ISSN- O : 2349 9400 ; P : 0974 6315 Journal of Crop and Weed, 16(3): 123-128 (2020)

http://cwssbckv.org www.cropandweed.com Can conservation agriculture be the savior of farm economy? – A study in North A. LEPCHA, P. NAG AND *K. K. DAS Department of Agricultural Economics Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya Pundibari-736165, Coochbehar, Received : 09.07.2020 ; Revised : 10.11.2020 ; Accepted : 15.11.2020 DOI : https://doi.org/10.22271/09746315.2020.v16.i3.1376 ABSTRACT Northern tract of West Bengal is an economically vibrant region and its economy is mostly dependent on agriculture as the prime occupation. This article attempts to explore agricultural performance over the years in North Bengal culling secondary information on area and productivity of major crops for the period 1980-81 to 2014-15.Overall instability and decline in growth in area and yield of the major crops is observed. However, Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of both area allocation and yield is on the rise for potato and rabi maize indicating their growing importance in the farm economy though, corresponding CAGR of kharif paddy remains almost stagnant. This rather slow growth is attributed to climatic aberration, decline in soil productivity, low/negative farm income, etc. and calls for a be-fitting technology to revamp the economy. The study suggests popularization of conservation agriculture (which has proven its suitability and worth in the region through successful implementation of an Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Australia funded project since 2013- 14) as an effective strategy for improving the livelihood security as well as mitigating ecological degradation. Keywords: Agriculture, CAGR, conservation agriculture and North Bengal

Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy and was 19% in 2018-19 (Economic Review, Government over 70% of rural household depends on Agriculture of West Bengal, 2019). and employs more than 50% of the total workforce Comprising of 8 districts with varied topography, (Census, Government of , 2011). Agriculture and soil, climate and culture covering three agro- climatic allied sector share 15.87% of country’s Gross Domestic zones viz. (i) Hill Zone, (ii) Zone, (iii) Old- Alluvial Product (Central Statistical Organisation, Government Zone, Northern tract of West Bengal (popularly known of India, 2019). Although its share decreased over the as North Bengal) having geographical area of 21,855 past 50 years, agriculture has remained a fundamental km2 is an economically dormant region and is very much sector due to growth in the population and increase in dominated by agriculture (Fig. 2) due to lack of any the demand for food. Since the initiation of planning in large industry. In terms of its agricultural performance 1951, Indian agriculture has come a long way. Shortage of food grains supplies in 1960’s, was a great ordeal, (i.e., intensity of cropping, yield, profitability, and and due to Green revolution India attained self contribution towards Net District Domestic Product sufficiency in food grains in 1970s. The food grain (NDDP) etc.) the region lacked substantially; but with production has increased from 51 million tonne (Mt) in sustained rise in population, frequent incidence of 1950-51 to 283.37 Mt during 2018-19 (Agricultural climatic aberration (especially, erratic rainfall) and Statistics at a Glance, , 2018). changing marketing context, the situation worsened further. It is the fact that the resource intensive ways of Located in the eastern side of the country, West agriculture has raised serious sustainability issues in Bengal is an Indian state inhabited by over 91.35 million people as of 2011 (Statistical Abstract, Government of India (Food and Agriculture Organisation, 2007). Many West Bengal, 2015). The state shares 2.7% land of the serious environmental problems are related to country and produces more than 8% of country’s food agriculture like loss of biodiversity, climate change, population. The situation in West Bengal mirrors the pollution to water and soil which is leading to decline country’s dependency on agriculture. Agriculture plays in the production of agricultural produce with threat to a pivotal role in the economy of West Bengal and food security and its detrimental effect on farming. There provides not just food but also raw materials. Percentage is a need to strengthen agriculture in sustainable method share of agriculture (Fig.1) and its allied sector in to with utmost priority in economic, environmental, and Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in West Bengal human development.

