Ensuring Food Security In India
K G Karmakar & Gaurang Karmakar
2 Fl. 8, Sagarika CHS, Krishna Kutir, Juhu Tara Rd. , Juhu, Mumbai-400049
E-mail : karmakar@spjimr.org, gaurangk@gmail.comnd
I.
as it is the country’s rural economy that feeds and
sustains the people besides ensuring our march to
prosperity. With rising oil prices, the farmer is faced
with a three- fold increase in input costs while they
continue to lead a hand to mouth existence. This is due
to information non-availability, poor storage / marketing
facilities as also poor communication, lack of
transportation and poor collective bargaining power.
Lack of affordable prices coupled with global warming,
climate changes, groundwater depletion etc. make
farming in India, one of the riskiest of professions. Most
farmers do not want their children to take up farming as
a profession. With small land-holdings, it is increasingly
difficult to ensure better financial margins especially for
the small and marginal farmers. There are other major
problems to ponder upon: Do we have the technologies
to ensure that on small farms of about I hectare or less ,
a farmer is able to support his family, given that assured
sources of irrigation are lacking in 60% of the farm
lands in the country . The relevance of sustainable
farming practices and innovations ensuring a steady
income for the farmer is also being acutely felt. How do
we ensure appropriate support systems for the farmer to
boost production in agriculture, such as affordable credit
availability in time, essential inputs and insurance,
marketability besides storage, transportation etc?
INTRODUCTION
Over 1 billion of the world’s population lives in
abject poverty and over 60% of these are from Asia,
mainly from India and China. Poor people who maintain
a hand to mouth existence are exposed to extreme risks
and deprivation. With the rural regions unable to feed or
offer them gainful employment, poor people tend to
migrate to urban areas and live in slums and shanty
towns, eking out a sub-marginal, hand-to- mouth
existence. The major challenges India faces over the
next 10 years are set out below:i.
Food Security.
ii.
Financial Inclusion.
iii. Poverty Eradication.
iv. Environmental Sustainability.
v.
Maintenance of Rule of Law
There is increasing awareness that growth and
development of the national economies do not always
lead to poverty alleviation, for prosperity continues to
elude certain regions and vast numbers of people.
Today, there is consensus that inclusive development
growth is needed with financial inclusion for all! Above
all, we cannot afford to fritter away the future of our
succeeding generations and ignore concerns for
sustainable development. All States need to join
together to promote harmony, peace, co-operation and
sustainable inclusive growth for all people in the
country
III. INNOVATIONS AND INITIATIVES
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, ex-President of India and a
true visionary with his PURA (Provision of Urban
Amenities in Rural Areas) approach, has advocated that
all rural people, including farmers, must have :-
II. PROBLEMS OF INDIAN FARMERS
i.
Physical Connectivity,
Let us praise the poor Indian farmer. On his frail
shoulders rest the country’s hopes for economic revival.
A delayed or poor monsoon due to climate change and
the distress of farmers is all too evident with some
suicides and a horde of farmers abandoning their rural
homes for an urban livelihood or the doubtful security of
urban slums! One poor monsoon leaves the entire
economy in shambles. Today, economic growth cannot
be restricted to the industries and services sectors alone
ii.
Electronic Connectivity,
iii. Knowledge Connectivity, and
iv. Economic Connectivity
If required to contribute substantially to the
country’s growth, a farmer’s multiple risks need to be
mitigated so that he can maintain his family and also
contribute to the country’s food security. The on-farm
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International Journal of Research and Development - A Management Review (IJRDMR)
and off-farm incomes need to be stable as a part of the
risk mitigation exercise. The Mahatma Gandhi National
Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in India is an
excellent innovation which ensures some income for the
rural people, during off seasons especially for rural
womenfolk. But enduring assets, such as rainwater
harvesting devices like check dams, ponds etc. need to
be created so as to harness available labor as per
approved infrastructure plans. Micro- level planning
especially over a 5-year or 10-year horizon would be
useful to develop sustainable plans as also an
implementable rural infrastructure plan. The four major
areas for interventions and innovations are set out
below:i.
Farmer-friendly Credit and Insurance Packages ,
ii.
Technology and It’s Transfer,
the community and not by individuals. This ensures that
bank loans are not available due to lack of land
ownership records and documentation. Tenant farmers
or share croppers or oral lessees have little or no access
to bank credit. The formation of joint liability Groups of
up to 5 farmers, ensure that they access individual loans
or joint loans but stand guarantee for each other’s
repayment for loans taken, as these loans are collateralfree.
