three decades, India silk production has steadily grown outpacing countries like Japan and erstwhile USSR which were once the leading silk producers.  India is now the second largest producer of raw silk in the World after China, with a production of about 19,690 tonnes in 2009-10.  This accounts for 15.5 per cent of global production.  India is also credited for being the only country producing all five distinct varieties of silk, namely, Mulberry, Tasar, Oak Tasar, Eri and Muga silks, along with the largest consumer of silk, with large imports of mulberry raw silk and silk fabrics from China.  Silk production in India has shown 7.2 per cent growth during 2009-10, over the previous year.  Vanya Silks such as Tasar,Eri and Muga, which is produced by the tribals  from Central and North Eastern India, has shown 22 per cent growth during 2009-10 over the previous year.  Vanya Silks have vast potential to be promoted as “Eco-Friendly Green Silks” and can create special market in the global market.

Central Silk Board

Taking into account the market opportunities available in the free-trade regime, the Textiles Ministry is looking not only at the increased production, but also at the quality product diversification, and competitive pricing through productivity improvements, for the overall development of the Indian sericulture and the silk industry.  The Central Silk Board has been consistently developing need-based cost cutting technologies,  and today, because of its efforts, India has become the pioneer in tropical sericulture technology.  Armed with this technology, the Board has evolved region specific mulberry varieties, and silkworm races suitable for producing Bivoltine cocoons of international quality silk and implementing Catalytic Development Programmes for upgrading the required infrastructure like independent silkworm rearing houses, modern rearing and cocooning equipments, drip irrigation kits, infrastructure support to private graineurs and augmentation of vanya silk host plantation.

Reeling Technology

Simultaneously, to reel these cocoons, the Central Silk Board is promoting better reeling practices through multi-end reeling machines supported by a contemporary technology package.  Automatic Silk reeling Machines have been imported from China for installation in the traditional silk producing States like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, which will produce import substitute international grade quality silk in bulk quantity.  With the increasing availability of good quality Bivoltine cocoons at prices commensurate with quality, apart from new entrepreneurs, even many traditional reelers have found business prospects in upgrading their conventional machinery, and have been able to produce better grades of fine mulberry silk.

Development of Vanya Silks

Development of Vanya silks is the Board’s another area of focus.  The breakthrough achieved by the Research Institutes in engineering new motorized Tasar and Muga reeling and twisting machines, and the spinning wheel for Eri has dramatically improved the quality of non-mulberry yarns, besides reducing the drudgery.  Eri spun silk  mills have been established to produce high grade spun silk.  This has facilitated product diversification in the Vanya Silk Sector, which is crucial to boost production mostly in the tribal tracts of the country.  In the backdrop of technological capabilities already developed, many non- traditional States have now come forward to facilitate the production of high quality silk cocoons and yarn.  The Central Silk Board has taken up field trials of Laria Tasar eco race silkworm rearing on naturalsal plantation and the results are encouraging.  This provides wide scope for increasing Tasarsilk production to the tune of 8,000 tonnes during Twelth Plan ending March, 2017 from 3,987tonnes during Eleventh Plan ending March, 2012.

Policy Intervention

Some of the steps which have been taken towards policy intervention are amending the Central Silk Board Act. The modifications inter-alia provid for quality standards for silkworm seeds, certification of silkworm seeds, quality norms for its import and export; The Central Silkworm Seed Regulations have recently been notified for the purpose; Anti-dumping duty has been imposed on silk yarn and fabrics imported from China which has helped to stabilize prices of silk yarn and fabric in domestic silk industry; National Fibre Policy has been drawn wherein emphasis has been given for strengthening the R&D and improving the quality and productivity; Sericulture has recently been included under the Rashtriya Krishi VikasYojana scheme so that the benefits hitherto enjoyed by the agriculture farmers under the above scheme is extended to sericulture farmers also; to help the small weavers, 2500 tonnes of high grade silk is being imported from China through the National Handloom Development Corporation and the same will be distributed to them at an affordable price.

Today, Indian silk is poised for a big leap in quality and productivity, and within a short period to cater to the diverse needs of both national and international silk consumers. This will help create a brand for “India Silk”, through generic promotion efforts. (PIB Features)

Bt Brinjal is a transgenic brinjal created out of inserting a gene [Cry 1Ac] from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis into Brinjal. The insertion of the gene into the Brinjal cell in young cotyledons has been done through an Agrobacterium-mediated vector, along with other genes like promoters, markers etc. This is said to give the Brinjal plant resistance against lepidopteran insects like the Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer (Leucinodes orbonalis) and Fruit Borer (Helicoverpa armigera). It is reported that upon ingestion of the Bt toxin by the insect, there would be disruption of digestive processes, ultimately resulting in the death of the insect.

Bt Brinjal is being developed in India by M/s Mahyco [Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company].

Now, the company wants to take up large scale field trials with the permission of the GEAC in 2006-07. The importance of this development can be understood from the fact that no GM Brinjal has been released for an advanced stage of field trials in open conditions anywhere in the world and that this is the first time that GEAC could be giving permission for large scale open trials for a food crop in India – in a country which has repeatedly proven itself incapable of regulating GM technology and has allowed contamination as a routine affair. The proliferation of illegal Bt Cotton in the country is a good testimony to serious irreversible lapses that could happen at the trials stage. Needless to say, a vegetable, more than other food items, goes through very little processing and is directly consumed through cooking and therefore requires great caution in decision-making.

The transformation work on Bt Brinjal started in Year 2000. Biosafety tests like pollen flow studies, acute oral toxicity etc., were taken up along with back-crossing programme from 2002. After two years of greenhouse evaluation, in 2004, multi-locational field trials were conducted in 11 locations with five hybrids [Mahyco’s MHB-4 Bt Brinjal, MHB-9 Bt Brinjal, MHB-10 Bt Brinjal, MHB-80 Bt Brinjal and MHB-99 Bt Brinjal]. This was also the year when ICAR [Indian Council for Agricultural Research] took up trials with the same hybrids under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Vegetable Cultivation in 11 locations. While the ICAR second year trials continued for these five hybrids in 2005, three more new hybrids were assessed by the company [MHB-11 Bt Brinjal, MHB-39 Bt Brinjal and MHB-112 Bt Brinjal] and ICAR in the same year in eleven centres.

Mahyco has sub-licensed the technology, as part of the USAID-supported, Cornell University-led ABSPII project [consortium of public and private sector institutions] to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), The University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad and The Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi (IIVR). This transfer of technology was apparently free-of-cost, with the public sector institutes allowed to develop, breed and distribute their own Bt Brinjal varieties on a cost-to-cost basis.

