The
State Government should amend the and Ceiling Act to promote corporate
farming and promote collective schemes for greater private investment
in agriculture
I
refer to one of the major policy directives contained in the National
Agriculture Policy on privatisation of agriculture and price protection
of farmers in the post-quantitative restrictions regime relating to
competitiveness. Domestic producers cannot meet competition after
the removal of trade barriers. In several states, prices have gone
below cost of production viz., coconut oil in Kerala, milk in most
parts of the country, edible oils in oilseed growing states of the
country, certain fruit producers, to name a few. This is because our
reforms are painfully slow and without proper direction. Indian farmers
who were sheltered by a highly protective regime until recently, now
resist change and expect protection to continue. Farmers should instead
be induced to produce for the market and the benefits explained to
them.
The
following are key areas where state governments, the private sector
and NGOs could participate to make a major breakthrough in the world
agricultural market:
Land
State
governments should:
Allot degraded land for reclamation and cultivation by the private
sector.
Encourage small and marginal farms to consolidate their holdings
for colletive or cooperative farming.
Promote a regulatory authority to monitor proper usage of these
wastelands.
Amend the Land Ceiling Act to promote corporate farming. n Promote
collective schemes, for greater private investment in agriculture.
Give appropriate training to increase production while creating
awareness of the importance of environmental protection with regard
to soil and water management.
All these measures will generate employment.
Private sector should:
Evaluate suitability of degraded land and grow crops for value addition,
making commercial production internationally competitive.
Watershed
Development and Irrigation
Private
sector should:
Participate
in watershed development and rainwater harvesting schemes including
rejuvenation of traditional systems, to make more land available for
contract farming.
Reduce
energy consumption and increase efficiency by use of capacitors for
pump motors, etc.
Undertake mass production of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems
to make them more affordable, improve the quality of drip and sprinkler
nozzles to make them more durable and accurate.
State governments should:
Initiate the setting up of professionally managed water users associations
and introduce a consultative exchange with farmers on issues such
as pricing, usage, design and modernisation, crop plans and maintenance
services.
Provide
incentives to improve rainwater storage especially in areas of low
rainfall which could extend availability of water and increase area
of land brought undercrops. More than 60 per cent of arable land in
India is in arid and semi-arid areas.
