agenda INFOCHANGE ISSUE 19 2010

New Agriculturist

With roughly 45,000 certified organic farms operating in India, there is finally a rejection of resource-extractive industrial agriculture and a return to traditional, sustainable and ecologically safe farming

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© Infochange News & Features, Centre for Communication and Development Studies, 2010 Infochange Agenda is a quarterly journal published by the Centre for Communication and Development Studies, a social change resource centre focusing on the research and communication of information for change To order copies, write to: Centre for Communication and Development Studies 301, Kanchanjunga Building, Kanchan Lane, Off Law College Road, Pune 411 004 Suggested contribution: Rs 60 (1 issue); Rs 240 (4 issues); Rs 480 (8 issues) DDs/cheques to be made out to 'Centre for Communication and Development Studies' Infochange Agenda content may be cited, reproduced and reprinted for purposes of education and public dissemination with due credit to the authors, the journal and the publishers Introduction: Towards anewagriculture The newnaturaleconomicsofagriculture An evolutionaryviewofIndianagriculture Tackling climatechangeinGorakhpur Local solutionstoclimatechange Climate changeandfoodsecurity Agriculture atnature’smercy Return tothegoodearthinSangli:InterviewwithJayantBarve Tamil Nadu’sorganicrevolution:InterviewwithGNammalvar Empty claimsoffinancialinclusion Women farmers:From seedtokitchen Animal farmsbyNityaSGhotgeandSagariRRamdas Resilience ofmanandnature Natural farming,tribalfarming Kudrat, Karishmaandother livingseeds The gapbetweenfieldandlab The tiredmirageoftop-downtechnology Small farmerzindabad The homegardensofWayanad byAVSanthoshkumarandKaoru Ichikawa by SantadasGhosh by SukantaDasGupta by AnithaPailoor by VidhyaDas Philip Varghese, UjwalaSamarth,VijayNarvekar, VishnuWalje Production andlayout:GitaVasudevan, SameerKarmarkar by SreenathDixitandBVenkateswarlu by SumanSahai by PSMRao by SurekhaSule This issuehasbeenguest-editedbyRahulGoswami by Kavya Dashora Infochange team:AnoshMalekar, KCDwarkanath, by AnjaliPathak by RahulGoswami by RahulGoswami by SubhashSharma by AThimmaiah

Contents Cover photographbySudharakOlwe

Editors: HutokshiDoctor, JohnSamuel

9 by ClaudeAlvares 12 by ClaudeAlvares

21 18 15 25 30 28 58 42 46 55 32 36 39 49 52 2 5 1 ISSUE 19 2010 2 ISSUE 19 2010 geographical andculturalvariations) thathasaslittletodo It isasystem(takenaswhole butincludingitsmany and inputs. marginal environments,using lowlevelsoftechnology risks andmaximiseharvestsecurity eveninuncertainand ecosystems haveallowedourtraditionalfarmerstoavert self-reliance andlocallyavailableresources.Theseagro- of peasantsinteractingwiththeirenvironmentusing These systemsrepresenttheaccumulatedexperiences crop andanimalvarieties,socio-culturalorganisation. preserving traditionalformsoffarmingknowledge,local all overIndia,providingecologicalandculturalservices biodiversity. Thesemicrocosmsofagricultural heritageexist security andtheconservationofnaturalresources techniques andpracticesthatleadtocommunityfood managed withtime-tested,ingeniouscombinationsof complex, diverseandlocallyadaptedagriculturalsystems, Generations ofourfarmersandherdershavedeveloped many ofIndia’srighttofoodquestions. intellectual andpracticalindependencelietheanswersto freedom struggle.Theyconfoundmeasurement,yetintheir are partofsocialmovementswhoseoriginslieinIndia’s the bureaucracymentionedabove.Othershavebeenand backgrounds andsomemayevenhavebeenapartof independent. Itspractitionerscomefromavarietyof The otherschoolofpracticeandmethodisdiffuse instructions. of feedingthenation,usefulonlytoextentthatitobeys as humancollateral,ultimatelyincidentaltothegreattask practice, thekisanandcultivatinghouseholdaretreated ‘logistics’ and‘public-privatepartnership’.Inthisschoolof are others,somejustasoldandnew—forexample reigns theAPYequation—area,production,yield.There the topofthisreductionist,year-on-year corporate view and peopleasdistilledintoafewpowerfulequations.At agriculture officialdomseesthenaturalproduceofitsland programmes, missions,campaignsandinitiatives.India’s bureaucracy thatfunctionsthroughabewilderingrangeof corporate view, developedbyasprawlingandoverweening describe agriculturalactivityinIndia.Oneisthe‘industrial’, THERE ARETWOSCHOOLSofpracticethatareusedto Towards anewagriculture and ashrinkingnaturalresourcebase shared, distributedknowledgesystemsprovidewaystoadaptchangingclimate input modelofagricultureandfollowingagro-ecologicalapproachesinwhich All overIndiaruralrevivalistsarerejectingthecorporatised,programmatic,high- Agricultural revival man whocouldnoteatthem, werefedtothecattle.Poultry villagers. Theresiduesofthose crops,ofnodirectuseto produced foodgrain,pulses, oilseeds andvegetablesforthe and meat.Notleast,bullocks ploughedthefields.Thefields fertilisers forthefields,while thepoultryprovidedeggs content ofthevillagers’diet. Cattledungprovidedorganic milk andproductscontributedtothenutritional host ofothercommoditieseverydayuse.Cattleprovided provided ediblefruits,medicines,gum,toothpasteanda providing shadeduringthescorchingsummer. Certaintrees to maintainingthefertilityofagriculturalfields,aswell properties werebeneficialforthevillagersandcontributed fields. Meanwhile,theirsoilandwaterconservation leaves thatfellwereputtousesbeneficialtheagricultural fuelforthevillagers.The the cattle.Theyalsoprovided sketched outtheharmony:“Thetreesprovidedfodderfor Writing inTheEcologist27yearsago,BharatDogra sharecroppers. and cultivatedtheirfieldswithorwithouthiredlabour by them,sometimeswiththeassistanceofagrazinghand, community grazingland.Theylookedafteranimalsowned their fieldsandalsocontributedtothemaintenanceof system. Thevillagehouseholdlookedafterthetreeson were inseparableandharmoniouscomponentsofasingle animals, trees(includinggrasslands)andagriculturalfields definition oforganicagricultureandfood.Humans, as ithastodowiththepost-1960s,western-dominated with themodern,hermeticunderstandingof‘foodsecurity’ RAHUL GOSWAMI of climatechangenegotiation, suchas‘adaptation’and ecologies. Theyadoptandfreely usethecommonparlance agriculture througharecognition ofsub-continentalagro- (as theyseeit),notaphased rollbackofindustrial done so,buttheirresponsehas beendamagecontainment forced ourgovernmentandits agenciestoact.Theyhave had grownfromayearearlierandreturnedinlate-2009, The foodgrainandfoodstaplespriceshockof2008,which understood as‘community resilience’ and‘foodsovereignty’. through practiceanddialoguetheconceptsthatareeasily Sharma andSumanSahai—thatwerestrengthening Raitateerpu; andindividualssuchasGNammalwar, Subhash Indian KnowledgeSystems,GurukulaBotanicalSanctuary, — groupssuchasDeccanDevelopmentSociety, Centrefor by amagnitudewerethetradition-orientedsub-cultures delivering ‘foodsecurity’cameslowly. Conceptually ahead programmed agriculture in Indiawasfallingshort official recognitionthatindustrially-organised,centrally- For muchofthe2000-2009decade, evengrudging towards industrialagricultureand itsexcesses. of aglobalisedeconomyonclimateweresteeringthefocus new formsofrigorousenquiryintotheimpactsandeffects whose institutionalstrengthsweresuperior. OutsideIndia, cautiously reachedouttothewestern‘organics’networks needing tofindconsumerswhovaluedtheirproduce,some sub-cultures. Cutofffromofficialfundingsourcesandstill rishi-kheti of cultivation(whetherlow-input,zero-chemicalfertiliser, that theanswerslay, andthepractitionersofsuchforms where traditionalagro-ecologieshadbeensafeguarded caused bysoilabuse.WithinIndia,itwasinthosepockets the growingevidenceofwidespreadecologicaldamage out ofline,evenintheobviousfaceyieldplateausand agricultural researchandbureaucraciesbrooknofalling wrought. WithinIndia,suchscrutinywasdiscouraged,for two decadesoftherecklesspursuitGDPgrowthhad to turnbackagricultureandtakealonglookatwhat revealed byanewandnervousscientificmethod—forus It tookthegatheringglobalalarmoverclimatechange— agricultural bureaucracy, andwhocouldargue? production curves.We havemanymouthstofeed,saidthe was heldouttoIndiansintheformofrisingyieldand and thejustificationforsuchsteadydeliberateecocide swept asidebythebureaucracy-research-networkcombine, Jai Kisan’sloganraised.Harmoniousagro-ecologieswere ‘progressive’ farmers,andtothempartlywasthe‘Jai Jawan, thought (andthedefiningAPYequation)wereIndia’s those whoconvertedtothecorporatistmodeofagricultural our invaluableagro-ecologicalheritage.From thattimeon, and theiragro-industrialpartners,chosenottorecognise the massiveandpowerfulagriculturalcollegesofUSA fat onadietofGreenRevolutioninstructionprovidedby Alas, India’sagriculturalbureaucraciesof30yearsago,still birds scavengedthewastedscatteredgrain.” andothers)organisedthemselvesintothriving was ground-breakinginitsability toaddressagriculturefor worsening climate,energy, andwatercrises”.TheIAASTD is riskyandunsustainable,particularly inthefaceof our “relianceonresource-extractive industrialagriculture Development (IAASTD).Theboldface conclusion?That of AgriculturalKnowledge,Science, andTechnology for over fouryearstoproducetheInternationalAssessment 400 scientistsanddevelopmentexpertsfrom80countries Nations, andtheWorld Banktoo,engagingmorethan world agriculturetodate,withaconsortiumofUnited Thereafter camethemostcomprehensiveanalysisof profits, andwillpromotelocalfoodconsumption.” sustainable practiceswillhelpsecurehigheryieldsand assets. Investinginthecapacitiesofsmallfarmerstoadopt of nature’sgoodsandserviceswithoutdamagingthose and resource-conservingtechniques,makingthebestuse said: “Sustainableagricultureisdrivenbylocalknowledge humid, highland,mixedandurban.The2006studybluntly variety offarmingsystems—irrigated,rainfed,wetland, types. Thesefarmlandsaveraged3hectares,locatedina average yieldincreaseof79%acrossawidevarietycrop towards sustainableagriculture,researchersfoundan followed,whoweretransitioning the 12.6millionfarmers Britain, whoanalysed286projectsin57countries.Among was conductedbyresearchersattheUniversityofEssex,in practices affectproductivityinthedevelopingworld.It of onethelargeststudiestoanalysehowagro-ecological conclusion food productionsystems,”statedthebottom-line knowledge, arethemosteffectiveindevelopingresilient that sustainableagriculturalpractices,anchoredinlocal “The evidencefromvariousdevelopingcountriesreveals human costs,coststhatwereoftenunseenandunmarked. was failingdrivenbydeepalarmatthestaggering Outside, systematicstudyofwhyindustrialagriculture agriculture anditsutterlymisplacedends. these pointeddirectlyatthecoreofState’sapproachto lands inthefaceofrisinginputcostsanddebtburdens.All the countryrevealedmillionsforcedtoabandontheir tide ofmigrationtotownsandcitiesbyhouseholdsallover true costofhigh-inputcultivationtechniques;thesteady amongst thehighestinworldexposedappalling groundwater extractionratesinPunjabandHaryanawere agricultural controlstructures;thediscoverythat the tragic,needlesshumancostofIndia’scorporatised Maharashtra, AndhraPradeshandotherstatesexposed The horrendouslylongsequenceoffarmersuicidesin national levelshasbeengrowingandbecomingcompelling. All thewhile,evidenceatbothnationalandmeta- throb thechemicalfertilisercomplexes. and interestssurroundingfoodgrainattheheartofwhich and allthewhilesupportingvastnetworkofbusinesses cede controlofcropproductiontothosewhoknowitbest, into modifiedcentralprogrammes,allthewhilerefusingto ‘mitigation’ andseektobuildsuchlaboratory‘solutions’ Introduction 3 ISSUE 19 2010 4 ISSUE 19 2010 selected Asiancountries’.“Climate changeisthuslikelyto ‘Agricultural reforms and tradeliberalisationinChina Food andAgricultureOrganisation(FAO) reportentitled and rainfallincreasingweather variability,” saida2009 are anticipatedbecauseofchanges inmeantemperatures “Less immediate,butpossibly evenmoresignificantimpacts becomes lessfeasible. calendar —cultivationasanincomeforruralhouseholds or harvestingimpossible,seasonalshiftsintheentirecrop of obstacles—extremeweathereventsthatmakesowing When climatechangeimpactsareaddedtothismedley and creepingenvironmentaldegradationontheother. on thegrounddirectlybyurbanisation,onehand, Expanding theareausedtocultivatecropsiscurtailed support systems,andindifferentinefficientgovernance. skills, uncertainpolicysupport,collapsingpublicserviceand knowledge-sharing opportunities,stagnatingcapacityand agricultural researchandeducationinparticular, restrictive and globalfundingsupporttoagricultureingeneral stresses, largepost-harvestlosses,dwindlingnational soil-water ecosystems,byenhancedbioticandabiotic have beenneutralisedbyunfavourable,declining,degrading Yet thepressure ismounting.Technological breakthroughs and businessinterests. institutional level,whereitimmediatelyrunsintopolitical made inminds—andbybuildingitintopublicpolicyatan investing inpubliceducation—sothattheconnectionsare food from?).Butthismechanismcanbeusedonlyafter to payforwatershedprotectioninadistricttheyimport those resources(willurbanfoodconsumersbewilling of resourcescanbedeterminedbythescarcityvalue (PPP), forexample.Third,thecostbenefitofconservation understood bythoseadvocatingpublic-privatepartnerships terminology —have‘market’valuequantifiableinterms these processesandoutcomes—toborrowmanagerial groundwater recharge,andsoilconservation.Few of as cleanwater, carbonsequestration,floodprotection, delivery andmaintenanceofarangepublicgoodssuch Second, sustainableagriculturalsystemscontributetothe there arenoreadyblueprintsandoff-the-shelf templates. the adoptionofanyparticulartechnologiesorpractices— First, agro-ecologicalsystemscannotbedefinedintermsof What arethereasonsforthischronicunwillingnesstosee? tasked withdelivering‘development’toruralcultivators. Agricultural ResearchSystem,andbythemanyagencies been ignoredbyourMinistryofAgriculture,National contained intheIAASTDandimportofstudyhave many subsistenceagro-ecosystems.Typically, theinsights standing industrialabusesandhistoricallypoorpracticesin agricultural soilsandecosystemservicesfromthelong- especially sincewehavebuiltupatremendousdebtinour achieving asustainableagro-ecosystemwilltakesometime, what itis,anall-inclusivehumanactivity. Italsosaidthat Agricultural revival with theNationalAgricultureInnovation Project Rahul Goswamiisanagriculturesystems researcherandasocialsectorconsultant agro-ecologies. lies theimportanceofitsrole inthefutureofIndia’smyriad out ofthatdoomedmathematics entirely, andtherealone ignores theinevitabilityofthatfuture.Localorganicssteps while thecentralgovernmentpursuesitsGDPalgorithms, it The futureoffossilfuelsisnowknown,andthereagain, of thefinancialmarkets,isutterlydependentuponoil. global seed-pharmaMNCsanddistributedasafunction in thecorporatemode,researchedasanadjunctto and thatisoil.Conventionalindustrialagriculture,pursued implausible. Thereis,inaddition,amajorexternalfactor, systems whichsustainit)seemsunsuitableoreven agriculture (andthemassiveState-andindustrial-sponsored That iswhythemedium-termfutureofconventional change —hasalreadysteppedoverourecologicalthreshold. vulnerable tothenextproblem.Andthatproblem—climate industrialised simultaneously, theyhavemade agriculturemore commercial cropbiotechnologieshaveoversimplifiedand pests, bothcontributingtoreducecropbiodiversity. As weaknesses: herbicide-resistantweedsandpesticide-resistant and becauseofthedisinformationusedtodisguisethose is frighteningbothbecauseofitscripplingweaknesses crop sequencing,andnaturalpestcontrol.Thecontrast include intercropping,composting,manures,covercrops, and managepestsweedsthroughtechniquesthat understanding ofbiologicalsystemstobuildsoilfertility Organic farmersimproveoutputbytappingasophisticated proliferate andthrive. borrow amodernterm—opensourceknowledgenetworks mechanics. Itisknowledge-intensivefarminginwhich—to absence ofindustrialinputsandthefunctioningmarket These practicesaredefinedbymuchmorethanjustthe this issueofAgenda,weshalluse‘organic’asasynonym). are thetenetsofagro-ecologicalsystem(forwhich,in of financialandtechnologicalscheming.Instarkcontrast The inputstrapcansimplynotbedisguisedbyanyamount ultimately futileattempttocompensateforsoildegradation. control, andrisingamountsofsyntheticfertiliserinan — relyonpetroleum-basedchemicalsforpestandweed — linkedintimatelytofinancialandcommoditiesmarkets Today’s biotech-orientedPPPmodelsofindustrialagriculture network thathasgrowninpowerandinfluence. and, later, aresearchbureaucracyalliedtomerchant wedded tothemechanicsofacentrallyplannedeconomy been calculatedforIndiabyfirst,aresearchbureaucracy yields.” Theseprojectionsandestimateshavefor50years crop productionandtheprojectionsofmaximumattainable and elsewhere,theestimatesofareaswithpotentialfor affect theextentandnatureofagro-ecologicalzonesinAsia and pricesforwater, energyandfood.Climatechangewill to humanwellbeing,includingemployment,income,health have significantimpactonawiderangeoffactorsessential problems through various traditional practices and utilising problems throughvarioustraditionalpracticesandutilising Vrikshayurveda Kautilya’s Arthashastra the Kashyapiya-Krishisukti Manusmriti, Varahamihira’s BrhatSamhita,theAmarkosha, such astheKrishi-Parasharas, Kautilya’sArthashastra,the epics RamayanaandMahabharata,the18Puranas,texts Sushruta Samhita,theCharakaUpanishads, the nineBrahmanas,Aranyakas,Sutraliterature, information onagriculture.ThisincludesthefourVedas, between 6,000BCEand1,000ACE,containsalotof Our ancientliterature,whichwasmostlikelycomposed channelled downthegenerations. with situationsandproblems,hasbeenrecorded evolving throughaccumulatedexperiencesindealing domesticated byhumans.Thiswisdomhassincebeen back around12,000yearswhenthefirstplantswere TRADITIONAL WISDOMrelatingtoagriculturedates An evolutionaryviewofIndianagriculture agriculture sustainable scientific knowledgesystemswithindigenousisvitaltomake dynamic andup-to-date,continuallyrevisedasconditionsalter. Theintegrationof earn alivelihood.Whilescientistsrelyonaverages,theknowledgeoflocalpeopleis They learnandunlearn,choosingtheappropriateknowledgeintheirstruggleto Farmers workwithknowledgesystemsthatevolvetimeand circumstance.