VI. MICRO INSURANCE
Various Insurance companies (both life and nonlife) have developed multiple products over the years, to
cover the risks faced by farmers. However, these
products have remained confined to assets acquired with
bank loans mainly to ensure recovery of the loans i.e. to
protect the interest of banks. The interests of the farmer
or his family are rarely protected. The need of the
farmer is therefore to choose from an array of insurance
products available as part of a package, bundled with the
farmer’s credit card and made available at the credit
society or bank branch or through the village post office.
Such credit / insurance products should be made
available at the farmer’s doorsteps. The micro-insurance
package appeals to those farmers with some assets and
should cover all insurance requirements, such as crops,
farm equipments / machines, animals, accidents, health,
life, etc. Premium should be payable on a group basis to
lower costs and farmers should have the choice to accept
all or specific components of the micro-insurance
scheme.
iii. Innovations in Farming and Financial Systems, and
iv. Organic Farming and Watershed Approach
Innovations /practical approaches for boosting
sustainable and viable agriculture are described below:
IV. CREDIT AND INSURANCE NEEDS
Certain innovations need to be field-tested prior to
implementation for acceptability and adoption. If there
is resistance to change, it would be pointless to try and
implement major changes without a felt need or
consensus for change. The farmer needs adequate credit
at affordable rates without much documentation. Credit
cards should be supplied by all banks and credit limits
should be available over the agricultural crop cycle of 5
years with 2 years of above average crops, 1 year of
below average crops and 2 years of average crops; for
consumption credit, crop loans and term loans. It should
be a chip-based, biometric card which obviates the
farmer from resorting to cash payments for his major
input purchases. 100% financial inclusion for all farmers
owning land must be attempted and the farmer’s credit
card should contain all relevant banking data including
the UID number as and when available. This will enable
Rural Credit Bureaus to be set up and facilitate loans for
farmers and other rural self-employed persons.
However, it is not just credit alone but a series of
appropriate developmental measures that help farmers.
The ‘’ Credit plus approach” of banks will help the
small/ marginal farmers unable to adhere to commercial
farming norms. Weather-based Insurance needs to be
implemented.
VII. MICRO PENSIONS
Micro pension schemes appeal to those without
land or other assets especially agricultural laborers or
the landless or unorganised labor in rural areas that need
a safety net when their income stops due to old age. The
poor rarely have access to regular savings and need very
flexible pension products if the micro-pension product is
to succeed. Contributions should be on an annual /
quarterly /monthly basis and should be flexible to take
into account clients’ needs and income-generating
abilities.
VIII. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
In most States, the’ training and visit’ system or the
‘lab to land’ programs by agricultural extension
workers, have not kept up with the times and farmers
largely depend upon word of mouth for transfer of
technology. There is a need to transfer the latest
technology to farmers to ensure better productivity and
higher production levels. The challenge is to ensure
transfer of technologies, various innovations and
schemes to farmers, at low costs so that farmers can try
V. JOINT LIABILITY GROUPS
A large number of small/ marginal farmers or tribal
farmers may not have clear land titles or land is held by
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out these technologies and adapt the same for enhancing
production besides enhancing their financial margins.
organic manure, weeding with Kono weeders and
incorporating the weed biomass ,besides crop protection
by pesticides ,with bio-control means, are emphasised.
Research is on for similar water-efficient techniques for
wheat, barley and sugarcane.
IX. FARMERS CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS
There is a need to strengthen the farmers’ clubs through
banks and NGOs, with suitable incentives. These
farmers’ clubs should emphasise capacity building and
leadership training, formation of joint liability groups
and self help groups, developing linkages with banks/
Govt. officials/ institutions /technology providers and
markets, farming federation and associations of farmers
for the aggregator’s role in grading, sorting, packing,
transportation and marketing. These clubs should
concentrate solely on addressing the farmers ‘core issues
and the Associations should function like aggregators
and secure better prices for farmers who may be good at
farming but may be poor negotiators and businessmen.
XII. ICT TECHNIQUES FOR FARMERS
Application of information and communication
technologies for enhancing agricultural production
whereby technology ensures extending timely and
accurate information services to facilitate appropriate
technology interventions, leading to productivity
enhancement. Various models have emerged in the last
10 years utilising computers, handsets, mobiles laptops,
etc. for transferring essential marketing information
including commodity prices, weather advisories,
innovative technologies, soil testing, Govt. schemes and
subsidies, etc. These are done by Agricultural
universities, NGOs, private enterprises, etc. However,
the awareness levels and the willingness of farmers for
adoption of new technologies based on knowledge and
awareness is yet to be assessed. Some of the ICT
innovations are e-Kutir, e-Choupal and e-Sagoo and
these innovations need to be scaled up.
