Indian agriculture needs a new approach – a blend of traditional and modern farming practices. Traditional knowledge is highly scientific. Traditional crop varieties and indigenous breed of animals also have an important role to play in enhancing the farmers’ income and in ending farm crisis
–Harvir Singh
Our policy-makers, decision-makers, scientists and Government functionaries have contributed immensely for agriculture post-Independence. From a ship-to-mouth situation, we have become an exporter of not only foodgrains but many other agricultural products.
Why is then Indian agriculture in crisis? Why is the farmer’s income shrinking and the growth of wealth creation in agriculture sector lagging behind other sectors of Indian economy? Why have the terms of trade been continuously against the agriculture sector in a majority of the years in the last several decades? We need to find the answer to the above questions if we want to resolve the crisis in the Indian agriculture.
Modern high-yielding varieties in different crops have resulted in higher production and benefited farmers with more income from the same plot of land. But this has also been adding to the cost and pressure on natural resources
There is one and only one answer: The cost of production has to be reduced because price increase has its limitations and a higher price in a globalised world means a flood of imports from other countries—the competitiveness of our agricultural exports will become a problem for us. In this situation, we need to find a hybrid solution and that lies in combining our traditional farming practices with modern technology. To make the farming sector aatmanirbhar, we must focus on localised solutions and encourage the use of local resources and knowledge available for centuries. We have to refocus on our domestic and proven crop materials, which are still preserved in many parts of the country by farmers and social conservators as a rich treasure.
There is no gainsaying that high-yielding varieties in different crops have resulted in higher production and benefited farmers with more income from the same plot of land. But this has also been adding to cost and pressure on natural resources.We must also understand that latest scientific research is important and required as in any other area of economic activity and human life. What is needed is a course correction, which will have to conserve depleting natural resources and reduce the cost of cultivation for farmers; this will result in as improved income for farmers.
To achieve this objective, we need to adopt an approach of planning: crop-, region- and area-based plan. Under this approach we need to identify the agricultural practices prevailing in that particular region for a particular crop. Is traditional variety for that particular crop good in yield? What are the costs to get a threshold level of yield? We need to do a comparative study with the new variety and farming practices. This experiment can give us an idea as to what is economically and environmentally more sustainable option for farmers in a particular area and for a particular crop.
One thing is very clear that this cannot be done by a farmer alone; it requires the full involvement of the Government machinery and mechanism. Our agricultural research system is one of the largest in the world. We have to use it in an effective manner. Lab-to-lab and limited-to-research-field approach of scientists is failing Indian agriculture. Too much dependence on foreign research is also an area of concern. Our research system is not well connected with the farmers. The field demonstration approach does not reach the big community of farmers.We have a huge bank of germ plasma but what are the traditional varieties lying in this bank? Has a farmer any access to this treasure? Is there any information campaign that if a farmer wants to grow these crop varieties, he or she can approach this or that authority and process to avail this facility? These are some unanswered questions.
Our major festivals have a direct connect with agriculture. It is not simple seasonality but it has connection with climate also. We need to refocus on these areas. Our scientists must work on this aspect. Scientists can draw from the traditional wisdom of farmers
The same thing applies to farm practices. We have a modern way of farming with a set pattern — from preparation of field, sowing the seeds, applying fertilisers, pesticides and other crop nutrients to harvesting the crop. What about the traditional way of farming? When we talk about natural farming (Prakritik Kheti) or zero-budget farming, do we not have to go back to old practices of farming? Why did our crop calendar have a direct connect with our festivals? All our major festivalshave a direct connect with crop harvesting season. It is not simple seasonality but it has connection with climate also. Weneed to refocus on these areas. Our scientists must work on this aspect of Indian agriculture. It must be a collaborative approach where farmers with their traditional knowledge are part of the team with scientists.
In the above lines the focus is on crops, but the same approach is also needed for other areas of farming, whether it is animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries. We have a rich treasure of animal genetics. There are multiple examples from other countries where Indian animal genetic resources are being used for better yield. We need to do more research on this front. Dairy and non-crop farming areas are most promising for increasing farmers’ income. More production per animal means costs will go down. Some of our indigenous breeds of animals are very rich in yield as well as adaptive to weather and climatic conditions. We need to promote these breeds and make farmers aware of the benefits. In this way we will be able to conserve our animal breeds and improve farming income. But this needs research and programmes for improvement. Here, too, we need a course correction in Government policies. As of now, be it budgetary allocations or planning and programmes for agriculture sector, the central focus is on crops. Non-crop farming does not get its due share in a manner proportional to its contribution to the agricultural economy.
