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Chapter-
Agriculture, Food Security and Quality
Introduction:
The economic prosperity of any country depends on the development of agriculture and industry. Both these sectors are considered as the pillars of economic growth.
India is an agriculture based country where about more than 64% population is even today dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Truly, agriculture is backbone of Indian economy. For most of the rural families, agriculture is the main source of employment. The urban population is also dependent on agriculture for supply of food grains and raw materials. There is no country in the world which has such direct and close relation with agriculture as India has.
The eminent agro economic Prof.Swaminathan believes that about two third population of India is related to agricultural family. It shares an average of about 20% of national income and provides employment for 80% labour force in rural India. So revolutionary change and high growth rate in agriculture sector is essential for a semi developed and agricultural country like India. Undoubtedly Indian agriculture is an important source of employment exportation and foreign currency and it contributes in industrial development, capital formation and improvement of the living standard of people.
In the words of Prof. M.S.Swaminathan, an eminent agro expert and chairman of National Commission on Farmers “Agriculture is not a mechanical thing, rather the backbone tof Indian economy to guarantee livelihood of 80% people living in India. Agriculture is the engine of economic development in India and Bihar”.
Agriculture in Bihar:
Bihar is the largest state among economically backward states in India, where agriculture is the main occupation. This sector produces a large part of gross income in Bihar. Bihar is mainly an agricultural state. Most of the organised industries fell under Jharkhand after it got separated from Bihar. The rest one are either closed or in a sick condition. The economy of Bihar now primarily depends on agriculture. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood, income and employment of the people over here. The majority of the population (80%) in Bihar living in villages depend on agriculture directly or indirectly.
Agriculture plays a prominent role in the development of Bihar. This has been proved through various facts. Agriculture supplies food grains and raw materials to other sectors of economy and provides sources in the forms of savings and taxes. The rural population accelerates the development of other sectors because development and expansion of industry, trade, etc, depends on the demand of kinds supplied by it. Valuable foreign currency can be earned by exporting cash crops such as mango, litchi, sugarcane, etc. It is viable to say that increasing productivity in agriculture of Bihar can help the other industrial development of Bihar in many ways. Transfer of labour force from agricultural sector to other sectors will be possible by the growth of agricultural production in Bihar. The demand of food stuff in non-agricultural sectors can be fulfilled even after minimising the number of labour force in agricultural sectors. It will increase the income of farmers with the development of agricultural production; the income of state and per capita income also increase. The contribution of agriculture is larger in the income of state.
Kinds of edible crops:
_1. Bhadai
- Kharif_ or Aghani _3. Rabi
- Garma_ (in summer season)Main crops in Bihar are wheat andpaddy. We get rice from paddy.
Measures for removal of agricultural backwardness in Bihar:
- Population control
- Planned irrigation facility
- Flood control and better water management
- Useful advanced and better agricultural techniques
- Flow of more institutional finance in agriculture
Measures for removing agricultural backwardness in Bihar:
It is to be remembered here that all round development in Bihar can be done by removing the above causes of agricultural backwardness and by getting more production and benefits through agriculture.
Kinds of Crops The crops in India and Bihar can be divided into two parts-
Kinds of Crops
Edible crops Cash crops (paddy, wheat, maize, barley,mahua, (sugarcane, jute, oil seeds, jwar, millet, gram, pigeon pea, etc.) pulses, chilli, potato, onion, etc.)
There is obvious impact of climate on the sowing and harvesting of crops. Paddy is the main crop in the state but in the west side to plains of Bihar the importance of crops like maize, wheat, barley, gram and other that depend on rain, increase. The agriculture in state is divided in four parts on the basis of mutual relationship of crops and seasons.
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People engage in production of various crops
1. Bhadai (in rainy season) The bhadai crops are sown in May-June and they get ready in August- September or Bhado month of Hindi calendar. Maize, jwar, jute and some special varieties of paddy are main crops. The production of bhadai crops depends on the rain. The pre-monsoon rain is more in the plain area than the plateau region. 2. Kharif or Aghani (in winter season) Paddy is the main crop of this season. It is planted in the month of June and the crop gets ready in December or Hindi month Aghan. Aghani crops have highest place in the agriculture of Bihar. 3. Rabi (in the spring season) Rabi includes wheat, barley, gram, khesari , pea, lentil, pigeon pea, mustard, etc. and various kinds of oil seeds and pulses. The crops are sown in October-Nov and they get ready in March (in the spring season). The farming of rabi is carried out on the one-third of the total arable land of the state. 4. Garma (in the summer seson) The cultivation of garma crops in the state is done in the region where irrigation facility is available or on the land that have enough moisture. Green vegetables have special place in this season. Some special varieties of paddy and maize are grown in this season. The farming of green vegetables is carried out in
imported from other nations during disaster so that the people could be saved from hunger.