provides information on how to combat plant provides informationonhowtocombatplant

deals with the agriculture of his time; deals withtheagricultureofhistime;

and Surapala’s Vrikshayurveda. and Surapala’sVrikshayurveda. and unlearn,choosingtheappropriateknowledgein co-evolve withtimeascircumstanceschange.Theylearn Farmers workwithdynamicknowledge systemsthat the wisdomofourforefathers. status ofthesoilinmostpartsourcountryisaresult pests andtheirmanagement,horticulture,etc.Thefertile monsoon forecasts,manure,irrigation,seedsandsowing, information onfarmimplementstobeused,typesofland, resource base.Theancienttextsreferredtocontain decentralised, and,overall,tendtoconservethenatural the particularenvironment,relyonlocalresources,are sustainability: forinstance,theyarewelladaptedto and advancedastheyexhibitimportantelementsof Traditional farmingsystemsappeartobecomplex and forecastingofweather, andcropyields. one comesacrossdescriptionsofagro-management,timing available resources.EveninthepoemsofGhagh(kahawaten Sustainable agriculture A THIMMAIAH ), ),

Rahul Goswami 5 ISSUE 19 2010 6 ISSUE 19 2010 various kindsandmagnitudes. TheresultsoftheGreen Thus, anygaininproduction isassociatedwithpainof destructive orexpensivehigh-tech protectivemeasures. as moreandvulnerable cropscallforincreasingly continue onanegativetreadmill thatreinforcesitself, structural baseofagriculturalsystems,pestproblemswill to pests.Sincemonoculturehasbeenmaintainedasthe resistance forproductivity, itmadecropsmoresusceptible crops forhighyieldandpalatability. Bysacrificing natural In theagriculturesector, theGreenRevolutionselected of pollution,desertification,andbiodiversityloss. industrial, services)leadingtosoilerosion,salinisation,alltypes technologies andpracticesinallsectors(domestic,agriculture, prevalent materialisticparadigm,whichpromoteshigh-input causes oftheenvironmentalcrisisare,infact,rooted the rateofyieldperhectarehasbeguntodecline.The Though agriculturalproductionoverallcontinuestoincrease, health hazardscoupledwithsocio-economicproblems. and pesticideshasresultedinvariousenvironmental The indiscriminateuseofchemicalfertilisers,hybridseeds wisdom inagriculture. is beingsoughtbyrecognisingandretrievingtraditional sustainable, ecologicallysafeandsociallysoundpractices ecology andhealthfronts.Eventually, arevivalof are facedwithanarrayofproblemsontheenvironment, outbreaks. Asaresult,foodproducersandconsumers resource baseandanincreaseincroppestdisease deteriorating soilfertility, contaminationofthenatural with deadlychemicalsarebeingobservedintheformof production. Buttheconsequencesofdousingsoil Revolution toattainso-called‘self-sufficiency’ infood a synthetic,chemicalfertilisersystemduringtheGreen on agriculturehasdiminishedduetotheintroductionof years, theimpactoftraditionalandindigenousknowledge an intimateunderstandingoftheenvironment.Over accumulation ofexperiences,informalexperiments,and of knowledgeacquiredbylocalpeoplethroughthe Indigenous technicalknowledgeisthesystematicbody and theirsuitabilityforvarieduses. more accurateabouttheirnomenclatureforidentifyingsoils knowledge systemsisimportantbecausefarmersaremuch properties) inmanyclassificationsystems.Theintegrationof ethnic namesofsoils(withparticularorcombinations today, itisprovingdifficulttofindtermsequivalentthe down tocominggenerationsintact,ifnotimproved.Even soil assacred,inviolate,somethingthatmustbehanded the interestoffuturegenerations.Somecivilisationsview sustainable. We needtomaintainthehealthofsoilin indigenous knowledgesystemsisvitaltomakeagriculture The integrationofscientificknowledgesystemswith to-date, continuallyrevisedasconditionsalter. averages, theknowledgeoflocalpeopleisdynamicandup- their struggletoearnalivelihood.Whilescientistsrelyon Agricultural revival on high agro-chemical and energy inputs, and in which on highagro-chemicalandenergy inputs,andinwhich goal istodevelopagro-ecosystems withminimaldependence in tunewiththeaimsofatruly sustainableagriculture.The to newtechnologicalandmanagement optionsthataremore understanding oftheecology offarmingthatdoorswillopen the environmentandsocialsystems. Itisthroughthisdeeper context, requiresthestudyofrelationsbetweenfarming, factors, andawiderunderstandingoftheagricultural resulting fromthecomplexinteractionofamultitude economic andnaturalsystems.Agriculturaldevelopment agriculture conceivedasaresultoftheco-evolutionsocio- with modernfarming.Itcapturesasetofconcernsabout in qualityofproduceandtheresourcebaseassociated The ideaofsustainableagricultureisaresponsetothedecline the wellbeingoflivingaswellgenerationstocome. through landdegradation.Today’s croplandlosses impair growth. Thesemethodsbringaboutseriousproblems unplanned rapidindustrial farming and methods ofchemical harmony inthesoilthathasbeendisruptedbymodern The onlyhopeforahealthyworldrestsonre-establishing of historyareseldomacknowledgedandusuallyunheeded. contributed tothefallofpastcivilisations,yetlessons Soil isthebasisofallhumanlife.Destructionsoilhas among thegoalsofsustainabledevelopment. diversity inournaturalenvironmentareofutmostpriority cycles andenergyfluxes,preventingthelossofbiological from interference.Avoidingdetrimentalchangesinmaterial which madeuptheirenvironmentremainedintactandfree overcome economicandculturaldeclinewhentheecosystems way. Ashistoryshows,formercivilisationswere ableto time, Howard’spredictionshaveallcometrue,inamagnified Though theymayhavesoundedlikeanexaggerationatthe animals whichfeedonthem.” Diseases areontheincrease…diseasesofcropsand world isindicatedbythegrowingmenaceofsoilerosion… Australia, NewZealand.Thelossoffertilityalloverthe rapidly diminishingparticularlyintheUS,Canada,Africa, Soil isnolongerabletostandthestrain.fertility land isgoingonstrike;thefertilityofsoildeclining… mother earthdeprivedofhermanurialrightsisinrevolt;the He said:“Thesemushroomideasofagriculturearefailing; emerging practicesofmodern farming. declaration atthebeginningof20thcenturyabout Pusa AgricultureResearchCentre,madeanalmostprophetic structures. SirAlbertHoward,whowasassociatedwiththe about majorchangesinnaturalecosystemsandagrarian in agriculturaltransformation,theGreenRevolutionbrought While treatingnatureandpoliticsasdispensableelements a restructuringofthewaypowerwasdistributedinsociety. natural resourceusealongwithintensiveexternalinputsand other hand,thetechnologyitselfdemandedmoreintensive for politics,bythecreationofabundanceandpeace.On offered technologyasasubstitutebothfornaturewell Revolution haveprovedtobeaparadox:ontheonehand,it but sustainablelevelofproductivity. Anditshouldbe crop totheenvironment,andmaintenanceofamoderate conservation ofrenewableresources,adaptationthe The basictenetsofasustainableagriculturalsystemare generations tomeettheirownneeds. the presentwithoutcompromisingabilityoffuture development isthatmeetstheneedsof the agro-ecosystemandenvironment.Sustainable and nurturesharmoniousinteractionsamonghumans, organisation thatprotectstheintegrityofnaturalresources production canonlytakeplacewithinthecontextofasocial self-sufficiency ofcommunities inparticularregions.Stable within certainecologicalandtechnicallimits,thefood dimensional landuseproductionstrategieswhichgenerate, knowledge aboutecosystemsusuallyresultsinmulti- the environment,vegetation,animalsandsoils.Peasant indicate thatlocalpeoplehaveenormousknowledgeabout ethnic groupthathasoriginatedlocallyandnaturally)will closer lookatethnoscience(theknowledgesystemofan the culturaldiversitythatnurtureslocalagriculture.A In fact,sustainabilityisnotpossiblewithoutpreserving true sustainabilityistobepredicted. management, andtheymustbeachievedsimultaneouslyif and acceptabilityarecalledthefivepillarsofsustainableland five objectivesofproductivity, security, protection,viability their ownsoilfertility, productivityandcropprotection.The components providethemechanismsforsystemstosponsor ecological interactionsandsynergiesbetweenbiological • Aregularsupplyoforganicmatterthrough farming, covercrops,etc. measure, metthroughtheuseofno-tillpractices,mulch • Vegetative coverasaneffectivesoil-andwater-conserving a sustainableagro-ecosysteminclude: From amanagementpoint ofview, thebasiccomponentsof promoting adiverse,potentiallyresilientagriculturalsystem. viability ofsmall-andmedium-sizedfarms,thereby • Reducecostsandincreasetheefficiencyeconomic (by minimisingsoildegradation). • Sustaindesirednetoutputbypreservingnaturalresources natural andsocio-economicsetting. • Encouragelocalproductionoffeeditemsadaptedtothe residue management. compost, andothereffectiverecyclingmechanisms— through thepromotionoflegumes,organicmanureand leaching, runoffanderosion,improvenutrientrecycling • Reduceplantnutrientlossesbyeffectivelycontrolling energy inputssothattheoutput-inputratioishigh. • Reduceenergyandresourceuseregulateoverall The productionsystemmust: economically viableandsociallyacceptable. Sustainable agriculture

