Farmers’ Forum

Every rupee invested in agricultural R&D gives an eight-fold return to the rural economy and is the most cost-effective way to reduce poverty.

Higher retail prices for food do not translate into profits for farmers because of higher production costs and marketing bottlenecks and the misgovernance of trade.

The global population of 7.2 billion by 2050 means that the world must produce as much food in the next 50 years as it did in the last 10,000 years and in the face of climate change.

Credit remains a problem for small and marginal farmers. Advances with a credit limit of less than ₹2 lakh declined from 82.6 per cent in 1990 to 44.3 per cent in 2010 of the total.

The general perception is farmers will accept sub-standard levels of living and inferior quality of inputs because they accept some non-existent freebies.

As far as agriculture is concerned, there is no option but to adopt practices that do not destroy biodiversity, can satisfy India’s needs and support sustainable practices.

It is time that farmers set the nation’s farming agenda, focused on genuine farming issues without letting manipulative politicians reap benefits from false promises

A refusal to understand and learn from farmer experience has been the bane of Indian agriculture. So has the refusal to invest in Indian research and development.

Security means being able to fend for oneself. India can only feed everyone if it first ensures soil health in its farms and the financial health of the farmer.

The budget reveals the government intent to increase agriculture production, but unfortunately this budget will not increase farmer prosperity. A national mission on food processing being established to help in diversification of agriculture. Along with tax incentives to the private sector to provide extension services, it will be a boon for agriculture producers. By giving incentives for increasing fertiliser production capacity in India, there is hope to reduce dependence on imported fertilisers.