*Email:J. Crop [email protected] Weed, 16(3) 123 Conservation agriculture vis-à-vis farm economy

Fig.1: Share of Primary, secondary, and tertiary Fig. 2:Agriculture work force (% to total workforce) sector towards GSDP in West Bengal in North Bengal over the decade (2017-18) Sustainable methods and conservation strategies are Argentina, Southern Brazil, and Paraguay (Friedrich et need of the hour reforming less harmful agricultural al., 2012). Kassam et al., 2018 accounted that globally practices. New technologies with less environmental CA is being practiced on about 180 M ha (Fig. 3) and impact, better policies relating to water, energy, soil and countries like United States of America (USA), Brazil, land management, and concerned guidance and Argentina, Canada, and Australia are the major CA regulations from the government are some of the ways practicing countries. They further reported that South of curbing the existing scenario of agriculture. America with largest area under conservation agriculture Conservation Agriculture (CA) is a concept for resource (69.90 Mha) shares 38.7 % of total global area under saving agricultural crop production that strives to conservation agriculture followed by North America achieve acceptable profits together with high and (63.18 M ha, 35.0%). In Asia, a large share (10.76 %) sustained production levels while concurrently of the conservation agriculture is confined in India, and conserving the environment (Food and Agriculture that is in the Indo- Gangetic plain. The area under zero Organisation, 2007). Arrange of practice have been tillage in Indo-Gangetic plains of India was estimated developed and promoted among the farmers under the to be 1.90 million ha in 2005, which increased to 2.5 banner of Conservation Agriculture to mitigate the million ha in 2007 (Kasam et al., 2009). problem of food security, farm profitability and land The present study is undertaken to explore the actual degradation (Kassam et al., 2018). scenario in North Bengal agriculture and to search for the 'rationale' of Conservation Agriculture as a strategy to way forward.

MATERIALS AND METHODS For exploring agricultural performance in North

Area (Mha) Area Bengal, the study relied mostly on secondary data, which are collected from various issues of Statistical Abstracts (Bureau of Applied Economics and Statistics, 1973-74 1983-84 1996-97 2003-04 2008-09 2013-14 2014-15 1999-2000 Government of West Bengal), Economic Review, Year Government of West Bengal, District Statistical Handbook (Bureau of Applied Economics and Statistics, Fig. 3: CA adoption across the globe Government of West Bengal) of respective district and When the dustbowls devastated wide areas of the through internet browsing. Data were collected for major mid-west United States, tillage as a soil management crops of West Bengal and as well as for North Bengal, was first questioned in the 1930 (Kassam et al., 2009). as these crops are relatively important and their acreage In the early 1970s as the result of uncontrollable erosion allocation (corresponding to Net Cropped Area) is high problems in the southern states, no-tillage reached in the region. The data regarding area, production and Brazil, where farmers together with scientists yield of major crops in West Bengal and North Bengal transformed the technology into the system which today are collected for last 35 years i.e. from 1980 to 2014- is called CA. In the early 1990s, the spread of CA 15. For understanding the growth differential hastened which revolutionized farming systems in (Compound Annual Growth Rate) for crop acreage and