In addition to Mahyco, the National Research Center for Biotechnology at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) is also experimenting with Bt Brinjal. They developed a Bt eggplant using a Cry1Ab gene that is claimed to control 70 percent of the fruit borer attack. This institute had taken up agronomic trials in a controlled environment in 1998/99, 1999/2000, and 2000/2001. In 2003 they were permitted to conduct field trials in five locations – Delhi, Karnal, Pune, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research. Another company called Bejo Sheetal company, based in Jalna, Maharashtra, is also working on Bt Brinjal.

Brinjal in India

India is the Centre of Origin for Brinjal or Eggplant. Brinjal has been cultivated in India for the last 4000 years or so and has many historical references in various languages. It is grown all over the country, year-round and is one of the most popular vegetables of India. The area under cultivation is estimated to be around 5 lakh hectares. The total production stands at around 82 lakh metric tonnes. It is mainly grown in small plots as a cash crop by farmers. The average yields of Brinjal in India are reported to be around 200 to 350 quintals per hectare. The main growing areas are in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

There are many local varieties in India, in addition to improved varieties and hybrids. Some of the public sector improved varieties include Pusa Kranthi, Pusa Purple Cluster, Syamala etc. Hybrids include Arka Navneet, Pusa Hybrid 6, Utkarsha, Pusa Hybrid 5 etc. from the public sector in addition to private sector hybrids.

It is estimated that the damage caused by the Shoot & Fruit Borer in brinjal [which has been the major pest for the past two decades or so] ranges from 50 to 70% and in economic terms, it is estimated to be around $221 millions. It is to lend tolerance to this pest primarily that the Bt Brinjal has been developed.

The promises and claims

• It is reported that the average shoot damage in Bt Brinjal hybrids ranged from 0.04% to 0.3% as compared to 0.12% to 2.5% in non-Bt Brinjal hybrids.

• The percentage of damaged fruits reportedly ranged from 2.5% to 20% in Bt Brinjal to 24% to 58% in non-Bt counterparts

• No significant difference was noted between Bt Brinjal and Non-Bt Brinjal, as per the company which did biosafety tests like acute oral toxicity, sub-chronic oral toxicity in rats, allergenecity of protein to rats, germination, weediness and aggressiveness tests, soil micro-biota studies etc.

• This will help small and marginal farmers from having to use 25-80 sprays of pesticides which are ineffective, says the company

• The company claims that human health concerns due to pesticide use can be addressed with this transgenic Brinjal with its in-built tolerance

• Company promises that through this in-built tolerance, there would be substantial increase in marketable yields. Higher yields would result in higher incomes for farmers, it is expected

• The pricing of the seeds will be based on a cost-recovery model, making it affordable for all farmers, whether the seed comes from the private sector or the public sector, it is promised

• Farmers will be able to continue to save and re-use their seed for the hybrids and varieties because of this arrangement, it is reported

The reality

The current reality is that the Indian regulatory regime with regard to GM crops has never been assessed thoroughly as to whether the right questions are being asked with regard to GM risk assessment in Indian conditions. As in other parts of the world, the current safety assessments are inadequate to catch most of the harmful effects from GM crops, that too in an early warning system. It is no longer in question that GM technology is unpredictable and imprecise, that too when released in an open environment situation. Therefore, there are many worrisome issues with regard to this Bt Brinjal too.

Potential Health Hazards

Several studies on Bt crops in particular and GM crops in general show that there are many potential health hazards in foods bio-engineered in this manner. GM-fed animals in various studies have shown that there are problems with growth, organ development and damage, immune responsiveness and so on. With Bt crops, a recent study from Madhya Pradesh in India shows adverse human health impacts in farm and factory workers with allergies caused by Bt Cotton. Itching skin, eruptions on the body, swollen faces etc., were also reported, correlated with levels of exposure to Bt Cotton.

A study from Phillippines shows that people living next to Bt Corn crop fields had developed many mysterious symptoms, especially during pollination time.

It has also been shown from studies elsewhere that genes inserted into GM food survive digestive processes and are transferred into the human body. They are known to have transferred themselves into intestinal bacteria too. Bt toxin had caused powerful immune responses and abnormal cell growth in mice. It has also been shown that all the Cry proteins in Bt crops have amino acid sequence similar to known allergens and are hence potential allergens.

Potential Environmental Hazards [incl. Monoculture of Bt.]

Resistance development in the target pest is predictable and therefore, even the companies promoting Bt Brinjal are already talking about resistance management. They say that a structured refuge of 5% of non-Bt Brinjal is needed as a strategy for resistance management.

There have not been adequate tests done to assess the changes to the farm level ecology or stress intolerance of Bt Brinjal. In the case of Bt Cotton, however, it is now admitted in official records that Bt Cotton is more vulnerable to sucking pests than non-Bt counterparts, that it is more stress intolerant and so on. Disease incidence on Bt Cotton is also seen to be higher than on non-Bt Cotton.

In the case of Bt Cotton, it is only after a few years of commercial cultivation that recommendations related to some changed management practices are being made by the industry and the government. It is obvious that the research phase of the development of the transgenic did not happen long enough or comprehensively enough for such lessons to emerge during the experimentation phase. Experiments then, are happening at the expense of farmers!

Further, farmers from various parts of the country are reporting a decline in their soil productivity after growing Bt Cotton. While the regulatory tests related to Bt toxin presence and persistence in the case of Bt Cotton showed that the half-life of Cry1Ac protein in plant tissue was calculated at 41 days [which could then persist in the soil as other studies from elsewhere show], it is not clear how in the case of Bt Brinjal it is non-detectable in soil samples tested. Worldwide, it is generally accepted that more studies are needed to understand the impact of Bt toxin on soil ecology.

In the case of pollen flow, it is well known that there is ample opportunity for cross pollination in the case of Brinjal. The rates of natural cross pollination may vary depending on genotype, location, insect activity etc. However, it has been reported that the extent of natural outcrossing is from 2 to 48% in the case of India. Further, it is not clear whether there is enough data on the wild and weedy plants that are either close relatives or have some degree of cross-compatibility with these brinjal varieties. The pollen flow studies on Bt Brinjal in India have been done only in one year [2002, even as the backcrossing programme was on?], in two locations, with reported outcrossing put at 1.46% and 2.7% in these two locations. Such pollen flow studies cannot obviously rely on data from one season and two locations. Studies elsewhere have shown that the likelihood of outcrossing from genetically engineered crops is much higher than in non-engineered crops. For obvious reasons, the same care that is taken for maintaining seed production standards [of 200 metres], has to be applied for the worst case scenario with Bt Brinjal. In such a case, will Bt Brinjal farmers, who are mostly small and marginal farmers, be able to conform to such guidelines?

