Feeding Billions through Sustainable Production

LMA Convention Journal Vol. 8, No. 1, 2012, 111-124

R.K. Gupta and A.K. Singh

Feeding Billions through Sustainable Production: Indian Perspective with Focus on Policy Issues and Future Strategies R.K. GUPTA 1* AND A.K. SINGH 2 ABSTRACT India was capable of feeding her people through sustainable agriculture for millions of years. Indian agriculture has got many positives and negatives. Decelerating productivity, increasing population growth rate, increasing prices and demand for food grains, shrinking natural resources, climate change and energy crisis, have now become serious concerns of policy makers and scientists. In the past, farmers practiced traditional farming practices and food grains production was low (about 50 million tones) in 1950s. Green revolution and further efforts increased food grain production to 117 million tones in mid 1960s and to a record 250.5 million tones in 2011-12. During 1960s to early 1990s, increase was due to intensification of agriculture with introduction of fertilizer and irrigation responsive dwarf wheat and rice. Subsequently, improved varieties, hybrids and matching production technology helped. However, indigenous coarse grains, pulses and oilseeds that were predominantly grown in rain fed areas in the past century and provided the rural people with the right type of nutrition, did not receive proper attention. The relative progress in horticulture and animal sector also remained excellent during 1990’s and onwards. But synergy between agriculture production, health and nutrition appeared missing, as around 25% Indians suffer from problem of hunger and malnutrition. The other man made factors that have threatened future household, livelihood, and food and nutrition security include ever increasing population, poor implementation of policies, lack of transparency, and increasing gap between scientists field functionaries and farmers. This calls for synergetic efforts by various stake holders towards increasing production and per day productivity in a sustainable manner but at a much faster rate and higher magnitude over what has been already achieved in the past. Broad strategic issues that demand focus of various stake holders include 1) Strengthening institution support; 2) Bridging gap in support system; 3) Rain fed agriculture; 4) Agro biodiversity; 5) Climate change; and 6) Biotechnology. Broad considerations for policy makers, scientists and other players include 1) Agro climatic and land use planning; 2) Sustainable biodiversity management; 3) Adoption of ecosystem approaches; 4) Productivity enhancement; 5) Sowing seeds of change; 6) Precision farming; 7) Diversification; 8) Plastic culture; 9) Integrated water use policy; 10) Integrated nutrient and pest management; 11) Post harvest management; 12) Effective weather monitoring and early warning systems; 13) Improved storage and efficient PDS ; and 14) Physical, electronic and knowledge connectivity. India’s favorable agro-climatic conditions coupled with positive policy initiatives and their implementation, synergy among stake holders, technological innovations, public- private participation can derive growth in agriculture.

a rapid rate in order to feed the ever growing population. Noble laureate Late Norman Borlaug believed that average yield of all major food crops must be increased by 50% by 2025, while United Nations experts say that our planet must double the production by 2050 if global food security needs of ever increasing population are to be met. FAO Director General Jacques said in 2006 that we not only need to grow an extra one billon of cereals a year by 2050- within life time of our children and grand children- but do so from a diminishing resource base of land and water in many of the world’s regions and in an

INTRODUCTION Agriculture is believed to have originated about 10,000 to 12,000 years ago when man shifted from huntinggathering to permanent settlement with greater dependence on plants as a source of food. The population of the world was around 5 millions when agriculture originated and it crossed 7.0 billion mark in October 2011. The world population will continue to rise in future and is projected to grow to 9.3 billion by 2050, which means agriculture production and productivity must increase at

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Division of Vegetable Science and Floriculture, FOA, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Chatha, Jammu-180009 (J&K) India, Email: [email protected] 2 Senior Scientist, Central Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR) , Port Blair - 74410, India Email: [email protected] *Corresponding Author ISSN 2319-3700 © 2012 Lucknow Management Association

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Feeding Billions through Sustainable Production: Indian Perspective with Focus on Policy Issues and Future Strategies

environment increasingly threatened by global warming and climate change.

Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), which is based on three equally weighted indicators (proportion of the population that is undernourished, the proportion of children who are underweight, and under-five mortality), states that India’s food security situation is “alarming”. The report also states that India is among the countries with the least improvement in the last ten years but the country has moved from an “extremely alarming” situation (worst ranking by IFPRI) to merely “alarming”. In contrast, China, Iran and Brazil are among the countries lauded for having halved their GHI scores over the last decade. World Food Insecurity Report, 2011, produced by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and World Food Programme (WFP), warns that increasing food prices will impact income and lead to decreasing food consumption. This can reduce key nutrient intake by children during the first 1000 days of life from conception, which could lead to a permanent reduction of their future learning capacity, increased likelihood of future poverty and negative impact on the entire economy.

India was finding it difficult to feed people when country’s population was 150 millions in 1910. During the last six decades (1947-2012), Indian population increased from 345 millions to current level of about 1.22 billion and is expected to cross 1.5 billion mark by 2050. Today, India is considered self sufficient in food grain production since the country was able to feed not only 1200 million people in 2010 but also produced exportable surplus of 20 MT. In spite of the claims of self sufficiency in food grain production, over 200 million people in the country go to bed hungry every day for various reasons. Indian agriculture, therefore, demands a frontal and focused approach towards sustainable agricultural growth for doubling the production for feeding anticipated population of 1.5 billion by 2050, while preserving and enhancing the natural resource base upon which the wellbeing of present and future generations depends. But the fact remains that production and per day productivity has to be increased in a sustainable manner and at a much faster rate and higher magnitude over what has been already achieved in food, fruit, and vegetable crops and animal and allied sectors in the past. At the same time, food has to be made available through implementation of Food Security Bill and other policy measures by central and respective state governments. That means, we must make strong beginning by addressing the needs of the farming community, including women and young farmers and for addressing problem of livelihood, food and nutrition security of people at grass root level.

Price rise and fluctuations; vagaries of the weather and markets; climate change, plagued public distribution system in many states; and other man made factors often lead to increased hunger and malnutrition in the country. Further, lack of knowledge related to sustainable farming; poor infrastructure such as storage, transport, roads; difficult access to indigenous / improved seeds and other inputs at affordable costs; storage and marketing problems have reduced interest of about 65- 70% rural people in farming. At the same time, indigenous varieties that formed important component of agro biodiversity are now disappearing at faster rate since small and marginal poor resource farmers are not able to practice viable farming.

FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY: MAJOR CONCERNS Food security is attained when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, to lead a healthy and active life. The factors influencing food security include 1) availability, 2) stability, 3) accessibility, 4) food safety; and 5) quality. After 2nd world war, more disquieting forecast for future was read as: “there is every reason to believe that maximum increase which can be hoped in production of necessities of life will not keep pace with the growth of population, so that there is prospect of steady deterioration in state of nutrition of people”. Even today (after seven decades), over 2 billion people in the world, mostly women and children, suffer from micronutrient and vitamin A deficiency (VAD). In developing countries, VAD has weakened the immune system of over 405 million children and has emerged as the leading cause of preventable blindness. The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2011 - report by the International

Indian Agriculture: Positive Trends Agriculture is an important sector of Indian economy and impact of its performance (good or bad) is not only confined to agriculture alone but also felt in other sectors of economy as well (Kumar, 1992). With intensification of agriculture during Green revolution and further efforts, food grain production increased substantially from level of about 50 million tones in 1950s to a record level of 250.5 million tones in 2011-12. This implies that during past six decades (1950-1912), population increased over three and a half times while food grain production increased around five times. During the past six decades (1950-1912), population increase rate was relatively lower than food grain production increase rate. The increased production of major cereals (paddy, wheat and maize) has contributed significantly in improving per capita

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availability of all food commodities (except pulses, oilseeds and coarse millets).

has also shown decreasing trend while fruits and vegetables production and consumption has improved during the same period. The consumption of fruits and vegetables shall continue to increase in near future due to better awareness and purchasing power. Today availability of fruits and vegetables is more than their requirement and hence, can also contribute significantly in improving overall productivity, profitability and nutrition of people. This implies that cereals especially coarse grains, fruits and vegetables, when produced and consumed locally, could provide rural people sufficient carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, vitamins and other health protective compounds. The increasing consumption of food, fruits, vegetables and other items is likely to create new opportunities for farmers and businesses.

During 1960s and 1970s, when the world went through a period of low food reserves and agricultural productivity, Green revolution came into play while production increased mainly due to introduction of fertilizer and irrigation responsive dwarf wheat and rice. After 1990s, main stream food crops such as rice and wheat have seen a plateauing of yields and progress in coarse cereals, oilseeds and pulses has remained poor. However, relative increase in the production has been much higher for horticulture, fish and livestock products, which helped in improving both food and nutritional security of urban and rural poor. The traditional foods like ragi, jowar, bajra and indigenous varieties of coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds, have also proved self sustainable when grown through ecological methods under low inputs or even in rain fed conditions, leaving no ecological foot print. But these poor man’s crops, which provided the locals with the right type of nutrition, did not receive desired policy level support in the past few decades.

In the recent past, governments efforts on increasing flow of credit and reducing interest rates could trigger farmers’ income and hence, rural demand. Further, movement of labour away from agricultural occupations has led to rising of wages but in turn, indirectly prompted mechanization. Another positive trend is that some states are taking interest is a various policy reforms including shifting of focus to broad based profitable and sustainable farming which will benefit entire agriculture on long term basis.

History speaks that traditional plant breeding efforts, coupled with matching production technologies have provided solutions to many challenges related to production and productivity of food and horticultural crops for over past six decades. The judicial blending of traditional technologies with frontier technologies shall continue to augment the increased productivity in future. Swaminathan (2002), during his inaugural address in International conference in 2000 at New Delhi, said that we need to defend gains already made, spread the gains to new areas and make new gains through farming system diversification and value addition. Today, India supports over 17% human and over 11% livestock population of the world while utilizing 2.4% area and 4.2% water resources.

Indian Agriculture: Negative trends India is currently facing problems of food and nutrition security; sustainability of input based agriculture; land and water shortages; erosion of biodiversity; and climate change (Gupta and Chopra, 2011). Though, past achievements in food grain production look impressive, yet per capita consumption of most of the food items in the country is quite low when compared to requirement of nutritious food as per ICMR norms. But most critical challenge is meeting food and nutrition requirement of country’s current population of about 1.22 billion which is expected to increase further to 1.5 billion by 2050. Diminishing natural resources and droughts (1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1999, 2002 and 2009) have seriously impacted farm productivity and questioned sustainability. Northern plains (Punjab, Haryana and Western UP) - grainry of India, are now showing stagnancy in agricultural growth due to near saturation in production of paddy and wheat. Poor implementation of agricultural policies and increasing gap between scientists and field functionaries have further complicated the issue. Today, of over one billion under-nourished people in the world, more than 250 million people are reported in India with women and children being the worst affected. Ever increasing population and poor or no economic access to food have not only threatened future household

Policy support to Indian agriculture in the form of various centrally sponsored programmes has been continuing since independence. National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was launched with an outlay of about Rs.5000 crore to enhance production of rice, wheat and pulses by 18, 8 and 2 million tones, respectively, by the end of the XI plan. That means, policy makers in the country are making steady efforts to increase production in irrigated areas. These gains made in irrigated areas have to be defended or extended to newer areas and new gains have to be made in rain fed areas and hill regions. The country can also benefit from improved varieties, hybrids and biotech crops. Food grains production has been showing plateauing trends during past two decades and their consumption

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livelihood, but food and nutrition security of millions of rural and urban poor. Rising income and changing food habits are putting additional pressure. With a huge young and moderately affluent population, the demand for nutritious food is going to grow exponentially.

cereals in a section of population, has given rise to metabolic diseases. The increasing demand may help continuing plagued distribution in many parts of the country. Lester Brown (1995) has analyzed the prospect of increasing food grain production in China and India and concluded that both countries will have to import substantial quantity of food grains by 2030. To meet the demand of increasing population, India’s food grain production must be increased from 200 million tones in 2000 to about 300 million tones by 2020 (Bhalla et al., 1999). To achieve this target, foodgrain production must be increased, at the rate of 5 million tones per year over the next two decades. The past trend of increasing production does not look sustainable. Further, millions of people in the country dont have physical and economic access to sufficient and nutritious food. Already, the malnutrition rate in India is at unacceptable levels, essentially amongst the women and children. Therefore, serious efforts are required to augment production and productivity of food grains, coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds, horticultural crops and other allied sectors with shrinking natural resources in this era of climate change. The major issues concerning Indian agriculture are outlined as under.

