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(Articles Covered - Promoting value added products)
PROMOTING VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS - As a solution to problems in Indian Agriculture
Union Budget 2018-19 puts all its weight for improving the agrarian economy and has a suitable blend of inclusiveness, innovations and out of box initiatives. The emphasis laid on income rather than production alone has been an obvious choice as though, input intensive agriculture, so far, has transformed a food deficit nation into food surplus and net exporter, but the impressive gains of technology were harnessed largely in select geographies leaving large tracts that do not enjoy the luxury of adequate water at all quarters of the years, far behind. The call given by the Prime Minister to double the farmers’ income by 2022 has been put in the right perspective through this budget. The strategy revolves around raising farmers’ welfare and evading agrarian distress by using comprehensive ‘production, process and market’ approach through higher investments on market infrastructure, processing, value addition and agriculture business, and diversification along with farmers’ welfare initiatives. In the previous writeup we had discussed certain problems the Indian Agriculture is facing. In this context, M S Swaminathan suggests certain focus areas that need to be addressed to improve the condition of Indian agriculture.
Price Volatility Our farmers suffer from a high degree of price volatility leading to income instability. In particular, prices of vegetable commodities like potato, tomato and onion. Such price volatility is a perennial problem. A feasible method is the promotion of pen-urban horticulture. Considerable areas of land are available both within cities and nearby areas and they can be used to promote a pen-urban horticulture movement involving the cultivation on rooftops and vacant land with crops like tomato, onion, chilli and other essential food plants. This will confer double advantage- price stability on the one hand and sustainable nutrition security on the other.
Seawater-Farming India has a shoreline of nearly 8000 kms and there is great opportunity for seawater farming as is done in the Kuttanad region of Kerala. Both crops and fisheries can be included in the seawater agro-forestry system. Globally, 97 per cent of water is seawater and India should become a leader in demonstrating how seawater can he used for the cultivation of variety of crops. This will increase the income of coastal agriculture and also make them better prepared to face calamities like tsunami. The technologies for seawater farming and below sea level farming are available with M S Swaminathan Research Foundation which will undertake the task of training and capacity building in this area. The programme will include conservation of mangroves and other salt tolerant species. A genetic garden of halophytes has been established for this purpose.
National Year of the Millet Considering the utility of millets as a cheap and nutritious source of food the Government of India has declared 2018 as the National Year of the Millet. Tamil Nadu is leaders in the cultivation of millet crops like samai, thinai, kezhvaragu, panivaragu, kambu and several other minor millets. Kolli Hills has a rich germplasm of such millets. Therefore, it will be useful to organise a Millet Bio-valley for the conservation of Millets. This promotion provided to millets could help in improving the nutrition standards of the population as well.
Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Kisan credit cards should be given to not only those cultivating crops but also promoting the cultivation of poultry and marine and inland fisheries. Animal husbandry such as rearing of goat, sheep and poultry products can give substantial addition all income to farmers.
Rice Bio Park A Rice Bio Park should be organised which will show to farmers how to increase their income through biomass utilisation. Thus, value added products will be prepared from rice straw, husk, brawn and grain. Similar bio parks can be organised in the case of pulses. This will help the farmers to derive income and employment from every part of the biomass.
Adaptation to Climate It is important to set up climate risk management R&D centres at least one at every block level. Such centres should be supported by trained Climate Risk Managers, one woman and one man from each Panchayat. Climate Change could become a mega catastrophe and there is need for immediate steps both in the areas of mitigation and adaptation. Training manuals are available with MSSRF (M S Swaminathan Research Foundation) which can undertake trainers’ training programme.
Establishment of Farm Schools Farmer to farmer learning through Farm Schools established in outstanding farmers fields should be initiated. Such a land to land programme can hasten the spread of skilled work in farming. This will allow peer to peer sharing of knowledge and best practices thereby helping the farmers all over India.
Peri-Urban Horticulture Revolution Urbanisation in India is growing and the problem of food inflation largely rises from the demand-supply gaps in urban areas. One way of stabilising the prices of vegetables and fruits in urban areas is to promote peri-urban horticulture by providing the necessary technical and marketing support. Decentralised production, as for example in Israel, could be supported by cooperative marketing. Urban and peri-urban ‘horticulture revolution’ could pave the way for more stable prices to the consumer. At the same time, we should ensure that the quality of the food remains high and free of pesticide residues and other unsafe chemicals. Thus, we can ensure stability of supply coupled with high quality and safe food, while contributing to price stability.
By: Anupama Sharma ProfileResourcesReport error
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