Let us also consider a scenario where our predominant pest management strategy relies more and more on one gene – the Bt toxin gene, across crops for a range of pests. Such a monoculture of the gene across crops and varieties is bound to spell doom sooner or later.

Other issues

• As already pointed out, the risk assessment in India does not compare the GM alternative with that of other alternatives like IPM/NPM/Organic etc. Further, the socio-economic risk assessment does not ask fundamental questions related to the interests of the poorest and most marginalized farmers.

• Biosafety testing in India does not recognize the need for studying the medium- and long-term impacts of the GM technology. In the absence of such testing, we are only sitting on a potential disaster which would end up in a cocktail situation very soon, where even correlating an effect with a particular cause will become a challenging task.

• No tests were conducted to check for the effect of Bt Brinjal on the crop raised subsequently; similarly, feeding tests did not include open grazing of the animals on Bt Brinjal plants [in the case of Bt Cotton, open grazing is being reported to cause morbidity and mortality in animals]. It is alarming to note that despite several shortcomings pointed out with biosafety testing in the past, almost the same set of tests with same protocols are being conducted with Bt Brinjal as in the case of Bt Cotton without giving the food crop the due importance and diligence it deserves for its potential adverse impacts.

• Even on the limited number of biosafety tests done, there is no independent safety testing undertaken by the vast public sector research establishment of the country. There is a serious and objectionable conflict of interest in the fact that majority of the tests were undertaken by the company promoting Bt Brinjal [pollen flow studies, Cry1Ac protein express, baseline susceptibility, protein estimation in cooked fruits, soil analysis, substantial equivalence studies etc. etc.]. Out of the various tests conducted, only 4 were conducted by public sector institutions.

• With the promotion of GM agriculture in general and with Bt Brinjal in this case, the rights of non-GM farmers to stay GM-free get badly affected. This is because segregation and co-existence is impossible in this country.

• While the companies are promising a pricing policy based on a cost-recovery principle, it has to be noted that such cost-recovery itself would be much higher than other seed accessible to farmers as of now. This involves both direct costs of research as well as indirect costs of aggressive promotion and PR that the companies would indulge in. The past history of MMB in the case of Bt Cotton shows that the company will go to the Courts if required to secure its rights related to pricing. Therefore, it is difficult to believe the promises on pricing.

• In the past, several biosafety violations and unscientificities in trials were investigated by civil society organizations, including on Bt Brinjal. However, the Indian regulatory system showed its incompetency yet again by not fixing any liability on the violators and by not strengthening its research regulation regime to this day. Even though biosafety of the product was not cleared, trials were allowed to take place in farmers’ fields with no monitoring mechanism from the side of the GEAC and the state governments concerned.

• There have been no independent tests conducted by the Ministry of Health, considering that this is an important food crop in the country. The entire approval process in the country is being pushed at high speed by the Department of Biotechnology, some bilateral agencies like the USAID and the private biotech industry. This is unacceptable since the primary stakeholders like farmers and consumers and some Ministries like Health are not being involved in these decision-making processes.

Are there no alternatives to Bt Brinjal?

The Bt Brinjal field trials have been compared with their non-Bt counterparts and some national checks to understand the benefits that might potentially accrue to the farmers. They have not been compared to other safer, inexpensive alternatives, however.

There is a lot of experience in mechanical control as well as non-chemical IPM strategies within the Indian research system. Further, there is much experience of non-chemical brinjal cultivation in farmers’ fields by many practicing organic and NPM farmers in the country. Simple things like pheromone traps for mass trapping, sanitation of the field [timely removal and destruction of affected shoots & fruits], mechanical barriers, use of some local plant extracts for pest control etc., have all worked well for farmers. However, the evaluation of Bt Brinjal is not taking place against such options as part of the Risk Assessment.

Given below is tabulated information from the ICAR-supervised, Mahyco-commissioned multilocational trials in their second year [2005-06] for five hybrids and in their first year for 3 other hybrids, compared with their non-Bt counterparts and with some popular checks. The table also has comparative figures from experiences with IPM packages applied in some locations.

It has to be noted that the data presented by ICAR on Bt Brinjal was not statistically analysed. For instance, the yields across hybrids in the Hyderabad test centre were only 12.04 quintals per hectare. However, the average marketable yield from all locations (231.69 q/ha) conceals this figure. From six centres, the yields were lower than this average, which got skewed by high yield reported from one centre. Similar are dangerous conclusions that can be drawn with data on disease incidence if such conclusions are based on the mean figures being presented. It is also interesting to note that in the ICAR trials, in the case of all the 8 hybrids of Bt Brinjal, their mean fruit weight is far lower than their checks.

As the above table shows and as practicing NPM and organic farmers from various parts of the country would testify, pest management in Brinjal does not need either pesticides or GM seeds when safer, cheaper alternatives in the control of farmers are available.

What is needed is a public support system for such alternatives to be promoted, spread and practiced. Such alternatives inevitably show that the farmers benefit out of increased net incomes, derived from internalizing various inputs including Seed.

Courtesy : Centre for Sustainable Agriculture

FOR MORE READING…

• GENETIC MODIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES : DEBATE IS ON WHO CONTROLS THE TECHNOLOGY .
• NOW IT IS BT BRINJAL
• PERMISSION FOR GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS
• ‘Bt Brinjal, Socially Responsible Science and Alternatives in Agriculture’

The Chief Minister gave away the cash award and citation to the progressive farmer from Chota Singtam, Assam Linzey, East Sikkim for his horticulture crops of ten different varieties.

Dhanpati Sapkota is also a recipient of Bhaskar Krishi Samman from a non-governmental organization, Sagar Prakashan Grameen Pratibha Sanrakshan Samiti, Taksang. Earlier, on the occasion of Independence Day Celebration at Pakyong, State Horticulture Department conferred him a cash incentive of Rs 1500 along with citation, agricultural equipments and package of seeds of various horticulture crops.

Deviating from the traditional cultivation of Dhaan (paddy) and Makai (maize) for domestic consumption, Sapkota had introduced horticulture crops on 2 acres of his individual land after undergoing a three days training at Marchak. He also took part in an 11-days training on organic farming held at Uttaranchal which was supported by the State Horticulture Department.

The training and self-belief produced astounding results for Sapkota. He was able to produce 19 quintal of cherry pepper worth Rs. 1,52,000 in the same year from 1900 seeds. This encouraged him to embrace horticulture seriously. He began to cultivate cauliflower, tomato, cabbage and broccoli.

