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Farmers across country expressed concern about substandard pesticides and seeds, called for strict law to curb their sale: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been travelling to states as part of his ministry's Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VBSA) initiative, running from May 29 to June 12. During the campaign, 2,000 teams comprising scientists, experts, officials and progressive farmers have been travelling across more than 700 districts. During his visit to Telangana, Chouhan spoke to Harikishan Sharma. Excerpts:
You have been meeting officers and scientists during the past year, and now, during the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan. According to them, what is the biggest problem Indian agriculture is facing today?
It is not that I will know about the problems only if someone tells me. I live on a farm. But interactions reveal different aspects of the problems. One thing is for sure that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, since he took charge in 2014, the production of food grains has increased by more than 40%. This time, too, we have achieved an all-time high production. We are doing very well in production, using new technology, and our scientists are also carrying out research. Things are going on, but for a developed India, which is the resolve of the Prime Minister, I believe that developed agriculture and prosperous farmers are key. For this, it is necessary that all the forces working in agriculture move in one direction — be it the agriculture teams of the Union and state governments, the research scientists, the farmers, agricultural universities and progressive farmers. Right now, I see a lack of this. Work is going on in different directions. That is why we came up with One Nation, One Agriculture, One Team. That team is now among farmers in the fields and holding discussions.
Some time back, a committee constituted by your ministry had suggested a GST Council-like body for agriculture. Do you think there is a need for such a body, especially in view of your slogan of One Nation, One Agriculture, One Team?
I have held three meetings with the agriculture ministers of states in one year. One virtual, twice in-person. Before every crop season, we hold a separate conference for rabi and kharif where not only agriculture ministers, but officers, scientists, agriculture universities and many other people participate. Together, we decide on the roadmap. So, it is not that there is no such structure. But what should be done to make it better, this time we are getting extensive experience. I am also going to one state every day and this process will not stop after June 12 (the last day of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan that began May 29). I will also go to the remaining states, regardless of whichever party is in power. Besides agriculture ministers, I also spoke to the Chief Ministers and urged them to cooperate in this campaign. Just making a structure will not result in cooperation. Based on this experience, we will try to create whatever kind of structure is required to be created in future.
What are the problems farmers face today and which they shared with you?
Indian agriculture has diverse characteristics and problems. For instance, farmers in Odisha talked about damage to mango crops due to climate change… In Uttar Pradesh, they shared their concerns about disease in a sugarcane variety. In both states, farmers said new varieties should be developed. In Karnataka and Maharashtra, they spoke about increasing the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. There were also concerns regarding water shortage. The one thing, however, that I found in the whole country was that farmers expressed concern about substandard pesticides and seeds and they said that many times they get looted and harassed due to this, and hence a strict law should be made.
Agricultural land is shrinking and so is the number of farmers. How do you see this trend?
Land is decreasing but technology is changing. For example, we are now experimenting with solar panels on top and growing fruits and vegetables below. Hydroponics has started in many places which require less land. With the speed of urbanisation and industrialisation, cities will expand, agricultural land will gradually decrease. We will have to develop technology through which we can produce more on less land, and that is happening.
Have you flagged the concerns regarding the diversion of agricultural land for making highways in the government at any level?
We will have to think in a balanced way. You need highways, you need ports, you need railway lines, you need airports, you need industry, you need agriculture. India cannot function without agriculture. If we think about the whole country, many things are important.
The Prime Minister had set a target of doubling farmers income by 2022, what is the status now?
For many, it has increased tenfold. There are all kinds of examples. Ram Pratap Sharma is a farmer from Haryana, he lives in a village near Panipat. He is earning a profit of `21 lakh from seven acres. In Bangalore, farmers are earning `6-7 lakh per acre by growing dragon fruit. I can give many examples. The income of many farmers has increased but this does not apply to all because of different factors: who is farming in what way, how much input is being used, what is the size of the land, how is the weather, how was the rain. Many things depend on circumstance but what is certain is that production and income are much better than before. I cannot speak for every farmer…. overall, income has increased.
Soon after you took charge as Agriculture Minister, you had suggested the idea of a Group of Ministers under your chairmanship, comprising agriculture and allied sector ministries.
I did not say under whose control it should be.
What is the concept of this GoM?
We will have to create a model of integrated farming because land holding is very low here… the number of small and marginal farmers has increased. Therefore, only grains will not suffice. It will have to be diversified. Along with grains, fruits, vegetables, beekeeping, animal husbandry, processing. We are creating such models to showcase that this can be done. For this, it is necessary that all the ministries sit together and think in one direction.
For this, should there be a forum?
Even now there is a forum. The Cabinet is one such forum. We sit together when needed. But if more formal thoughts are given about this and the process of sitting together from time to time is increased, it will be better.
Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
