An Approach to Inclusive Rural Growth
Under Sustainable Environment Caps
Creating New Value Chains on
Shared Values
India – A Ragi Nation
- Satish Pathak, Mumbai
Finger Millet - Ragi
India – A Ragi Nation !
PM’s food grain target for
10 yrs- from 210 Million
MT to 420 Million MT
What to
crack?
India’s
challenge
55 Cr Villagers’ income
very poor – low human
“capabilities” and poor
land “capacities”
Last 10 yr Green
Revolution food-grain
growth is less than
population growth(1.03%)
India – A Ragi Nation !
Food Security
1. Turbulent times
Food
crisis
Rain
patterns
changes
Global
warming
Volatile
tropic
agriculture
2. PM’s tough target - 420 million MT in 10 years
Yr
Prod(MMT)
1962/3
1972/3
1982/3
1992/3
2003/4
81
103
130
174
199
Forty years Green Revolution – 2 ½ times growth !
India – A Ragi Nation !
Shrinking fertile land with
urbanization - food insecurity
India’s 65% population or
(global 10%) living in villages
Fertilizers and pesticides Rs 80 K
Cr. subsidy - equity-wise,
benefiting only 20% rich farmers
Inside India
- Uneven
Growth
Indian villages’ 80% human
capital living at Rs 20 per day –
very low productivity
India – A Ragi Nation !
Future-Villagers’ Children under
Vicious Cycle Trap
Marginal
farmers’ land
is less fertile depends on
rains
Income(subsidy), equity and fairness
gap between rich and poor farmers
in villages;
Income, equity and fairness gap
between city and villages ;
Human capability gap between cities
and villages
Gandhi’s Village Juggernaut – rendering India to be less productive and
low hope and confidence; weak morals and morale
India – A Ragi Nation !
Water resource limitation to
meet Yr 2025 agricultural,
industrial and domestic demand
Fertilizer and pesticide
pollute Indian air, water,
river and sea
Recent suicides in Marashtara
and Andhra, past deaths in
Kalahandi and in West Bengal
A writing on the wall - A time to look back!
India: A Ragi Nation-Insight
65 Crore population living in villages
Big farmer 20% uses
subsidies
maximum - rich
& confident
Aam farmer 80%, has
knowhow and
capacity - poor
& without hope
Need for a Human Touch on villagers’ life – fairness & equity;
capabilities & capacities, confidence & hope
India – A Ragi Nation !
Engagement of less productive village human
capital to higher productivity on their “core
competencies “ and “know-how”
Use of “technologies”
to “Dark is Beautiful”
for 3-5 yr to craft
Industrial market
demand
Unlocking
marginal
farmers and
villagers
Use of less fertile land
“Capacities” for food
security thru “Dark is
Beautiful” model
Visioning India on Rs 100,000Cr New Ragi Economy
Within 1 yr
India – A Ragi Nation !
Visioning India - New Ragi Economy
A Long term sustainability and factor productivity approach
Systemic R&D
approach to
“Dark is
Beautiful” from
soil to plant to
environment
Unlocking India
on coherent
environmental
development
Systemic
approach on
village skill and
knowledge
development for
human capital
India – A Ragi Nation !
Dark is Beautiful
1.
2.
In festivals, Villagers never used Ragi - only bright and white;
Ragi – every day food; All India village Folk Lore – Sudama god ate it daily (I call
Sudama’S); Sudama’s wife says:
“कोदों, सव ाँ” जुरितो भरि पेट, तौ च हतत न “दधि दि
ू मिठौती”।
सीत बितीत भयो मसमसय तहहिं, हौं हठती पै तुम्हें न हठौती॥
-By Narotam Das, 1605 AD, Sudama Charit
(If I got finger-millet bellyful, I wouldn’t run for curd, milk or butter-milk;
And, a trembling bitter cold night passed away, I shifted but not you;)
2.
Dark grain Finger Millet was abundantly grown and used by majority. Yet, for
good social gatherings white and bright was used. Hence popularity and myth of
white grains; and
3.
Dark grain was thought to be poor man’s choice, yet, Ragi was substitute
nutrient for mother’s milk! and Ragi was also a pregnancy nutra-cereal for
mothers!!;
India – A Ragi Nation !
Disease and pest
resistant; No
fertilizer!
Rain shock
(40 cm 500 cm
Resistant!!
Abundant
Less
fertile
land !!!!!