Sapkota harvested 40 kg tomatoes from one plant under protected cultivation in his holding. This year, the model farmer cultivated off-season tomatoes of Romeo variety by obtaining seeds from the State horticulture department under the technology mission. He sold 97 quintals of tomatoes worth Rs.1,94,000. He has also sold eight quintals of cauliflower worthRs. 64,000 and 12 quintals of cherry pepper at Rs. 96,000. “I am earning Rs. 2.5 lakh per yearthrough horticulture after paying wages to laborers and meeting other ancillary expenses”, saidSapkota. He is also cultivating mixed vegetables under the technology mission as an area expansion of vegetables of the horticulture department. He is getting seeds, organic manure and pesticides and other support from the department.

Sapkota claimed that he has introduced ‘Jukuni Pharsi’ (pumpkin of Jukuni variety) which has a shape of a cucumber in Sikkim. Since he is the first farmer to cultivate ‘JukuniPharsi’, local people from Assam Lingzey have named the pumpkin as ‘Sapkota Pharsi’. I brought the seed of Jukuni Pharsi in 2004 from Kathmandu, said Sapkota. He added that he had first seen this variety of pumpkin in the Rana’s farm at Bhaktapur.  Sapkota was richer byRs. 90,000 after cultivating and selling the Jukuni Pharsi.

It is not all about organic farming for this progressive farmer. He is also involved in animal husbandry and livestock management and had undergone training at Karfectar,Jorethang. He has presently five cows out of which three are milching. He is selling 20 litres of milk daily at the rate of Rs. 20 per litre.

Sapkota also gets his supply of manure from the cows for his farm and has established a vermin-compost unit with the help of horticulture department.

Regarding the marketing of the products, Sapkota said, “It is true that the most of the farmers are facing difficulties in marketing and this problem won’t be solved until and unless we, the farmers of Sikkim will be able to produce sufficient and fulfill the demand of the market.”

Impressed from his progressive work, the State Horticulture Department has constructed Farm Handling Unit under the Technology Mission which has become helpful to market his products. Now he does not need to take the products to   market  as his   products are being sold from this unit.

Sapkota is now   busy in  preparing  his product to participate in the State FloriShow scheduled to be held at Saramsa Garden in the month of February, 2011.  (PIB Features)

Endosulphan was applied on a large scale in the cashew plantations in Kasargod during the period 1976-78. It was sprayed aerially on the cashew trees all over the plantation area, using helicopters. Consequently, it polluted the rivers, streams and drinking water. The after-effects of the application of the pesticide were found out only after a few years. Later, it was found that the poison contained in the pesticide has affected the health of the people living in 11 villages of the Kasargod district. Thousands of farmers and other inhabitants of the locality suffered from the poisonous attack of the pesticide. Several children were born with physical deformities and some have suffered disorders of the central nervous system. Some other persons suffered cancer, epilepsy, impotency and hormone deficiency. Most of the victims have been permanently disabled. About 400 people have died as a result of Endosulphan poisoning.

The earlier Congress government had banned the use of Endosulphan in the year 2001 but they later revoked the ban in 2004. Several committees and commissions were appointed by the government during the last 20 years. The committees have conducted detailed studies in the affected areas. The reports of the committees were presented before the state and central governments. Most of the committees have found that the use of Endosulphan has caused serious health hazards to people of the region. Only the committee appointed by the central government did not find any poisonous impact caused by the pesticide.

Now the LDF government in Kerala has declared a ban on the use of Endosulphan throughout the state. The government has also requested the central government that it should be banned throughout the country. However, instead of taking a decision to ban Endosulphan, the central government has decided to appoint a new committee to make a further study of the problem. It is to be noted that during the past few years 17 committees have conducted studies into the matter. Among them, there are committees appointed by the government or sponsored by NGOs and agricultural and scientific research centres. Now, there is no need of any new committee to be appointed in this regard.

India is one of the world’s largest users of pesticides. The manufacturers including the MNCs consider our country to be a profitable pesticide market for their products. Monsanto is a major producer of pesticides. It has been found that several crops and vegetables contain dangerously high levels of pesticides in our country because farmers are using them extensively. The use of Endosulphan has been banned in about 65 countries in the world, including the USA. Two months ago, an international convention was held at Geneva to discuss about the organic pollution caused by the use of pesticides. Among the 29 countries that participated in the convention, 26 countries argued for totally banning Endosulphan. India unfortunately took the position that it need not be banned since it is not so dangerous to human health. This shows that the central government is protecting the interests of the big agribusinesses and manufacturers of pesticides at the expense of the peasantry and Indian people.

The government of India should declare a total ban on the use of Endosulphanthroughout India. The proposed Pesticide Management Bill should make provisions to categorise pesticides under hazardous and extremely hazardous categories and strictly regulate their use in India.

As has been reported in these columns, farmers in many districts of the state lost their ready-to-be-harvested crops due to unseasonal rainfall.  Paddy has been affected in about 20 lakh hectares. Cotton, vegetables, orchards and few other crops have also been damaged in quite a few lakhs of hectares but the plight of paddy farmers, especially of tenant farmers (mostly belonging to BC and SC community), is the worst. They do not get any benefit from interest waiver and reschedule of loans as they have not been sanctioned any loan.

The number of farmer deaths, according to information of AP Rythu Sangham, has spurted to 275 between December 16, 2010 (the date on which the chief minister made the announcement) and January 1, 2011, at a daily average of over 16 farmers either committing suicide or dying of heart attack. The spate of suicides is continuing unabated. This spurt in suicides is a manifestation of only the tip of the severe problems facing the peasantry. The rot in the economy of farm dependent population is much wider and deeper.

Successive heavy rains and floods during the season, specially during the first week of December, when the paddy crop is either in the midst of harvest or about to be harvested, has caused enormous loss. Input subsidy announced by the government is too meagre, with all cultivation expenses going up. Farmers have been demanding payment of input subsidy at Rs 10,000 per acre. The harvested paddy is discoloured and is of poor quality. Farmers were not getting the Minimum Support Price (MSP) even for normal crop, and therefore it is not surprising that rain/flood damaged paddy is being purchased by the traders at a heavy discount. Though the chief minister in his relief package announced that damaged paddy (up to 20 per cent damage) will be purchased at MSP and that many purchase centres will be opened for this purpose, the reality is that the actual purchase by these centres from the farmers has been very nominal. Most of these affected farmers have raised their crops with heavy borrowing, mostly from private lenders with usury interest. Tenants had to bear land rent additionally, ranging from Rs 8000 to Rs 20,000 per acre depending upon crop and region. Now, the point to be considered is why there is such a sudden spurt of suicides and what does it portend?

