Can we afford to neglect agriculture???
Can we afford to neglect agriculture???
It's largely debated that the agriculture is becoming unviable &
it's contribution to GDP is declining in % terms. The factors of influence include
increased input costs, abnormal climatic changes, erratic rainfall patterns,
increased manpower cost etc. The increase in yields are not proportionate to
increase in cost of cultivation, hence poor ROI. So what is the solution? Can
we neglect the sector as it is not profitable? How will we meet our growing
food needs? Where do you accommodate the large sections of people living in
villages?
Answers are very complex and any sensible person will not even think
of neglecting Agriculture. How do we address these complex issues? Is it not
the responsibility starting from farmer to the policy maker (entire food chain)
to take it as challenge and crack it?
The factors in farmer's control are productivity of manpower, low cost but
appropriate technological interventions, innovative cropping patterns &
marketing, self selection of seeds
atleast for self pollination crops.
Again it takes me back to my childhood days. My grandmother (over 85
years old) with broken back, used to go to farm by bullock cart and engage
herself in weeding operations in turmeric fields and monitor others in terms of
output and quality of weeding. This personal engagement always had impact in
terms of improved manpower productivity,
reduction in number weeding, reduction in fertilizer dosage etc.
The present trend in villages is totally reverse. Even the families
with marginal land holdings are not preferring to engage in farm operations and
totally depending on external help. As
the demand is more than supply & the farm owner is not in direct
engagement, the labour is expensive, low & inferior quality output,
resulting in increased cost of production. In countries like USA, even with large holding
the farmers mostly stay on the farm & work, we are not picking up from
these developed countries.
HOW DO WE CONNECT AND RECONNECT OUR VILLAGE YOUTH WITH
AGRICULTURE? TAKE IT AS A CHALLENGE AND MAKE THE PROFESSION INTERESTING TO
THEM. I AM SURE INTEREST WILL BRING EVERYTHING INCLUDING PROFITS.
BGR
(Part 2 will follow)
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