Marginal farmers
assets - Less
fertile land !!!!
Comparable yield
with rice and
wheat!!!
Ragi is beautiful
India – A Ragi Nation !
Dwarika
India’s 90% land
uneven
1.
Suits well with India’s climate Resonates!
2.
Produced from Himalayan foot hills
to Rameshwaram to Dwarika.
Rameshwaram
Ragi is beautiful
India – A Ragi Nation !
Green Revolution Model’s limitations
Model suffers - Marginal Productivity
Indian scientists developed high yield variety – flat and valleys with irrigation
Emphasized on wheat and rice - flat and valleys with irrigation
Unintended Consequences – 50 years
Research
focus –
White and
Bright
Dark grain
research
without
appreciation
Green
revolution
strengthens
myth
Media feared to
talk about Ragi
Ragi Per Capita production went down!
India – A Ragi Nation !
Why to take “Dark is Beautiful” road – “Shared Values”?
Beginning of a Virtuous Cycle of Economy
Multiplier effect upon
villagers – Nourish
themselves, educate
children, buy
necessities and other
capital goods
GDP increases,
employment and
productivity gains,
including marginal
farmers’
Ragi Economy Model MGNRGEA + values,
with factor
sustainability –
economic, social and
environ
Turn of positive
economic cycle - huge
product and capital
investment
opportunities
Economy for the first
time runs faster than
before
India – A Ragi Nation !
Why to take “Dark is Beautiful” road
Stronger India
Infant Mortality
Reduction to mid day
meal - olympics
superior performance
- Indian set of core
competencies /tech
Bio-technology to
process
technologies
Feed for industry to
fodder for live stock
Nourishing
values to
villagers confident
India
Food Variety on from
“bright” to “Dark
grain”
Less fertilizer,
pesticides, water;
cleaner environment
Sliming solution to
diabetic solutions
India – A Ragi Nation!
Why to take “Dark is Beautiful” road?
Key food values in Ragi
Calcium –
344mg
Fat –
1300mg
Phosphorus
– 283mg
Healthy
India
Protein –
7300mg
Fe – 1.0mg
Reference - National
Institute of Nutrition, 2000
India – A Ragi Nation! – Insight
Majority of producers aware of Finger Millet!
India – A Ragi Nation! – Insight
But, Production Centers isolated on knowledge sharing - Ragi,
Mauda, Kodu or Nachni are Finger Millet only
India:A Ragi Nation-Insight
India – A Ragi Nation!
Economic Liberalization 2.0 -Touching a billion lives
Over produce, basic &
applied research
Pull of the
market on
“values”
Policy
Intervention
at various
sectors
Crafting
sustainable
markets
India – A Ragi Nation!
Economic Liberalization 2.0: Policy intervention
Crafting 15 Million MT demand to unlock villagers
Defense Ration 620 gram daily
• Defense
• Para & Police
Vendors
• Railways & airlines
• 1250 PSUs & NH Dhabas
Children food
• Infant food, horlicks, etc.
• Mid day meal
India – A Ragi Nation!
Economic Liberalization 2.0: Pull on gratification and benefits
Creating 15 million MT market to unlock villagers – Ragi Economy
Health
Sliming
Diabetics
Substitutions
Food
Beverages
Industry
Fodder
Feed
India – A Ragi Nation!
Economic Liberalization 2.0: Basic and applied research tool
Grain and plant
biotechnology
Soil, water and
environment
Energy solution to
other products
An New Ragi Economy
India – A Ragi Nation - Economic Liberalization 2.0!
Touching a billion lives : Building up Nation’s character - Legitimacy
of law, fairness, equity and compassion for 65% population
A happy engagement on “Dark” is beautiful
•Effective IAS, IPS, Parliamentarians, Judges search for law reforms, not their immunity
•Tax Authorities help focus into Govt. priority area; and effective collection by why
•Investors and banks engage in value creation along with development officers
•PSUs, Railways, STUs, etc. seek new objectives at Economic Liberalization 2.0
•Ragi to be the melting pot of India’s diversity on - the nativity of the plant – species
•Elimination of participation of criminals, tax evaders and leakage promoters in the economy
•Replacement of negative energy – hate – by equity, fairness, creativity and positive energy
•Increase of spirit, morale, morality and ethics of the Nation
•Emergence of Nation’s competitive advantages - superior performance and reliability
amongst nations
Thank you