OUTCOME OF

LPG POLICIES

The implementation of liberalisation-privatisation-globalisation (LPG) policies in manifest form during the last two decades has debilitated the farmers and made them totally debt-dependent for cultivation and even maintenance of family. Debt relief measures announced by the central and state governments in this period have not provided relief because loan waivers covered only debts of public finance institutions, which is only 20-32 per cent of the accumulated debt. The rest is from private sources at usury interest. With no alternative livelihood, such farmers are forced to continue in subsistence farming despite the fact of farming becoming increasingly unviable (slave production). While the richer sections of the farmers left farming due to its uneconomic farming, it is the weaker sections belonging to BCs and SCs who are continuing in farming, by taking such farmers lands on informal lease. With no access to institutional finance, these tenant farmers are forced to resort to private borrowing. This is also manifesting in the fast expansion of tenant farming in the state, and more so in the coastal delta region. Such farmers are not even able to recover the full costs in spite of themselves participating in farm operations.

The tenant farmers have not been receiving any help from the government as their tenancy is not on record. They also do not receive any input subsidy in case of natural calamity losses. It is becoming clear that such farmers have not believed the chief minister, from their past experience, even when he announced that tenants will also be paid input subsidy. It is these and other landowning small farmers, who are facing unbearable distress, who are now resorting to suicides.

FIRE FIGHTING NATURE

OF GOVT ACTIONS

It is not that the governments have not been doing anything during LPG period to address farmers’ distress, even if it was driven to meet electoral requirements. It has been spending thousands of crores of rupees to support farm operations, which are not keeping pace with increasing costs. Both the centre and AP state governments have spent over Rs 13,000 and Rs 5,000 crore, respectively, towards debt waiver. But these amounts have not benefited all farmers, especially the small and tenant farmers. Moreover, such ad hoc measures have not addressed the core issues confronted by the farmers. These actions of the government are only knee jerk reactions, designed more to meet electoral requirements rather than solve or address farmers’ problems in their totality. The intensification of farmers’ distress, as at present, only establishes the fact that the actions so far taken by the government are only of fire fighting nature, that too without using enough water to douse the fire.

The real intention of the government agenda – of corporatising and globalising agriculture – has become clear from the refusal of the central government to implement Swaminathan’s ‘National Commission on Farmers’ report or from the refusal of the Andhra Pradesh state government to implement Professor Jayathi Ghosh’s ‘Farmers Welfare Commission’, both appointed by respective governments.  Even the disastrous experience of LPG policies for well over 25 years on the livelihood of farm dependent population is not making the ruling parties to have a rethink about the farm policies being pursued. They are continuing with their agenda of corporatising and globalising Indian agriculture, unmindful of what it entails to the farm dependent population and to the nation’s fragile democracy and sovereignty. The lackadaisical response of the governments at the centre and in the state to the present spurt of suicides in Andhra Pradesh confirms the same.

WORST YET

TO COME

The worst is yet to come with the impact from the legislations being enacted – Seed Bill, Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Bill, Protection of Public Funded Research Patents Bill etc – and various other measures being contemplated by the govvernment. The FTA agreements either already made or under negotiation, FDI in multibrand retail trade, total withdrawal of fertilizer subsidies, which is high on the agenda of economic reforms plan, privatisation of extension service  etc will together complete the vicious encirclement of farmers, who are already in severe distress. These will hasten corporatisation of agriculture and take away whatever little rights and land that farmers have at present. This will be accomplished through virtualisation, eliminating tilling farmers altogether from farming, the dream of liberalisers.

Under corporate farming, with virtualised rights and real obligations, all choices of farmers simply vanish, except as those decided by corporate managements, who lack credibility. Under contract farming, debt-dependent cultivation, foisting corporate centric technology and price/ market operations are the instruments of subjugation, which make farm dependent population totally subservient to corporate needs and greed. This forces the farm dependent population to live only with obligations / duties to work to live, with only virtual rights and assets, akin to slaves. With corporate mergers and acquisitions, associated farm dependent population becomes a saleable commodity, even without their knowledge leave alone consent. This completes the definition of ‘slaves’ and slave mode of production in agriculture in the 21st century under globalisation. This should never be allowed to occur. This will also have devastating consequences to our democratic functioning and sovereignty, however imperfect they are at present. Farm dependent population, food security and nation’s democracy and sovereignty need to be saved from these disastrous consequences through mass mobilisation and pro-active action plan, lest our posterity will not forgive us.

(The writer is retired Professor, NGRAU

and associated with A P Rytu Sangham)

Noted journalist P. Sainath recently reported the case of the suicide of Ramchandra Raut, a Vidarbha farmer, who left a carefully composed suicide note on a Rs. 100 stamp paper addressing it to the President and the Prime minister of India among others (see The Hindu, May 6^th 2010). He wrote of his distress upon being harassed for the repayment of loans by banks after two successive crop failures, despite the government’s instructions to the banking sector to go slow on loan recovery in areas hit by crop failure and drought.  In most cases of suicides by farmers in rural India, their inability to repay the heavy debts incurred from money lenders and the banking sector has played the most significant role. Rather than eliminating the exploitative structure of moneylending in rural areas, banks, in fact, have aided to strengthen the tendency of informalisation, particularly in the context of high costs of cultivation and extreme price volatility. The blame for the failure of banking sector in providing sufficient and affordable credit to farmers goes to successive governments that have been pushing with much enthusiasm financial sector deregulation, especially in the banking sector. Dismantling and diluting the statutory provisions meant for ensuring the sufficient flow of credit to agriculture, as part of deregulation, has taken a serious toll on bank credit to farmers.

Following the nationalisation of banking sector it was made mandatory for all scheduled commercial banks to lend 18% percent of their total credit to agriculture. Disbursing small amounts of credit to lakhs of farmers involves more operational expenses for banks than granting large sized loans to few companies. While the operational expenses are large for agricultural loans, for obvious reasons interests rates can not be as high as the interest rates charged on loans to industry and commerce. With surplus from cultivation just enough for subsistence most of the farmers cannot pay high interest rates. Even the rich farmers cannot be charged the interest rates which an entrepreneur can easily pay. Consequently, high operational expenses and low interest rates together with the uncertainty in agriculture due to drought, floods, crop failure, price uncertainty etc. make banks reluctant to lend to farmers. One can be certain that very little credit would have gone to agriculture if banks were given complete freedom in allocating credit and if there was no provision for compulsory allocation of certain share of bank credit to agriculture.