When there is increase in agricultural production or the production is surplus, due to extensive farming, it becomes necessary to keep it safely and so food grains are kept in big godowns. Thus the source of food grains kept in the godowns is largely helpful in calamities.
When the government policy on agriculture is liberal, the farmers undertake farming happily and use new techniques in it. Through this process they are able to produce more than wht is needed. Its main impact is seen during emergency. The suplus produce overcomes the shortage of produce in future. The strong source of foodgrains is the symbol of a strong nation.
Quality of Food Grains
The availability of food grains in the form of food reflects that we are independent in terms of food grains. The foundation of self dependence on food grains is the quality of food grains. As such, more attention should be paid on quality compared to quantity. In this connection, again, there are various assumptions regarding minimum needs of the people. For example, it is estimated that a woman working in home requires food with 3100 calories every day while a teacher or a person working in an office needs 2600 calories per day. On the other hand the need of calorie for a general active person like doctor, engineer and tailor is 3000. Similarly, an industrial labour requires 3600 calorie. From the above example it is clear that the need of the unit of calorific value is different among the persons of different working class.
If the people get foods in accordance with the calorie need they are self satisfied and prove themselves as skilled and successful workers. So it is necessary to understand the importance of quality of food grains along with its yield. A qualitative aspect of food grains creates healthy life and healthy thought among people. The proper and successful disposal of work by people is indicator that they are getting qualitative and good food. The availability of good foods for the people is symbol of prosperity of a nation.
The quality of the food items should be the top priority. For this it is necessary to give special emphasis on the food grains of more calorie value.
After evaluating the all available technologies in Bihar and using it in increasing the food grains and other crops it will be necessary not only to find out alternative and extensive possibilities but also to formulate an immediate and long term industrial planning.
Food Security
Food is as necessary for life as air for breathing. The meaning of food security is related to regular availability of food, access and capability to get it. Whenever there is a problem regarding production and distribution of food grains, the poor families get more affected. Food security is a government effort for public distribution system, Antyodya Anna Yojana, official vigilance and during food crisis.
There are following dimensions of food security
i. The signification of food availability is to food production, food import, and the stock of previous years stored in the government godowns.
ii. The meaning of food access is that food should be available to every person without any hurdle.
iii. The sense of capability is that sufficient money is available with the people for buying nutritious food and other items of their needs.
- The food security in any country or state is ensured when:
i. There should be availability of food for all people.
ii. All people have capacity to buy the acceptable quality of food items and
iii. There should be no hindrance in availability of food grains ,i.e., people should get food grains without any hindrance.
Food Security, Why?
The poorest class of the society can always be a victim of food insecurity. But when the nation is under the grip of earthquake, drought, flood, tsunami
Suggestions for Food Security
- Increase in agriculture production
- Systematization of food distribution
- Cooperation and organisation through community development
- Reforms in food administration
- Population-planning
- Change incurrent habits of consumption
Story of Ramu
Ramu works as a temporary agricultural labourer in agriculture sector at Madhopur village. His eldest son Somu is 10 years old. He also works as a care taker of the cattle of Satpal Singh, the Sarpanch. Somu works round the year with the Sarpanch and gets one thousand rupees for the work. The other three sons and two daughters of Ramu are very young, and they cannot work in fields. Sunahri, Ramu's wife , keeps herself engaged temporarily in cleaning the cattle and cowshed. She gets half litre of milk, vegetables and some cooked food for her daily work. In addition to it, she works in fields with her husband during busy season and increases her income. Agriculture is a seasonal work; so, Ramu gets employment only during sowing, plantation and harvesting seasons. About four months in every year he remains unemployed between the period of sowing and harvesting of crops. He remains in search of job in those days. Sometimes, he gets work at brick kiln or in construction works in his village. Through his efforts, Ramu manages to earn enough in cash or kind to provide his family two squares of meals. However, when he fails to get work he and his family have to face difficulties and sometimes his children go to bed without thier meals. The family could not get milk and vegetables on regular basisi. Due to seasonal nature of agriculture, Ramu remains insecure in terms of food security during four months period of inoccupation.
