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India: Changes Required in
Agriculture
India
produces various agriculture products such as cereals, vegetables,
fruits and plantation crops, etc., and their ranking in terms of area;
production and productivity in these products are specific in comparison
to other countries. Certainly, we are not the major exporter of these
products and commodities. A lot of research and field work had been
carried out to fulfill the facts and raise the level and range of our
export, but we are yet to succeed in our endeavours.
Our export is in specific
areas, e.g., Darjeeling and Assam tea, MAHA nimboo and MAHA grapes of
Maharashtra, Gujarat cotton, etc. Apart from these products, a few other
produces like Basmati rice and Alphonso mango, etc., are creating a
remarkable position as an Indian brand in the global market.
Now the question is: Why we are
lacking behind in terms of export after huge productions in comparison
to other countries? A reason may be our research. Development in terms
of agriculture is never market oriented. We are yet to develop an actual
parameter in terms of demand, quality, specialty, etc., in the global
market, for maximising our profit. Another reason is that very few
farmers in our country sell their produce in the form of cooperatives
and communities. MAHA nimboo and MAHA grapes of Maharashtra are example
of cooperative level marketing of lemon and grapes, and these are sold
in more than 10 countries.
Development Alternatives, a
leading NGO in India, with the help of NABARD, is entitled with the
Tribal Development Fund (TDF) project for Sahariya (a tribal community
of Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh) communities
in Babina block of Jhansi district of UP. The prime focus of this
project for sustainable livelihood is the tribal people but the major
vision of this is to create a value chain of the agricultural produce.
In the TDF project, Wadi
(orchard) system has been developed for 500 acres lands of 500 families.
In each orchard, there will be 110 plants (55 plants of guava and 55
from gooseberries). The entire project will comprise 27,500 plants each
of guava and gooseberries (Aonla).
Varieties for plantation of
these fruits have been selected with regard to two visions: one is that
they are best suitable for the Bundelkhand climate and another is to
generate the highest worth after the produce is sold. This programme was
for 6 years and in the next one year the entire plantation will be over.
The project team of TDF is doing its very best to form a cooperative for
Sahariya families to market their produce.
An orientation with the
Sahariya families is highly interesting for they are enthusiastic in
leading this approach. If everything goes well, then maybe we will be
able to create a brand Bundala for guava and aonla in the global
market in a few years’ time.
q
Prabhat Kumar
pkumar1@devalt.org
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