Now, even as prime minister and finance minister issue facile statements urging banks to increase credit supply to agriculture and RBI harps on the many steps taken to ensure this, the mandatory 18% credit to agriculture is being deliberately watered down. The tampering of agricultural credit began from 1990 itself and now it picked up pace. To begin with, the concept of indirect agricultural credit was introduced allowing banks to divert agricultural credit away from farmers. Banks were permitted to disburse 25% percent of total agricultural credit as indirect agricultural credit. Loans to fertilizer and other input traders, dealers in agricultural equipments, arthias (commission agents), non-baking finance companies for on lending to agriculture, businessmen for construction of cold storages and hire purchases schemes in agricultural machinery are some of the categories that are now considered as indirect loans to agriculture. It is a cause for alarm that entities receiving this indirect agricultural credit also undertake considerable money lending in the rural areas. For example fertilizer and pesticide traders and arthias undertake money lending at very high interest rates to farmers, especially the poorest of them, in most of the regions. What is even more alarming is that RBI is aware of this. In fact, RBI states that these loans are extended to them ‘for working capital requirements on account of credit extended to farmers for supply of inputs’. Now, one may ask, what is the rationale in extending credit to traders, dealers and agents so that they can re lend to farmers at killing rates instead of lending directly to farmers? Similarly, lending to non bank financial companies for on lending to agriculture would again mean higher interest rates to farmers as such companies have reputation of extracting exploitative interest rates out of customers.

Even within the so called direct agricultural credit (75% of total agricultural credit), which is meant to be given directly to farmers, sundry loans that do not involve credit to farmers are being included. To mention  a few, loans up to Rs. 10 lakhs against ware house receipts, loans to agriclinics and agribusinesses centres, loans up to Rs 1 crore to farmers and one third of loans of above Rs. 1 crore to farmers are now considered direct loans to agriculture. Now, who are these farmers that can take Rs. 10 lakh loans against ware house receipts and need Rs 1 crore to do farming? Very few farmers have access to warehouse facilities and even when there is access farmers tend to sell their produce immediately after harvesting to repay loans and meet household expenses. Only very rich farmers can afford to stock up their produce in anticipation of a better price. As a result this provision is used by banks mainly to finance food grain traders holding up stocks in ware houses. Now this is a god send to banks hungry for profits, especially the private sector ones. They can meet the agricultural credit quotas while making tidy profits by lending to traders who are willing to pay high interest rates. What do banks care if these loans go in to food grain speculation by traders? One does not need a great deal of imagination either to come to the obvious conclusion that Rs. 1 crore and above agricultural loans are not really going to farmers. These loans are meant to finance corporate farming and even worse these loans are being diverted to real estate speculation. In metropolitan cities realtors who buy up large swaths of agricultural land in the outskirts for speculation, by virtue of owning land, can be considered farmers if the banks want to. It is an open secret that some banks divert considerable amounts of credit in to real estate in the name of direct agricultural credit. No one is suggesting that banks should deny credit to traders, agriclinics and agribusinesses and other activities but diverting credit meant for farmers to these activities is downright criminal. As a result of this diversion at present 15% of the total agricultural credit goes to loans above Rs. 25 crores, 25% goes to loans above Rs 1. Crore and 33% goes to loans above Rs. 10 lakhs. In all this very little goes to farmers.

A discussion on the dismal state of agricultural credit will not be complete without mentioning the role of private sector banks in this. Private sector banks, especially the ones established after liberalisation, have the worst record in agricultural credit. They barely manage to meet the agricultural credit targets every year. Even then they manage to disburse more than half of their agricultural credit in metropolitan areas. One need not wonder how they manage to find farmers in metros. Thanks to the changed definitions of agricultural credit, the dynamic new private sector banks like ICICI give most their agricultural credit to commodity traders and processors, corporate in agricultural sector, agribusinesses, suppliers and vendors of corporates, micro finance institutions and medium enterprises in agriculture linked businesses. Private sector banks have been lobbying and pressurising RBI, with the support of finance ministry, in to changing the norms governing agricultural credit. For their convenience, RBI has been allowing IBPCs (Inter Bank Participatory Certificates) and securitised credit to be considered as agricultural credit. As a result private sector banks and foreign banks have been buying agricultural credit (in the form of securities and IBPC) from non bank finance companies, public sector banks, regional rural banks for very short periods, just in time for reporting, so they can account it as agricultural credit disbursed by themselves. This scheme does not really ensure any additional flow of credit to agriculture but relieves these banks of the responsibility to lend directly to farmers.

Apart from their own reluctance in lending to farmers, the presence of private sector banks created a situation where the public sector banks view the responsibility of agricultural credit as a milestone around their necks. As part of the financial liberalisation policies, Indian government in the early 90s removed all the restriction on the entry of private sector in to banking, apparently to promote competition and efficiency in this sector. This move definitely increased the competition in the banking sector with private sector banks increasing their market share aggressively in the last 15 years, though it is debatable whether it improved efficiency in banking. Till liberalisation, for all practical purposes, public sector had monopoly in banking. As discussed before the operational expenses in agricultural credit are high while it can only pay low interest rates. It is also inevitable that in the times of draught and natural calamities banks incur losses in agricultural credit. But due to their extensive national presence and monopoly public sector banks were able to cross subsidise rural credit when necessary from the incomes earned from credit to other more profitable sectors. The aggressive entry of private sector banks made cross subsidisation difficult for public sector banks. On one hand they have been losing considerable amount of profitable business to private sector banks with their aggressive tactics. On the other hand there has been a sharp reduction of interest rates charged on lending to big corporates and other profitable customers. In order to earn noninterest incomes in the form of substantial fees and commissions by providing various non credit services like offering guarantees, endorsements, underwriting of equity issues etc to big corporate public, private and foreign banks have been out competing each other in offering very cheap credit (even less than 6%) to corporate so as to get their accounts. Such a situation clearly reduces the scope for cross subsidisation for public sector banks. With the private sector banks showing complete reluctance in opening branches in rural areas and lending to agriculture, the onus of providing credit to this sector still remained fully on the shoulder of public sector banks due to the nature of their ownership. With the pressure of being profitable while competing with private sector banks and the responsibility of providing sufficient agricultural credit at reasonable interest rates, the public sector banks are stuck between a rock and the hard place. Something has to give in this situation and what is giving is the agricultural credit, with public sector banks too canvassing for relaxation in the agricultural credit norms.

In their anxiety to withdraw from agricultural credit a view seemed to have taken root in the finance ministry and among banks themselves that money lenders are no more the exploitative elements in the villages that pry on small, marginal farmers and agricultural labourers’ need for credit and charge atrocious interest rates, but benevolent village fellows who are efficient credit providers in the country side. In the eyes of policy makers, charging exploitative interest rates by this parasitic class has become a more scientific ‘appropriate pricing’ and constant harassment and humiliation for repayment have assumed the new identity of ‘efficient recovery’. They seemed to have succumbed to the convenient thinking that the nature of money lender has changed in the past couple of decades and now he is not the villain portrayed in ‘Mother India’ any more. If the exploitation by money lender has come down to certain extent it is due to the counteracting presence of banking sector in agriculture. The main purpose behind mandatory 18% credit is to loosen the grip money lenders and other exploitative informal credit structures on farmers by providing adequate bank credit. The withdrawal of banks through back door amendments such as the ones mentioned earlier defeats this purpose as farmers are being pushed back in to the clutches of money lenders, the new breed of finance companies and private micro finance institutions which charge interest rates a money lender would be proud of.