M.M.Saminathan: In view of the recommendations of National Commission on Farmers a National Food Grain Security and Sovereignty Council should be established and we will have to develop habits and capacity to take immediate action with full information during famine and natural calamities. Only then we shall have necessary storage of food grains and will be able to get through the public distribution system to all.
Self-sufficiency in food grains during famine
Due to any natural calamity ( such flood, drought, famine, earthquake, epidemic, etc) there is decrease in the yield of food grains. The affected are experiences shortage of food grains. In such a condition, people cannot buy food items on high rates because to get food items on high rates in lower income becomes beyond their reach. If the catastrophe affects the larger area for a longer period, the condition of starvation may occur. A vide ranging starvation happens during famine.
The growing population of country has created many problems consequently a gruelling famine in some states is a common phenomenon. Due to this reason the people not only live in starvation but also there is no control over poverty.
It is essential to pay much attention to agriculture sector, rather than ignoring it, so that everyone should get food grains (food) during famine. We know that the agriculture sector provides about 64% employment to state and 80% employment to the population in rural areas. In view of the needs of the farmers and to deal with such situations, The National Commission on Farmers came into existence. The commission, keeping an integrated strategy, emphasised on continuous monitoring and effective use of food grains, health and irrigation; and in addition to that presented proposals to draw attention of the government on some important issues like reforms in loan and insurance services, new techniques in agriculture and market facilities. The government efforts can be seen in this direction.
As we know that during famine the death rate increases largely which is the result of starvation and epidemic due to polluted and contaminated water and spoiled foods.
No famine like Bengal reoccurred in India. But it is a matter of great concern that even today in Kalahandi and Kashipur, in Orissa, there is a famine like situation for years and there are reports that the poor are dying regularly due to starvation. Reports of death have been received recently also from Plamu district of Jharkhand and from Nawada, Gaya and Munger districts of Bihar in addition to other remote areas in the grip of famine. So, for any country, food security is very essential; throught it the food supply could be ensured forever. There is adequate stock of food grains in the Indian Food Corporation (IFC) godowns of central and state governments but what needs to be done is to provide it to the poor.
In order to be self dependent during famine and other calamities, it is essential to improve the condition of the farmers. Special emphasis is required to ensure maximum income to the farmers. An enhancement is needed to the support price given to them as well. The National Food Security Mission should develop such a mechanism that is focussed on the farmers and the poor. To deal with famine and expected natural and manmade disaster, it is essential to strengthen the income of the farmers and poor people. Along with making the crop insurance scheme effective a road map should be prepared for qualitative enhancement in all wings related to agriculture, small scale industries and other trade areas so that the poor farmers could become self dependent.
Governmental and Nongovernmental contribution in Food Grain Security
Even after 61 years of independence about 40 lacs families are such that at least one member of the family has to remain hungry at least one day in a year. Our population , now, is over one hundred crores. Increasing population, unemployment and decreasing food production have making it difficult for the people to get two squares of meals. Proper use of land is a must for providing food to all. The lands remain uncultivated due to various reasons; there is wastage of agricultural produce as well. Theses things need to be taken care of. The role of governmental and nongovernmental institutions can be effective in this regard, as they can provide appropriate advice to farmers and citizens time to time.
Picture: 5.
Farmers making planning to stock produced food grains.
Thanks to the positive steps of the government, we witnessed green revolution in the beginning of the seventies; since then famine like situation has not not occured even in adverse seasons.
Due to production of various crops in the country in the last 30 years, India has become self dependent in terms of food grains. Also, there is no scarcity of food grains even in an adverse situation and availability of food grains has been ensured normally, chiefly because of the carefully prepared food security arrangement by the government.
There are two main constituents of food grains availability - Buffer Stock and Public Distribution System
Buffer Stock The food grains, rice and wheat, procured by government through Food Corporation of India (FCI) are to be kept safely in government godowns. FCI purchases wheat and rice from the farmers of the states having surplus production. Farmers are paid pre fixed price for their produce. This price is called minimum support price. The government declares the support price before sowing season to give support to production of these crops. The procured grains are kept in government granaries like Food Corporation of India.