Climate change and variations including frequent droughts, unexpected cold spells, and erratic behavior of rainfall and changing temperature regimes has affected both production and productivity of crops and farm animals in the country. If rainfall is normal, output is good but we are not able to store food grains. In case of deficit rainfall, overall agriculture output is drastically affected while losses in coarse cereals, pulses and oil seed crops are serious. The worst sufferers are small and marginal farmers of rain fed areas where slight reduction in productivity impacts their livelihood and food security. The various factors like regional disparity, rising income and prices, dietary changes, energy crisis, manpower shortage and continuous fragmentation of land holdings are hampering the progress. Today, Indian agriculture does not look sustainable and food crisis like situation has occurred for the first time after green revolution. Another important concern is continuous decline in share of agriculture in national GDP and in employment. Indian agriculture has experienced a change with a shift from agriculture towards industry and tertiary sectors during the period between 1950-51 to 1999-2000 (Joshi, 2004). The share of agriculture GDP got drastically reduced from 61% in 1951 to 29.52% (1990-91), 23.41% (1999-2000) and then to around 14.4% in 2012, while the share of agriculture in employment got reduced from 72% in 1951 to 52% (2008). This decline in proportion of workforce engaged in agriculture did not commensurate with decline of GDP in agriculture. The situation does not look sustainable where more than half billion people are unable to find meaningful or economically remunerative employment in primary agriculture. With diversion of agricultural land, water and labour towards industry and other non agricultural sectors, there is tremendous pressure on natural resources. With more and more rural population leaving sustenance agriculture, task of improving productivity of crops and farms looks difficult. Therefore, lesser economically endowed are likely to face further pressure from higher prices.

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Population pressure and demographic transition

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Diminishing and degrading natural resource base

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Inadequate modern technology support at affordable costs

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Climate change impacts and weather variations

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Poor investments by public and private sector

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Rapid urbanization with youth moving out from rural areas

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Plagued public distribution system

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Unemployment, especially among rural youth and women

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Globalization impact on resource poor farmers

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Implementation of policies and transparency

Key Drivers for Change

Indian Agriculture: Major Issues Driven by population growth and rising affluence, demand for food is likely to grow substantially over next four decades. Even today, significant population is malnourished or starving while on the other hand, overconsumption of particular foods specially refined

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Exploiting vast potential of country’s traditional farming systems with emphasis on rain fed areas and hill regions

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Conservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources including indigenous bio resources and water

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Technology revolution with frontier technologies including biotechnology, ecology, management, and information technology


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Enhancing genetic potential for higher yield in various crops, livestock and allied sectors with emphasis on coarse grains, pulses, oil seeds and fodder

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Diversification with horticulture crops, animal sector and allied fields like bee keeping, mushroom growing , poultry and fishery

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Reducing damage to environment with eco-friendly measures

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Fast developments in adaptation and mitigation strategies

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Improving marketing systems and price control while widening range of crops for minimum support price

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Strengthening effective extension system by involving rural youth and women

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Reducing post harvest losses in perishable and non perishable commodities

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Micro-enterprises development and marketing support especially near production centers

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Reducing further fragmentation of holdings by developing models for effective co-operative and contractual farming

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Improving mechanization especially for rain fed areas, plains and hills

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Government policy initiatives implemen-tation

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Promoting public-private-farmer partnerships

including 1) Improved and locally adapted quality seeds/ planting materials; 2) Adequate fertilizers (nitrogenous, phosphatic and potassic), chemicals, machinery and other inputs at affordable costs; 3) Hassle free credit flow from public sector banks at affordable interest rates; 4) Better or improved irrigation facilities; and 5) Power supply. Support in form of infrastructure development and subsidies for various inputs including seeds and fertilizers, irrigation and power supply by central and respective state governments have to be rational and must reach participating players and needy farmers through appropriate policies that have positive long term impacts. Minimum support price should be extended to wide range of crops. Incentives need be given to those adopting conservation agriculture and conserving agro biodiversity. Some reports indicate that the support to Indian agriculture, in the form of subsidies has been rising when world prices were low in 1980’s while falling when world prices were high (1998-2002). Major reforms in pricing and institutional framework for management of canal irrigation, electrification, subsidies, inputs availability etc., have to be carried out as per needs of various agro ecological regions in the country. Between 1967-68 and 1977-78, increase in public investment coupled with other favorable factors increased crop production rate at 4.25% per annum. With liberalization of agriculture during 1990s, corporate sector has entered in agribusiness whose interest in rural areas was relatively poor. But overall investments in agriculture remained poor both by public and private sectors. The step up in investments by public and private sector in non-price factors (such as research, development, technology generation, innovations, infrastructure, irrigation, storage, processing) can boost significant increase in agriculture output and profitability. At present country is spending around 0.6% of its agriculture GDP on research and development which need to be increased by 2-3 times by 2020 for attaining sustainable growth.

Strategic Issues and Opportunities Planned strategy and efforts are required on policy reforms including institutional support, bridging gap in support system, dry land farming and use of technology innovations for ensuring food, nutritional, and livelihood security. If production of staples, fruits, vegetables, pulses, milk and meat do not catch up with the needs of growing population, price pressure will hurt the poor, and the low income groups. If public distribution system remains plagued or fails to take the extra pressure, physical access to grains would become an issue. The overall impact will be slow down in consumption and malnutrition would go up. Some of the strategic issues that require attention of all the stake holders are briefly discussed as under. 

