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“Several new challenges confront Indian agriculture, which include deceleration in output growth, zero growth in employment in agriculture, strain on natural resource base and declining viability of marginal and small farmers,” said Dr Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Minister of State for Agriculture, Food and Public Distribution, during the release of the book India’s Agricultural Challenges, in New Delhi on November 29, 2005.
The book is published by the Centre for Trade & Development (Centad), an autonomous not-for-profit organisation that works to strengthen the ability of governments and communities to make trade and globalisation work for development through policy research, advocacy and the promotion of informed public debate.
The function, held at Krishi Bhavan, was attended by many eminent research scholars and distinguished personalities working on agricultural issues. Dr Ramesh Chand, head of the National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, who edited the book, thanked Oxfam for its support in taking up the issues of small farmers in developing countries.
The minister said: “It was a great honour to release the book,” which explores critical issues in agriculture. He added that there was an urgent need to address the poor performance of rain-fed and dryland agriculture through new scientific technologies supported by appropriate policies. He commended the organisers for drawing in talented contributors to the book; people who, over the years, have made valuable contributions to the farming community.
The book gives a balanced view of important agricultural issues, especially weaknesses in the National Agricultural Policy, and offers some positive and constructive suggestions. The two chapters on contract farming portray both the successes and failures of the new trend of contracting in Indian agriculture. The book elucidates the benefits and threats of transgenic and genetically modified crops. It contains a detailed chapter on the implications of the expiry of the ‘peace clause’ in the WTO, and the seriousness of subsidies to the developing world. The book comprehensively covers food security and gender issues, and the challenges that could emerge with the passage of time.
“The book tries to provide a correct perspective on selected issues, balancing hope and apprehensions. However, the debate in our country is leading to indecisiveness rather than decisiveness,” said Dr Ramesh Chand. He emphasised the importance of making rather than deferring decisions.
India’s Agricultural Challenges brings to light some of the challenges facing Indian agriculture. It would be reassuring if policy makers took note of these challenges and took the appropriate steps to meet them.
Click here to view text of the minister's speech
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