J. Crop and Weed, 16(3) 124 Lepcha et al. yield, the whole period (1980-81 to 2014-15) of study acreage allocation under each crop exhibits that North is divided into two sub-periods i.e. Period 1 (1980 to Bengal contributes a major share in wheat (38%), maize 1999-2000), Period 2 (2000-01 to 2014-15). As most (85%) and jute (35%) crop acreage of the state but only of the data is showing exponential trend (scatter one-sixth that of total pulses. In other crops the acreage diagram), the time series equation of y = aebt[y= share hovers around 25% (which is similar to that of dependant variable i.e., area, productivity etc., a= the GCA coverage). intercept; b = regression coefficient; t = time variable) Historically, the region lags in crop yield scenario has been fitted (Boyce, 1987). Also, respective higher too. A close look towards the figure postulates that yield 2 values of adjusted R (in most of the cases) justifies the of almost all the crops is traditionally lower than the selection of this trend equation (Das, 2016; state average. As for example, kharif paddy (the principal Chattopadhyay and Das, 2000). Since the model is crop) yield in North Bengal was consistently lower than multiplicative, the function is transformed into additive the state average by about 4-15 % since 1980-81. Similar model by simple logarithmic (natural log, e) is the case for other major crops. Coupled with this, transformation as below: erratic selling price of crop output resulted, gradual ln y = ln a + t ln b decline in the gross return. Not only that, the yield gap Pattern and extent of growth in desired outputs (i.e., (in between state and the region) remains around 0.1 t -1 crop acreage, crop yield) is obtained by calculating ha almost in all the crops and widens further in some Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) and is crops like pulses, wheat etc. expressed as per cent per annum. The CAGR is derived To assess the trends in area and productivity, data from this fitted equation with the help of the following over the period from 1980 to 2014-15 was considered. formula (Manjunath et al., 2015). Exponential type of trend equations was fitted to assess CAGR = (antilog of ln b -1) x 100 the growth in area and productivity of major crops in West Bengal and its Northern part. It is found out that While positive sign in CAGR indicates accelerating the area allocation under pulse crops is declining growth rate, negative sign indicates the corresponding consistently since 1980 both in North Bengal and West deceleration. Bengal but the rate of decrease is quite faster in the North RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Bengal zone than in the state as a whole (Table 2). Role of pulse crops in the diversifying cropping system is For performing the growth analysis, major beyond doubt (Kumar and Yadav, 2018; Gan et al., 2015; agricultural crops in North Bengal region are considered. Ganeshamurthy et al., 2006 and others) and this Weightage of each individual crop in the cropping continued decline has increased the possibility of system is judged by identifying respective acreage degradation of soil health, especially. The climate of allocation percentage in corresponding gross cropped North Bengal, being favorable for jute cultivation area (GCA) in the region. Winter paddy (aman),wheat, (Mondal and Bandopadhyay, 2014; Kumari et al., 2018), maize, summer paddy (boro), rape andmustard, jute, and it is traditionally an important cash crop and plays a pulse, potato's share found to be covering more than tremendous role in its farm economy (Kalita and ninety per cent coverage (Fig. 4) and hence, considered Bhuyan, 2018; Chapke, 2013). Area allocation under for time series analysis. jute is fluctuating and declining overall in North Bengal Cropping system pivots around paddy (aman and zone. Comparing to it, jute acreage in the state is on the boro) and the extent of cropping intensity ranges from rise (Table 2) which indicates possibility of other jute 143% to 202% (average 171%) indicating considerable areas in the state. The agrarian economy pivots around void areas in each season of cultivation. Latest available kharif paddy cultivation and acreage allocation in it remains stationary (slightly declining, though) as expected (Table 2). Cropping system in North Bengal is tilting toward crops like potato (CAGR: 7 per cent per annum) and maize (CAGR: 4 per cent per annum). As has been discussed earlier, the northern tract of West Bengal lags consistently behind in most of the crops' yield comparing to the corresponding national figure (Table 1). Not only that, the growth rate (in our study period) is also low (Table 3). Though positive, Fig. 4:Share of major crops in GCA in North Bengal the CAGR for yield of wheat, pulse crops, rape and (triennium ending year 2014-15) mustard, summer (boro) paddy remain almost stagnant

J. Crop and Weed, 16(3) 125 Conservation agriculture vis-à-vis farm economy

(around 1.0 per cent per annum) in the zone and mostly, was implemented aiming to address two core issue less than that of the state figure (Table 3). CAGR of namely 'livelihood security' and 'agricultural yield in kharif (aman) paddy and jute (the two most sustainability'. Within 4-5 years of its implementation important components in cropping system) hovers (since, 2013-14) the effort was able to reach out around 3% per annum but the yield level still remains approximately 70,000 farming households (a below the national or state figure. Potato and maize conservative estimate though!) directly/indirectly by (rabi) are two important crops which are going to play making smallholder agriculture more productive, their role in upcoming farm economy of North Bengal. profitable and sustainable while safeguarding CAGR of both area allocation and yield is on the environment and involving women (Table 4). rise too (Table 3). North Bengal is the home of about 1.36 million Thus, stagnation in growth of agricultural outputs cultivators (about 15% female-headed) sharing about (especially, after 2000) results in frustration among the 27% of state's corresponding bulk (Statistical Abstract, farming community. 2015). Because the 'technology' is demonstrated So, coupled with ever rising cost of cultivation and successfully (along with its physical, economic, and soil health degradation, the farm economy in North environmental merits), it is tried for adoption in larger Bengal is desperately in search of a better (feasible) scale. There are evidences of extension efforts (both 'option'; a change in agricultural practices. International private as well as government) to popularize the organizations like International Maize and Wheat technology too. 'What If' analysis (Table 5) exhibits that Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Mexico attempted to if about 0.5% of allocated acreage under the major crops popularize and out-scale the concept of CA technology is brought under conservation agriculture, an additional (popularly known as CASI : Conservation Agriculture farm income of about 73 million rupees may be accrued for Sustainable Intensification) as an alternative to to the economy (estimation is based on participatory conventional agriculture in North Bengal region with trial data for consecutive three years, i.e., 2013-14 to funding from Australian Centre for International 2015-16 in North Bengal region under the SRFSI Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Australia and direct project. Allocated area for respective crop (ACA) has collaboration with Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya been assumed on the basis of latest available data (i.e., (UBKV), West Bengal and Department of Agriculture 2014-15) for all the North Bengal districts. Needless to (DoA), Government of West Bengal. Thus, the project mention here that diversification in favour of feasible "Sustainable and Resilient farming Systems crops may improve the allocation scenario and so also Intensification in the Eastern Gangetic Plains (SRFSI)" the volume of enhanced net return. Table 1: Area and productivity of major crops in North Bengal (2014-15) Crops Season Area Share in Share in Productivity (’000 ha) corresponding corresponding (t ha-1) NCA (%) state acreage (%) Kharif paddy Rainy 905.4 63.57 22.59 26.43 Wheat Winter 126.3 8.87 37.74 25.6 Maize Winter 129.0 9.06 84.98 44.44 Total pulses Winter 40.3 2.83 16.21 33.3 Potato Winter 100.6 7.06 24.41 306.37 Rapeseed and mustard Winter 126.6 8.89 28.22 9.64 Jute Summer 203.9 14.32 35.95 26.21 Boro Summer 194.7 13.67 15.09 35.49

