SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN DEVELOPING ECONOMY
"Surely we have the wit and will to develop economically without despoiling the very environment we depend upon.”The concept of Sustainable Agriculture (act of farming using ecology’s principle) came into existence in order to achieve environmentally sound, economically profitable, ethically acceptable and socially responsible form of land husbandry. Sustainable Agriculture also forms major part of sustainable development which is one of the objectives of Millennium Development Goals 2015. In developing
country like India, agriculture sector provides livelihood to 65%-70% of total population and employment to 58% of countries work force, so attainment of sustainability in the field of agriculture becomes issue of major concern. This led to launch of ‘National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture’ during 12th plan.
Sustainable Agriculture includes practices like organic farming, watershed management, zero tillage and integrated farm management practices. The objective of these practices is to conserve soil fertility, proper use of water resources and increase productivity from land. These practices also indicate the shift from the use of modern techniques of cultivation (use of fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides) to conventional method (use of farmyard manures, composts). After green revolution no doubt production
level as well as productivity increased but biggest question in front of us is the cost which we paid to achieve this. In order to increase productivity excess fertilizers and other chemicals were used by farmers which resulted in degradation of soil quality. Is it a right thing to comprise with future to live our present? Isn’t it our responsibility to take care of future generation’s need and conserve resources for their use? Judicious and efficient use of resources available can only make it possible for us to conserve them. Achieving food security is also very important issue of concern. Right to food is the basic human right which neither should be neglected in present and nor in future. As land resource is limited so we need to increase productivity from land to feed the ever growing population of our country. The practices adopted under sustainable agriculture might take longer time to give results unlike from the use of fertilizers. Many a rimes it is difficult to convince farmers to adopt practices like organic farming, zero tillage & integrated farm management as they are more interested in getting quick response from the inputs used. But these practices are only solution to reduce scarcity of food in future. Also we must try to incline the interest of farmers in the emerging sectors like floriculture, pomology to name a few, which will provide a good monetary return to the farmers as well as agricultural economy. It has been observed that the agriculture which provides employment to 58% people contributes only 13.9% of GDP. There is need to increase the share of agriculture in GDP and cater to demand of food of growing population of our country. This objective could be achieved by proper and judicious use of
resources available to us. We need to think about future generation at the same time provide food and livelihood security to the present generation. It is high time that we go beyond the traditional practices being followed in agriculture sector for its sustainability and promote innovation and a vision to the immense potential this sector have for the better growth of economy.
country like India, agriculture sector provides livelihood to 65%-70% of total population and employment to 58% of countries work force, so attainment of sustainability in the field of agriculture becomes issue of major concern. This led to launch of ‘National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture’ during 12th plan.
Sustainable Agriculture includes practices like organic farming, watershed management, zero tillage and integrated farm management practices. The objective of these practices is to conserve soil fertility, proper use of water resources and increase productivity from land. These practices also indicate the shift from the use of modern techniques of cultivation (use of fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides) to conventional method (use of farmyard manures, composts). After green revolution no doubt production
level as well as productivity increased but biggest question in front of us is the cost which we paid to achieve this. In order to increase productivity excess fertilizers and other chemicals were used by farmers which resulted in degradation of soil quality. Is it a right thing to comprise with future to live our present? Isn’t it our responsibility to take care of future generation’s need and conserve resources for their use? Judicious and efficient use of resources available can only make it possible for us to conserve them. Achieving food security is also very important issue of concern. Right to food is the basic human right which neither should be neglected in present and nor in future. As land resource is limited so we need to increase productivity from land to feed the ever growing population of our country. The practices adopted under sustainable agriculture might take longer time to give results unlike from the use of fertilizers. Many a rimes it is difficult to convince farmers to adopt practices like organic farming, zero tillage & integrated farm management as they are more interested in getting quick response from the inputs used. But these practices are only solution to reduce scarcity of food in future. Also we must try to incline the interest of farmers in the emerging sectors like floriculture, pomology to name a few, which will provide a good monetary return to the farmers as well as agricultural economy. It has been observed that the agriculture which provides employment to 58% people contributes only 13.9% of GDP. There is need to increase the share of agriculture in GDP and cater to demand of food of growing population of our country. This objective could be achieved by proper and judicious use of
resources available to us. We need to think about future generation at the same time provide food and livelihood security to the present generation. It is high time that we go beyond the traditional practices being followed in agriculture sector for its sustainability and promote innovation and a vision to the immense potential this sector have for the better growth of economy.