Rahul Goswami 7 ISSUE 19 2010 8 ISSUE 19 2010 onslaught ofchemicalfarming, itsthinkerslikeVinoba, conventional ormodernfarming. BeforeIndiafacedthe provide practicalsolutionsto mitigatethemaladiesafflicting acceptance throughouttheglobe asithasthepotentialto Among thevariousalternatives, organicfarmingisgaining groups andregionalagro-ecosystems. needs, preferencesandresourcebasesofspecificpeasant to developappropriateagriculturalstrategiestailoredthe possible toobtainimportantinformationthatmaybeused exploitation ofthefullrangemicro-environments,etc,itis of materials,relianceonlocalresourcesandgermplasm, production efficienciesofsymbioticcropmixtures,recycling of traditionalagriculture,suchastheabilitytobearrisk, technologies. Byunderstandingtheecologicalfeatures biological folktaxonomicsystems,anduseoflow-input knowledge offarmingpracticesandthephysicalenvironment, Several aspectsoftraditionalsystemsarerelevant,suchastheir ethical andsocialimpacts,balancedwithcost-effectiveness. which considersecological,environmental,philosophical, socially just.Sustainableagricultureisaunifyingconcept, system thatisecologicallysound,economicallyfeasibleand The needofthehourisanalternativesustainablefarming irreparable riskstotheecosysteminlongrun. being soughtwithinaverynarrowvision,posingsevereand shift fromchemicalfarmingtosustainableagricultureis terminator seeds,andsimilartechnologies.Ironically, the responsive hybrids,monoculture,ex-situbio-controlagents, less thesamestrategiesinagriculture—highagro-chemical- Time isrunningoutifwearegoingtocontinuewithmoreor agriculture isreachingcatastrophicproportions. the worldover, environmentaldegradationsourcedto energy andthesocio-culturaldimension.That’swhy as itisnotinconsonancewitheconomics,ecology, equity, ecological features.Modernagricultureisnotsustainable or crop/livestockmixtures—allofwhichexhibitseveral crop rotation,covercrops,intercropping,bordercropping and spacethroughalternativecroppingsystems,suchas agriculture istorestoreagriculturaldiversityinagiventime of localnaturalecosystems.Amajorstrategyinsustainable an agro-ecosystemthatmimicsthestructureandfunction regulating capacityaremaintained.Theideaistodesign preserved, andagro-ecosystemproductivityitsself- overall biologicalefficiencyisimproved,biodiversity is tointegratefarmcomponentsinaholisticfabricsothat The ultimategoalofsustainableagriculturesystemdesign multiplying naturalenemiesinaneco-friendlyway. biological controlagents,achievedbyconservingand • Pest regulationassuredthroughenhancedactivityof rotation, crop/livestocksystems,useoflegumes,etc. • Nutrientrecyclingmechanismsthroughtheuseofcrop biotic activity. addition ofmanureandcompost,promotionsoil Agricultural revival technology packagebeconsidered together. the questionofparadigm ofdevelopmentandthe systems onanevolutionarytimescaledemandsthat input sustainableagriculture).Therealsuccessofthese permaculture, biodynamicfarmingandLEISA(lowexternal agriculture, ecologicalfarming,Vedic agriculture, systems includetraditionalandnaturalfarming,organic and ecologicallysustainable.Various alternativeagricultural input substitutionalonebutensuresthatitiseconomically The roleofanalternativeagriculturalsystemisnotlimited to suitable alternativetechnologies. of biomassandresidue,incorporatesanassemblage legumes inrotation,animalintegration,recyclinganduse diversity, useofmanure,greenurban andruralwaste, agro-ecosystem managementapproachthatemphasisescrop is nottofocusonparticulartechnologiesbutratheran usually prevailinsmall-farmagriculture.Theneed,however, climatic conditions—especiallythemarginalthat consistency ofproductionunderawholerangesoiland as GreenRevolutiontechnologiesdo;rather, theyassure emphasise theboostingofyieldsunderoptimalconditions, ‘immunity’ oftheagro-ecosystem.Thesetechnologiesdonot are key, areofapreventativenatureandact byreinforcingthe crop rotation)areofprophylacticvalue,whileothers,which conventional farming(geneticimprovement,minimumtillage, value. Some,whichincludepracticesthatarealreadypartof available thatvaryineffectivenessaswellstrategic Today thereisawholebatteryofpracticesandtechnologies enhancement ofbeneficialarthropods. as theactivationofsoilbiology, recyclingof nutrients, and agriculture processesbyprovidingecologicalservicessuch a beneficialsymbiosis.These,ineffect,subsidisealternative By assemblingafunctionalbiodiversity, itispossible toprovoke conservation, andbalancedpest/naturalenemypopulations. organic matterturnover, closedenergyflows,waterandsoil that managementaimsatoptimalrecyclingofnutrients, The strategyisgenerallybasedonecologicalprinciplesso agricultural systemsanduseoflow-inputtechnologies. pest regulationthroughthedesignofdiversifiedalternative sustained yields,biologicallymediatedsoilfertility, andnatural of suchasystemistoprovidebalancedenvironment, development. From amanagementperspective,theobjective peasants tobecomearchitectsandactorsintheirown The goalofanalternativeagriculturesystemistoenable as life-sustainingveins. the airasprana(soul),sunenergy, andwaterstreams taught venerationoftheearthasmother, theskyasfather, of onenesswithallthingsnatural.Ancient(Vedic) culture suited tothepresent.Indiancultureimbibedadeepsense Indian farmingthroughtheirnon-violentapproach—aptly Gandhiji andKumarappa wereabletovisualisethefutureof agriculture Organisation (SNV)andisaconsultant to thegovernmentofBhutanonorganic with theNetherlands Development is anorganicfarmingspecialist Dr AThimmaiah grazing landandthornysubabool treesinthelake.In1983, attitude. Itwasonlyinterested inplantingeucalyptuson too theforestdepartmentwas notpreparedtochangeits kurumbam training villagersinsocialforestry activities.Theword Kurumbam inThanjavurdistrict,1981,wherewebegan My colleaguesandIstartedanorganisationcalled that wouldreallyhelpfarmers. who weresuffering.For alongtimeIsearchedformethods and lefttheorganisation.Idecidedtodirectlyhelpfarmers or theirconditionhadremainedthesame.SoIgotfedup traders wereflourishingandthatfarmerseitherindebt pumpsets. Afterworkingfor10years,Irealisedthatonly the irrigated conditions.We helpedfarmersdigwellsandinstall asked touseGreenRevolutionpractices.Butitwasunder winner RevFather DominiquePire,andtheretooIwas of Peace, Kalakad,foundedby 1958 NobelPeace Prize- soil. Later, organisationcalledIslands Ijoined avoluntary which wereintendedforrainfedcropsinblackcotton methods attheAgriculturalResearchStationinKoilpatti, where IgotaBScinagriculture,startedusingmodern of farming.However, afterIattendedagriculturalcollege and Iworkedonmyfather’slandinthetraditionalway I wasnotaltogethernewtofarming.Earlier, mybrothers college degree,aBScinagriculture? with organicfarming,consideringthatyouhavea farmer andnaturalscientist.Howdidyougetinvolved You arevery wellknowninTamil Naduasanorganic articles onthesepractices extensively (mostlyinTamil) andpublishedbooks fertilisers, and,morerecently, GMseeds.Hehaswritten farming communitiestostopusingharmfulpesticidesand Kerala andMaharashtra,holdingworkshopsconvincing Tamil Nadu,butalsotravelsinAndhraPradesh,Karnataka, earned himmuchrecognition.Nammalvarworksprimarilyin desalinating over6,000acresoflandafterthe2004tsunami patents onIndiantraditionalknowledge.Hisworkin large-scale mono-cropfarmingandagainstinternational over fourdecadeshehasbeeneducatingfarmersagainst working onsustainablefarmingandorganicpractices.For Dr GNAMMALVAR ISANORGANICSCIENTISTwhohasbeen Tamil Nadu’sorganicrevolution need tobeheldinmarriagehallsorderaccommodateup1,000farmers setting uplearningcentresinTamil Naduforthreedecades.Trainings sometimes G Nammalvarinthisinterview. Nammalvarhasbeentrainingorganicfarmersand and morefarmersareswitchingtoorganicagriculture,saysnaturalscientist With chemicalfarmingbecominguneconomicalandgrainyieldsdeclining,more means‘family’.However, Ifoundthathere are interestedinorganicfarming becausechemicalfarming without losingtoomuchincome. Butmostofall,farmers so improvedthatafarmercan switchtoorganicfarming coming fromtheexportmarket also.Finally, techniqueshave the foodhastobeorganic.So thepressuretochangeis much pesticide.Theyinsistthat theseareremovedandthat countries andtheUSAfindthatourfoodcontainstoo a problemasimportersoffoodmaterialsinEuropean jobs inordertosurvive.Third:theexportmarketisfacing for seasonaljobs,ortootherstatesandcountriesmenial the landtoremainfallowandmigratingriverbelts marginal farmersarelosingtheirlandsortheyallowing he cannotpaybackhisloans.Theresultisthatsmalland and quantumofinputsareincreasingdaybyso modern farming.Second:thefarmerfindsthatcost through chemicalfarming.Allfoodispoisoned that landandthenaturalenvironmentcannotbesustained There arethreemainreasons.One:farmershaverealised farming? What isthemotivationforfarmerstoswitchorganic its members. Agriculture (LEISA)—in1990withfarmersandNGOsas we startedamovement—LowExternalInputSustainable programmes forfieldworkersonecologicalfarming.And programme. Kurumbam and AMEconductedTamil training organisations cametogethertoconductasocialforestry course whichwasnotsufficientforcertification.Three project-holders ofNGOsweregivenonlyanintroductory from differentgroupstoattemptcertification,as At theendoftwoorthreeyearstherewasasuggestion were inter-related. farmers toimprovetheircondition,sinceallproblems that Irealisedasystematicapproachwasnecessaryforrural promoting sustainableagriculturalpractices).Itwasthen oriented, non-governmentorganisationdevotedto me toAgricultureManEcology(AME,adevelopment- things tome.Thatwasgoodinspiration!Herecommended Declerq. Hetookmetoseehis3-acrefarmandexplained a seminarinAurovillewhereIwasintroducedtoBernard social forestryprogramme.Aroundthattime,Iattended there wasaverybigmovementinTamil Naduregardingthe Experiences oforganicfarmers CLAUDE ALVARES 9 ISSUE 19 2010 10 ISSUE 19 2010 movement initiatedandhow isitbeingsustained? movement underwayinTamil Nadu?Howwasthe Would you saythatthereisanorganicfarming farming movement. farmers’ movementsaregiving supporttotheorganic precision farming.Thatisamajorproblem.However, modern hybridvarieties,geneticallymodifiedseedsand act againstorganic farmingbyteachingandencouraging farmers fromswitchingovertoorganicfarming.Universities machinery, andtheso-calledscientistsinuniversities,deter manufacture anddistributechemicals,hybridseeds Also, womenarenotinvolved.Secondly, companies that the culturalplane,theyaretiedupwithfamilypressures. money andnotabouttheirhomeneedsfamilies.On On theeconomicplane,manyfarmersthinkmoreabout convert toorganicfarmingface? What otherobstaclesdofarmerswhomaywishto becomes difficulttogetlabour. coming upandagriculturallabourwagesarehigh.Oftenit too costly. Basically, inourstatetherearealotofindustries plantation insteadofgrowingcropsherselfbecauseitwas prepared togivethelandonacontractbasisforbanana I metalandedwomanfarmerwhosaidthatshewas on externalinputs.Atthesametime,itislabour-intensive. the economiclevel.Inorganicfarmingwearenotspending Oh yes,theyareconvinced.Butrightnowtheirconcernisat chemical farming? convinced thattheyieldiscomparabletofrom Are thosefarmerswhoaredoingorganicfarming a piecemealbasis. varieties. Thustheyarenotswitchingovercompletelybuton crops, andlastly, theywillswitchtogrowing indigenous repellents. Thentheygoinfororganicmethodsofgrowing more information. Theystartbyswitching first toherbalpest No. Whentheystartthinkingaboutswitchingcomefor farming atonego? Do farmersmaketheswitchfromchemicaltoorganic of farming.Withoutwater, chemicalfarmingisimpossible. have tostopusingthemorchangeoversomeotherway government stopssubsidiesonchemicalinputs,farmerswill that theycangoinforirrigatedagriculture.Butoncethe in Tamil Nadu,electricityiscompletelyfreeforfarmersso practically free,oratheavilysubsidisedrates.Evennow brainwashing thepeople.People weregivenfertilisers The Statewantedmoregrainproduction.Itstarted this chemicalway? How isitthatforthelast30-40yearswegotsuckedinto declining. Thesearetheprimereasons. has becomeuneconomical,andgrainyieldshavestarted Agricultural revival yields have started declining yields havestarteddeclining become uneconomical,andgrain because chemicalfarminghas are interestedinorganicfarming food hastobeorganic.Farmers these areremovedandthatthe much pesticide.Theyinsistthat find thatourfoodcontainstoo European countriesandtheUSA importers offoodmaterialsin remain fallowandmigrating.Also, or theyareallowingthelandto farmers arelosingtheirlands result isthatsmallandmarginal he cannotpaybackhisloans.The are increasingdaybyandso the costandquantumofinputs farming. Thefarmerfindsthat poisoned throughmodern chemical farming.Allfoodis cannot besustainedthrough and thenaturalenvironment Farmers haverealisedthatland such trainingsessions.Asfor organisations,therearealways batch aretrainedforthreedays; wehaveconductedmany training onthefarm itself. Thirtytofortyparticipants in each learning centres.Nowadays, a teamofexpertsconducts about halfthe100farmsneed tobeupgradedbecome in theorganicway. Someofthemarefitfortraining,and In everydistrictinTamil Nadutherearefarmscultivating Vigadan together organisedseminarsandtrainings. Foundation forFarm ResearchandGlobalFood Security, Tamil weekly, andourfoundation,Nammalvar Ecological waste eitherwithinthefarm or outsidethefarmshouldbe different useaswasbeingdone intheolddays.Fourth, no the soil.Third,weshouldput agriculturalby-productsto disturbing soilmicrobesthat fixatmosphericnitrogenin not doanythingthatwillhamper thenaturalcycle,like Second, weshouldallownature tohelpus.We should principle andthebasicreasonfordoingorganicfarming. The mostimportantaspectisourhealth;thisthefirst farming? that farmersshouldkeepinmindwhendoingorganic very simplebusiness?Whatarethemainprinciples Is organicfarmingaverycomplicatedbusinessor vermiculture astheyaremoreadaptableandsurvive). for vermicomposting(localwormsarebestsuited for composting,andquiteagoodnumberaregoingin with thismixture.Secondly, mostfarmersaregoingin found ingroundnuts—canbecontrolledifitissprayed Even themostdamagingpest—redhairycaterpillar and theysprayitontheleavestopreventinsectattacks. The farmersadd1litreofthismixtureto10litreswater a potmixedwithcowurinefor10days,theystartsmelling. well. Theygroweasily, andifyouputfouror fiveleavesin which arecattlerepellents,andthefarmersknowthisvery Everywhere inthecountrysidetherearefiveorsixplants different ecosystems. using theoldvarieties.Biodiversityisimperativetoadapt the grainwillcomeup.Insomeplacestheyhavestartedre- high-yielding varieties.Theysaythatwithinthreemonths dry beltwheretankwaterisavailabletheyhaveswitchedto conditions. Onlythosestrainswillremain.Otherwiseinthe Some farmersarestillgrowingthem,evenunderdry When Ivisitremoteareas,theoldseedsarestillavailable. of theolderseeds?Howmanyfarmersareusingthem? Coming tothedifferentricevarieties,whatisstatus Orissa helpusshareexperiencesandseeds. Karnataka, AndhraPradesh,Pondicherry, Maharashtraand connections withNGOsworkinginotherstateslikeKerala, broadcast newsandpicturesonorganicfarming.Our case studieseveryThursday. AllIndiaRadioandTVstations popular Englishdaily, TheHindu,publishesorganicfarming trees, ecology, theenvironmentandnaturalfarming.The Isha Yoga CentreinCoimbatore,carriesarticlesongrowing , aTamilagriculture. Kalluppu monthlypublishedbythe and threeothermonthlymagazinesthatpromoteorganic these meetings.In2008, halls! MPs andMLAshavealsoparticipatedinattended farmers attend.Sometimestheyarearrangedinmarriage farmers’ forumarrangesmeetings,sometimesaround1,000 people withinitiativeandleadership.WhentheNGOor publishesaTamil fortnightlycalledPaumaiVikatan, Anandha Vigadan , awell-known Anandha

