by admin | May 25, 2021 | Commodities, Commodities News, Opinions
By Vivek Puri,
The Indian government wants to double the income of farmers by 2022. A roadmap prepared by NITI Aayog outlines the rationale, strategy and action plan for achieving this commendable milestone. We believe that such a plan needs a separate set of measures that focus on mustard farmers — and promotes mustard as a crop.
The agricultural, economic and nutritional importance of mustard is enormous in the Indian context. It is the country’s most important winter oilseed crop. The area under mustard cultivation is significant — close to 70 lakh hectares — producing 6.82 million tonnes in 2015-16, with the estimate for 2016-17 being 7.9 million tonnes. And millions of farmers and their families derive their livelihood from it.
To give these figures some perspective, consider the other oilseed crops. Groundnut is grown on just 6.39 lakh hectares — or less than a tenth of mustard’s acreage — linseed on 4.01 lakh hectares, sunflower seed on 1.74 lakh hectares, sesame seed on 0.68 lakh hectares and safflower on 0.62 lakh hectares.
Also, mustard oil is an innately Indian cooking medium, having been around for thousands of years. This means that mustard and mustard oil are already aligned with the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The importance of mustard is a strong reason for evolving a National Mustard Policy to promote it at all levels — as an agricultural commodity, as cooking oil, as a nutritional intervention and as a means for promoting health in general and cardiac health in particular.
Currently, the government does not have a policy focused on promoting mustard as an attractive cash crop for farmers. Ideally, such a policy should expand the area under mustard cultivation, reduce the gaping demand-supply gap by increasing domestic production of mustard oil, and ease the dependence on edible oil imports which are, on an average, around 15 million tonnes each year — that’s a forex outgo of a whopping Rs 77,000 crore. (Although, this year’s data indicates a significant drop for the first time in decades.)
The proposed policy should look at ways to make the National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) more farmer-friendly. Earlier this year, the Finance Ministry flagged off a modality that offers agricultural commodity options which would enable farmers to protect themselves against adverse price changes and minimise their risks. However, farmers — in particular, mustard farmers — have not been able to get minimum prices and remunerative returns despite assurances.
A comprehensive National Mustard Policy would also need to establish clearly-defined norms and guidelines for the introduction of GM (Genetically Modified) varieties of mustard (if that were to happen in the imminent future). Such norms should include upgrading our food-testing facilities which are, at present, not geared to detect and identify GM varieties. This would also facilitate effective labelling norms for GM products.
Mustard and mustard oil have always been an integral part of the ancient Indian healing science of Ayurveda. The government has already established an apex body to develop this domain — the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy). This ministry could play a key role in the evolution and implementation of the proposed policy, and in promoting “nature’s gift to India” all over the world.
At a broader level, the evolution of an effective National Mustard Policy must include infrastructure and supporting systems. For several years now, we have been recommending the establishment of an apex body by the government — a Mustard Oil Development Board, along the lines of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, the American Soybean Association and Spain’s International Olive Council.
The proposed Board could go a long way in ensuring an integrated approach to the development and promotion of the mustard industry as a whole, helping mustard farmers obtain remunerative prices, increasing per acre productivity, and enhancing value addition.
Moreover, like its counterparts in the US, Malaysia and Spain, the proposed Board could also promote mustard oil overseas, and lobby for the removal of unfair (and unscientific) constraints that exist in the US and certain EU countries where Indian mustard oil must statutorily be labelled “For External Use Only”. What palm oil is for Malaysia, olive oil for Italy and soya oil for the US, mustard oil can indeed be for India. And, therefore, like these countries, India can become a significant foreign exchange earner through the robust export of mustard oil.
There is, admittedly, a lot of work to be done to actualise an initiative as ambitious and wide-ranging as a National Mustard Policy. But as with all plans, one must begin somewhere. The coming financial year offers excellent prospects for giving mustard — and mustard farmers — an opportunity to establish new benchmarks as one of India’s leading edible oils.
(The writer is the Managing Director, Puri Oil Mills Ltd. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at vpuri@purioilmills.com)
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Corporate, Corporate finance, Corporate Governance, Economy, Finance, Markets, News, Politics
Representational Image
Chandigarh : Committing to protecting farmer’s interests, Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Sunday warned ‘arthiyas’ (commission agents) of action if farmers were paid less or payment was delayed for the paddy procured from them.