AGRICULTURAL POLICIES: HOW AND WHY?
By Pallavi Mathur
India’s capital formation in agriculture and allied sector is growing at 8.1% which is double than the average of the past 10 years. The Eleventh Five year plan has also registered an annual growth rate of 3.6% higher than the 2.4%, the annual growth rate of Tenth five year plan. The good news is that Agricultural Statistics at a Glance(2012) shows that India is world’s largest producer of pulses, milk, many fruits and vegetables, spices, fresh meats.
We have become capable of sustaining food security in our country, but still the welfare of the farmer community is a concern. Therefore there have been constant efforts to introduce policies to tap the potential, strengthen rural infrastructure, promote agri business to uplift small and medium farmers and add some value to the agriculture developments taking place.
Policies: Its evolution
Agriculture has been highly regulated sector by central and state government. The policy was initially focused on self-reliance, land reforms were introduced and also giving impetus to rural credit institutes but trade was highly regulated.
Phase l: Pre- Green Revolution Period (1950-65)
Challenge was to enhance food production and food security Zamindari Abolition Act (1950s) eliminate land intermediaries, ensure ownership rights to the tillers of land, and ensure a permanent improvement in the quality of the landholding. Consolidation of land was encouraged to leverage mass mechanization.
Phase II: Green Revolution Period (1965-80)
Improved crop technologies and seed varieties became the main source of growth during this period. Nationalization of major commercial banks was done to enhance credit flow to the agricultural sector. Several other financial institutions, for example the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), were also established to achieve this objective. It was largely confined to two crops i.e. wheat and rice, and in the regions where irrigation facilities were available.
Phase III: Post-Green Revolution Period (1980-91)
Agricultural economy started experiencing the process of diversification towards high-value commodities like milk, fish, poultry, vegetables and fruits. Finally, the ongoing research on pulses, oilseeds and coarse grains started showing a positive impact with the expansion of these crops into the drier areas.
Phase IV: Economic Reforms Period (1991 onwards)
Trade policy reforms have been aimed at liberalizing the export and import of agricultural and food commodities by gradually removing various restrictions and controls on agricultural trade.
In April 1993, a regional trading block was formed with the signing of the SAARC Preferential Trading Agreement, which was improvised in 2004 in the form of an Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) that supersedes the Agreement on SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement. National Agricultural Policy (NAP) that sets out clear objectives and measures for all the important sub-sectors of agriculture. Growth that is sustainable technologically, environmentally and economically
Current Agricultural Policies
The Union Ministry of Agriculture, under the guidance of the Planning Commission, provides the broad guidelines for agricultural policies. There are number of policy instruments through which India operates. They are:
India’s capital formation in agriculture and allied sector is growing at 8.1% which is double than the average of the past 10 years. The Eleventh Five year plan has also registered an annual growth rate of 3.6% higher than the 2.4%, the annual growth rate of Tenth five year plan. The good news is that Agricultural Statistics at a Glance(2012) shows that India is world’s largest producer of pulses, milk, many fruits and vegetables, spices, fresh meats.
We have become capable of sustaining food security in our country, but still the welfare of the farmer community is a concern. Therefore there have been constant efforts to introduce policies to tap the potential, strengthen rural infrastructure, promote agri business to uplift small and medium farmers and add some value to the agriculture developments taking place.
Policies: Its evolution
Agriculture has been highly regulated sector by central and state government. The policy was initially focused on self-reliance, land reforms were introduced and also giving impetus to rural credit institutes but trade was highly regulated.
Phase l: Pre- Green Revolution Period (1950-65)
Challenge was to enhance food production and food security Zamindari Abolition Act (1950s) eliminate land intermediaries, ensure ownership rights to the tillers of land, and ensure a permanent improvement in the quality of the landholding. Consolidation of land was encouraged to leverage mass mechanization.
Phase II: Green Revolution Period (1965-80)
Improved crop technologies and seed varieties became the main source of growth during this period. Nationalization of major commercial banks was done to enhance credit flow to the agricultural sector. Several other financial institutions, for example the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), were also established to achieve this objective. It was largely confined to two crops i.e. wheat and rice, and in the regions where irrigation facilities were available.
