[Dec 2007, Volume 4 Quarterly Issue] Pdf File size - The IIPM Think ...
[Dec 2007, Volume 4 Quarterly Issue] Pdf File size - The IIPM Think ...
[Dec 2007, Volume 4 Quarterly Issue] Pdf File size - The IIPM Think ...
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REIMAGINING INDIA<br />
let us take the case of a typical farmer. His<br />
crop production decision is guided by his<br />
immediate needs. <strong>The</strong> decisions of seeds<br />
selection, fertilizer, pesticides etc are<br />
based on his own feeling or fellow farmers’<br />
advice that may be scientific or unscientific.<br />
Crop cycle is decided not on the basis<br />
of scientific procedure but the personal<br />
requirements of the farmer. Hence, the<br />
concern is how to transform sustenance<br />
agriculture into agri-business.<br />
4. Strategy To Combat<br />
<strong>The</strong> Concerns<br />
4.1 Though the Government and<br />
different agencies have done commendable<br />
job to transform India from food<br />
starved to food surplus nation, still due<br />
to lack of effective extension services,<br />
the impact in a number of States has<br />
been less than desirable levels. <strong>The</strong><br />
States of UP, Bihar and West Bengal<br />
cities, service industry has penetrated in<br />
our day to day life in such a manner, that<br />
we are dependent upon one or the other<br />
service provider for our daily needs. Examples<br />
are newspaper vendor, milk supplier,<br />
etc. without whom the daily routine<br />
does not start in cities. But, in agriculture,<br />
it is not so. A farmer does sowing, irrigation,<br />
pesticide treatment, harvesting and<br />
marketing of produce – all activities himself.<br />
He knows agriculture very well, but<br />
his knowledge is confined to old techniques.<br />
He does not get any professional<br />
training to use modern techniques. In<br />
most cases, he is dependent upon the vendor<br />
only for advisory services also. For<br />
example, he asks the pesticide vendor how<br />
much quantity of pesticide he should use<br />
to treat his farms. <strong>The</strong>re are cases where<br />
only one liter of pesticide is sufficient, if<br />
properly applied, but, the pesticide vendor<br />
sells a 5 liters container advising him to<br />
Crop cycle is decided not on the basis of scientifi c procedure<br />
but the personal requirements of the farmer.<br />
Hence, the concern is how to transform sustenance<br />
agriculture into agri-business<br />
have very fertile land, but productivity is<br />
lower than the national average. Here<br />
lies the potential to be tapped. Major<br />
constraints in these areas are limited use<br />
of modern agriculture production technique<br />
by farmers in absence of effective<br />
extension activities. <strong>The</strong> productivity of<br />
rice and wheat grown in these areas is<br />
quite low. Hence, by focusing on these<br />
states, we can achieve remarkable success<br />
in ensuring food security.<br />
4.2 Another strategy to ensure food<br />
security is launching of professional commercial<br />
services at village levels to provide<br />
various agri solutions to the farmers. In<br />
apply the same frequently, because the<br />
main interest of the vendor could be to sell<br />
pesticide. If there is a service agency locally<br />
available, which is run by a qualified<br />
agriculture graduate, and he provides an<br />
end to end solution for pesticide treatment<br />
at a fee, the farmer may save money because<br />
of reduction in input cost, yield may<br />
improve because of non application of excessive<br />
pesticide and still the agriculture<br />
graduate can run the service unit in a profitable<br />
manner. We can apply this theory<br />
for all activities associated with agriculture-sowing,<br />
harvesting, processing and<br />
so on. A well qualified professional having<br />
expertise in mangoes can provide excellent<br />
services in mango growing area about<br />
plucking of mangoes scientifically, identifying<br />
such mangoes which are totally matured.<br />
This will give confidence to the<br />
marginal farmer that he himself is the<br />
owner of his land, he himself is in possession<br />
of his land, though he is a marginal<br />
farmer who otherwise cannot buy new machines<br />
and agricultural equipments as it is<br />
not viable for marginal holding, still he can<br />
avail all the modern facilities at his doorstep.<br />
Hence, the second mantra for ensuring<br />
food security in Indian context, considering<br />
the fragmented holding and<br />
marginal farmers, is organizing extensive<br />
application of professional but commercial<br />
services at farm level in the form of either<br />
independent small ventures run by agriculture<br />
graduates or by big corporate<br />
launching such service on a large scale.<br />
4.3 Nature has bestowed us with<br />
enough resources. <strong>The</strong> Ganges belt is so<br />
fertile that it can feed wheat to the entire<br />
world, if it is utilized properly. Similarly,<br />
soil in other area is most ideal for cotton<br />
production. In order to ensure comprehensive<br />
and sustained growth, what is important<br />
is to have a national level unbiased<br />
scientific crop planning, based on agro<br />
climatic conditions, soil type, soil condition,<br />
method of available irrigation, potential<br />
of irrigation, infrastructure requirement,<br />
existence of infrastructure,<br />
suitability of various crops to be grown in<br />
that area, seed variety selection, fertilizer<br />
dosage determination, application of pesticides<br />
and plant nutrient, crop monitoring,<br />
scientific method of problem identification<br />
and suitable solution, food habits in<br />
the area. India is divided in 15-agro climatic<br />
zones. Each zone has got its own<br />
potential and limitation. Crop production<br />
76 THE <strong>IIPM</strong> THINK TANK