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Bridging Gap in Support System

Agriculture provides employment to around 60% work force and is both a way of life and the principal means of food for nearly 69% rural and sizable urban population. The contribution of Agriculture in GDP has declined sharply from 61% in 1951 to around 14.4% in 2012, while there is no proportionate decline of work force in agriculture. The average per hectare productivity during past decade does not commensurate with required annual increase in per hectare productivity of food grains and other farm products. Post harvest losses in non perishable and perishable products are also at unacceptable level. As per Planning Commission estimates, around 440 million

Strengthening Institutional Support

Agriculture being state subject, the respective state governments through various institutional mechanisms must ensure easy and timely access to various inputs 115


people during 2010 in the country lived on less than a dollar per day. Further, the process of time to time policy reforms in agriculture has not stopped rural people leaving sustenance agriculture. These facts indicate that different institutions or stake holders in agriculture are not working in synergy with each other for prosperity of poor farmers and rural poor in various regions across the country and desired benefits are not percolating to all these concerned. At many times, there are duplications in efforts or approach by various institutions at one place and measurable impacts are hardly observed. Therefore, bridging gap between different support systems that are working for farming community especially in rural India is important for overall development of the resource poor farmers and their livelihood, food and nutrition security. 

its ecosystems, species and genes - are product of 3000 million years of evolution. Agricultural biodiversity is subset of overall biological diversity and includes all the components of biological diversity of relevance to food and agriculture such as variety and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms, at genetic, species and ecosystem level. Plant domestication is known to have originated independently and almost simultaneously 6000 to 9000 years ago in America, Africa and SE Asia (Flannery, 1973). The earliest human attempts on plant domestication occurred in Asia by 9000 BC and involved bottle gourd (Erickson et al, 2005). The progress in the domestication of plants was rapid after man shifted from huntinggathering to growing food under settled agriculture. It is estimated that out of over one million plant species, about 500 have been domesticated through centuries of thorough process of natural and human selection. Farmers have contributed through selection of plants with valuable characteristics, resulting in what are called farmers’ varieties or landraces. Landraces and their wild relatives contain genetic traits, such as pest resistance or heat tolerance that are needed by farmers and breeders.

Focus on Rain Fed Agriculture

India has about 85 M ha area under rain fed farming (65 % of the net cropped area) where yields are low and unstable while incidence of soil erosion high. The average productivity of rain fed areas is reported as less than 2 tons per hectare and it gets reduced considerably during climatic variations. The coarse grains and pulses (87.5%), oilseeds (77%) and other indigenous crops are predominantly in rain fed regions. Though, production of coarse cereals, oilseeds, pulses and cotton has shown increasing trends for the period between 1970-1973 and 1992-1995 (CRIDA, 1997) but many experts feel that the rain fed crops have not received desired attention in the past. But in past five decades, production and per capita availability of highly nutritious coarse millets and some local legumes has shown declining trends when compared with major cereals. A unintentional neglect could have contributed indirectly to poor nutritional status of large rural population in the country. A focused approach is required for adopting breeding strategies, increasing water use efficiency, integrated nutrients and pest management in fruit crops, coarse grains, some vegetables, spices and medicinal plants growing in vast rain fed areas of the country. In many rain fed crops, narrowing yield gap between actual and potential is also possible through use of balanced nutrients supply (through organic manures, green manures, biofertlizers and chemical fertilizers), use of innovative technologies, and synergy among various stake holders. Boosting rain fed agriculture production can help meeting challenges of livelihood, food and nutrition security, provided we increase productivity by just 1 ton per hectare. 

Indian subcontinent is blessed with a variety of agroclimatic conditions conducive to grow a large number of crops and rear animals, thereby making it enriched with agro biodiversity. An estimated 49,000 plant species occur in country, out of which 17,500 belong to higher plants (Paroda et al., 1999). India is one of the 16 Mega diverse countries and has also been recognized as one of the world’s eight centre of origin of crop plants. As per estimates, around 165 food crop species and 320 wild relatives of crops originated from here. The crops that we grow today had their earliest beginnings as wild plants. But the process of improvement of plants through systematic breeding got impetus after rediscovery of Mendel’s principles of heredity in the beginning of 19 th century and other development in genetics and molecular biology. Among cereals, rice provides food to over 50% and wheat to 1/3rd of world population and then follows maize and coarse grains. India’s agro biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate due to wide spread cultivation of fewer high yielding varieties , deforestation, developmental activities, monoculture, meager reforestation, climate change and other factors. Intensification of agriculture and population pressure is also causing habitat destruction, species loss and disappearance of genetic resources. Many of the documented animal and plant genetic resources are now listed as threatened. This loss of biodiversity is adding to the problems of food and nutrition security.

Agro- biodiversity and Food Security

Diversity of life forms and their ecosystems have been vital to human survival. The earth’s biodiversity -

The year 2010, has been proclaimed as the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) by UN general 116


Assembly with a purpose to raise awareness about underlying threats to and need for biodiversity conservation. India has committed itself to achieving the 2010 Biodiversity Target, adopted by sixth conference of the parties to CBD, to significantly reduce the rate of loss of Biodiversity through 11 goals.

Irrigation requirement in arid and semi-arid regions also gets increased by 10% for every one degree celsius rise in temperature. According to Kumar and Aggarwal (2010), global climate change is projected to cause increase in surface temperature by 1.8 to 4.0 degree Celsius by the end of century.

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Promote conservation of biological diversity of ecosystems, habitats and biomass

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Promote conservation of species diversity

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Promote conservation of genetic diversity

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Promote sustainable use and consumption

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Reduce pressure from habitat loss and degradation

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Control threats from invasive alien species

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Address challenges to biodiversity from climate change and pollution

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Maintain capacity of ecosystems to deliver goods and services and support livelihoods

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Protect traditional knowledge, innovations and practices

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Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources

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Improve financial, human, scientific, technical and technological capacity to implement Convention on Biodiversity

Climate change predictions point to warmer world with estimates of temperature increase of 1.5 to 2.5 degree Celsius by 2050 that could lead to irrigated wheat yield reduction of around 30% in developing world. In this regard, ICRISAT is working on developing two strategies 1) Climate –ready crops and 2) Climate –smart production systems. In Indian context, Sinha et al (2000), mentioned on the basis of analysis of 25 years’ data that there is an increase or decrease in temperature in different regions. For example in Northern plains (Hisar, Ludhiana, Karnal & Delhi), minimum temperature has increased by 1 degree Celsius or more, particularly in rabi, while maximum temperature has declined in kharif season. There has been incidence of drought for period between 1959-50 and 1999-2000 that affected 40.5% to 64.3% area but the country could manage the impact of this magnitude. During recent past, incidences like excessive or low rains during cropping period, unexpected rise or fall in temperature, cloud bursts have seriously affected food grains and horticultural crops production. The consequences of long-run effect of climate change can be more alarming in Northern plains, grain bowl of the country and hill and mountainous regions, thereby, affecting livelihood security of the poor in the country. The environmental advocates have indicated that the climate change in the country has resulted in following changes.