Agriculture is undoubtedly the backbone of the and maize but agriculture is crawling with no significant economy and is dominant in West Bengal as well as in increase in the yield (farm income) of the major crops the northern part of it comprising of 8 districts. North in the recent years. The study showcased the relative Bengal is the home of about 1.36 million farming merit and potential additional return of Conservation households, thus, the demand in food and agro-economic Agriculture over Conventional Technology in North activities is more in this region. This research work Bengal. Thus, CA with proven economic, agronomic, established that the growth pattern in area coverage of and environmental (ecological) benefits is thought to the crop such as pulse is declining and kharif paddy is be the best solution to revamp the situation. The study stationary and cropping system is tilting towards potato identified the potential of macroeconomic benefit which

J. Crop and Weed, 16(3) 126 Lepcha et al.

Table 2: Comparative growth pattern (% per annum) in area coverage for major crops Crop North Bengal West Bengal 1980-81 to 2000-01 to 1980-81 to 1980-81 to 2000-01 to 1980-81 to 1999-00 2014-15 2014-15 1999-00 2014-15 2014-15 Kharif paddy 0.20 0.60 Negligible(-ve) 0.03 -0.10 -0.20 Wheat 2.63 -1.00 1.11 1.22 -2.37 0.59 Maize - 15.14 3.77 -1.98 11.45 1.99 Pulse -2.96 -3.92 -2.96 -4.50 -1.29 -2.27 Potato 6.93 5.55 6.50 5.54 2.22 3.89 Rape and mustard 2.94 0.70 2.74 4.91 0.03 2.63 Jute 0.20 -1.00 -0.70 0.70 -0.70 0.62 Summer paddy 11.52 -1.00 5.96 8.07 -0.80 3.98

Table 3: Comparative growth pattern (% per annum) in yield of major crops Crops North Bengal West Bengal 1980-81 to 2000-01 to 1980-81 to 1980-81 to 2000-01 to 1980-81 to 1999-00 2014-15 2014-15 1999-00 2014-15 2014-15 Kharif paddy 2.31 2.94 2.72 3.88 1.41 2.38 Wheat 0.35 1.92 1.04 0.61 2.00 0.95 Maize 5.25 4.08 3.16 5.95 4.78 3.61 Pulse -0.70 1.08 1.06 1.30 1.81 1.50 Potato 6.12 3.19 4.53 1.50 1.88 0.75 Rape and mustard 0.78 1.53 1.15 1.20 1.91 1.21 Jute 1.73 2.63 2.56 2.41 1.04 1.77 Summer paddy 0.79 0.85 0.37 1.12 0.58 0.60

Table 4: Glimpse* of relative merit of CA over CT in North Bengal agriculture – an overview Crop Increment (%) Reduction (%)

Yield Gross Energy Cost Energy CO2 emission margin efficiency input Kharif paddy 0.47-3.21 28.31-92.82 1.66-2.13 2.71-23.16 9.63-11.57 9.12-10.17 Wheat 3.09-8.77 50.02-60.03 1.21-1.61 6.90-7.89 12.05-13.03 14.13-16.14 Maize 2.67-7.93 26.19-41.17 2.65-3.17 12.31-18.01 8.97-11.42 10.19-13.34 Lentil 9.10-10.85 0.78-11.70 2.86-3.00 2.27-11.81 23.93-26.82 27.79-31.71 Jute 1.91-2.00 43.0-45.0 - 18.66-20.00 - - Note: *Adopted from summary of farmers participatory trial performance (about 200 in number) under SRFSI conducted during 2013-14 to 2015-16.