Public Distribution System
The food grains procured by Food Corporation of India are distributed among the poor class of the society through government regulated ration shops.
People purchasing commodities on fair price from ration shop
Beginning of Rationing System in India: The rationing system in India began in1940s under the background of Bengal famine. Due to extreme food grain crisis, before green revolution, rationing system was regenerated in the decade of 60s. Keeping in view the higher level of poverty, in mid 70s according to the report of NSSO (National Sample Survey Organisation/National Sample Survey Office) the already functioning system related to food grain was more strengthened and in 1977-78 Food for Work Programme was launched. Presently, various Poverty Alleviation Programmes (PAP) are being carried out and most of them are in the rural areas. PAP increases the food security mostly. The employment programmes supports food security by increasing income of the poor. National Food for Work Programme :
National Food for Work Programme was launched on 14 Novemeber 2004 in 150 most backward districts in country with the objectives of intensifying the supplementary labour employment. This is a programme for the rural poor in need of employment and eager to work as unskilled physical labourers. It was implemented totally as a centre sponsored programme and states have been provided cereals free of cost. Collector, being the head at the district level, is responsible for planning, implementation, coordination and supervision of the programme. In 2004-05, rupees 2,020 crores was allotted in addition to 20 lac ton food grains.
Do you know? Why does the government create buffer stock? It is done to meet the demand in the area of shortage and to distribute food grains among the poor class on lower rates from market price. It is also called as issue price. Buffer stock is helpful to fulfil the need of food grains in adverse seasons and during calamities.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana
Antyodaya Anna Yojana was started in 2000. Under this programme 1 crore people belonging to below poverty line from targeted public distribution system were identified. They were selected through survey of poor families of below poverty line by Rural Development Department of the respective states. All eligible families were provided with 25 kg cereals at subsidised rates, of rupees 2 and 3 per kg. In April, 2002, the quantity of food grains was increased from 25 kg to 35 kg. Additional 50 - 50 lacs BPL families were included twice in June 2003 and August 2004 and the number of the BPL families in this programme became 2 crores.
Role of Nongovernmental Organisations:
In India, particularly in the southern and the western regions, the nongovernmental organisations and cooperative societies have been playing a very important role in food security. The cooperative societies open fair price shops to sell food grains to the poor. In Delhi, the Mother Dairy has been growing fast in providing milk and vegetables to the consumers on fixed and controlled rates by government of Delhi. Amul in Gujrat and Patna Dairy in Bihar (which is known as ‘Sudha’) are successful examples of cooperative societies in connection with milk and milk products. They have brought White Revolution in the country. To set up grain banks in different areas, the nongovernmental organisations organise programmes for training and capacity building to ensure food security. Grain bank programme have got recognition by Academy of Development of Science (ADS) as an innovative and successful food security programme.
Exercise I. Objective Question: Write a, b, c, or d for correct answer.
- What is main source of livelihood for the people of Bihar? a. industry b. trade c. agriculture d. none of these
- The most important source of irrigation? a. well and tube well b. canals c. ponds d. river
- Wastage in state due to flood? a. of crops b. of human being and cattle c. of house d. all of the above
- Wastage in state due to famine? a. of food crops b. of human being and cattle c. industries d. none of these
- Which is called winter season crop? a. bhadai b. kharif or aghani c. rabi d. garma
- Which state in India did a horrible famine happen in 1943? a. Bihar b. Rajasthan c. Bengal d. Orissa
- The contribution of agriculture in national income in previous years a. have increased b. have decreased c. is static d. is variable
- Which card is useful for the poor among the poorest? a. BPL card b. Antyodaya card c. APL card d. none of these
- Which is the source of food grain? a. extensive agricultural policy b. import policy c. storage policy d. all of the above
- Which dairy project in Bihar has been working as nongovernmental organization? a. Patna Dairy b. Mother Dairy c. Amul Dairy d. none of these II. Fill in the blanks:
- Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for..................population in Bihar.
- The..............of agriculture in Bihar is lower.
- Irrigation has.......................importance in agriculture in Bihar.
- There are ......................flood affected areas in Bihar.
- Buffer stock is created by..........................
- The........................card belongs to the people below poverty line.
- .....................is the backbone of Indian economy.