The large population of the country which is dependent on agriculture is likely to continue its pressure on natural resources. The scientists, agricultural experts and farmers must meet global appetite for both food and energy while sustainably utilizing and conserving vital natural resources for livelihood, food security and climate resilience in changing environment. Farm families are primary conserver of agro biodiversity and they need to be complimented and rewarded through equitable sharing of benefits through appropriate treaty. 

Changing temperature pattern: In past 100 years, global temperature has increased by 0.74 degree Celsius. Consequence of one degree Celsius rise in temperature will be a reduction in growing period of wheat and greater risk of vector borne diseases in crops like potato. Changing precipitation: Frequent droughts and changed precipitation patterns are being experienced in many parts of the country and these demand sustainable water security system.

Climate Change and Food Security

The climate change and climate variation phenomenon is now a global reality. The past 100 years warming trends indicate that the impacts are likely to further aggravate yield fluctuations in many crops that are critical for food security in India. The climate change may have direct and indirect positive or negative effects on crops production, livestock, incidence of pests/ diseases/weeds and soil health deterioration. For example, during drought years, with increased temperature and water stress, sustainability of claimed production and productivity potential is never achieved.

Glacier - Snow melt and floods: Cloud bursts and snow avalanches are common phenomenon during winters in hilly areas and thus demand appropriate multi prong strategy. In recent past, Ladakh region experienced a catastrophic flood tragedy due to cloud burst and torrential rains first time in its history and that wrought human life, property and agriculture. Increased carbon dioxide and reduced oxygen levels: This situation is prevalent in high altitudes and may also 117


assume significance in plains. It may prove boon for some crops while bane for other crops. In some studies, with increased carbon dioxide levels, increase in the yields of wheat, chickpea, green gram, pigeon pea, soybean, tomato and potato in the range of 14% to 27% has been reported but quality may have been marginally reduced.

crop yields; 2) Reduced farm costs, increased farm profit, improvement in health and the environment. These “first generation” crops have proven their ability to lower farmlevel production costs. Now, research is focused on “second-generation” GM crops that will feature increased nutritional and/or industrial traits. Probably no discovery in plant sciences has had, in such a short time, such far reaching consequences on agriculture as the method reported in 1983 for genetically modified or transgenic crops.

Sea level rise: The strategy should involve developing mangrove and non mangrove bio shields in coastal areas; promoting sea water farming and developing varieties tolerant to salts.

The advent of GM cotton for increasing productivity and reducing crop losses has been widely accepted in India. Biotech cotton introduced during 2002 in the country, occupied record 12.1 million hectare area during 2011 in India. Bt cotton now occupies over 90% area in country. The productivity of cotton has increased by 39% since then, while pesticides use reduced by half. The success story of GM cotton is a wake up call for scientists, planners and policy makers to seriously consider blending of traditional technologies with frontier technologies for benefit of growers and consumers and protection of environment.

Changed pest dynamics: It may destabilize agriculture but biotechnology may have the answer. A multi-pronged approach for developing adaptation and mitigation strategies is urgently required, on a very high priority, to lay special attention to the changing climate-led erratic fluctuations, and find durable solutions. This calls for holistic approach for addressing following issues. 

Assessment of impact in different agro ecological regions

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Crop - varieties identification for suitability in extreme weather conditions, low water requirements and input conditions

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Efficient soil and water management

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Conservation agriculture

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Energy use efficiency

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Efficient livestock management

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Decrease in the GHG emissions

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Biotechnology and Other Frontier Technologies

However, there are some pre-conceived or potential risks of GM crops, for example, 1) Danger of unintentionally introducing allergens and other antinutrition factors in foods; 2) Likelihood of transgenic escaping from cultivated crops into wild relatives; 3) Pests could evolve resistance to the toxins produced by GM crops; 4) Risk of these toxins affecting non-target organisms; 5) Policy regarding control over GMO releases. Where legislation and regulatory mechanisms are in place, there are elaborate steps to precisely avoid or mitigate these risks. At the same time, it is the obligatory on part of the technology innovators (scientists), producers, and the government to assure the public about the safety of the novel foods.

Biotechnology offer great potential for increasing production at reduced cost of inputs but there is mistrust in promoting biotechnology, especially GM food crops. Agriculture biotechnology can contribute to food security in developing countries, provided it focuses on needs of poor farmers and consumers. The rapid adoption of transgenic crops during 1996 to 2011, reflects multiple benefits realized by large and small farmers both in industrial and developing countries. The global area of transgenic crops increased from 1.7 million hectares in 1996 to 160 million hectares in 2011. The major countries growing biotech crops during 2010 are USA (66.8 million hectares), Brazil (25.4 million hectares), Argentina (22.9 million hectares), India (9.4 million hectares), Canada (8.8 million hectares) and China (3.5 million hectares). In the developed world, there is clear evidence that the use of GM crops has resulted in significant benefits like 1) Higher

The second generation GM crops could prove to be a boon from the point of view of food security and fighting hunger and poverty in the country, provided public perception and policy decision are taken on scientific facts and not otherwise. India need a clear policy and road map defined on GM food crops as matter of priority or else our farmers will be deprived of new science while bringing out comprehensive legislation on suitable safeguards to avoid the possible pitfalls while making available transgenic seeds to growers in food and horticultural crops at affordable costs. Therefore, policy makers need to reorient their strategies for holistic approach with proper planning and efforts so as to increase production, quality and profitability while considering frontier technologies like biotechnology.

