We cannot deny the fact that
more number of people in India
are opting for the non-agricultural
and industry based jobs. This
includes predominant percentage
from the rural areas which
traditionally host the farming
hubs. The reasons are not hidden
but much obvious. Earning
livelihood is getting difficult and
thereby maintaining even a
simple household expenditure is a
herculean task for traditional
small land holding farmers.
Few of the policy steps that
would have made a huge
difference is on the fingertips of
agriculture experts. These include
the increased investments into
infrastructure for agriculture
including better transportations
and roads, cold storages, market
chains, growing variety of crops.
The research systems and
extension systems too require a
revamp, making them in sync
with the ground realities. While
we already have the vast network
of Indian Council for
Agricultural Research (ICAR)
system, much more resources,
better investments, technical
skills are required.
But the big question is whether
Since 1995-96,
the average size
land holding has
decreased from
1.41 hectares to
1.15 hectares
which accounts
for the decrease of
30,000 hectares
of cultivable land
each year.
we can continue resting on our
laurels from green revolution or
seriously try to find ways to turn
around the situation? As per Dr
Prabhu L Pingali, Professor of
Applied Economics and Director,
Tata-Cornell Institute (TCI), what
happened was that once the green
revolution was achieved
successfully, Indian policymakers
had this feeling that the entire
problem is solved. He feels the
follow up on the crop
management was missing,
investments were off, leading to
worst agricultural performance in
few states. He elaborates, “The
problem was that the local issues
were not adequately addressed in
other states as much as in states
like Punjab, Haryana and Tamil
Nadu. One didn’t say that what
are the best crops for these
fragile states. Less investments
and the lack of R&D led to it. But
now in last 10 years, I have seen
that there has been attention
given to it. The cultivation of the
hybrid maize in Bihar, pulses in
coastal areas of Orissa are an
example. Some changes have
happened but we still have a long
way to go. Extension system and
farmer awareness levels needs to
be strengthened.”
Shrinking agricultural land
The statistics reveal that the
Indian agricultural land has been
shrinking. Data from the
agriculture ministry shows that as
many as 20 states reported
decrease in cultivable land to the
extent of 790,000 hectares in four
years from 2007-08 to 2010-11.
Since 1995-96, the average size
land holding has decreased from
1.41 hectares to 1.15 hectares
which accounts for the decrease of
30,000 hectares of cultivable land
each year.
The shrinking cultivable land
may not pose an immediate
problem for the nation's food
security but its long-term effect
could be disastrous with the
country needing more and more
foodgrains to support its
growing population. The obvious
factors behind it are the mass
migration due to poverty and
rapid urbanization.
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