X. SEED VILLAGES
The advent of costly hybrid seeds determines, with
the package of practices, the production levels attained
by farmers. To ensure good seed replacement ratio of
15% every year and ensure that seed germination levels
are above 90%, quality seeds of improved varieties of
cereals, pulses and oilseeds must be used. The
centralized seed production and distribution system is
against all norms of bio-diversity and groups of farmers
should take up village-level seed production, to ensure
good quality seeds and create self- sufficient
communities. The quality and integrity of the seeds
would be assured as production is localized and certified
seeds would be produced by trained farmers. Promotion
of local seed enterprises also generates village level
employment opportunities. Seed availability of the right
quality ensures benefits of research investment, higher
income, nutritional security and environmental
sustainability.
XIII. SCIENTIFIC FARMING AND INNOVATIONS
To harness science and technology and ramp up
productivity, biotechnology can create new varieties of
highly productive plants, which are resistant to major
pests. Bt-Cotton, modified rice, colored cotton crops, Bt
brinjals, etc. are all easily available due to the
tremendous advances made by science. Organic farming
is the need of the hour especially when over use of
chemical fertilisers has damaged soil productivity and
even affected groundwater quality. Use of manure,
green- manure, vermi- compost, etc. are all being
increasingly taken up to restore soil- health affected by
overdose of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and
hormones. The Indian system of farming is essentially
based on intensive farm practices, which enhance soil
productivity on a long-term basis if properly nurtured.
Every bit of land and water can be used for cropping
practices and hence the ingenuity of the farmer and his
understanding of farming practices and techniques, are
relevant.
XI. SRI TECHNIQUES
Rice plays a major role in the Indian diet, economy
and employment and more than 70% of the rice is
consumed domestically. With declining rice growing
area, increasing input costs of cultivation and shrinking
sources like water, labor availability, there is a need to
manage the traditional rice production system with a
modern set of scientific practices to reduce input costs
of seeds and water by 40%, enhance productivity levels
by over 30%, and utilise the agronomic and genetic
potential of rice in a better growing environment and
enhance soil health. A set of 6 simple practices such as
planting 10-12 day old seedlings, at wider spacing
(25*25cm), 5 alternate wettings and dryings during
vegetative period to keep the soil moist, applying
XIV. ORCHARD (WADI) FARMING
Tribal people dwell in difficult regions of the
country and are in different stages of development.
Some are nomadic, some in ‘hunter- gatherer’ stage
while some are in settled farming. Their agricultural
skills vary according to the tribes they belong to and
resources available locally. Their attitude towards
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innovation is of suspicion and is restricted to taking one
small step at a time. Tribal communities reform at a
slow pace. But once they understand and master the
technology, the tribals are as good as any other farmer.
His ability to respond to innovative technology is
limited, as he has no support if a single crop fails. The
need to wean these farmers away from the destructive
‘slash and burn’ farming practices, mostly in tribal
areas, must be understood. Various organic farm
practices on one acre orchards with multi-tiered
horticultural plants viz. mangoes or jackfruits, lemons or
cashews, medicinal herbs or plants, papaya,
gooseberries, etc. are cultivated in orchards by tribal
farmers. They harvest these fruits for domestic/ export
markets. This BAIF model has worked well with tribal
communities in different regions, responding to their
economic development.
climatic change. Another de-risking strategy is to ensure
deposits mobilisation by farmer in joint liability groups.
XVI. OTHER OPTIONS
To assist farmers, various states have experimented in
diverse ways, to create an enabling environment besides
incentivising organic farming and water-saving, microirrigation devices. Some innovations are given below:
Rural Infrastructure Development fund (RIDF)
Over 18 years, the RIDF in India has created 3.05
million km of rural roads, hundreds of bridges 15.67
million ha. Of irrigation potential and a vast number of
primary health centers, schools and training institutes,
created enormous rural employment opportunities,
provided access to rural markets and availability of
institutional finance, augmented agricultural output and
enhanced gross household income by 28%. Access to
better health services and education also inevitably
follows. There is a need for more grain storage
warehouses and cold storages, micro-irrigation systems,
watershed development, etc. to be created by utilising
the Fund. Also roads, bridges and markets help the
farmers get better prices and sound financial margins.
