India’s food systems stand at a critical juncture, grappling with multifaceted challenges ranging from food insecurity and malnutrition to environmental degradation and unsustainable agricultural practices. As one of the world’s most populous countries, with a diverse array of climates, cultures, and cuisines, India’s approach to food production, distribution, and consumption carries significant implications for global food security and environmental sustainability. To navigate these challenges effectively and ensure a resilient and equitable food future, it is imperative to undertake comprehensive reforms that address the root causes of inefficiency, inequality, and environmental degradation within India’s food systems. From promoting sustainable agriculture and enhancing access to nutritious food to fostering innovation and empowering local communities, the task of fixing India’s food systems requires a holistic and collaborative effort that transcends traditional boundaries and embraces innovative solutions.
Tags: GS Paper – 3, E-Technology in the Aid of Farmers- Agricultural Marketing
For Prelims: Minimum Support Price, e-NAM, Farmer Producer Organizations, National Seeds Corporation, Bt cotton, Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmers Rights Act, Soil Health Card Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF), National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Viksit Bharat@2047, Asian Development Bank
For Mains: Economically Viable Agriculture: Importance, Challenges and Way Forward
Context:
- The Indian government rightly emphasised technology-enabled sustainable farming, including natural, regenerative, and organic systems, during its G20 presidency.
- In alignment with this vision, the current government has instructed various ministries to draft plans for announcement within the first 100 days of its third term.
- These ministries are reaching out to experts to assist in crafting policy frameworks that align with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, ensuring sustainable growth and development.
The Different Challenges in Ensuring Adequate Agri-Food Systems in India:
Overexploitation of Water Resources:
- Farmers exploit water resources by cultivating water-intensive crops in arid regions despite limited rainfall, accounting for 90% of total water usage in agriculture.
- This has led to the emergence of monoculture, like paddy replacing traditional crops in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, sugarcane expansion in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and peak summer groundnut cultivation in Rajasthan, disregarding agro-climatic suitability.
Disregard for Nature and Loss of Crop Diversity:
- Policy and technological biases have led to significant discrepancies between actual crop patterns and agro-climatic suitability. The preference for Green Revolution technologies and select crops has intensified monoculture, reducing crop diversity.
- For example, paddy cultivation surged from 10.8% to 73.3% in Punjab and from 8% to 39.5% in Haryana since the 1970s, while sugarcane cultivation quadrupled in Maharashtra and doubled in Uttar Pradesh, exacerbating these distortions.
Imbalances and Regional Disparities:
- This imbalance stems from price increases set by the central government, bonuses for rice, and the rise in fair and remunerative prices (FRP) for sugarcane, disregarding recommendations from the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and market conditions.
- Conversely, India’s deficit in edible oil continues to escalate, with the country meeting only 55% of its domestic requirement through imports, presenting an opportunity for a 127% increase in domestic oilseed production to address this shortfall.
Wasteful Investment:
- The country spent more than Rs. 30,000 crore each year after 2007-08 as capital expenditure and also a huge amount as operation and maintenance of canals, but area under canal irrigation is showing either stagnation or decline.
- Several major irrigation projects even after incurring most of the expenditure are held up by minor obstacles like forest clearance in small pockets, catchment area development, construction of distributaries and field channels.
Technology Generation and Dissemination:
- Scope for spillover from research in the developed world is shrinking, and intellectual property right (IPR) issues are complicating and making it costly for transfer of technology from the outside world and the private sector.
- Though agricultural research and higher education is largely a responsibility of State Agriculture Universities (SAUs), the ICAR is required to respond to any challenges and issues concerning the agriculture sector.
Viability of Smallholders:
- Agriculture in India and most Asian countries is dominated by small land holdings. According to the Agricultural Census for year 2015-16, 68% farm holdings operate on less than 1 hectare land area. Further, 85% of farm households undertake farming on less than 2 hectares.
- Small holders also face the problem of scale economy in input as well as output markets that require different types of institutional help.
Nutrition, Food Safety and Health:
- India’s nutrition indicators and child health indicators are low. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, the largest number of people who are hungry or undernourished live in India.
- According to the Global Hunger Index, India ranks low year after year on the hunger indices, even though the country has become the largest rice exporting country with about 15% of its rice production sold in the overseas market.
Mismatch between Structural Changes in Output and Workforce:
- In India, between 1950-51 and 1970-71, the share of agriculture in national income at 2011-12 prices declined from 61.7% to 49.6%, whereas the sector’s share in employment remained stuck at more than 69%. In the next two decades, the sector’s share in employment declined to 59% and income to 35.1%.
- The decline in the share of agriculture in the work force did not keep pace with the decline in the sector’s share in national income. In 2010-11, agriculture had a share of 18.3% and 54.6%, respectively, in national income and employment.
Low Income of Farmers:
- At the macro level, income per worker in non-agriculture is 3.75 times the income of an average agriculture worker which includes agricultural labourers and cultivators.
- The small and shrinking land size, excess workforce, low productivity and poorly working markets are the main causes for low per farmer income in the country.
Steps Need to be Taken to Improve Agricultural Productivity:
- Raising Total Factor Productivity: Efficiency in land, water, labour, and inputs is crucial, necessitating increased investment in agri-R&D, innovations, and extension services to enhance total factor productivity.
- Creating Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Investing in climate-resilient agriculture involves developing heat and flood-resistant seeds, improving water resource management, and adopting precision agriculture techniques like drip irrigation to achieve “more crop per drop.”