of India,andisbasedinGoa alternative publishinghouse.Heisalso director oftheOrganicFarmingAssociation Dr ClaudeAlvaresisanenvironmentalistandeditorattheOtherIndiaPress, (Reprinted from preservation techniques,etc. all aspectsoforganicfarming—cultivation,marketing, can educatepeopleatthelocalandgrassrootslevelon conduct trainingprogrammesandsupporttrainerswho need alargenumberoftrainers.Sowehavetocontinually Second, tocarryouttheseactivitiesonawiderscale,we networkisessential. an impact,anationwideNGO-farmer certification, andprotectingthecow. For allthesetohave useful products,protectingwatersources,establishingseed harvesting andmilletcrops,convertingurbanwasteto free India,makingfarmers’seedslocal,promotingrainwater campaigns ofpromotingorganicfarming,achievingaGMO- First, veryintensiveworkisneededtocontinueour What isyourvisionforthenextthreeyears? panchagavya diseases ofanykindinhumanbeings.We alsoprepare protect plants,improvethehealthofanimals,andreduce juice andtoddy. Withtheseninecomponentsweareableto to theoriginalfive—coconutwater, banana,sugarcane the originalformula.We haveaddedfourmoreingredients the helpofDrNatarajan,wehavebeenabletoimproveon dung, milk,curdandgroundnutcake.InTamil Nadu,with effects. Fifth,use repellents thatcanbeusedonalarge-scalewithnoill and releasethemintothefield.Fourth, goinforbiopest neighbourhood formulching.Third,rearearthworms collect maximumbiomassfromthefarmand First, takecaretoselectapurelineofseed.Second, organic farmers? What arethebasicpracticesyouwouldrecommendto are discussedinfarmergroups. are abletopickuptheseideasquiteeasilyespeciallyifthey of theplant.Allthismayappearcomplicated,butfarmers consumer. We mustenrichthesoil;healthysoilwilltakecare farmer mustrealisethattheplantisaproducerandnot other farmersandthensowtheminhisfarm.Sixth,the should useseedsonlyfromhisownfieldorget the growthorperformanceofplant.That’swhyhe from outside,hehasnoinformationorknowledgeabout do notbuyseedsfromoutside.Whenafarmerbuys opt forpurelineselection.Itisveryimportantthatfarmers cattle breeds.Iffarmersarewelltrained,theycaneasily we shoulddependonindigenousseedsand so-called wasteisnothingbutmisplacedresources.Fifth, burnt becauseinorganicfarmingnothingisawaste;the Organic FarmingSourceBook2009 frommaterialssourcedgoats. panchagavya Experiences oforganicfarmers madefromcattleurine, , OtherIndiaPress,Mapusa,Goa) 11 ISSUE 19 2010 12 ISSUE 19 2010 Some portionisreservedfor fodder forthecattleandforest chillies, wheatandpulseslike horsegram,pigeonpea,etc. under seasonalcropssuchas sorghum,millets,groundnut, grapes, bananas,drumsticks, mangoesandamla;therestis Part ofthelandisreservedfor horticulturalcropslike not usemotorisedimplementsortractorsonhisfarm. for farmcultivationandbullock-carttransport.Barvedoes rest iskeptforconsumptionathome.Thebullocksareused thirds ofthemilkproducedissoldatlocalmarket, cows, fourbullocksandheiferscalves.Aroundtwo- full-time workersonhisfarm.Hehasthreebuffaloes,two to September. Therearesixmaleandfemalepermanent annual rainfallis500mm,therainyseasonbeingfromJune laterite murrum,withapHofaround7.0.Theaverage The soilonBarve’sfarmismostlyblackcottonorstony vermiculture practices.” soil qualityisonlypossiblethroughorganicfarmingand of moneyandenergy, supportedbyenhancementin Tension-free farmingwithgoodoutput,negligibleinputs environment. Thecropcultivatedisthushighlypoisoned. pesticides. Thesepesticidescontaminatethewater, soiland is consequentlycompelledtoresortcostlyandhazardous The farmerhastotakealotofcareinplantprotection.He machinery andenergy.degradation. brings aboutsoil this All follows: “Modernagricultureisbasedonincreasinginputs, Barve explains hisconversiontosustainableagricultureas chemical fertilisersandpesticides. released fromvermiculture.Healsoshuttheshopmarketing converted thebuildingintoastoreroomforvermicasts to sustainableagriculture.Hecloseddownthefactoryand modern farmingpracticesfor12years,hechangedover to marketchemicalfertilisersandpesticides.Afterfollowing He setupachemicalfactoryonpartofthelandandshop to hishometownandbegantakinganinterestinfarming. After teachingatacitycollegeforfewyears,hereturned district since1988. sustainable agricultureonhis14-hectarefarminSangli and innovativeorganicfarmers.Hehasbeenpractising Chemical LaboratorytobecomeoneofIndia’smostcreative JAYANT BARVEABANDONEDacareerattheNational Return tothegoodearthinSangli sometimes evenmore lower inputcosts,organicfarmingdoesgivethesameyieldaschemicalagriculture, has neverlookedbacksince.Inthisinterviewheemphasisesthatdespitemuch chemical agriculturehimself. In1988,heswitchedtosustainableagriculture,and Jayant Barveusedtomarketchemicalfertilisersandpesticidespractise Agricultural revival like moist withthehelpofmicrosprinklers.Herbalpreparations avoided everywhereonthefarm.Thevermiculturepitsarekept Irrigation isthroughdriporsprinklersystems;floodirrigation Farm wasteandcattledungareusedforvermicompost. indica), karanj(Pongamia glabra) (Adathoda vasaka),bahava(Casiajavanica) plantations ofgiripushpa Almost alltheplotsaresurroundedbybiomass,livefence every year. trees likebanyanandacacia.Barvealsocultivatesginger Then onedayIwassittingin ourshopandafarmer NOCIL product.Thebusiness grew verynicely. ‘medicines’ forparticulardiseases. We weremarketinga the onlyconsultantsattime (1984-1988)givingproper Wewere because we a bitofnameinSanglidistrict earned disease, aftertesting.Ourbusinessstartedgrowing. give suggestionstofarmersaboutwhatsprayforwhich We hadasmalllaboratoryinourofficeandweusedto business ofmarketingchemicals,pesticidesandfertilisers. the factory. Iwonderedwhattodonext.startedthe bringing thepricelowerthanours.Sowehadtoclose policy: importratesforthesameproductwemadedropped, Then acrisisdevelopedbecauseofthenewgovernment factory thatweerectedwasdoingwelluntil1984. We broughtthisproductintothemarketandsmall product thatweweremanufacturingwasparanitroaniline. intermediates. Thenameofthe manufacture textiledye With someresearchofmyown,westartedaunitto go back. we havepropertythereandIwastheonlyson.Sohadto was askedbymyfathertoreturnnativeplacebecause lecturer atareputedcollegeinPuneforfiveyears.ThenI National ChemicalLaboratory, Pune.Iwasalsoaphysics I completedmyMScinphysicsandwasworkingatthe you tellussomethingaboutyourbackground? You havebeen doingorganicfarmingfor20years.Could farm andusedwhenevernecessary vrikshayurveda andkrishiparashar , adulsa (Glyricidia maculate),adulsa anderanne are prepared on the arepreparedonthe (Azadarichta , neem(Azadarichta CLAUDE ALVARES (Jatropha curcas) . elsewhere are healthierthan thosetheybuy Everybody saysthat mycattle am nowbeginningcow-rearing. I selloneortwobuffaloesand My cattleareinexcellenthealth. spraying thecropscouldfallill. and theanxietythatpeople pesticides andsprayingthem, There isnoburdenofbuying lot ofwater, electricityandlabour. five times.Hencewearesavinga our farmweirrigatethewheat times peracre,byflooding.On irrigate theirfieldseighttonine In myvicinity, wheatfarmers the onlywaytogrowgrapes;thatanyfarmingsystem After ayearwearrivedattheconclusionthatthiswas increased, soalsoitspotashcontent. and observedhowitsnutrientorganiccarbonlevelshad our laboratoryandsciencemindset,weanalysedthesoil planting thegrapesandsixmonthsafterthat,becauseof use anychemicalfertiliser, sowestartedvermiculture.Before we plantedagrapeplotofabout1acre.We decidednotto I metDrBhavalkarandJambekarinPune,withtheirhelp met severalpeopleandbeganreadinguponorganicfarming. decided todofarmingmyself, anddoonlyorganicfarming.I then Ihadafarmofmyownbutwasnotlookingafterit. This wastheturningpointformeintoorganicfarming.Till to theconsumer. Whatwouldbetheimpact? to dealwiththeproblem,theywillgoalonggrapes following week.Ithought:ifhesprayshazardouschemicals the grapes.Hetoldmehewouldbepackingthem ripening stage.Iaskedhimwhenhewasgoingtoharvest that thecrowsdamagedgrapeswhentheywereat that wereattackingthegrapesinhisvineyard.Hetoldme approached meandaskedforapesticidetorepelthecrows absolutely chemical-free. preparations ofmyownand by 1995ourgrapeswere Earth preparations. There’sanother book,ReturntotheGood Rahudkar wasalwayswriting somethingaboutherbal a bookcalledSuraphala’sVrukshayurveda ancient books.ThenImetDrNenefromICRISAT. Ipurchased closed downthemarketingbusiness.Istartedreading closed downthechemicalsandpesticidebusiness.Ialso improving, wewantedtogetridofpesticides.In1992,I The secondaspectwasthatalthoughsoilquality formulated toreplacechemicalfertiliserstotally. which wearemarketingintwodistrictsonly. Thismanureis also exporting.There’sanotherproductcalledGreenHarvest we aremarketingalloverIndia,mainlyinMaharashtra,and coming upnicely. We haveaproductcalledSanvardhanthat started aunittomakeorganicmanureatmyplace,andit’s Then mysonJaydevcompletedhisBScinmicrobiology. We continuously fortwoyears. together andgotgoodresults.Again,wedidlabtests directly intothesoil.We mixedorganiccarbonmaterials do notgetfood.Sowethoughtofputtingorganicmicrobes the degradationhappensinsidepit.Microbesinsoil the soil—organiccarbon.Whenwecompostitinapit,all This stuckinmymindandIthoughtofadding‘rawfood’to and itprovidednutritiontothesoilmicrobes. farm. Thatgavebetterresultsbecauseitwasnotcomposted dung, putitinashelter, powderit,andsprinkleitontothe ancient timesnobodydidcomposting;theywouldcollect translated andpublishedancientagriculturaltexts.In and AshokJoshi,sonofMahadevShastriJoshiwhohas I readonthesubjectcamefromDrRahudkarPune of theancientagriculturalsystems.Someliterature somewhere thatcompostingisnotrecommendedinany and siliconoxide,bentomiterockdust.Iread and collectedanumberofthingslikeoilcakes,phosphates We startedthinkingaboutconcentrated organicmaterial vermiculture wasnottheonlysolution. and themicrobeswilldevelop.AndsoIrealisedthat the soilorganiccarbonanditwillautomaticallyimprove build ashedandputwateronittodeveloptheworms.Give the soil,wormswillgrowautomatically. You neednot vermiculture. Ihadreadthatifyouaddorganiccarbonto methatthelimitationoforganicfarmingwas It thenstruck Group —until1994. grapes fromourparticulargroup—theVitaVillageFarmers from it.Ourgrapeswereofthebestquality. We exported converted ittovermicompostandgotverygoodresults vegetable marketwasteforthreeyears,ourfarm.We we approachedtheVitaMunicipalCouncilandbought vermicompost. Thebiomasswasnotavailablewithusso must practisevermiculture.Sowestartedmanufacturing , aMalaysianpublication.Istarted makingsomeherbal Experiences oforganicfarmers . Professor 13 ISSUE 19 2010 14 ISSUE 19 2010 we arenowenjoyingthefruits oforganicfarming. pesticides, wewillnotallowhim toenterthefarmbecause Even ifsomebodygiftsusatruckload ofureaorchemicals business forfouryears,weknow everythingaboutpesticides. pesticides havebeensprayed on it.Havingrunapesticides outside food,wewonderwhat we goout,whilsteating No, becauseourmindshavetotallychanged.Evenwhen ever crossbackandusechemicalsagain? other sidetothis(organic).Doyouthinkwill You areoneofthosepeoplewhohavecomefromthe to beveryalertaboutweatherchanges. thing isthatwhenafarmercultivatesorganicgrapeshehas chemical farmerspendsaroundRs55,000peryear. Theonly His expenditureisaroundRs14,000peryear, whereasa year andaroundRs3,000-4,000forherbalpreparations. manure onwhichhespendsaroundRs8,000-9,000per There, ourexpenditureislikethis:theinputorganic after afarmforfriendwhoiscultivatingorganicgrapes. expenditure isaboutRs15,000-20,000.Iamalsolooking current marketrates,isRs24,000-25,000peryear. Fertiliser Today, agrapefarmer’sexpenditureonpesticidesalone,at cakes, rockdustandphosphate—wheneverneeded. market. We buyelectricityand concentrates—suchasoil only costislabour;noinputsarebeingboughtfromthe Today onlythefinalproductisgoingout,notmoney. My buy chemicals,etc… What areyouroutgoingsonthefarm?Earlier, youwould and chillies.Myfarmisnowself-sufficient. for export.We alsogrowbrinjal, tomatoes,onions,garlic contract withacompanytosupplythemspecificvegetables with beans,redgramandhorsegram.Thisyear, wearein for medicinalpurposes.We grow jowarandwheatalong turmeric. Inturmericwehaveablackvarietythatisgood We arealsogrowingcropslike sugarcane,gingerand farm. Ihavemaintainedthisbiodiversity. trees. Today thereare5,000treesof54varietiesonthe in 1988,onthe40acresofland,therewerebarely20-25 have donegraftingofmangotrees.WhenIstartedfarming amla. We haveaplantationofaround900mangotrees.We number ofthingsincludingcerealsandpulses,chickoo organic farmingmoreconsistently. We areproducinga knowledge wegatheredonthefarmenabledustodo All theliteratureonorganicfarmingthatIreadand became irrigatedland. 10 acresoflandtothedam,butrest25 2003, asmalldamwasbuiltnearmyfarm.Ilostaround plantation. Iwasforcedtocutdownthegrapevines.After was adroughtandwewereunabletomanagethegrape from it.Thiscontinuedupto2000.From 2000-2003,there I wouldmarketitinmynameandearnagoodincome We enjoyedaseparatemarket;therewasnocertification. Agricultural revival (Reprinted from these programmes,themen do not. subsidies. Secondly, onlythewomeninvillagesattend are set.Theyaskuswhether we aregoingtogivethem meetings withthem.Butwhenever wego,theirminds — becausefarmersarefreeonlyatthattimeandhad 1,500 farmers.We wenttothem intheirvillagesatnight offered theschemetomyorganisation,andwecontacted The NCOFhasaschemetotrain1,500farmers.Theyhave farmers peryear, aftermeeting1,000farmersinayear. advising farmers.ButIamstillnotabletoconverteventwo past 15yearsandhavetravelledalot,atmyownexpense, have nothadmuchsuccess.Ibeenintheareafor through promotion,canvassingandseminars.Butwe have beentryingforthelast15yearstochangethismindset what isgoodbecausetheirmindsarenotsetthatway. We see howthingsaredone.Buttheynotreadytoswallow their neighbour. Farmers inmyareacometofarm;they go tothedoctororshopkeeper. Theywillnotconsult Whenever farmerswanttoconsultaboutaproblem,they we werealmostslaves,andourmindsaresetlikethat. The mentalblockisoftwokinds.BeforeIndependence there isamentalblockaboutorganicfarming.Whythat? fertilisers orsprayyourcrops.Theyseeallthisandstill and theyseethatyoudonothavetobuychemicalsor saving money. Theyseethatyouryieldsareincreasing, The problemiswithotherfarmers.Theyseethatyouare by thehealthofhisfarmcattleandplant. Agricultural Testament than thosetheybuyelsewhere.AlbertHowardsaysinhis cow-rearing. Everybodysaysthatmycattlearehealthier health. Iselloneortwobuffaloesandamnowbeginning spraying thecropscouldfallill.Mycattleareinexcellent pesticides andsprayingthem,theanxietythatpeople of water, electricity andlabour. Thereisnoburdenofbuying we irrigatethewheatfivetimes.Hencearesavingalot fields eighttoninetimesperacre,byflooding.Onourfarm For example,forwheatinmyvicinityfarmersirrigatetheir down, andinputcostsarereduced. is improvingeveryyear, ourwaterrequirementsarecoming per acre.Besides,incontrasttochemicalfarming,oursoil with chemicalfarmingwhileinmycaseitis60-65tonnes my area,sugarcaneyieldsarenearly55-60tonnesperacre of climaticconditions,butwithsugarcaneitdoesn’t.In per acre.Withwheatandjowar, yieldsmayvarybecause with sugarcaneinourvicinitywhichisnearly50-55tonnes yields startincreasing(withorganicfarming)asisthecase farming arethesame.Infact,aftertwoorthreeyears, This isnotthecase.Yieldsinorganicfarmingandchemical organic farming? who saywecannotgrowenoughfoodthrough What isthemessageyouwouldliketogivethose Organic FarmingSourceBook2009 that the organic farmer is to be judged thattheorganicfarmeristobejudged , Other IndiaPress,Mapusa,Goa) to affectthecrops. seeds, soilshavedeteriorated andnewdiseaseshavebegun season. Whereverfarmershave usedgeneticallymodified ‘terminator’ seedsastheybarely germinatethefollowing as welltheenvironment.Such seedsarereferredtoas genetically modifiedseedsthat areharmfultohumanhealth already lostourseedsandarebeingforcedtodependon Loss ofsoilandwaterisanotherseriousproblem.We have the nationenormousamountsofpublicmoney. migrate becameNaxalites—tacklingthemisnowcosting be worse,givingrisetourbancrime.Thosewhocouldnot life thesepeoplefacedincitiesandtownsturnedoutto scale migrationoftheruralpopulationtourbanareas.The on farmswasaffectedbymechanisation,leadingtolarge- agricultural environment.Thelabourthatwasemployed Of fargreaterconsequencewasdestructionofthe low yieldsanddamagedagro-economics. of agriculturebasedonchemicalswhichresultedinsteady In pursuitofincreasedproduction,weadoptedthescience on myfarmwashappeningtoeveryfarmerlikemeinIndia. importance ofthesefactorsinagriculture.Whatunfolded drop inyields.Nobodyshouldignoreorunderestimatethe trees, birds,seeds,water. Thisiswhathadcausedthe destroyed themicro-organismpopulationinsoil, In theprocessoffarmingwithchemicalsIhadallbut reasons forthereducedproductiononmyfarm. farming. Naturebecamemyguruandstartedrevealingthe This