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With institutional support and complimenting traditional agriculture with other frontier technologies including eco - agriculture, management, information technology, post harvest management, processing and value addition, marketing intelligence, the country can bring synergy between production, health and nutrition. Biotech sector has tremendous potential in Indian agriculture but clear cut policy on fast track approvals based on scientific facts is required. Further, food processing, organic food, warehousing and cold storage are likely to appear to be high growth sectors in next 5-10 years.

efficient utilization for specific agro climates under changing climates can help in achieving sustainable agriculture growth and development for future human survival. The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation has developed three approaches based on considerations of ecology, economics and employment generation, to enhance opportunities for sustainable livelihoods in biodiversity rich areas: (a) Bio-Village: This involves concurrent attention to 1) Conservation and enhancement of the ecological foundations for sustainable agriculture, 2) Enhancing the productivity and profitability of small holdings, and 3) Generation of multiple livelihood opportunities through crop-livestock-fish integration, biomass utilization and agro-processing; (b) Bio-Parks: These are designed to add value to plant and animal biomass through agro-processing and preparation of a wide range of market linked products.; (c) Bio-Valleys: The aim is to promote along a watershed, small scale enterprises supported by micro credit and to link biodiversity, biotechnology and business in a mutually reinforcing manner. The focus is also on biotechnology enterprises related to the production and marketing of the biological software essential for sustainable agriculture such as bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, and vermiculture. This model can be adapted to other biodiversity rich areas with local need based changes in various agro-ecological regions

BROAD CONSIDERATIONS Agro Climatic and Land Use Planning Of 329 million hectare geographical area, 142.5 million hectare (47%) is net cropped area in the country. There is little scope of extending agriculture to new areas while vertical expansion is possible, as gap between actual productivity and potential productivity are large. The land degradation processes (water and wind erosion, chemical deterioration, etc) are claiming heavy of land resources every year. The availability of land for food production is decreasing over the time and such a decrease is expected to be much greater in future due to fragmentation of holdings and other factors. In India, per capita availability of land has reduced from 0.34 ha in 1950-51 to 0.12 ha in 2010-11. Land and water are diminishing resources. With continued competition for land crop, productivity per unit area has to be increased in era of climate change, green house gas emissions and loss of biodiversity while considering fact that the profitability can be easily restored in bigger farms through mechanization and better utilization of inputs.

Adoption of Ecosystem Approaches Agriculture is considered sustainable if it ensures today’s development is not at the cost of tomorrow’s prospects (World Commission on economic Development, 1987). According to Kanwar (2000), there are five important aspects of sustainable agriculture.

Therefore, Land use planning in accordance with its capability and biological potential and accelerated reclamation of degraded land, require serious attention of policy makers for sustainable agriculture. National Policy for Land Use Planning need to be developed for large and small farms in rain fed and irrigated areas and mountainous regions and implemented in letter and spirit. ICAR has identified 127 Agro climatic sub-zones in the country. The existing forecast for short-range or to some extent medium-range weather has not helped farmers. The need is to develop effective long-range weather forecasting or prediction models that could have applications in different agro climatic situations in country.

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Meeting the challenging needs of today and of tomorrow

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Economic viability and enhanced productivity

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Successful management of resources-internal and external, renewable or non renewable

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Maintenance, preferably enhancement of quality of environment

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Conservation of natural resources, particularly soil and water which form the base of agriculture.

It has now been widely accepted that agriculture is not sustainable. Mathis Wackernagel, Swiss born sustainability advocate is reported to have said that Humanity’s ecological foot print is currently 20 % greater than carrying capacity of the earth that means worldwide we are already using 20% more than what nature can regenerate every year. Ever increasing population is

Sustainable Biodiversity Management Mapping of bio resources, their conservation and 119


mounting additional pressure on land for food, energy and the environment protection. Therefore, we have no right to put future of our kids and future generations at stake.

developing measures to overcome ecological, environmental, technological and institutional fatigues. The Green Revolution provided relief from hunger with major emphasis on cereals, whereas, the evergreen revolution would need to encompass on oilseeds, pulses, fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants and biofuel crops through focus on vast rain fed areas of the country and small and marginal farmers. This calls for “Farmer Centric” agriculture policy that facilitates achieving a set target of about 4% agricultural growth while providing higher and stable income across different regions and classes of farmers. A move towards second/ evergreen revolution would to a greater extent aim at ‘inclusive growth’ and adoption of conservation agriculture for sustainable production and food security.

These trends demand strategic political intervention to derive innovation and improvement with focus on ecosystem approach that manages soil, water, plants and animals. The simplest approach is Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture rather than expansion of cultivable area where focus is on restoring the natural ecological balance by optimizing the competition between different plant and animal species for food and space while considering economic, social and ecological factors together. It could also help to prevent degradation of the environment and improve productivity especially in rain fed areas and hills where indigenous varieties are grown by small and marginal farmers and cultivation is also organic by default in some pockets.

Besides defending existing gains in irrigated areas, new gains have to be made in new areas through gene revolution, information evolution, management evolution and eco-technologies. There is also a need to strengthen adaptive research, technology assessment, refinement and transfer by complimenting public sector policy and infrastructure with private sector dynamism through appropriate public-private partnerships.

Enhancing Productivity of Major Commodities India is blessed with diverse climatic conditions suitable for growing a large number of crops and rearing animals. There appear to be large gap between the estimated potential and actual productivity. In recent years, overall growth rate in horticulture, animal sector and fisheries have been encouraging. But there is acute shortage of feed and fodder; therefore, improving animal nutrition demands is the special attention of policy makers. Average yield of many crops and livestock in India is still lower than the rest of the world while there is remote possibility of expansion in cultivated area. But there is ample scope for increasing genetic potential of crops, livestock, fishery and honey bees. Immediately, varieties/ hybrids/transgenic need to be identified or developed in field crops (including rice, maize and pigeon pea), fruits and vegetables for various agro ecological zones. In oil seeds, emphasis has to be extended to crops like soybean, sunflower and oil palm. Likewise milk, meat and draught capacity of our animals needs to be improved. India can meet challenge of food security easily if we increase productivity of crops, farm animals and allied sectors, through judicial blending of traditional wisdom with frontier technologies. The productivity of coarse grains, pulses and oilseeds also needs to be increased from existing less than 2 tons per hectare level to about 2.5 or 3.0 tons per hectare. Hybrids can be promoted to improve productivity in crops like maize, rice sorghum (rabi), bajra, pigeon pea, castor, some fruits and variety of vegetables. Biotech crops can be considered for future food security and other industrial needs.

