Business of Agriculture March April 2019 Edition | Page 26

BUMPER PRODUCTION
WITHOUT THE NECESSARY MOVEMENT OF
CROPS WILL NOT SOLVE FARMERS’ DISTRESS
By: Rajesh Aggarwal *
I
Typically, the
demand-supply
dynamics
that rule
the market
ensures that
prices plummet
during harvest
and surge
during the lean
period
ndia is one of the foremost countries that can
bask in the glory of ‘bumper production’ year
after year. The advance estimates released by
the agriculture ministry depict that total production
of horticultural produce including: fruits; vegetables;
spices; and flowers until July this year will be 314.67
metric tonnes, against the 311.71 metric tonnes last
year. And yet, we hear a lot of news on subsidised
irrigation water, power, seeds, and fertiliser to grow
crops that often give surplus yields. Consequently, it
will not be unfair to wonder why our farmers still need
subsidies whereas their counterparts abroad, despite
producing only a part of the ‘bumper production’, are
more self-reliant. Despite the rosy future, we are
circumspect whether it will augur well for the farmers
or will be yet another year of struggle for prices. In my
interactions with farmers, few issues, and aspects of
mobilising their crops have come up year after year.
Discussing them, in brief, may give you an idea where
we are lacking.
Need More and Better Warehouses
Typically, the demand-supply dynamics that rule the
market ensures that prices plummet during harvest
and surge during the lean period. This means that the
farmer effectively gets less for the produce despite
more than usual harvest. One of the most effective
ways to address this irony is to create an ecosystem
of well-positioned and well-equipped warehouses
across the country. This will help farmers to save the
crops to the time when there will be no harvest in
spite of enough demand. In fact, one of the reasons
why farmers abroad have a better earning despite
lesser yield is that they have been able to monetise
their limited harvest in the best possible manner. Apart
from enabling profitable access to the market, these
storages can play an important role in facilitating the
access of crops to the food processing and packaging
units. To be able to reach these units will be a more
26 Business of Agriculture | March-April 2019 • Vol. V • Issue 2
commercially-viable option for farmers and a good
way to utilise the surplus crop.
Access to Roads and Vehicles Fall Short
This brings to the next pertinent question, where to
build these storages. The highways, one of the main
methods of transporting agriculture produce from
one part to the other, can be rather opportune. Most
farmers choose roadways over any other means of
transport. However, few can afford air-conditioned
transport that would save the produce from heat,
moisture or cold. As a result, a part of the harvest is
lost in transit. Locating warehouses on the highway
will ensure that the farmers are able to save their
crops until a more favourable time to sell them.
However, access to these will be dependent on
the condition of roads and availability of vehicles.
While most of the roads in the interiors of India have
potholes and ditches peppered on them, getting
the vehicle can be a challenge for the farmers who
often overcharge. Such poor connectivity issues are