India’s Farming Frontier (2014-2023): Navigating Failures and Fostering Hopes

The Failures:

1. Stalled Income Goals: The initiative launched in 2016 to double farmers’ real income by 2022 was never achieved and eventually abandoned.

2. Import Dependency: India's heavy reliance on imported pulses, edible oils, and oilseeds stands in stark contrast to the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' self-reliance goals.

3. Abandoned Initiatives: Green Revolution 2.0, which aimed to promote less water-intensive crops and sustainable practices for small and marginal farmers, was left by the wayside.

4. Environmental Damage: Promoting oil palm cultivation led to loss of biodiversity and environmental harm, more so in the fragile ecosystem of Northeast, with minimal impact on indigenous production.

5. Productivity Stagnation: Agricultural productivity for major crops saw insufficient improvement despite substantial investments in research on hybrid rice and other important crops.

6. Seed System Failures: Inefficiencies in seed production and supply systems, coupled with inadequate prioritization of climate-resilient and bio-fortified varieties, hindered progress.

7. Unwise Trade Policies: Exporting low-value, high-water-demanding cereals, sugarcane while importing high-value pulses and food legumes, which enhance soil fertility, proved counterproductive.

8. Lack of State-Specific Plans: Despite agriculture being a state subject, the absence of a state-specific balanced crop production plan hampered agricultural development.

9. Uniform MSP Issues: Fixing a uniform Minimum Support Price (MSP) for a given crop across India, despite significant state-by-state variations in production costs and yields, undermined the policy's effectiveness.

The Hopes:

The new Agriculture Minister, recognized for his dedication and determination to reform the struggling sector, offers an optimistic outlook on addressing the negative balance sheets.?

I wrote sometimes ago: ‘The Nation Awaits Agricultural Reforms from the Incoming Government’

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/mukti-sadhan-basu-ph-d-30769459_the-nation-awaits-agricultural-reforms-from-activity-7203119534868766720-GytA?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios

Hon’ble Minister may please note that India’s strong food security is maintained by impoverished farmers.?

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/mukti-sadhan-basu-ph-d-30769459_india-an-agricultural-county-fate-of-farmers-activity-6916341338464563200-CPGu?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios

This situation is unsustainable for feeding the ever-growing population. Instead of mere superficial changes, there is a need to rebuild the agricultural foundation in line with the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat.’?

Here is a prescription from a grassroots expert. ‘Sick Farm-Malnourished Farmers: The Prescription - Open Letter to PM’

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/mukti-sadhan-basu-ph-d-30769459_agricultureministry-icar-nitiayog-activity-7033372984505450496-4ngc?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios

Prior to that, 3 years from now, I wrote ‘Save Indian Agriculture From Peril - Do Not Leave It to Die Like Dinosaur’

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/protect-indian-agriculture-do-left-die-like-mukti-sadhan-basu-ph-d

This was followed by relatively recent article ‘Appeal to PM, PMO and NITI Aayog’

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/mukti-sadhan-basu-ph-d-30769459_pm-pmo-nitiaayog-activity-7141271749362339840-5KJh?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios

#UnionAgricultureMinister #MoAFW?#ICAR #NITIAyoag #PMO?

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Dr. M S Basu, MD SBSF Consultancy.

Formerly Director ICAR;?Visiting Scientist ICRISAT;?UNIDO International Consultant on Aflatoxins (Africa);?Founder Consultant HIL Seed Division (Govt of India Enterprise) &?Independent consultant to NAIP (Funded by World Bank).

[email protected]