- Building Efficient Value Chains: With urbanisation expected to rise to over two-thirds of the population by 2047, efficient food transportation, storage, processing, and retailing will be essential. This requires a logistics revolution and significant private sector investment, facilitated by appropriate legislative changes.
- Promoting Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) or Cooperatives: To meet the demands of processors, retailers, and exporters, smallholders need to be organised into FPOs or cooperatives, similar to the successful model seen in the milk sector with AMUL. This institutional innovation is vital for inclusive growth in rural areas.
- Moving Beyond Simple Food Security to Nutritional Security: With stunting at 35%, alongside sanitation and education improvements, staple foods should be fortified with micronutrients. While zinc-rich rice and wheat are a start, considering options like golden rice, enriched with beta carotene, can significantly enhance nutritional intake, especially for rice-dependent populations.
- Need For Public Private Partnership: A conducive policy framework is essential, akin to industry-oriented schemes like PLI, to drive transformation in food systems. Government support is vital for fostering collaboration and innovation in agricultural practices.
- Shift from Growth to Efficient-Growth: Adjusting input pricing policies to discourage excessive use of resources like water and fertiliser while promoting optimal utilisation is necessary. Digital technology can facilitate knowledge dissemination and improve efficiency across the agricultural sector.
- Surplus Management: This shift underscores the need to explore overseas markets for surplus food produce, highlighting the importance of revising food policies to address changing consumption patterns and nutritional needs.
How Does Technology Contribute to Improving Food Systems and Agricultural Productivity?
Enhancing Productivity:
- Precision Farming: Leveraging GPS, sensors, and drones to optimise planting, watering, and fertilising processes, enhancing yields while reducing resource wastage.
- Mechanisation: Introducing machinery like tractors, harvesters, and planters to decrease manual labour and boost efficiency in farm operations.
- Biotechnology: Developing genetically modified crops with increased resistance to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses, thereby improving yield and quality.
Improving Resource Management:
- Water Management: Adopting technology for efficient irrigation systems such as drip and sprinkler irrigation to conserve water and enhance crop yield.
- Soil Health Monitoring: Employing sensors and imaging technology to evaluate soil health and nutrient levels, facilitating targeted fertilisation and soil conservation practices.
- Weather Forecasting: Accessing real-time weather data for improved planning and management of farming activities, reducing risks associated with weather-related disasters.
Facilitating Market Access:
- Digital Platforms: Utilising online marketplaces and mobile applications for farmers to access markets, negotiate prices, and sell produce directly to consumers, eliminating middlemen and increasing profits, e.g., the e-NAM portal.
- Supply Chain Management: Implementing technology to track and monitor produce from farm to market, ensuring quality control and reducing wastage.
Promoting Sustainability:
- Empowering Smallholder Farmers: Mobile applications and digital platforms provide valuable agronomic advice, market prices, and weather forecasts, enabling informed decision-making.
- Renewable Energy: Utilising solar panels and bioenergy sources to power farms, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating carbon emissions.
- Data-driven Decision Making: predictive analytics can help anticipate pest outbreaks or identify optimal planting times, enabling proactive management strategies and risk reduction.
Conclusion:
Hence, achieving substantial and lasting growth in farmers’ income and revolutionising agriculture demand a fundamental overhaul of the sector’s approach. Embracing science-led technology, greater private sector involvement across pre and post-harvest stages, opening up output markets, promoting an active land lease market, and prioritising efficiency will empower agriculture to confront 21st-century challenges and propel India toward its vision of progress.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Prelims:
Q:1 In the context of India’s preparation for Climate -Smart Agriculture, consider the following statements: (2021)
- The ‘Climate-Smart Village’ approach in India is a part of a project led by the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), an international research programme.
- The project of CCAFS is carried out under Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) headquartered in France.
- The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India is one of the CGIAR’s research centres.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (d)
Q:2 Consider the following pairs: (2014)
Programme/Project Ministry
- Drought-Prone Area Programme : Ministry of Agriculture
- Desert Development Programme : Ministry of Environment and Forests
- National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas : Ministry of Rural Development
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
- 1 and 2 only
- 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
- None
Ans: (d)
Q:3 In India, which of the following can be considered as public investment in agriculture? (2020)
- Fixing Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce of all crops
- Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
- Social Capital development
- Free electricity supply to farmers
- Waiver of agricultural loans by the banking system
- Setting up of cold storage facilities by the governments
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1, 2 and 5 only
- 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
- 2, 3 and 6 only
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Ans: (c)
Mains:
Q:1 Given the vulnerability of Indian agriculture to vagaries of nature, discuss the need for crop insurance and bring out the salient features of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). (2016)
Q:2 Explain various types of revolutions, took place in Agriculture after Independence in India. How have these revolutions helped in poverty alleviation and food security in India? (2017)
Source: (IE)
FAQs
Q: Why does India need to fix its food systems?
India’s food systems face numerous challenges, including food insecurity, unequal distribution, and environmental degradation. Addressing these issues is crucial to ensure sustainable access to nutritious food for all citizens and to mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture.
Q: What are the key issues hindering India’s food systems?
Some key issues include inadequate infrastructure for storage and transportation, inefficient supply chains leading to food wastage, disparities in access to nutritious food, reliance on unsustainable agricultural practices, and vulnerability to climate change.
Q: How can India improve food distribution and accessibility?
India can enhance food distribution and accessibility by investing in infrastructure like cold storage facilities and transportation networks, promoting sustainable farming practices, implementing policies to reduce food wastage, and ensuring equitable distribution through initiatives like subsidized food programs and farmers’ markets.
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