For some time RBI has been articulating vague arguments to the effect that while agriculture is of vital importance to the nation supporting it is the responsibility of the government and it cannot shifted on to the banking sector. Accordingly, banking should be run like any other business with maximisation of the profits as the objective and considerations of social responsibility should left to the government. It is undoubtedly true that it is the responsibility of the governments to ensure the viability of agriculture by reducing various risks faced by farmers. Indian state has been shirking this responsibility for quite some time. Public investments in irrigation, research and development of suitable crop varieties etc. have become thin with every passing year. Extension services that provided valuable advice and directions to farmers are dismantled and farmers are falling prey to the interests of seed and pesticide companies. Cash crops are actively encouraged without bare minimum of price support. This coupled with increasing exposure to international markets permitted by liberalisation policies is playing havoc with the lives of farmers. Either there is draught or floods or crop failure due to pest attacks and if everything goes well and there is bumper crop, a fall in international prices make sure that farmers suffer. With the state not putting a single penny in to agricultural infrastructure, farmers have to depend on credit to lay tube wells and buy expensive pesticides and seeds from MNCs. No doubt, reduction of these various uncertainties and risks faced by farmers through public investments and suitable policies (as opposed to the unsuitable policies implemented at present) would make agricultural credit more profitable and attractive to banks. But the neglect of agriculture by government is being used as an excuse for banking sector to do the same. With the banks pointing fingers towards government and government showing empty hands farmers are being abandoned.

When done properly, adapting to the needs and specific requirements of farmers, providing credit to agriculture can cover operating and interest costs and provides decent profits. But it can never satisfy the greed that banks are encouraged to exhibit by the maniacal votaries of financial sector deregulation. How can marginal, small and middle farmers, forever uncertain, compete with the profits banks can make out of credit cards, car loans and housing loans to salaried and business class, lending to real estate, loans to exporters, commission and fees from corporates and investments in stock markets? It is shameful that while Reliance, Tatas and other corporate are getting bank credit at dirt cheap interest rates of 6 percent and less, which is used for profiteering through investments in stocks and securities banks crib at every available occasion on the loss of revenues in lending to agriculture even at 11 to 13 percent of interest rates and RBI mollifies them by regularly coming out with new circulars expanding the definition of agricultural credit, killing the flow of bank credit to farmers slowly but steadily.

By creating an exclusively profit oriented banking sector through deregulation and drastically cutting the expenditure on agriculture government is crushing the farmer from all sides. Even the occasional relief of debt waiver and suspension announced by government workers against farmers as banks show reluctance in further lending to farmers who have received relief.

This year the restrictions (not above prime lending rate) on interest rates charged on loans up to Rs. 2 lakhs in agriculture were removed, permitting banks to charge as they wish. This would substantially increase the interest costs to farmers. There are also suggestions from various banks, especially foreign and private sector banks, and some official committees that banks be allowed to buy ‘priority sector certificates’ from non financial companies, regional rural banks and other financial institutions (there are even suggestions of buying these certificates from certified money lenders), to meet the 18% credit requirement without the need to give credit directly to farmers. If this suggestion is accepted it will not be long before the concept of directed credit to agriculture is abandoned altogether. It is sad that in times when farmers have a need for more bank credit than what is being given right now, they are forced fight for preserving the status quo.

Such situation cannot continue for long without severely crippling agriculture. This makes it imperative that financial sector deregulation be vigorously resisted. A decentralised polity along with considerable presence of organised left and its fierce opposition to financial sector reforms has so far slowed down the momentum of the reform to a limited extent. With the UPA government bent upon continuing the course not seeming to have learnt anything from the global financial crisis, there is a need for stronger and broader political resistance if it has to be stopped at all.

Mahabubnagar District is endowed with rich livestock resources and the district ranks first in the State with 41.64 lakh Sheep and 6.85 lakh Goat population. Nearly 70,000 Shepherd families are dependent on sheep rearing for their livelihood.

Deccani and Nellore are the predominant sheep breeds in the district and slowly the Nellore breed is increasing in numbers. Keeping in view of problems in wool shearing in Deccani Sheep and increased growth rate / early weight gains in Nellore Sheep, the Sheep rearers are showing interest in introduction of Nellore Rams into their flocks and shifting towards converting their flocks into Nellore breed.

Mostly the Extensive system (range method) of sheep rearing is followed in the district and more than 40% of the sheep flocks migrate out of the district to adjacent districts every year during Dec – January in search of grazing. The flocks will return back to the district during July – August.

Due to illiteracy, superstitions coupled with ignorance, most of the shepherds are not following the scientific methods of rearing thus encountering disease outbreaks resulting in production losses.

SHEEP DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES BY ANIMAL HUSBANDRY DEPARTMENT:

1. A. Disease control measures: The following vaccinations are carried out in a campaign mode by the Department free of cost for the control of Bacterial and Viral diseases.

i) E.T Vaccination: Will be conducted during May – June every year in all sensitive villages covering 10.00 lakh sheep population.

ii) Sheep Pox Vaccination: Will be conducted during Sep-Oct months in endemic and sensitive villages.

iii) PPR Vaccination: It is included in National Programme and every Year 2 vaccinations will be conducted covering entire population.

B. Sheep & Goat Deworming Programme: The Department is conducting Sheep & Goat Deworming Programme twice a year i.e. during June – July and Dec-Jan for the control of parasitic infestation in sheep and goats. free of cost. . Mobile Veterinary Teams visit the Sheep Flocks villages wise as per schedule and conduct the deworming programme by drenching deworming medicines free of cost.

1. C. Sheep Insurance Scheme: To minimize the production losses and overcome the calamities, the Government have introduced Sheep Insurance Scheme from 2006-07 and the scheme is in vogue since then. The premium rates and coverage is shown below.

M/s. United India Insurance Company is doing sheep Insurance in the district. However, the enrollment under Sheep Insurance is not progressive inspite of efforts from the department.

1. D. Bhed Palak Bima Yojana: Is a social security scheme introduced by the GOI through Central Wool Development Board & LIC of India for the Sheep Growers of wooly sheep. The premium rates are shown below.

The compensation will be doubled in case of accidental death and permanent disability will also be covered. The children of the Insured studying between 9^th to 12^th will also be given study incentive of Rs. 100/- per month.