“Action will be taken against the ‘arthiyas’ giving lesser value against MSP (minimum support price) to farmers,” Ashu said in a statement here.
He said that in accordance with the Punjab Agricultural Produce Market Rules Act, 1962, it was the duty of the state government to make payment within 48 hours and the amount was forwarded to the farmers through cheques.
Some of the ‘arthiyas’ in the state were not transferring the payment of paddy to the farmers through cheques. Rather they were indulging in cash payments, which was in violation of the rules, the Minister said.
“Besides this, it has also been noticed that even the MSP is not given to the farmers.
“Any kind of forging and cheating with farmers will not be tolerated and they should be given the full price of their produce,” Ashu said.
He also directed the officials of procurement agencies to make sure that payments, in the stipulated time frame, were made and ensure that all the norms regarding procurement process were followed.
Government agencies and private mill owners procured nearly 75 lakh tonne of paddy in Punjab this kharif season. The procurement started on October 1, though the bulk stocks started coming after October 10.
The state government has already made payments of over Rs 9,075 crore to ‘arthiyas’ and farmers in their accounts.
Over 99 per cent of the procurement had been done by government agencies.
The Central government had sanctioned a Cash Credit Limit (CCL) amount of Rs 29,695.40 crore for procurement of paddy in the kharif marketing season 2018-19, against a demand of Rs 40,300 crore raised by Punjab.
Punjab has made arrangements for a bumper procurement of 200 lakh tonne of paddy this season.
In 2017-18, a total of 179.34 lakh tonne of paddy was procured in the state.
Agrarian Punjab contributes 50 per cent of food grains (wheat and paddy) to the national kitty despite having just 1.54 per cent of the country’s geographical area.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News
New Delhi : The protest by thousands of farmers at the Uttar Pradesh-Delhi border turned violent on Tuesday as they tried to break barricades and run them over with tractors to enter the national capital, forcing police to use water cannons and tear gas shells to disperse them.
The police action led to several injuries while one of the protestors lost consciousness, said an agitating farmer. They also claimed that the policemen baton-charged to disperse the protestors.
The farmers, who were marching to Delhi from Haridwar under the banner of Kisan Kranti Yatra demanding complete loan waiver and reduction in electricity tariff among other, were stopped by police at the border near Ghaziabad.
The protesters started their 10-day march from Haridwar lead by the Bharatiya Kisan Union and on Tuesday they reached the Uttar Pradesh-Delhi border.
In view of the protest, heavy security forces were deployed at the border area and section 144 was also imposed in the several areas of the national capital.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Commodities, Commodities News, Commodity Market, Corporate, Corporate finance, Corporate Governance, Investing
A jute mill factory (Representational Image)
Kolkata : Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday said the Centre is making it mandatory that jute mills would get the entire payment for government orders only after jute farmers and labourers are paid fully.
“Jute industry has a ready order worth Rs 5,000-5,500 crore every year (in terms of sacking). The government gives such a huge order so that the jute industry stays alive. The huge money is given to the jute industry in terms of order so that the farmers and labourers can get benefit out of it,” she said.
Farmers and labourers often complain that they do not get the benefit which they deserve, she said at an interactive session organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce here.
“The jute industry used to get payments against the order regularly. Why are the farmers and labourers complaining that? Now, we are making it mandatory, that if you do not pay farmers or labourers or abdicate the responsibility, we will not give you the order,” Irani said.
“The Centre has made a special arrangement and another decision will come soon so that the industry would get the entire payment against the order from the government only after farmers and labourers get fully paid,” she said.
The industry assured that they would take care of the rights of the jute farmers and labourers, she added.
The Centre is focusing on how to transform small-size firms into mid-size entities, Irani said.
“China prospers because its small firms became mid-size companies… small and medium enterprises account for 80 per cent of the textile industry and a lot of craft-based industry goes unaccounted.
“For the growth to happen exponentially, we are pushing towards ensuring that the small-size firms become mid-size entities. It needs infrastructure push,” she said.
Irani stressed upon innovation in terms of design that the textile industry needs.
According to her, India looks at the trade war between China and the US as an opportunity and not as a challenge.
She said India would be benefited from the trade war not only through policy intervention but also through industry practices.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Opinions
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
By Salim David,
Hydroponics is not a new concept. In ancient times, the plants lining the walls of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were grown using hydroponics. Only over the last century, however, has it gained popularity as a method of commercial cultivation, mainly in the West. It is now in the early stages of becoming popular in India as well.
