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Thursday, 04 February 2010 15:19 |
The Hindu Business Line
January 29, 2010
The Hindu Business Line
January 29, 2010
www.blonnet.com
Lack of policy support has resulted in limited adoption of technology in agriculture. A conscious effort towards robust infusion of technology is the way forward.
The crisis sweeping Indian agriculture — unsteady production, low yields and volatile prices — is common knowledge by now, but what causes concern is that policymakers do not appear to be serious about addressing farm-related issues with any sense of urgency. To make matters worse, land constraints and water shortage are staring us in the face. Risks to the already fragile agricultural eco-system from climate change can never be overstated. While supply side challenges continue to haunt, demand growth is robust in the wake of rising incomes and demographic pressure. The government admits that while the challenges faced by agriculture and allied sectors are numerous, the possibilities for use of new technologies that could generate value to the society and incomes in rural sector are also immense. So, what's preventing the flow of new investment in the farm sector and adoption of new technologies?
Despite its high social return, R&D expenditure on agriculture in our country is low by international standards. Take, for instance, the Eleventh Plan, in which the outlay for various agriculture related schemes is Rs 41,300 crore, or a mere Rs 8,000 crore a year, less than one per cent of the value of agricultural output. The R&D spend is wholly inadequate to meet the enormous challenges of the farm sector. Not only do we need increased R&D expenditure backed by modern technologies and capable institutions, but such R&D must focus on evolving appropriate technologies for areas as diverse as rain-fed, flood-prone and drought-prone. To fight pest and disease menace, greater attention to crops amenable to biotechnology application is necessary. Cotton has turned out to be an outstanding example of how technology adoption (genetically-modified seeds) can elevate the fortunes of a crop that was, until a few years ago, seen as one with no great future. A breakthrough in pulses and oilseeds — crops perennially in short supply — has been talked about for over two decades, but progress has been limited.
To be sure, it is not just the paltry amount spent on R&D, but also lack of accountability among policymakers and research institutions. It is open to doubt whether there is an effective system of monitoring the progress of research and evaluation of the findings as also transfer of technology from lab to land. Adoption of post-harvest technologies, especially for perishable horticulture crops, is crucial. This calls for greater investment in rural infrastructure. Information technology is a wonderful tool that can link the farm with the market. Unfortunately, lack of policy support has resulted in limited adoption of technology in Indian agriculture. A conscious effort towards robust infusion of technology is the way forward.
http://www.blonnet.com/2010/01/29/stories/2010012951400800.htm
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