Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Need of positive agrarian outlook' that was published in Newsband

Need of positive agrarian outlook

India is home to the world's largest number of farmers, as also the largest number of people who face food insecurity. Hence a positive agrarian outlook is required.

In the recent days, India has emerged as a leading exporter of agricultural products. This is owing to the rise in public investment in agriculture, massive increase in credit flows and upgradation of rural infrastructure. India must promote sustainable practices like organic farming, application of bio fertilizers and bio pesticides. At the same time farmers should get remunerative price for produce and consumers should not be made to pay more to the retailer and also there is need of amending Agricultural Produce Market Committee act and increasing of cold storage facility to reduce wastages.

Water management and ecosystem conservation is essential for both environmental sustainability and agricultural production. Rich farmers use inorganic methods to grow crops in India while marginal farmers use organic methods. So they do not get the price they are supposed to get. India is an exporter of food-grain commodities. Since India is a very vast country, campaign is needed for creating awareness among farmers as well as other citizens about the need of sustainable agriculture and enabling them to explore the new agricultural methods.

Ordinary farmer should have access to standard and cheap storage facilities so that he need not be at the mercy of the market agencies at the time of a lucky harvest. Now at the time of harvest, bulk buyers join hands to reduce prices of the products which they later hoard for undue benefits and profits.

On the eve of every election, political parties cunningly grant some aids to the farmers which look like peripherally an aid but end up in destroying our agricultural possibilities.

India has more natural resources and high manpower to achieve good agricultural growth. But yet one of the biggest problems faced by farmers from different parts of the country is sterility of good agriculture land due extensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The government should look into this matter and encourage farmers to use bio-fertilizers and methods prescribed by agricultural universities like organic farming.

Irradiation as developed by BARC more than 60 years ago was successfully done on onions, potatoes and mangoes extensively. This method is not only safe but improves resistance to pests, delays ripening and other benefits. Why have we been sleeping on this very vital research already done and proved successful?

The future depends on the introduction of new methods for increasing productivity and quality as also better storage facilities. The other technology should also be impartially and scientifically assessed and should not be rejected although they are developed by foreign companies. If these BT products are safe and improves the quality and productivity of the product with better resistance to pests etc these products must be introduced to meet the increased demand. We need better technology and no politics in such innovations.