situationcontinuedtill1994,theyearItookupnatural started droppingandcultivationcostsrose. sustained foranylengthoftime.Productionfrommyfarm bumper harvestsintheinitialyears,buttheycouldnotbe plenty ofchemicalfertiliserandusinghybridseeds.Ienjoyed In 1975Ibeganfarminglikeanyotherfarmer, applying in agriculture. since 1975and,inthistime,Ihaveseentwofacesofscience I connectedwiththisgroundreality. Ihavebeenfarming I wasabletounderstandthisagro-economicsonlywhen SOIL, WATER ANDSEEDSarethestrengthoffarmers. The newnaturaleconomicsofagriculture trees, birdsandvegetation abandoned insecticidesandchemicalfertilisersreliedinsteadonthecow, nature behisteacherandunderstoodtheagro-economicsofagriculture.He This farmerwatchedthedeclineofhissoilandagriculturalyieldsbeforehelet Moreover, ifcowurinewereusedalongwith thedung, it multiplyearthwormandmicro-organism populations? if freshcowdungweresprayed ontothefields,wouldn’t numbers ofearthwormsstart emerging.Thismademethink: (except duringthemonsoon). Whentherainsbegin,large traditionally sprayedonopen areasaroundthehouse In Indianvillages,freshcowdungdilutedwithwateris process ofutilisingfreshcowdung,cowurine,andjaggery. In 1994,basedonpersonalobservations,Idevelopeda The cow on eachoftheseelements: cow, trees,birdsandvegetation. Hereisashortelaboration The fourelementsofnaturethathelpthisprocessare:the chemical fertiliser, asbothproblemsaremanagedbynature. agricultural economy. Today, Idonotneedinsecticidesor I havecometorealisethepotentialstrengthofcountry’s Rejuvenating thesoilhasstrengthenedmyagro-economics. ecological system.Italsomademetotallyself-reliant. economics thatservedtheinterestsofbothfarmersandour end tothisviolentgrowth.Iwasablevisualiseastrong killing offalmosteverythingelse.Naturalfarmingputan Under chemical-intensiveagriculture,growthresultsfrom are conserved,and,atthesametime,graduallygrows. constructive scienceunderwhichallnature’sconstituents onwards, Ibegantounderstandthatthisistheonly me thescienceandeconomicsofagriculture.From 1994 about it.Slowly, naturebecamemyteacherandshowed When Ifirststartednaturalfarmingdidnotknowmuch and yetenhanceproduction. economics. Andthat’spossibleonlyifwereduceourcosts seeds, environment,andlabour, andtostrengthenour change inordertoprotectandpreserveoursoils,water, a changeinagriculturaltechniqueisessential.We needto is beyondthepurchasingcapacityofpeople.Thatwhy We certainlydonotwantasituation wherefarmproduce forces (lessproducepushedupprices). althoughmyprofitsdoubledthankstomarket dropped 25% on productionpatterns.In2008-09,yieldsfrommyfarm Rising temperatureshavehadtheirowndamagingeffect Experiences oforganicfarmers SUBHASH SHARMA 15 ISSUE 19 2010 16 ISSUE 19 2010 Trees controlincreaseinambienttemperature, whichisa agricultural production. yields onmyfarmincreasedandIrealisedhowtreeshelp peepul, bargad,neem,imliandarjun.Asthesetreesgrew, I plantedbird-friendlytreessuchasjamun,goolar, mango, 2,000 wildtreeson1hectare;theremaining11hectares the riseintemperature,Idecidedtoplanttrees.planted years. For me,afarmer, thiswasaserious warning.To check plant speciesandlivingorganismswithinthenext40-45 brought onbyindustrialpollutionwouldkilloffmillionsof During 1990-92,Irealisedthatthetemperatureincrease Trees the fourcriticalelements—vegetation. field. Thiscalledformorefeed,whichwasmetbyanotherof that therewere6-10earthwormsineverysquarefootof years themicro-organismshadincreasedtosuchanextent me betteryieldsintheveryfirstyearitself, andafterfour grams ofjaggery, alldilutedwithwater. Themixturegave of 60kgfreshcowdung,5litrescowurine,and250 I prepareda200-litredrumforeachacre,usingmixture fungus inthesoiltoocouldbecontrolled. Organic farmerSharma:Learning fromnature Agricultural revival increase inmicro-organismsandearthwormsmadeoursoil into manureandsimultaneouslycontrolledsoilfungi.The micro-organisms which,inturn,convertedthebiomass tonnes ofthiswetbiomass,encouragingthegrowth in 1994.Eachhectareofthefarmreceivedaround25 I startedreturningcropresidueandgrasstothefarm Vegetation manure isaddedtothesoil. of insectsincreasesproportionately, and,ofcourse,more several thousands(ittook8-10years)their‘management’ on thewholeyearround.Whenbirdpopulationsswellto manure. Wherethereisgoodvegetation,thisprocessgoes destructive insects,contributingitsexcretatothesoilas farm increased.Inoticedthateachbirdateatleast50 and goodmanure,asbirdpopulationsinaroundthe The treegrowthincreasedthenumberofmicro-organisms Birds is revealed. increases, birdsmultiplyandaneweconomicsofagriculture Leaf litterisconvertedintomanure.Asthenumberoftrees great helpinthegrowthofbacteriaandfriendlyinsects. of 30%fromthesurfaceleaves behind84millionlitrestobe litres ofrainwater;adjusting for anaverageevaporationrate a 12-hectarefarmlikeminereceives atotalof120million cm, thetotalprecipitationper hectareis10millionlitres; litres; ifrainfallduringaparticular yearinthatareais100 1 cm(10mm)ofrain,thetotal precipitationis100,000 The sequenceisasfollows:when1hectareoflandreceives of waterontoandthroughmyfarmin2003-04. This isself-reliance inwater. Tothe passage verifyit,Istudied automatically savedfromerosion,enhancingitsproductivity. onto myfarmanddivertingitunderground,thesoilis water. Now, asaresultofretainingallthewater thatfalls natural farmingIhavecometorealisetheimportanceof natural farmingoverdestructivescience.SinceItookto forever. Isaythisbecauseofmypersonalexperienceswith agricultural policiesevennowwecansolvethewatercrisis Yet thereisa rayofhope.Iamsurethatifwechangeour water consumesevermoreresources. industries. Today, managementofsuchharmful,unhealthy agriculture andthedischargeofpoisonouseffluentsfrom that isavailablepollutedthankstochemical-intensive agriculture. Evenwithinthewatercrisisspiral, of enormousquantitieswaterawayfromfarmersand populations andindustrialgrowthforcedthediversion projects werebuilttodevelopagriculture,butrisingurban productivity aswellhumanhealth.Manyirrigation This situationisalarmingbecauseitdirectlyaffectscrop temperatures aswell. groundwater droppedtodangerouslevels,affectingground drinking purposes.Theresultwasthat,inseveralstates,the quantities ofgroundwaterwereexploitedforirrigationand Even asmorehydro-electricitywasbeinggenerated,greater adding tothewatershortage. away soilcollectedassiltindamsandirrigationreservoirs, canals, carryingwithitusefultopsoil.Worse, thewashed- rainwater wasallowedtoflowawaythroughdrainsand a rapiddropingroundwaterlevels.Atthesametime, recharging thewatertable.Chemical-basedfarmingcaused the soilporous,therebycapableofabsorbingwaterand destroyed andkilledinsectssmallcreaturesthatmake chemical fertilisersandotherpoisonouscompounds.These amounts ofwaterbeingusedforfarming,alongwith in agriculturaltechnologiesthe1960sresultedlarge being blessedbynaturewithabundantwater. Changes India isfacedwithadeepeningwatercrisisdespiteit the humanrace. being onearthplaysanimportantroleinthewellbeingof organisms andcreaturesmademerealisethateveryliving become thebestpossiblenaturalmanure.Studyingthese during theirshortlifespan,and,afterdemise,they of millionsmicro-organismshelpimprovesoilfertility porous, helpingplantrootsgetoxygenandrainwater. Tens their families,society, andourcountry. levels willrise,andtheirhardworkgenuinelybenefit strong. Theirvillageswillhaveabundantwater, groundwater economics ofnaturalfarmingisthedaytheywillbecome been banished.Thedaymorefarmersunderstandtheagro- electricity andwaterbutchemicalspesticideshave Today, withayieldofaround450tonnesIcontinuetouse tonnes butsavedbecauseoflowercosts. year ofmynaturalfarming,inwhichIreceivedonly50 Contrast thisannualdisappointmentwith1994,thefirst increasing dosesofchemicalfertiliserandpesticides. of unitselectricity, thesameamountofwater, and This happeneddespiteapplicationofthesamenumber quintals tobarely5becauseofmosaicinfestation. jowar from50quintalsto15quintals,tomatoes350 period 1986-1994:cottonfrom30quintalsto10quintals, In myowncase,productiondroppedsteeplyduringthe from 2002. production rose,onlytostabiliseandthensteadilydecline following thisdramaticchangeinmethod,foodgrain was takenuponalargescale.Inthefirstthreedecades 1960. From 1975onwards,chemical-intensivefarming bringing energytothefarm,whichwasnotcasebefore essentially aresultofmakingmorewateravailableand The increaseinproductionthroughchemicalfarmingwas poisons andhybridseedscontributetohigherproduction. false theclaimsofscientistsarethatchemicalfertilisers, tonnes attheendof1975-1994period.Thisshowshow up toanaverageof450tonnesby2000,afteralow50 importance ofthenewnaturaleconomics,tookmyproduce The farmmethodsthatIadoptedin1994,afterrealisingthe is fullyself-reliant inwaterandisrechargingthetable. gain of26.4millionlitres,whichreassuresmethatmyfarm I haverecharged84millionlitresintheyear, Ihaveanet litres peryear;together, theyextract57.6millionlitres.Since hours ayear. Thatmeanseachpumpdraws28.8million litres ofwaterperhour. Normally, mypumpsrunfor800 farm, eachfittedwitha5hppumpthatdrawsabout36,000 How muchwaterdoIdraw?havetwoborewellsonmy this forirrigationwewillnotbeself-reliant inwater. diverted togroundwater;thus,ifwedrawmorewaterthan on theeconomicsoforganicfarmingalloverIndia Subhash SharmaisanorganicfarmerinYavatmal, Maharashtra.Hehaslectured Experiences oforganicfarmers 17 ISSUE 19 2010 18 ISSUE 19 2010 Climate changeandfoodsecurity can beincorporatedinthedesign andimplementation without damagingtheseassets. Ifclimatechangeimpacts most efficientuseofenvironmental goodsandservices is possibleonlythroughproduction systemsthatmakethe and biodiversity. Makingagriculturesustainableiskey, and will requirecarefulmanagement ofresourceslikesoil,water Coping withtheimpactofclimatechangeonagriculture efficient waterharvestingandequitablemanagement. two-crop zones.Thiscanfirstandforemostbedoneby must bemadetoconverttoday’ssingle-croppingareasinto triple-cropping zones.To offsetmostofthisloss,aneffort to bethedouble-and The worst-affectedareasarepredicted expected tocomefromthelossofmultiplecroppingzones. In SouthAsia,thebiggestblowtofoodproductionis marginal andonlyonecropisgrownperyear. dryland regionswhereagricultureisrainfed,conditionsare worst bruntofclimatechangewillbebornebyfarmersin throwing foodandagriculturalproductionoutofgear. The cultivation periodavailableforparticularcrops,thus influence thelocalwaterbalanceanddisturboptimal Changes inrainfallpatternsandtemperatureregimeswill potential incertaindevelopingcountriescouldbelost. According tosomeestimates,almost40%oftheproduction Africa andSouthAsiawillbeamongsttheworst-affected. temperate countries.Agricultureintheproductiveareasof tropics aremoresusceptibletoclimatechangedamagethan According toclimateestimates,developingcountriesinthe food andnutritionsecurity, aswellrurallivelihoods deliberated thestrategiesneededtohelpprotectagriculture, discussed theimpactofclimatechangeonagricultureand diplomats, internationalorganisationsandconcernedcitizens scientists, farmerorganisations,officialsofstategovernments, civil societygroups,membersofgovernmentdepartments, organisations, grassroots-levelcommunity technical expertsfromgovernmentandnon-government together over200participantsfrom22states.Scientificand The conference,heldonApril23and24,inNewDelhi,brought crucial issueandtodeveloprecommendationsforfutureaction. Changing Climate’togenerategreaterawarenessaboutthis Campaign andActionAidon‘EnsuringFoodSecurityina NATIONAL A TWO-DAY CONFERENCEwasorganisedbyGene nutrition securityinthetimeofclimatechange food securityandagriculturedeliberatedstrategiestoprotectagriculture, wheat yieldlossesof7milliontonnesperyear. Arecentnationalconferenceon temperature goesup2 Rice productioninIndiacoulddecreasebyalmostatonne/hectareifthe Agricultural revival 0 C, whileeach1 0 C riseinmeantemperaturecouldcause global temperaturerisecappedat2 ‘pledge andreview’frameworkforemissionstry India mustnegotiatehardagainstthepost-Copenhagen Global Recommendations foraction regional, nationalandlocallevels. and foodproduction,Indiawillneedtoactattheglobal, To copewiththeimpactofclimatechangeonagriculture $ 1.5billionatcurrentprices. likely tobearound7milliontonnesperyear, oraround goes up2 to decreasebyalmostatonne/hectareifthetemperature production potential.InIndia,riceisslated Developing countriesfaceasubstantialdecreaseincereal manage theserecentanthropogenicchanges. agriculture. Theirtraditionalknowledgedoesnothelpthem the rapidfluctuationsinweatherconditionsthataffecttheir necessary topreparefarmers,whoaretodaybewilderedby livelihoods. Alarge-scaleclimateliteracyprogrammeis reduce vulnerability, stabilisefoodproductionandsecure of developmentprogrammesrightaway, itwillhelpto 1 window becomingsmaller, affectingproductivity. For each production areacouldgetheat-stressed,withthecultivation melt. Negotiations on river waters emanating from the melt. Negotiationsonriverwaters emanatingfromthe protect theHimalayanecosystems andminimiseglacial Regional cooperationattheSAARC levelisnecessaryto Regional sector, consistentwiththe‘polluterpays’principle. same timepayingforadaptation,especiallyintheagriculture countries reducetheirownagricultureemissionswhileatthe brunt ofclimatechange,Indiamustinsistthatdeveloped is thelifelineofdevelopingworldandwillbearworst become two-,eventhree-cropzones.Giventhatagriculture warmer conditionswillallowtheirsingle-cropzonesto beneficial foragricultureincoldtemperateregionssince countries willbedevastating.Risingtemperatures the impactonagricultureandfoodsecurityindeveloping 0 C riseinmeantemperature,wheatyieldlossesIndiaare 0 C. By2050,abouthalfofIndia’sprimewheat 0 C. If this is not done, C. Ifthisisnotdone, SUMAN SAHAI to get to get farmer’s input costs and make the production system more farmer’s inputcostsandmaketheproductionsystemmore Mitigating emissionsfromagriculturewillreducethe and minimiselossestofoodnutrition. of theagro-ecologicalunit,tomakeagriculturesustainable specific technologieswillneedtobedevelopedatthelevel climate changeisvitalforsustainableagriculture.Location- climate changemitigation,andcombatingtheeffectsof agricultural developmentatthelocallevelisintegralto have tobeatthelocallevel.Thepursuitofsustainable The realactionforbothmitigationandadaptationwill Local impact ofglobalwarmingoncrops,livestock,fish,soil,etc. funding, isneededtodevelopsolutionscopewiththe programme forstrategicresearch,alongwithdedicated causing pricestogothroughtheroof. Acarefullyplanned tonnes ofriceand4millionpulseproduction, Just onebadmonsoonin2009ledtoareductionof15million drought andfloodswillresultinshortfallsfoodproduction. with climatechange,asmorefrequentandunpredictable risk. Food inflationmustbecontainedatallcosts.Itwillworsen and livelihoodstrategiesarerequiredinruralareastominimise mitigation andadaptationactionsisneeded.Multiplefood started Adaptation strategieshavelongleadtimesandneedtobe National region toprotecttheiragricultureandfoodproduction. across similaragro-ecologieswillhelpallcountriesofthe agriculture. Regionalstrategiesformitigationandadaptation like theGangaandBrahmaputraaremaintainedtosupport Tibetan plateauareurgentsothatflowsinourmajorrivers . Appropriate policy and budgetary support for now. Appropriatepolicyandbudgetarysupportfor conservation andmanagement,pest Apart fromtheobviousfocusneededonsoilhealth,water Specific recommendations like pestsanddisease,droughtsalinity. changing environmentsandcombatbioticabioticstress Genetic diversitygivesspeciestheabilitytoadapt fish speciesandbreedsisasimportantincropvarieties. livestock, fishandsoilresources.Diversityinlivestock soil fertility, fostershighproductivityandprotectscrop, approach tofoodproduction.Suchanpromotes Agricultural biodiversityiscentraltoanagroecosystem greenhouse gasemissionsisthewaytocope. communities, improvingadaptivecapacityandmitigating disease. Buildingresilienceinagroecosystemsandfarming of insectsandmicro-organismsthatcontrolpests diverse theagroecosystem,moreefficientnetwork and maintainsproductivityoverthelongterm.Themore retention, increasesfertiletopsoil,reducessoilerosion biological pestcontrol,improvessoilhealthandwater approach withcroprotations,bio-organicfertilisersand with theuncertaintiesofclimatechange.Theecosystem livestock outputs,willhelpfarmingcommunitiescope rather thanseekingtomaximisecrop,aquaculturaland Developing sustainabilityinagricultureproductionsystems services andsohaveweakresilience. Industrial agroecosystemsdamageenvironmentalgoodsand build theadaptivecapacityofruralandfarmingcommunities. strategies toreducevulnerabilities,strengthenresilienceand targeted adaptationstrategies.Adaptationwillrequire of thecountry, however, willhavetobemetbyrapidand sustainable. Therealchallengetotheagriculturalfuture Impact ofclimatechange

