[Dec 2007, Volume 4 Quarterly Issue] Pdf File size - The IIPM Think ...

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