1. E. Payment of Exgratia of Rs. 1.00 lakh: Government Vide G.O.Ms.No. 64 Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development & Fisheries (AH.III) Dept. Dt. 31.08.2009 issued orders for payment of exgratia of Rs. 1.00 lakh to the family members of the sheep rearers in case of accidental death of sheep rearer due to unavoidable life risks while in the activity of sheep rearing.

FORMATION OF DISTRICT SHEEP BREEDERS COOPERATIVE UNION:

The District Sheep Breeders Cooperative Union, Mahabubnagar is formed during the year 1993 and registered vide No. 2620/AHS/93 as a Cooperative Society under the A.P. Cooperative Societies Act 7 of 1964.

All the Primary Sheep Breeders Cooperative Societies formed at Revenue Village level are members of the District Union by contributing Rs. 6110/- towards their membership contribution.

The elected Governing Bodies have managed activities of the District Union upto 2003 and from 07.06.2003 to 30.08.2010, the District Union was under the control of Person Incharges. The newly elected Governing Body formed on 31.08.2010.

At present there are 856 registered Primary Sheep Breeders Co-Op. Societies (PSBCS) with a membership of 56,852 Sheep and Goat Breeders. All the Societies are unaided. At present there are 462 active societies are functioning in the district.

ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE DISTRICT UNION:

1. Sanction of IRDP Loans to the 649 Members of PSBCS during the years 1999 to 2003 with a subsidy component of Rs. 1.00 Crore through DRDA, Mahabubnagar.
2. Coordination with the Animal Husbandry Department and active involvement in implementation of Sheep & Goat Development activities and disease control programmes.
3. Implementation of CWDP programmes in Clusters during the years 1997-2000 & 2005-06.
4. Implementation of Disease Control Action Plan during the year 1998-99 for the control of Immature Amphistomiasis and Awareness creation.
5. Implementation of SRDP Programme in 2 clusters during 2000-2003.
6. F. Conduct of Awareness programmes in the District for the control of Blue Tongue Disease during the year 2000 -2001.
7. G. Procurement of 500 Sq. Yards of land at District head quarters for construction of own new building to the district union during the year 2000 and with the contribution of Public Representatives under M.P. lads, the construction of new building to the District Union  is recently completed and occupied.
8. H. Supply of 542 Breeding Rams to the Members of Societies under RSVY Programme and coordination of Awareness programmes and Sheep Extension Workers Training Programme during the years 2006-07.
9. Coordination of Mass PPR Vaccination programme during the year 2006.
10. Coordination in Chief Minister’s Jeeva Kranthi Pathakam & RKVY in the district from 2007-08. Supply of Quality Breeding Rams & Sheep Units on 5% subsidy to the members of the Societies with an outlay of Rs. 118.62 lakhs.
11. First district to grab the opportunity of sanction of Sheep Market Yard under CMJKP 2007-08. Procurement of 5.00 Acres of Government Land at Pothulamadugu (V) of Bhootpur mandal on NH 7 and construction of Sheep Market Yard as per model design provided by NABCON.
12. Regular Audit of the accounts of the District Union.
13. The Fixed Deposits available with District Union are Rs. 1,23,45,524/- as on 31.03.2010.

FUTURE PLANS:

1. Development of Sheep Market Yard as a model in the district.
2. Construction of Rural Abbatoir at Market Yard and supply of whole meat to the State Capital under branded name.
3. Implement the developmental programmes and mandate given by the State Federation.
4. Implementation of Clusters approach for regular Health care, followup, disease control and awareness for overall development of Small ruminants.
5. To start Mobile Veterinary Vehicles in clusters on the lines of 108 services for better Healthcare of Small Ruminants.
6. Activation of all societies and effective implementation of developmental programmes.

* * *

In Kashmir valley, 90 percent of saffron production comes from Pampore uplands, locally called ‘wudar’ on the southern outskirts of Srinagar city. As elsewhere in the world, saffron is grown here too by small individual farmers and the traditional quality control methods are the only way to maintain the quality and the originality of the world’s costliest spice. Saffron which is considered as nature’s precious wonder gift to mankind is in great demand for its medicinal, cosmetic and aromatic properties. It grows from a very small plant botanically known as Crocus Sativus. Its purple coloured flower is the only part mostly seen above the ground. The blossoms appear during late autumn (mid-October to early November) and present a very fascinating memorable sight in moonlight particularly on ‘Kartik Purnima’. The aromatic reddish stigmas of these flowers are harvested which form the most expensive part of the colourful spice called ‘Mogra’. The remaining stalks are also processed to get inferior grade of saffron called ‘Lacha’.

There has been a drop in saffron cultivation area as well as in production yields. The official production figures show that saffron area has gone down from about 5,700 hectares to just around 3,800 hectares and the productivity too has dipped from 3.13 kg per hectare to 2.50 kg per hectare in the last few years. Officials say that “mindless and unplanned” construction of residential houses in the midst of saffron fields during the last two decades is one of the major causes for shrinking of acreage.

Other reasons that threaten the costliest cash crop of the state, according to experts, are the lack of irrigation facilities, poor techniques adopted by the growers and lack of post harvest management that have led to low productivity and poor quality. Moreover, a commission appointed by the Government pointed out that there has been a shortfall in the replacement of seed for the last twenty years partly due to neglect in improving the seed quality.

A multi-crore industry engaged in production of eatable colour dyes, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other uses depends on Kashmir Saffron. However, due to its shortfall in production, the industry looked other wards to meet its raw material requirements. The dwindling domestic production has led to demand outstripping the supply and thus spurting the prices, making saffron smuggling a lucerative business. It is reported that the Iranian saffron fetches double its price in India. Expressing concern over the smuggling of Iranian saffron Union Agriculture Secretary, Shri A. K. Basu conceded that ‘’while this was happening no one paid any great attention to the problem or failed to address it.’’ He said that National Saffron Mission would wipe out many aspects of the problem.

The 371.18 crore rupees National Saffron Mission Programme with 286.06 crore rupees as the Central Government’s share and 85.12 crore rupees as farmers’ share will be executed in four years to revive saffron production in Jammu and Kashmir. The mission would cover drip irrigation, research, mechanization, processing and marketing support to ease the crisis. An amount of Rs. 39.43 crore is being utilized during the current financial year. Jammu & Kashmir Minister for Agriculture, Shri Ghulam Hassan Mir said ‘’the objective of the Saffron National Mission is to improve the overall production of saffron, enhancing quality of saffron, enhancement of research and extension capability and develop appropriate system for organized marketing for the growers’’. The Minister said that the main objective of the scheme is to extend suppor