19 Rahul Goswami ISSUE 19 2010 20 ISSUE 19 2010 adverse impactsofunfavourable weather, andmaximisethe farming systemapproacheswhich canhelpminimisethe different weatherprobabilities anddeveloppromote extension shouldpreparecomputer simulationmodelsof • Acentreforclimateriskresearch, managementand zones inthecountry: should beestablishedateachofthe128agroecological The followingadaptationandmitigationsupportstructures poor households. insurance despitetheirpotentialforincomeenhancement of farmers. For instance,pigsarenotcoveredbylivestock more comprehensiveandresponsivetotheneedsofsmall • Agriculturalcreditandinsurancesystemsmustbemade ensure localfoodsecurityandstabiliseprices. modern silosatthedistrictlevel,mustbeestablishedto and graingolasatthehousehold/communityleveltoultra- • Anationalgridofgrainstorages,rangingfrompusabins takes careofmultiplepestsinagivenclimaticscenario. should bebasedonintegratedpestmanagementbecauseit and diseaseoutbreaks.Theoverallpestcontrolstrategy changes inpestanddiseaseprofilespredictnew • Anearlywarningsystemshouldbeputinplacetomonitor reduce methaneemissions,mustbepromotedwidely. research showshasthepotentialtoincreasemilkyieldsand performance hybrids.Balancingfeedmixtures,which are muchbetteradaptedtoadverseweatherthanhigh- undertaken toimprovetheirperformancesincethey • Breedimprovementofindigenouscattlemustbe local communities,mustreceivethehighestpriority. breeds, anditsassociatedknowledge,inpartnershipwith • Conservingthegeneticdiversityofcropsandanimal agriculture, andreduceemissions. uncertainties ofclimatechange,buildresilience,adapt training programmestohelpfindsolutionsaddressthe coping strategiesshouldbedocumentedandusedin strategies. Traditional knowledgeaboutthecommunity’s approach shouldbeadoptedtodevelopadaptation • Aknowledge-intensiveratherthaninput-intensive 60% ofourcultivatedarea. be promotedinallsemi-aridrainfedareaswhichconstitute losses; farmponds,fertilisertreesandbiogasplantsmust deficits infoodandnutritionfromclimate-relatedyield supported bynurseriesshouldbepromotedtomakeup fisheries, poultryandagroforestry;homesteadgardens model shouldbediversifiedtoincludecrops,livestock, for rainfedareasbasedonminimisingrisk.Theproduction • Aspecialpackageforadaptationshouldbedeveloped change turbulence. sustainable andecologicallysoundtoadaptclimate agriculture andfoodproductionpersewillneedtobecome Agricultural revival organisation workinginthefieldofrural andadivasicommunitydevelopment Dr SumanSahaiisPresidentofGeneCampaign, aresearchandadvocacy wheat’s chapatti-makingqualities. wheat yieldsfromexisting cultivars,andfordurum for rabicultivationinnorthIndia,tosupplementdiminishing • Developing (the more heat-tolerant) durum wheat varieties reduction ingrowingperiods. yield potentialtocounterlossfromheat-induced • Selectinggenotypesincropsthathaveahigherperday that canmaturebeforethepeakheatphasesetsin. • Developingshort-durationcropvarieties(especiallywheat) temperatures, droughtandsalinity. climate-resilient cropvarietiesthatcantoleratehigher • Participatory andformalplantbreedingtodevelop methane emissions. that willincreasemilkyieldsofindigenouscattleandreduce • Developingbalancedrationandfeed-and-fodderregimes resistance, foruseinbreedingnewvarietiesandbreeds. drought andsalinity, feedconversionefficiency anddisease for valuabletraitsliketolerancetohighertemperatures, • Evaluationoftraditionalvarietiesandanimalbreeds identified bytheconferenceare: adaptation andmitigationresearch.Somepriorityareas Technical andfinancialinvestmentsmustbemadeinclimate must beproducedandstocked. green manureplantsspecifictotheagroecologicalunit failed monsoon,orfloods)aswellseedsoffodderand of themaincropsandcontingency(foradelayed/ communities, toaddressthecrisisofseedavailability. Seeds • Decentralisedseedproductionprogrammesinvolvinglocal strategies dependingonthebehaviourofmonsoon. to implementcontingencyplansandalternativecropping • Anetworkofcommunity-levelseedbankswiththecapacity on rainfallandweatherinreal-time. farmers throughmobiletelephony, givingtheminformation government’s Agrometserviceshouldbemadeavailableto connectivity fromwherevalue-addedweatherdatathe • Gyanchaupalsandvillageresourcecentreswithsatellite available intheagrobiodiversityofregion. drought-, heat-andsalinity-tolerancediseaseresistance research programmetoidentifyvaluablegenetictraitslike plant andanimalbreeding;thereshouldbeafocused and efficientuse.Theschoolshouldengageinparticipatory pest management,waterconservationanditsequitable training programmesonbuildingsoilhealth,integrated • Afarmerfieldschooltohousedynamicresearchand benefits ofagoodmonsoon. populations and ocean circulation patterns which could have populations andoceancirculation patternswhichcouldhave habitats, distributionpatterns ofplantdiseasesandpests,fish so toodothespatialdistribution ofagro-ecologicalzones, the viabilityoftheseecosystems. Asclimaticpatternsalter, of droughtandfloodevents, have long-termimplicationsfor rainfall, andresultantincreases inthefrequencyandintensity climate change.Abnormalchangesinairtemperatureand from increasedclimaticvariabilityand,inthelongerrun,to earth’s surfaceareprogressivelybeingexposedtothreats Croplands, pasturesandforeststhatoccupy60%ofthe threaten rurallivelihoodsandmajorfoodmarkets. water tooverabillionpeopleonfarmsandincities—will and Andeanglaciers—whichregulateriverflowsupply security andcombatmalnourishment.ShrinkingHimalayan semi-arid AsiaandAfricawillhindereffortstoenhancefood Greater rainfallvariabilityandmoreseveredroughtsin rise, inundatingsettlementsandcontaminatingfreshwater. people fromBangladeshtoFloridawillsufferassealevels the damagewilloccurindevelopingcountries.Millionsof warms, theimpactswillbefelteverywhere.Butmuchof wellbeing ofcurrentandfuturegenerations.Astheearth reverse developmentalprogressandcompromisethe on theiractions.Leftunmanaged,climatechangecould now comingtogripswiththefactthatclimatedepends Societies havealwaysdependedonclimate,butareonly from thenortherncities,empiresimplycollapsed. north, irrigationcanalsrunningdry, andwavesofmigrants new conditions.Withnosuppliesofrainfedgrainfromthe bureaucracies ofitstime,couldnotreactfastenoughtothe Mesopotamia, whichboastedoneofthemostsophisticated populations migrated.Evenintensivelyirrigatedsouthern was thebreadbasketforAkkadians—emptiedoutas the northernreachesofEuphrates—aregionthat After onlyafewdecadesofreducedrainfall,citieslining and SargontheGreat’sempireinMesopotamia. climate broughtdownEgypt’spyramid-buildingOldKingdom from theAegeanSeatoIndus;it’ssaidchangein and coldertemperatures.Thephenomenonhitagriculture Indian monsoon,leadingtothreecenturiesofreducedrainfall westerly winds.Thisfar-off changehadaneffecton the AROUND 2200BCE,therewasashiftintheMediterranean Local solutionstoclimatechange solutions forrainfedagricultureinAndhraPradesh act locally, intelligentlyandconsistently, asisbeingdonewithwaterharvesting hour isnottowaitforglobalagreementsonmitigatingclimatechangebut Indeed, farmersarealreadyfacingtheimpactofclimatechange.Theneed In developingcountries,11%ofarablelandcouldbeaffectedbyclimatechange. opportunity in rainfed agriculture, where water is going to be opportunity inrainfedagriculture, wherewaterisgoingtobe are plentyopportunitieshere. We elaborateononesuch the potentialtodecidefuture ofhumancivilisation.There is agricultureanditsalliedsectors. Itisthissectorthathas The mostimportantprimaryindustry thatsustainstheworld bring aboutbigandlastingchange. intelligently andconsistently. For, smallconsistentefforts hour isnottowaitformiracleshappenbutactlocally, be expectedfromaworldsopolarised.Theneedofthe international community. Nopath-breakingoutcome can summit isonlyasymptomofthedeepdividein The failureoftherecentCopenhagenclimatechange food insecurity;migration;andcivilunrest. regimes; increasednumberofpeopleatriskhungerand market prices;changesingeographicaldistributionoftrade reduced marginalGDPfromagriculture;fluctuationsinworld socio-economic stresseswithdeclineinyieldsandproduction; fish toinhabitdifferentranges.Thesewill,inturn,bring changes inoceansalinity;andseatemperaturerisecausing in spatialandtemporaldistributionofimpacts;sealevelrise, water resources;increasedweedandpestchallenges;shifts crops, pasture,forestsandlivestock;changesinland,soil economic. Biophysicalimpactsincludephysiologicaleffectson Climate changeimpactsarebothbiophysicalandsocio- carbonate, affectingshelledorganismsandcoralreefs. the marineenvironmentthroughdeficiencyincalcium dioxide absorptionfromtheatmosphere)couldaffect their lifecycle.Higheroceanacidity(resultingfromcarbon the aquaticfoodwebasspeciesseekconditionssuitablefor ocean circulationpatternsmayaffectfishpopulationsand to 65countries,about16%ofagriculturalGDP. Changesin change, includingareductionofcerealproductioninup countries, 11%ofarablelandcouldbeaffectedbyclimate indigenous foodsandplant-basedmedicines.Indeveloping to speciesrangeshifts,changesinplantdiversity, including Habitat changeisalreadyunderwayinsomeareas,leading could belost,affectingbothfoodandnon-foodcrops. impacts. TheestimateforAfricaisthat25-42%ofhabitats Those leastabletocopewilllikelybearadditionaladverse significant impactsonagricultureandfoodproduction. Coping withclimatechange B VENKATESWARLU SREENATH DIXIT 21 ISSUE 19 2010 22 ISSUE 19 2010 practised in a cluster of villages in each of these districts, a practised inaclusterofvillageseachthesedistricts, Agricultural Research),rainwatermanagementisbeing Natural ResourceManagementDivision,IndianCouncilof aninstituteofthe Institute forDrylandAgriculture(CRIDA, of AndhraPradesh.ImplementedbytheCentralResearch rainwater managementineightdrought-pronedistricts The NationalAgriculturalInnovationProject(NAIP)stresses institutional support. local adaptationsthatrequireconsistentpolicyand on managingdrasticchangesinweatherpatternsthrough The sustainabilityofrainfedagriculturethereforedepends agrarian unrest,evenfarmersuicides. across rainfedregionsinrecentyears,causinglossoflivelihood, economic losses.Sucheventsarebeingincreasinglyreported profitable commercialcropintheregion,resultingheavy of over25days.Thiseventdevastatedgroundnut,theonly 500 mm!)inlessthanthreehours,afteraprolongeddrought mm ofrain(morethanafifthitsaverageannualrainfall of AndhraPradesh’sdryAnantapurdistrictexperienced114 department inthelastdecade.In2008,forinstance,parts many sucheventshavebeenrecordedbyourmeteorological frequent heavyrainfallinterspersedwithlongspellsofdrought; One oftheprominentimpactsclimatechangehasbeen water foragricultureandhumanlivestockconsumption. In aridandsemi-aridecosystems,rainistheonlysourceof a seriouslimitingfactorasanimpactofclimatechange. Agricultural revival judiciously used through sprinklers and drip irrigation systems judiciously usedthroughsprinklersanddripirrigationsystems water intheporousredsoilofregion.Groundwateris of groundwaterispreferredasitnotfeasibletostore rainwater harvestingthroughpercolationpondsandrecharge The Pampanur clusterofAnantapurisextremelyarid,hence enhancing productivity(seebox). Employment GuaranteeScheme(NREGS)asanoptionfor farm pondsthroughconvergencewiththeNationalRural years (2007-2009).Emphasisisalsobeinglaidonscalingup production anddiversificationwasamplyprovedovertwo runoff harvestingthroughfarmpondsforprofitablecrop cropping season.Thetechnicalandeconomicfeasibilityof briefspellsofdroughtduringthe the sametotideover ideal opportunitytoharvestrunoff, storingandreusing these,theundulatingtopographyoffersan soil. Besides fairly goodrainfall(above1,000mm)andadeepblack cluster ofvillagesintribalAdilabaddistrictisblessedwith rainwater harvestingpotential,alsovary. TheSeethagondi Anantapur). Hence,therunoffandinfiltrationrate,therefore Adilabad) tomediumandshallowredsoils(Pampanur, Soil typevariestoo,fromdeepblacksoils(Seethagondi, Thummalacheruvu clusterofKhammam). mm (inPampanur clusterofAnantapur)toover1,100mm(in The annualrainfallintheseclustersrangesfromamere500 opportunities forrainwaterharvestinganditsefficientuse. Each clusterrepresentsauniqueagro-ecologywith cluster beingselectedasanactionresearchfieldlaboratory.