Hydroponics recognises that soil is not necessary to grow the best plants. Here plants only thrive on water, sunlight, air and nutrients.
Hydroponics, where ponics is derived from the Greek “ponos” which means labour, literally says that water works for you. And so it does! The plant’s root is kept in an enclosed area where the water (with dissolved nutrients) bathes it regularly at 15 minute intervals for five minutes at a time (this may vary) — allowing the root to get adequate water while getting sufficient air as well. In some crops the root is left floating in the air. In other cases where the plant is large and the root needs stability, the root is loosely anchored in a sterile medium such as rockwool, coconut fibre or similar medium.
Unlike conventional soil farming, there is no wastage of nutrients in the hydroponic system. Every gram of nutrient is dispensed in the correct proportion, depending on the age of the plant. It goes straight to the root and then back to the tank to be fortified for the next round of offering. Not one ounce of nutrient is wasted nor is one drop of water given up (barring some natural evaporation despite the covers on the roots).
Compared to soil irrigation, the water saving is 90 per cent and nutrient saving is likely to be 35 per cent. (In soil irrigation, a substantial amount of nutrient is wasted on the weeds around the plant, while some nutrients percolate below the reach of the root as well.)
No weeds also save the labour spent in weeding. This is a huge saving, not to mention that weeding is a cumbersome and back-breaking job.
The absence of soil also precludes all soil-borne pests and fungal diseases, saving on treatment and, in turn, resulting in a healthier, larger and more productive plant. The complete cover of the greenhouse also ensures that even the smallest pest cannot get into the growing area. Double doors for entry of farm personnel, a discipline of washing one’s hands in sanitised solution, are further precautions in creating a pest-free and germ-free atmosphere.
Hydroponics has been a gamechanger in the West. India could be looking at a paradigm shift as hydroponics solves the dual problem of yield and water availability most farmers face. The yield with hydroponics is 5 to 12 times as high as soil farming. This is possible with the nutrient targeting and precision as well as controlled conditions of light, air and sanitation.
Studies have shown that micronutrients have a great impact on the taste and health benefits of the crop. Simply put, one micronutrient may reduce bitterness, another increase the anti-oxidant property of the food on offer. Hydroponics controls the distribution of the nutrient every 15 minutes as it pumps water with the appropriate nutrient with this regularity. In soil cultivation the nutrient is put once a day, if drip irrigated, otherwise once a month! There is little scope, in soil cultivation, to micromanage the nutrient, which is now seen as key to getting growth and quality.
Let’s look at what India is faced with. For one, small landholdings – an average of two acres or so, and diminishing every generation as land gets divided among sons. Then there are non-scientific agriculture practices with the use of heavy chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Land fertility depletes and yields are at all time lows. The consumer suffers due to high levels of pesticide, which is akin to poison.
The vicious circle of poverty and debt prevails for the farmer as his average income from the two acres averages Rs 12,000 to Rs 20,000 per month, but can become negative every other year due to crop failure (due to the farmer’s lack of knowledge sometimes) or water shortage. The farmer’s challenge is increasing returns per acre. It is an axiom in agriculture that the more care and complexity a crop requires, the more return it gives the farmer.
Hydroponics requires care and precision to get the required results. In growing exotic crops, quality is paramount and is a critical factor for getting the best price. To take advantage of the best plant advice world-wide, hydroponic companies are often permanently connected on whatsapp and email to a central agronomist who has a fixed routine of diagnosis and treatment of all plants under his care. Hydroponic companies often take the responsibility of not only growing the crop(s) but also ensuring the route to market and best prices.
One hydroponic farmer recalls an occasion where he mentioned to the Spanish agronomist that the cherry tomatoes in one site had lost their customary sweetness. The agronomist prescribed an addition to the nutrient mix, and in 12 hours the sweetness was restored!
Net profit in hydroponics, if supervised appropriately, could be in excess of Rs 4 lakh per month/per acre, and this has been documented.
It’s time we adopted hydroponics on a large scale. A few state governments have already shown interest and are keen to extend the greenhouse subsidy to hydroponic equipment. Not only for yield or quality improvement, but also where soil quality is depleted or water is scarce, hydroponics can enable profitable and sustainable agriculture.
Enough of testing the waters … it’s time to dive in!
(Salim David hung up his corporate boots some years ago and now grows roses and organic vegetables near Hyderabad. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at salimdavid01@gmail.com)
—IANS