Table 5: Potential of additional return due to CA adoption in crop cultivation Crops Potential enhancement of Net Return (m Rs.) if in the North Bengal region 0.5%of ACA 1% of ACA 5% of ACA 10% of ACA 25% of ACA Kharif paddy 33.49 66.98 334.90 669.80 1674.50 Wheat 4.14 8.28 41.40 82.81 207.02 Maize 9.21 18.41 92.07 184.14 460.35 Lentil 0.22 0.43 2.16 4.33 10.81 Jute 25.54 51.07 255.36 510.72 1276.80 Total 72.60 145.17 725.89 1451.80 3629.48 Note: ACA: Allocated Crop Acreage; *What If’ analysis made on the basis of summary result of farmers participatory trials (about 200 in number) under SRFSI conducted during 2013-14 to 2015-16

J. Crop and Weed, 16(3) 127 Conservation agriculture vis-à-vis farm economy may accrue to the agrarian economy if conservation Chattopadhyay, A.K. and Das, P.S. 2000. Estimation of agriculture is practiced. However, for popularization of Growth Rate: A Critical Analysis with Reference this environment-friendly and economically efficient to West Bengal Agriculture. Indian J. Agric. Econ., system of agriculture we need to initiate important steps 55: 117-135. Due to conventional wisdom and practice, the CSO, Government of India. 2019. Retrieved from http:/ general tendency is to continue with the traditional one. /www.mospi.gov.in/ People need to be oriented towards beneficial role of Das, K.K. 2016. Yield Gap in Agriculture- Evidence conservation agriculture with demonstrative and striking from a Northern District of West Bengal, India. evidences (seeing is believing!). Int. J. Bio- Sci. Stress Mgmt., 7: 897-905. Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of The method of conservation agriculture stressed West Bengal. 2018-19. Economic Review. mostly on mechanized farming. The machineries are Retrieved from http://www.wbpspm.gov.in/ rather costly and obviously, beyond the purchasing publications/Economic%20Review. capacity of the individual farming household. Therefore, FAO. 2007. India at a Glance, Retrieved From http:// we need to assure the simultaneous and peripheral www.fao.org/india/fao-in-india/india-at-a-glance/ arrangements for availability requisite conservation en/ agriculture machineries/inputs. Friedrich, T., Derpsch, R. and Kassam, A. H. 2012. By nature the farming community is 'marginal' Global overview of the spread of conservation (investment capacity, knowledge base, education, agriculture. FACTS Rep. The J. Field Actions., Spl. dynamism etc.) and look towards someone for advocacy 6: 1-7. http://journals.openedition.org/factsreports/ (lead farmer or local extension agent). Here, the question 1941 of reliability, trust building and proximity (mental, not Gan, Y., Hamel, C., O’Donovan, J.T., Cutforth, H., physical) is of utmost importance. It is therefore, a need Zentner, R.P., Campbell, C.A., Niu, Y. and Poppy, to focus on capacity building (and updating of L. 2015. Diversifying crop rotations with pulses knowledge) of these key personnel on conservation enhances system productivity. Sci. Rep., 5 (14625): agriculture. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep14625 Side by side, policy instrument is needed for dynamic Ganeshamurthy, A.N., Ali, M. and Rao, C.S. 2006. Role conservation agriculture based input and output of pulses in sustaining soil health and crop marketing system in and around North Bengal production. Indian J. Fert., 1: 29-40. agriculture. The local level government functionaries Kalita, B. and Bhuyan, A. 2018. An analysis of the may play major role in this context. marketing practices of jute farmers in Assam. Int. J. Mgmt. Stud., 2:53-61. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Kassam, A.H. and Friedrich, T. 2009. Perspectives on The authors duly acknowledge the research finding nutrient management in conservation agriculture. obtained from the ACIAR funded, CIMMYT-led project IV World Congress on Conservation Agriculture, "Sustainable and Resilient Farming Systems 4-7 February, New Delhi, India. Intensification in the Eastern Gangetic Plains (SRFSI)". Kassama, A., Friedrich, T. and Derpschc, T. 2018. Global We are grateful to all the Scientists of SRFSI and spread of conservation agriculture. In. J. Environ. Extension personnel from Department of Agriculture, Stud., pp.1-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/ Government of West Bengal for compiling this article. 00207233.2018.1494927 Kumar, N. and Yadav, A. 2018. 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