Rahul Goswami digging ofborewells. the collapseofpeople’sinstitutions andtheindiscriminate chronically siltupwhileopen wellsremaindryasaresultof structures liketanksandopen wells.However, tanks ages, agricultureherehasdepended onwaterharvesting resources aremeagreandthesoilporousshallow. For prone areasinthestateofAndhraPradesh.Groundwater Dupahad clusterofNalgondaisonethemostdrought- training andcapacity-buildingactivities. maize isbeingpromotedinpaddyfallowsthroughcareful crops inplaceofpaddyduringtherabiseason,andzero-till Jamisthapur arebeingmotivatedtochooseirrigateddry groundwater usingsystemslikesprinklers.Thefarmersof custom hiringcentreheretooisequippedwithefficient conservation measuresandgroundwaterexploitation.The the communityisawareofrelationbetweenrainfall, trained tomonitorgroundwaterlevelsperiodicallysothat to enhancegroundwaterresources;localyouthhavebeen along bunds.Two percolationtankswereduginthecluster 5.2 kmlongwasdugintheridgearea,andtreesplanted their labourtowardstherepair. Atrench-cum-bundover repaired atacostofRs38,000,withpeoplecontributing to arrestrunoff(andstoreitrechargegroundwater)was encouraged. Anoldcheck-damthatwasleakingandunable to greenupbarrenhillocksintheridgeareawasalso structures. Promotionofnurseryandplantationactivities and repairingoldcheck-damsotherwaterharvesting digging aseriesofpercolationponds,trench-cum-bunds capacity. Therainwaterharvestingstrategy here comprised around 600 mm.Thesoilisshallow, withpoorwater-holding drought-prone, withanaverageannualrainfallofjust The JamisthapurclusterinMahboobnagarisextremely good facilitiesforourvillages.” money tohelpus.Butwewereunableuseitcreate “We knewthatthegovernment wasspendingalotof create assetsforthevillage.SaysVeeranna, asmallfarmer: community nowfeelsempoweredtoemploytheNREGS ensuring theparticipationofhouseholdsincluster. The tank. TheworkwasundertakenundertheNREGS,thereby said theywantedtoincreasethevolumeofsilted-up near Konampeta village.Theeffortbeganaftervillagers availability throughde-siltingoftheGajulakuntatank Rayalaseema area,attemptsareontoaugmentwater In theBYerragudi clusterofKadapadistrict,inthedry to maintainandrepairtheequipment. maintains recordsandaccounts.Themoneycollectedisused (called ‘salahasamiti’,meaning‘advisorycommittee’),which sets andpayuserfeestoacommitteeoffellowfarmers are ingreatdemandamongfarmers.Farmers hiresprinkler Kothapalli areequippedwithsprinklersetsandpipelinesthat Mission (NHM).CustomhiringcentresatPampanur andY Micro IrrigationProject(APMIP)andNationalHorticulture with developmentprogrammessuchastheAndhraPradesh which havebeendeployedacrosstheclusterbyconverging approved 30 farm ponds at a cost of Rs 20 lakh. approved 30farmpondsata costofRs20lakh. by projectstaffandthecommunity. Finally, theagency works throughgrampanchayats. Itwascloselymonitored District Water ManagementAgency)thatprocessesNREGS proposal waslatersubmitted to thenodalagency(the prepared identifying30suitablesitesforfarmponds.The all villagesintheSeethagondiclusterandaproposalwas farm ponds,adetailedgroundsurveywascarriedoutin advantage ofthechangedattitudefarmerstowards highlighted ontheproject’sandICAR’swebsites.Taking meetings andseminarswiththemedia;theywerealso Namdev’s experienceswerewidelysharedatdiscussions, to surrenderpartoftheirfieldforapond. began toapproachprojectstaffpledgetheirwillingness farmers whohadearlierresistedtheideaofafarmpond a householdnameinthesurroundingvillages.Several and withinlinedepartmentsinAdilabad.Namdevbecame This successgeneratedalotofinterestamongfarmers success, itmanagedtopullNamdevoutofadebttrap. reluctantly agreed.Thefarmpondwasnotonlyahuge their landtodigapond.Finally, afarmercalled Namdev of persuasiontoconvincefarmerspartwithsome nine timestherecommendedsize.Initially, it took alot of rainwaterbydiggingfarmpondswhosevolumewas district’s Seethagondiclustertoimpoundalargevolume reuse. Withthisinmind,anattemptwasmadeAdilabad of around800mmareidealforrainwaterharvestingand in theseregions.Infact,blacksoilregionswitharainfall Despite this,farmpondsdonotfindwideacceptanceeven period asfineclayparticlesinthesoilactnaturalsealants. In blacksoilregions,waterremainsimpoundedforalonger assistance. have proventooexpensiveforfarmerstoinvestinwithout especially inshallow, porousredsoilregions.Butthey lining thepondwithvariousmaterialshavebeentried, Keeping theseshortcomings inmind,severaloptionslike needs duringanintenseperiodofclimaticstress. water forlong,orthepondistoosmalltomeet This iseitherbecausethesoilsoporousitdoesnotretain saving irrigationarises,waterinthepondhasdriedup. the mainreasonbeingthatbytimeneedforlife- However, thissimpletechnologyhasnotreallytakenoff, agriculture. to mid-termdroughtthatisverycommoninrainfed irrigation tosmallpatchesofcropwhentheyareexposed Such pondsaremeantmainlytoprovidelife-saving rainwater havebeenrecommendedforovertwodecades. Farm pondsasanoptionforharvestingandrecycling with theNREGS Farm ponds:scalingupandconverging Coping withclimatechange 23 ISSUE 19 2010 24 ISSUE 19 2010 harvested waterfromtheopen wells. were abletogrowshort-duration vegetablesbylifting Rs 1,500.Initialresultshavebeen encouragingasfarmers through aPVCduct;thewhole systemcostsnomorethan pebbles) andthenleadingclear waterintotheopenwell a nearbywaterwayintosilt trap(apitfilledwithloose low-cost techniques.Thisinvolveddivertingrunofffrom topological survey, fivewereselectedforrechargingusing Around 50openwellshadbeenabandoned.Afteradetailed water tableupinthislandofparchedfieldsanddrywells. provided drought duringkharif2009,rainfallattheendofseason during thesummerof2009.Althoughtherewasasevere days atRs100perdayperson)forthejob.Work began They weresanctionedRs2.5lakh(translatingto2,500person- inclusion undertheNREGS. the villagecommunitywasencouragedtosubmitthisfor carried outadetailedsurveyandestimateofthework, de-silted bymobilising people undertheNREGS.Project staff in thiscluster. TheJalamalakunta(kunta Two strategieswere adoptedtoaugmentwaterresources borewell wateramongthemselves. has nowagreednottocultivaterabipaddy, andtoshare of pipelinesandborewells.Theentiregroupfarmers brought underprotectiveirrigationbylayinganetwork Over 60acresoflandbelongingto18householdswere social regulationsongroundwaterusagefinallyborefruit. year-long negotiationswiththecommunitytoimplement of theirdryfieldsthatwerecurrentlybeyondreach.Thus, with thepoolingofwatertheycouldnowirrigatepatches farmers, includingthosewhoownedborewells,because development programme.Thisraisedthehopesofseveral borewells inthearea,underitscomprehensiveland The bankrespondedbyfinancingthediggingoftwo This time,theprojectcontactedNABARDforassistance. share acrossalargearea. a fewmoreborewellssothattherewasenoughwaterto provided theprojectassistedcommunityindigging begun seeingthebenefitsandagreedtosharewater, approached thefarmersagain.Bythen,had to repairadefunctborewellasgoodwillgesture,and borewells wereopposedtotheidea.Projectstaffdecided their lands.Initially, thetwofarmerswhoowned neighbours whodidnothavewatersourcestoirrigate consultations withborewell-owningfarmersandtheir as communitycapacity. Itinvolvedaseriesof such asgroundwaterbyinvestingintechnologywell district iscommittedtojudicioususeofscarceresources This projectintheIbrahimpurclusterofRangareddy groundwater usage Social regulationforefficient some runoff that could be harvested, pushing the some runoffthatcouldbeharvested,pushingthe Agricultural revival means‘tank’)was Institute forDrylandAgriculture,Hyderabad, AndhraPradesh Dr SreenathDixitandBVenkateswarlu arescientistsattheCentralResearch prescriptions pushedthrough atop-downapproach. more suitedtoclimatechange thantechnology-intensive innovations andmethodsreveal howlocalsolutionsare sustainable development.Theseneed-based,site-specific different developmentschemescanbeemployedtoinfluence period. CRIDA’s workhereshowshowsynergiesbetween that areabletosustainthechangebeyondproject work iscommunitycapacityandsupportiveinstitutions and produceresults.Thecatalysttomakingtechnologies technologies needafavourableenvironmentinwhichtowork by farmersintheseeightdrought-pronedistrictsshowthat developing people’scapacity. Thechangesbroughtabout nutrients andbiomass,facilitatingasupportsystem, change liesinjudicioususeofscarceresourceslikewater, The successof‘proofing’rainfedagricultureagainstclimate remunerative alternative. a viablewaterconservationoptionbutalso Now, zero-tillmaizehasbeenacceptednotonlyas this practicespreadingto20farmersduringrabi2008. and interactionsfacilitatedbytheprojectteamresultedin 2007. Asustainedcampaignandfarmer-to-farmer training season, onewasabletofinallysowzero-tillmaizeinrabi take upzero-tillmaizeinpaddyfallowsduringtherabi crop. Ofthegroupoffivefarmerswhoinitiallyagreedto convinced tochangetheirmethods,atleastfortherabi water balance.Farmers growing twocropsofpaddywere to educatefarmersontheimportanceofmaintaininga simultaneous trainingandcapacity-buildingwaslaunched activities herewasprovidedtotheNABARDproject, balance. Whiletechnicalsupportforthewatershed in boththekharifandrabiseasons,upsettingwater Farmers whoownborewellsgenerally cultivatepaddy watershedproject. NABARD-funded this clusterarebeingcarriedoutinconjunctionwiththe the soilconservationandrainwaterharvestingmeasuresin percolation ponds,andappropriatecroppingoptions.All and useinthisclusterismainlythroughfarmponds for irrigationsupport.Thestrategyrainwaterharvesting for betterproductivity. Farmers thereforeusegroundwater holding capacityandneedsprotectiveirrigationsupport However, theshallowandgravellysoilhaspoorwater- in termsoftheagriculturalpracticesadoptedbyfarmers. The JaffergudemclusterofWarangal hasprovedprogressive skills thanirrigationengineering(seebox)! of linkingandnetworkingthewellsrequiredgreatersocial land being45acres)withthehelpofsprinklers.Theprocess distributing thewatertoaround18farmers(theircombined networking sixborewellsbelongingtodifferentfarmersand here wasmoreefficientuseofavailablegroundwaterby peri-urban areasaroundHyderabadcity. Theobjective Ibrahimpur clusterofRangareddydistrict,adjacenttothe An entirelydifferentapproachwasadoptedinthe rotting thankstoalonghotspell. Theessentialfoodgrain, late winterfog,andthenthe onioncropwasindangerof crop. Gorakhpur’spotatocrop wasaffectedtoobecauseof before theripeningstage,destroying orbadlyaffectingthe of thelatesowingfearwas thatthewindsmayblowin following peakwinter. Thistimearound, however, because wheat grainisaidedintheripeningprocessbywarmwinds late wintermeanssowingofwheat.The(rabi) Indeed, farmerswereworriedaboutthewheatcrop.A sign ofthebirds.” right timeforustosowwheat.Thisyeartherehasbeenno These birdsflockhereattheonsetofwinter, andthatisthe arrival ofkadakul of winter.” BhanamatiDeviagrees:“We used towaitforthe and rajais(quilts).ButnowevenafterDiwalithereisnosign get coldduringDassehra(October)andweneededsweaters Shakuntala Devi,anothervillager, says:“Earlieritusedto to theGorakhpurEnvironmentalActionGroup(GEAG). weather events, complicating weather predictions,according change hasincreasedtheintensityandfrequencyofextreme now fallsinjust50days.Theindicationsarethatclimate precipitation felloveran80-dayperiod,thesameamount In contrasttoearlieryears,when70%oftheaverageannual waterlogging, drought—allinoneseason! month, destroyingthekharifcrop.Excessiverain,floods, within aweek;nowthelandremainswaterloggedfor over fewerdays.Earlier, thefloodwaterswouldrecede with floodsbecomingmorefrequentduetoheavierrainfall lives inMakhanaha.Villagersspeakofoddweatherpatterns and inJuneitselfwehadfloods,”saysRajendra,whoalso in JulyandAugust.But2009therainarrivedonMay24, September; ourvillageusedtogetfloodedtwiceorthrice “Earlier themonsoonseasonwouldstartinJuneandend eastern UttarPradesh. Makhanaha village(Campierganjblock,Gorakhpurdistrict)in is verybadforourcrops,”saysRamdeen.Heafarmerfrom floods everynowandthen,followedbyalongdryspellwhich rains inNepal.Butnowitincessantlyhere,bringingflash with theriverRohiniswellingtwoorthreetimesduetoheavy “EARLIER THEREUSEDTOBEcontinuouslow-intensityrain, Tackling climatechangeinGorakhpur seed autonomy about thebenefitsofmulti-cropping,alternativefarming,soilmanagementand climate changetoaffecttheircrops.Atsharedlearningdialogues,theyare long dryspellsasaconsequenceofclimatechange.Buttheyarenolongerallowing The peopleofGorakhpurdistrict,UP, havecometoexpectheavyrainsfollowedby birds(sparrow)tosowwheatafterDiwali. was extremelyusefulforidentifying apotentialcourseof used tosupportdiscussionswith regionalstakeholders,it change wasverygeneral.Despite thisgenerality, when “Much oftheinformationavailable ontheimpactofclimate regional flooddynamics,”says apolicybrieffromthegroup. regional researchontheimplications ofclimatechangeon with recentinformationdrawnfromscientificjournalsand focus groupdiscussionsonlocalissuesweresupplemented at thevillage,districtandstatelevel.