Sowing Seeds of Change Currently, utmost importance is being given to quality seed and planting material multiplication for needs of respective regions throughout the country. Despite massive efforts, availability of good quality seed/ planting material of improved varieties and hybrids and locally adapted crop-varieties in required quantity and at affordable costs, continues to be the problem. In the process, majority of farmers rely on farm saved seeds and desired seed replacement ratio is never obtained. The policy has to be framed and system devised for ensuring timely availability of quality seeds and planting material of improved and locally adapted varieties or hybrids at affordable costs to the farmers of various agro ecological zones in the country. ICAR has set up a Mega Seed Project where infrastructural facilities at various ICAR Institutes and SAUs are being provided since 2005. It is interesting to note that success of green revolution was restricted to self pollinated crops like wheat and rice in which farmers also used farm saved seeds for quick multiplication of new varieties. Therefore technology of production of quality seed and planting material of field/ horticultural crops of various categories including hybrids or farm saved seeds or micro propagation have to be transferred to the educated rural youth and women for deriving growth in agriculture. Moreover, long term contracts can be entered between ICAR institutes/SAUs and Private sector, Co-operatives of farmers or Self Help

However, the mismatch between slow growth of agriculture and steady growth of population, calls for 120


Groups (SHGs) for production and supply of quality seeds. For achieving global share of 10% in seed market by 2020 as against present 2% as envisaged in National Seed Policy, enabling environment for production and processing has to be provided and clearance of export proposal has to be considered through single window system by policy makers. 

can reduce hunger prevalence by 16 and 25%, respectively. The priorities are now being reoriented towards devising strategies for providing livelihood security through improvement in genetic potential of crop varieties and animal breeds, so as to achieve higher overall growth. Efficient watershed development programme comprising of soil and water conservation, crop management, fodder development, livestock management and aforestation activities can further create a win-win situation for stakeholders from the point of view of climate change, carbon sequestration, carbon credit and sustainable development. It is equally important to develop viable Integrated Farming Modules for large, medium and small farms representing various farming situations.

Transformation from Traditional Farming to Precision Farming

Precision farming approach make judicious use of farm inputs and increase their efficiency for enhancing agriculture productivity where focus is on interdisciplinary research, use of frontier technologies, natural resources management, profitability, and employment opportunities. In basic precision farming approach, farmers are to be empowered with the agrotechnologies including 1) local production of vermicompost, bio fertilizers and bio pesticides and their use; 2) equipment fabrication for local needs; 3) custom hiring of equipments; 4) drip/sprinkler irrigation, food processing at production centers, and other local need based technologies. The modern precision farming techniques include 1) laser leveling of land, 2) exact application of inputs like water, fertilizers / nutrients, chemicals and related machinery and 3) effective management of pests and diseases are to be complimented with frontier technologies such as remote sensing, GIS, GPS and micro-processor based applications. The aim is to maximize returns to the farmers in agricultural and allied sectors through involvement of rural youth and women for bringing quantifiable changes in production, productivity and profitability. 

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Use of Plasticulture

It has got tremendous applications in crop production and agricultural machinery / implements, water management and irrigation (storage, conveyance and application of irrigation through micro-irrigation systems, farm pond/canal lining, mulching), drainage (smooth and corrugated perforated pipes), protected cultivation (greenhouses / net houses / poly houses / low tunnels), post harvest processing machinery, storage and packaging of agricultural / horticultural produce / products, material handling, livestock sheds and buildings, tapping, storage and utilization of renewable sources of energy. Irrigation systems involving pipes and conduits constitute the major share of plastics utilization in agriculture in the country. Poly houses and other protective structures are useful in serving as rain shelters to permit off-season production of vegetables, in raising the seedlings of vegetables and flowers for capturing the early markets or to improve the quality of seedlings and in propagation of difficult-to-root tree species. Plasticuture is proving vital in precision farming since it reduces cost of cultivation by saving inputs such as water (60%) and fertilizers (40%), besides reducing insect pests and diseases and improving quality of produce (Iyengar et. al.,2010). It could indirectly improve the income and living standard of the farming community. By production of high value crops with maximum yields for export market, the income from small and marginal land holding by the farmer can be increased, in addition to generating self employment. Government has taken many policy initiatives for use of plastic in agriculture but implementation at ground level has to ensure for benefit to end users.

Developing Technologies for Diversification

Diversification of agriculture and allied sectors for increased profitability and enhanced sustainability is present day’s need. Animal husbandry, dairying, horticulture and allied sectors have supplemented family income of farmers and generated gainful employment. Diversification with low volume, high value and labour intensive commodities such as horticulture (fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, and medicinal plants, mushroom), apiculture, sericulture, livestock, poultry, fishery can also provide adequate benefits to farmers dependent on small size of farms. The progress made in horticulture and animal sector shall continue to play still more important role in years to come in improving livelihood security and reducing poverty and hunger. Horticulture sector has already gained credibility with contribution of about 30% to the GDP in agriculture. It is reported that addition of a cattle or buffalo to their asset

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Developing National Level Integrated Water Use Policy

In India per capita availability of water has got reduced from 5000 cubic meters per annum in 1950 to

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current level of about 2000 cubic meters and availability is projected to decline further to 1500 cubic meters by 2025. Agriculture is accounting for 80% of water withdrawal and its availability is projected to be reduced by 21% by 2020, while quality could decline. According to Garg and Hasan (2007), projected demand of water cannot be met even after full development of utilizable water resources and alarming scarcity of water will occur by 2050. World Bank (1999) observed that 25% improvement in water use efficiency and crop yields would generate grain production of 85mt. In country like India, increase in water use efficiency from present level of about 40% to 60% can save country from water famine disaster in near future. Rice and sugarcane is highest consumer of water while requirements of water are relatively very low in crops like maize, potato, coarse cereals, many legumes and local oilseeds. For stability and sustainability of dry land agriculture, it is important to conserve rain water in situ and harvest the excess rain water in farm ponds for crucial life-saving/supplementary irrigation of crops. The surface rainwater also needs to be harvested and channelized into unused open wells after proper filtration, for further recharging the groundwater and also into traditional open wells to utilize them for irrigation. This approach can also improve drinking water situation and sanitation in rural areas. Therefore, appropriate choice of crop and variety along with increase in water use efficiency and equitable distribution is important for sustainable production.

all other resources and inputs. There is urgent need to develop Crop and area specific Integrated Nutrient Management Modules that improves soil health and agriculture productivity in intensified agriculture system.