Buddha’s Rice Becomes Global
To enhance farmers’ income and enrich the agricultural value chain, the Uttar Pradesh Government is aggressively promoting the indigenous and nutritious ‘Kalanamak Rice’ variety under its ambitious ‘One District, One Product’ (ODOP) scheme.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is taking a keen interest in its promotion. The government is trying to build a brand around the rice variety to make it popular nationally and internationally.
Amid the ongoing stir over new farm laws, this is an instance wherein the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is promoting an agro variety, which is not in the minimum support price (MSP) basket, but offers remunerative returns to farmers.In a sense, kalanamak will soon offer competition to the peer paddy variety of basmati, which remains in high demand among the affluent sections of society and is a staple grocery for special occasions. Basmati is exported in large quantities to Iran and other West Asian markets in the Gulf region owing to its aroma and large grain size.
Kalanamak Rice derives its name from its black colour paddy, although the rice grain is white in colour. It is principally grown in the Eastern UP districts — Siddharth Nagar, Deoria, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Sant Kabir Nagar, Basti, Bahraich, Balrampur, Gonda and Shravasti, which are considered as the ideal agro-climatic zones.
It is not only aromatic but contains useful minerals and micronutrients, including iron, zinc, etc. It is said to be beneficial in keeping Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes at bay.On an average, kalanamak entails Rs 30-40 per kg in input costs, but it sells upwards of Rs 100 to Rs 300 per kg depending upon the quality, grade and packaging.
Recently, the state government had also organised a three-day ‘Kalanamak Rice Festival’ in Siddharth Nagar district. The event was virtually inaugurated by the CM, who waxed eloquent on the variety and its potential to tap the international market if positioned and branded professionally.
Earlier, the State had announced that a consignment of 20 tonnes of kalanamak would be exported from Siddharth Nagar to Singapore under the brand name ‘Buddha Rice’.According to UP additional chief secretary, MSME and export promotion, Navneet Sehgal, “The Government is dexterously packaging the product in attractive jars and fancy labels for the international market, so that kalanamak gains traction in the market, especially in the Buddhist majority countries in South East Asia.”
There is also a plan to establish a Kalanamak Rice Research Centre at Siddharth Nagar in collaboration with the International Rice Research Centre, Varanasi.In local parlance, kalanamak rice is also referred to as ‘Buddha ka Mahaprasad’. It is believed, the paddy was grown at Bajaha village in Siddharth Nagar district during the period of Lord Buddha. But, it eventually lost to other rice varieties, such as basmati in the popularity and marketing index.Now, the Yogi government is on a spree of highlighting and celebrating locally grown agricultural and horticultural crops.
Kalanamak is a special variety of Asian rice that was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2013 because it is unique to the growing conditions of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) in India. The primary objective of this GI tag is the protection of intellectual property (IP) for the geographical area of UP, where this special variety of rice originates.
According to the GI registry, the Kalanamak Scented Paddy Production and Conservation Society represents this special interest group of rice producers. The GI tag was awarded on 9 September 2013 and is valid till 24 March 2030.
(Courtesy: Rural Voice)
Dairy and non-crop farming areas are most promising for increasing farmers’ income. More production per animal means costs will go down. Some indigenous breeds are very rich in yield as well as adaptive to weather and climatic conditions
We can see very clearly that Indian agriculture needs a new approach, where we have traditional farming and modern agriculture practices blended together. Preference must be given to whichevercan give better result in terms of higher income and sustainability wherever and whenever. The deployment of resources should also be more equitable for modern and traditional agriculture. Traditional knowledge is also science and our traditional varieties and indigenous breed of animals also have an important role to play in enhancing the farmers’ income and in ending the farming crisis. Such an approach will carry Indian agriculture closer to its culture, nature and traditions.
(The writer is Editor-in-Chief of RuralVoice.in, a digital news platform, primarily focussed on the agriculture and rural sectors. He is former Editor of Outlook Hindi)
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