On the concluding day of the mega event ‘Global Summit on Agriculture and Food Industries’, Chief Secretary Sudhir Tripathy said that the aim of the Government has shifted from increasing agricultural production to increasing income of the farmers. The name of the Ministry has also been changed from ‘Agriculture and Co-operative’ to ‘Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare’, he added.
Speaking as the chief guest of a sectoral seminar as a part of the summit Tripathy said, “With a view to increase income of farmers a there is need to bring comprehensive vision related to agricultural marketing. It is necessary to improve quality of mechanization, warehousing, cold storage and post harvest wastages as well as law related to agricultural produce and productivity and rationalization in license related rules in addition to that there is need to standardized tax norms and grades.”
He further added, “There are ample possibilities in the field of agriculture in Jharkhand. To stand with other competitive states there are immense chances available here. It is challenge and opportunity both for us. We can convert challenges into opportunities by obtaining new technologies and ideas.
The farmers of the State should take jump to scale the distance. For this, all necessary policy work is being done from the level of the government.”
Questioning on the awareness among farmers Tripathy said, “A survey has been done by Niti Ayog for aspirational districts to know how much farmers have aware about the government’s sponsored programmes such as e-Nam, e-Krishi market, and Soil health cards. It found that only only 25 to 30 per cent farmers have awareness about these and only 15 to 20 per cent farmers are getting benefits from these programs.”
Suggesting some ways to improve awareness among farmers, the CS said, “Community radio is very important tool to advertise and disseminate these programmes among farmers in rural areas. The agricultural universities and agriculture science centre should provide innovative ideas related to the field within radios of five kilo meter.
They should work with proper strategy and program to achieve the Prime Minister’s goal to doubling the income of farmers by 2022.”
Revealing basic challenges before Indian agriculture Lead Economist World Bank, Chhakib Jenne said, “Arable land in India is decreasing due to demographic changes. Second big problem before Indian agriculture is scarcity of water and another big issue is climate change due to deforestation which affects crops.”
Jenne further said, “India is in higher risk path the demand of food grains is increasing rapidly because population is growing very fast. So we need to produce more.
The role of farmers is very important. We need a fund of 450 billion American dollar every year which only government can’t provide alone it is necessary to the public sector should come forward to met the requirements.”
The growth of Indian agriculture is not very well and not sustainable. India is ranking very low in Humane Development Index, he added.
Another expert Ambassador of Morocco Mohammad Maliki shared Morocco’s agricultural scenario.
He shared the experience of how agriculture sector faced with growing challenges, the key figures of agriculture, impact of climate change like floods problem, hotter places into colder ones and vice versa.
Showing main objectives of agriculture schemes in Morocco he said, “Renewable farming, to increase income of farmers, to secure food security protects natural resources, to find ways how to export the agriculture products.”
Advocating some ideas on the occasion Maliki said, “Creation of more than 2000 women cooperatives is better in managing cooperatives. Women are more serious in business.
Reinforcement of the strategies Need to create new activities, emerging middle class farming is important.”