XV. WATERSHED AND RAIN WATER
HARVESTING
With rainfall a prey to EI Nino or La Nina effects,
global warming and climatic changes have ensured a
disastrous effect on farmers as there are heavy floods or
cloud bursts in some parts and recurring drought in
others. It is extremely difficult to predict normal or
abnormal rainfall. In water-scarce regions of Asia,
rainwater is carefully stored and utilized. Communities
thrive in difficult areas by storing available water
resources in underground acquifers. ‘Harvest every
raindrop’ is the slogan and there is a need to revert to
traditional techniques of storing rainwater and not allow
rain to carry away precious top soil. Gully plugs,
gabions, contour bunding, check dams, check weirs,
sunken ponds, water absorption trenches, farm ponds,
field bunds, compartment bunds, terracing, etc. are some
of the common technologies used for rain-water
harvesting. In view of wastage of fresh water, we must
conserve our water resources.
Grain Banks
The Grain bank concept has evolved in tribal
farming communities as an effective tool for food
security where access to food is major concern
especially in monsoon seasons when food is not easily
accessible. The scheme ensures grain diversity and the
aim was to mobilise and organise the seed production of
tribal farmers. The process involves the farmers
extending a part of their own produce to common
pooled resource, managed by village elders in safe
storages, called the village grain bank, for collective use
food stress. Poor and needy villagers can avail of grains
loans for seed or for consumption in the lean seasons,
to be repaid back with interest in grain after the next
harvest. This also helps tribal farmers to keep away
from the clutches of village money-lenders with their
exploitatively high interest rates.
XVI. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND FISH FARMING
Mono-cropping is the bane of Indian farmers and
the secret of crop rotation is the need to enhance soil
fertility. Farming is one of riskiest of professions.
Growing legume crops, letting fields lie fallow, use of
green manures and organic fertilizers, are all aspects of
the farmers’ repertoire. Farmers need to be innovative
and adapt to climatic changes, suitably change the
cropping pattern as a hedge against adversity. Indian
farmers have always supported a host of farming
practices , a variety of agricultural and horticultural
crops besides rearing animals like cows, pigs, buffaloes,
sheep, goats, camels and horses and raising fish in ponds
for harvesting in dry seasons. This system of risk
management is essential to master the vagaries of
Renewable energy options
For rural areas, the option in Asia has been to
depend either on human labour or animal power. These
options are becoming obsolete, time-taking and plainly
non-viable. With high cost of fossil fuels, the search is
on for massive sources of renewable rural energy. In
sugar factories, co-generation of power is a viable but
wasteful option. Ethanol can be created from sugarcane
which provides Brazil, 40% of its fuel requirements.
Solar lamps ,wind power, biomass convertors, biogas,
geothermal energy sources, micro-hydro-electrical
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plants, and tidal power, bio-diesel (jathropha and
pongamia) etc. can also contribute to rural power grid
on an off- gridline model. Solar cells, Bio-gas and
Pongamia bio-diesel are sources of cheap rural power
worth examining. India needs to have efficient
generation of renewable power as there will be an
explosion of rural energy requirements within the next
10years.
XVII. CONCLUSIONS
There has to be a sound food security framework
for the poor so to stop all starvation and malnutrition.
.
Food security framework for the poor in India
turning away from cereal crops to vegetable and
horticultural crops and dairy farming, animal husbandry
and inland fisheries for diversifying income sources and
as de-risking mechanisms. These steps will affect the
incomes of farmers positively but will affect Food
Security adversely and will have to be factored in the
food security system
.
The road to agricultural development is one which
invites critics, self-styled activists and so-called experts
as fellow travelers. The poor production and
productivity levels of farmers, reveals the state of
continuing neglect of the farm sector and farmers. Food
security is of utmost important and all initiatives in
agricultural development are welcome. Sustainable,
low-cost innovations can unleash the hidden potentials
of our farmers. The need for restructuring the rural
economy is acute and we are running short of time.
Access to timely and hassle free credit as also insurance,
is the need of farmers as is access to the latest
technology. All states need to assist in building up
essential rural infrastructure so as to develop resourcepoor regions which could fall prey to forces out to
destabilise the country’s march towards peace and
progress. An inclusive model of agricultural
development must enable growth for all rural sectors,
with none left behind. Since 2002-03, the rate of growth
of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Sectors has far
outstripped the Crop Sector and wiser farmers are
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