Phase III: Post-Green Revolution Period (1980-91)
Agricultural economy started experiencing the process of diversification towards high-value commodities like milk, fish, poultry, vegetables and fruits. Finally, the ongoing research on pulses, oilseeds and coarse grains started showing a positive impact with the expansion of these crops into the drier areas.
Phase IV: Economic Reforms Period (1991 onwards)
Trade policy reforms have been aimed at liberalizing the export and import of agricultural and food commodities by gradually removing various restrictions and controls on agricultural trade.
In April 1993, a regional trading block was formed with the signing of the SAARC Preferential Trading Agreement, which was improvised in 2004 in the form of an Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) that supersedes the Agreement on SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement. National Agricultural Policy (NAP) that sets out clear objectives and measures for all the important sub-sectors of agriculture. Growth that is sustainable technologically, environmentally and economically
Current Agricultural Policies
The Union Ministry of Agriculture, under the guidance of the Planning Commission, provides the broad guidelines for agricultural policies. There are number of policy instruments through which India operates. They are:
Some of the features of the current policy are:
· It states over 4 % annual growth over the next two decades.
· Price protection for farmers
· Greater role and participation of private sector
· National agricultural schemes
· Removing restrictions on commodity movement in the country
· To increase capital flow
· Minimize fluctuations in commodity prices and monitor international prices
· Plant varieties to come under protection
· Rural electrification is another important task
Making markets more responsive
· It states over 4 % annual growth over the next two decades.
· Price protection for farmers
· Greater role and participation of private sector
· National agricultural schemes
· Removing restrictions on commodity movement in the country
· To increase capital flow
· Minimize fluctuations in commodity prices and monitor international prices
· Plant varieties to come under protection
· Rural electrification is another important task
Making markets more responsive
Recent developments acknowledge growing agri food sectors subsidies. Therefore in the draft of eleventh five year plan some measures are taken to increase responsive of the markets.
Challenges
The market operations have been hampered due to the presence of large number of government based marketing agencies and regulations. The prices are determined by the administration accompanied by subsidies to consumers have further diluted the market forces. Due to a number of input subsidy schemes, there is heavy and uncontrolled use of agri inputs leading to environmental problems and deterioration of soil. There has been huge expenditure on such subsidies which could have been used to promote research and education in the field of agriculture. Also the structure of policy making institutions has been such that it promoted only staple food items. Now the focus should shift to other crops which could be bring in monetary benefits, there is a need of vertical integration along the value chain to improve productivity and competitiveness. The administration systems are decentralized and resources like electricity and water come under state’s jurisdiction. Thus there is lack of coordination and alignment of objectives from the Centre to the state level which leads to failure of many good projects and policies.
There are certain areas where India should focus as they are critical to its prospects: rural infrastructure, water scarcity, reforms in pricing policy and supply chain management. We also need more government involvement to facilitate more public-private partnerships so that the agri sector may have a holistic growth.
Bibliography:
1. http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/bkpap2020/24_bg2020.pdf
2. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/46456/2/india-inde_e.pdf
3. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/162144/2/1-Arora.pdf
4. http://rrtd.nic.in/agriculture.html
Challenges
The market operations have been hampered due to the presence of large number of government based marketing agencies and regulations. The prices are determined by the administration accompanied by subsidies to consumers have further diluted the market forces. Due to a number of input subsidy schemes, there is heavy and uncontrolled use of agri inputs leading to environmental problems and deterioration of soil. There has been huge expenditure on such subsidies which could have been used to promote research and education in the field of agriculture. Also the structure of policy making institutions has been such that it promoted only staple food items. Now the focus should shift to other crops which could be bring in monetary benefits, there is a need of vertical integration along the value chain to improve productivity and competitiveness. The administration systems are decentralized and resources like electricity and water come under state’s jurisdiction. Thus there is lack of coordination and alignment of objectives from the Centre to the state level which leads to failure of many good projects and policies.
There are certain areas where India should focus as they are critical to its prospects: rural infrastructure, water scarcity, reforms in pricing policy and supply chain management. We also need more government involvement to facilitate more public-private partnerships so that the agri sector may have a holistic growth.
Bibliography:
1. http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/bkpap2020/24_bg2020.pdf
2. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/46456/2/india-inde_e.pdf
3. http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/162144/2/1-Arora.pdf
4. http://rrtd.nic.in/agriculture.html