Though water use efficiency of tube well or well irrigated system is higher than canal irrigated farming system but it’s over exploitation due to neglect or free electricity has resulted in declining ground water level. Large scale irrigation projects like dams and canal irrigation also suffer time and cost over runs and recurring huge maintenance cost for keeping them operational. This calls for framing of National Level Integrated Water Use Policy that has focus on reforms in water saving and its efficient use in different agro-ecological regions across the country through involvement of all the stake holders including NGOs and locals.

The scientists have developed technologies that may require validation/refinement for local needs. To check these losses at various levels we need to convert the excess produce into processed form in major field/ horticultural crops of each region. The value addition of produce could fetch an additional income to the growers and help stabilize the prices in the region. Indigenous traditional knowledge and frontier technology based micro enterprises need to be encouraged especially in villages or potential production centres through liberal financial assistance. Emphasis has also to be laid on improving quality through proper storage, packaging, handling and transport.

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Good Crop health is also important for achieving goal of food security and sustainability. Host of diseases (including uncontrolled fungal and viral diseases) and insect-pests cause losses to the tune of 30% crop output. The risks about emergence of new diseases through climate change and free trade are also there. Now emphasis has to be on diagnosis, increased surveillance, breeding for resistance and transgenic development against diseases and insect pests. This calls for developing resistant varieties and appropriate crop and area specific Integrated Pest Management Modules 

Developing Technologies for Post Harvest Management

Due to lack of inadequate infrastructure for processing, marketing, poor market intelligence, exploitation by the commission agents/traders, too many intermediaries, most of the produce is sold as fresh at various places in the country. As per rough estimates, post harvest losses to the extent of 10 to 30% approximately, occur every year. The losses are serious in the case of perishable commodities like fruits, vegetables, milk, meat, fish and other animal products and processed food.

Integrated Nutrient and Pest Management Modules 

Intensive agriculture system has deteriorated soil health and caused harm to environment. Most of the farms are realizing around 20 -50% yield of the actual potential yield due to imbalanced and inadequate use of nutrients. Now focus has to be on use of organic manures, biofertilzers, and inclusion of legumes in cropping sequence and balanced use of macro and micro nutrients and water as critical input, since it increases efficiency of

Effective Weather Monitoring and Early Warning Systems

Effective weather monitoring and early warning systems is important for both macro and micro climates. It can help farmers in adjusting sowing time, efficient use of inputs and better choice of varieties for different situations. There are reports that present system is not that effective for medium and long range weather forecasts.

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in areas like biodiversity management and utilization; efficient water, power and other inputs use; integrated nutrient and pest management; research on crop adaptation and mitigation for climate change; improved storage, processing and value addition; ecoagriculture, adoption of biotechnology especially GM crops; and farm and non farm employment generation, will determine future of the country in terms of house hold livelihood, food and nutrition security.

Improved food stocks storage and efficient public distribution system

Grain storage facility currently exists for about 30% of total food grains production (65 million tones approx.) by organized sector for targeted PDS on subsidized rates (Ali, 2012). There is a need for proper implementation and monitoring of improved centralized food stocks storage, coupled with efficient PDS system and simultaneous revival of Old age Micro- level Household food storage through public–private-farmers’ participation especially in remote and isolated areas that are prone to weather vagaries. 

Note: The views expressed in this technical review/ article related to policy are that of authors and not of organizations they represent.

Physical, electronic and knowledge connectivity

REFERENCES Ali, Nawab (2012). Grain storage facilitating human survival. Agriculture Engineering Today Vol. 36 No.2

Physical, electronic and knowledge connectivity at village level in plains and in hill regions across the country is important. Food – feed systems are at risk in hills and rainfed areas, therefore cluster of villages require physical, electronic and knowledge connectivity so as to meet challenges of sustainable production.

Bhalla,GS, P Hazell and J Kerr ( !999). Prospect for India’s cereal supply and demand to 2020. International Food Policy research Institute, Washinton DC Discussion Paper 29, pp.24 CRIDA (1997). Perpective Plan 1997. Vision 2020. CRIDA, Hyderabad,pp.80

CONCLUSION The challenge faced by India is to feed current 1.22 billion and estimated 1.5 billion (2050) population through sustainable agricultural production in different agro ecological regions (particularly in rain fed, coastal and hill regions) in the era of shrinking and deteriorating soil, water and bio resources, and climate change and variability. The task has to be accomplished through judicial blending of traditional and frontier technologies, and policy reforms. Among the technological inputs, quality seed of improved varieties, hybrids and transgenic, is most important and viable component for reducing the gaps between potential and realized yield of crops across the country. Matching production and protection technologies for efficient nutrient, water and pest management have also to be developed for achieving potential yield and better quality. At the same time, the climate resilient crops and technologies have to be developed for future needs. New initiatives have to be undertaken in areas of land use planning; biodiversity management; processing and value; ecoagriculture and adoption of biotechnology especially GM food crops. High priority has to be given for doubling production in a sustainable manner using less land, water and other inputs in era of climate change while watching interest of resource poor farmers and consumers. Policy initiatives have to be undertaken to develop new approaches in research, technological innovations and extension, and value chain models while recognizing the role of the private sector and farming communities. But the fact remains that policy decisions we take today, particularly

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Sustainable Agricultural production in 21st century: Book of Invited Papers (Eds JSP Yadav and G Narayanasamy), New Delhi, pp. 18-37.

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