“DuringtheseSLDs, Action Grouporganisedsharedlearningdialogues(SLDs) effective mitigationmeasures,theGorakhpurEnvironmental themselves inasimilarsituation.Withviewtoidentifying Most villagesintheterairegionofeasternUttarPradesh find Shared learningdialogue the macrolevelmakingentireregionvulnerable. localised issues,saysDrWajih, but theirimpactaddsupat handling offlood-relatedproblems.Thesemayseemlike flow ofwater. Drainageshouldinfactbeaprioritythe Guarantee Scheme(NREGS)—actasbarrierstothenatural and canals,or projects undertheNational Rural Employment return totheriverchannel.Various works—suchasroads floods. Floodwatersentervillages and fieldsthencannot mitigate theeffectsoffloodingareoftenbreachedbyflash forming new lakes.Embankmentsthataredesignedto depth ofsixfeet,inplaces).Rivers sometimes change course, problem ofheavysiltation(the1998flooddepositedsilttoa between theplainsandhills;withfloodscomes flash floods.Instead,heexplains,itisasimplerelationship that Nepalisusuallyblamedforreleasingwaterandcausing Pradesh, DrShirazWajih (whoformedGEAGin1975)says Analysing theagro-climaticsituationineasternUttar breached bytheswirlingwaters. River embankments,builttocontrolthewater, areoften eastern UttarPradesh,floodingthemduringthemonsoon. Pradesh withriversrunningintotheflatplains(theterai)of The HimalayainNepaldescendssteeplytowardsUttar disturbed bytheextremeweather. In short,traditionalcroppingpatternshavebeenseriously flowering phasehasalsobeenaffectedbyadelayedwinter. arhar (apulse),thatrequirescoldweatherduringits Coping withclimatechange SUREKHA SULE 25 ISSUE 19 2010 26 ISSUE 19 2010 Rahul Goswami entire areawasinundated,nofarmingpossible.When and dependedonthelengthofwaterlogging—when the kharifandrabiseasons.Thecropwasuncertain Farmers wereaccustomedtogrowing foodgrainbothduring by farmersinthevillageofSarekhurd(Mehdawalblock). The strategiesidentifiedthroughSLDswereimplemented irrigation indrought-proneareas. insurance systems;andnewsourcesofgroundwaterfor cropping systems;improveddrainage;developmentof can shelterduringaflood;diversificationoflivelihoodand banks andraisedhouses)inwhichpeopletheirassets is high);developmentofpointsrefuge(raisedgrain based textservicesasmobilephoneusageinthevillages village informationcentreshasbeendiscussed,alsoSMS- weather informationandearlywarnings(thecreationof suggested byGEAGare:betteraccesstoclimateand more isneededforaparticularregion.Afewstrategies designed forthemicrolevelseemtobeworking,much The GEAGdialogueshaveshownthatwhilestrategies become worsewithclimatechange. problems likebreachingorblockingofdrainagearelikelyto strategies suchasembankments,whereexistingtechnical highlighted theriskofcontinuingrelianceonconventional action tomitigatetheimpactsofclimatechange.”SLDsalso Agricultural revival low-lying areaadjacenttotheriverRapti.Frequent floods Thirty-five-year-old Chulhaiowns1acreoflandinthe more workinthevillagehashelpedstemmigration. Women’s andchildren’shealth issuesarebeingtackled,and Children whowereearliertakenoutofschoolhavereturned. a dayarenowabletoruntheirhouseholdscomfortably. households thatfounditdifficulttogettwosquaremeals mono-cropping hashelpedstabiliseincomessothatfarming growing fourtofivecropsinayear. Multi-croppinginsteadof crops, nursery, etc.Asaresult,theystartedearningmoreby farming methods,composting,vegetableproduction,cash and livelihoodcommitteeweregiventraininginalternative health —weresetup.Farmers whojoinedtheagriculture — agricultureandlivelihood,disastermanagement, of climatechange.Withthisobjective,threecommittees ensure foodsecuritywhilstguardingagainsttheeffects Sarekhurd howtoformacommonstrategythatwould The Gorakhpurgroupdiscussedwiththevillagersof extremely common. village experiencedfoodinsecurity;migrationtocitieswas sown lateandproductivitydeclined.Mostofthetime families. Inayearofexcessiveflooding,thewheatwas gram, peas,lentilsandchickpeatosustainthemtheir that happened,farmerslookedtorabicropslikewheat, the government,15farmergroups put5hectaresunder because ofrepeatedcropinfestations. Withinputsfrom farming ofchickpea.Individual farminghadalmostceased • ThefarmersofMeerpurPhoolwaria havebeguncollective agriculture departmentandnow practisesorganicfarming. • Jitendrakumarlearntaboutgreenmanurefromthe Rambahal plantbananaonpartofhis3-acrefarm. • Sessionsandmeetingswithhorticultureofficialshelped shows theimportanceofthesecommunitymeetings: horticulture, animalhusbandry, etc.Ashortlistofachievements the attendanceofofficialsfromdepartmentsagriculture, government schemes;theprocesswasmadeeasierthanksto problems andhowthesecouldbeovercomewiththehelpof Meetings wereorganisedwheretheydiscussedfarm-related farmers ofMeerpurPhoolwariadecidedtotakeGEAG’shelp. result ofpooroutreachbytheconcerneddepartments.The these. Theproblemwasscarceinformationonthem,partlya disaster managementschemesandwantedtobenefitfrom were awareofthevariousgovernmentagricultureand Gorakhpur’s JungalKauriablock,GEAGfoundthatfarmers During alearningsessionatMeerpurPhoolwariavillagein Government linkage factoring inthehousehold’sfoodrequirements. farm earnedhimacashincomeofRs35,000in2008,after discourages strayanimalsfromgrazingonhiscrops.Chulhai’s and marigoldsalongtheborderofhisland;thisalso on hiscrops.To controlpestshehassownsaunf,coriander half hisland.Importantly, hedoesnotusechemical pesticides to fallbackon.Onceitgetscolder, Chulhaiwillsowwheaton gets toocoldandthepotatocropisaffected,therearepulses will beharvestedfirstandsold,givinghimacashincome.Ifit on 2%.Thisdiversecropportfoliospreadshisrisk.Theradish onions, radishon5%;peasturmeric2%;andgram on 20%oftheland;mustardandlentils10%;garlic, on halfhisland.Hehasdivideditthus:chilliesandmustard During therabiseason,Chulhaigrowsvegetablesandspices home, hesoldtheremainingtwoquintalsforRs2,000. quintals ofrice.Afterkeepingsomeforconsumptionat of anacreduringthekharifseason.Hiseffortsyieldedsix Chulhai sowedNarendra,anearlyvarietyofrice,onafifth upwards onaraisedplatformormachaan vegetables likebottlegourdandbeansaremadetogrow time intheplants’growthcycle.Duringwaterlogging, waited forthewatertorecedehewouldhavelostprecious water recedes.Thisstrategysaveshimsowingtime;hadhe on araisedplatformandreplantsthesaplingswhen he says.Duringwaterlogging,Chulhaipreparesthenursery advantage throughrightmanagementoftimeandplace,” waterlogging ordrought,anysituationcanbeturnedtoour empowered enoughtotackleanydisaster. “Floods, him andhisfamilyof14.Today, Chulhaiconsidershimself and waterloggingmadethegoingextremelytoughfor . Development, Hyderabad development. ShewasSeniorFellowat theNationalInstituteofRural Surekha Suleisajournalist/researcherand writesonruralissuesandsustainable put theideaofmigratingbehind him. that therewasenoughwork to bedoneontheland.Hehas Meerpur Phoolwaria.He’snowbackinfarmingafterfinding his speechtoaninternationalaudience,andreturned a conference.Prasadfitthebill,madetrip,delivered to Brusselsspeakabouttheimpactofclimatechangeat put outwordthatitwantedtotakeafarmerfromIndia his passportready. ThentheaidadvocacygroupOxfam decided tomigrateDubaiinsearchofwork.Heevenhad his livelihoodinagriculture,so,closetodesperation,Prasad circumstances. Theeffectsofclimatechangewereimpacting 2009. Prasad’svisitcameaboutthroughamixtureof is famousforhavinggonetoBrussels,Belgium,inOctober hero inMeerpurPhoolwariavillage.Farmer MohitPrasad Finally, thecommunitydialoguesthrewup an unlikely as regardsseeds. the sowingseason.That’swhyGEACinsistsonself-reliance months. Butfarmersneedseedsduringaparticularweekin one ortwovillagesatatime,seeddistributiontakesseveral 170 villagesintheblock.Farmers sayeveniftheyarecalled the seeds—asingleofficedistributestofarmersinall office inJungalKauria.Andittookmorethanonetriptoget farmers hadtowaitinlongqueuesforseedsattheblock Rambahal’s neighbourRamPratapSinghcomplainedthat from 15quintalsperhectareto22quintals. income shotuptoRs100,000thanksaproductivityboost Rs 5,000asheusedhisownseedsandorganicmanure; Rs 25,000.In2008,hiscultivationcostscamedownto in 2006werearoundRs8,000;hisearningstotalled received atthedialoguesessions.Hiswheatcultivationcosts income increasedthankstotheknowledgeandsupporthe Rambahal sayshisfarmingcostshavedroppedand These sessionshavebeensuccessfulattheindividuallevel. compost preparation. • Theagriculturedepartmentheldthreedemonstrationson such asneemoil. fertiliser isdropping,tobereplacedbytraditionalremedies seed storage.Evenso,theiruseofchemicalpesticidesand and the50%subsidyonpesticide-sprayingmachines • Farmers usethe90%subsidyonzincandgypsumfertiliser drive theircattletothedepartmentoffice,atblocklevel. regularly tovaccinatecattleinsteadoffarmershaving • Animalhusbandryofficialsnowcometothevillage the bundstotalledalengthofaround3km. against soilerosionbyplacingbundsatstrategiclocations; • Thesoildepartmenthelpedfarmersprotecttheirfarms an earlieryieldof12-15quintalsperhectare. chickpea andgot32quintalsperhectarein2008,asagainst Coping withclimatechange 27 ISSUE 19 2010 28 ISSUE 19 2010 regions intheworld. habitations inSouthAsiaand threatensothersuchdeltaic in Bangladesh),avulnerability thatissharedbyallcoastal coastal populationsintheSunderbans (bothinIndiaand of climatechange,Ailahasshown usthevulnerabilityof predicting morefrequentstorms andcyclonesasaresult the backboneofagricultureontheseislands.Withexperts region. That’swhyitmasksthetrueimpact,forbroke relatively lowcomparedtothehistoryofcyclonesin Although thetollistragicforvictims’families,it was notgreateristhatAilamadelandfallduringtheday. water level.Theonlyreasonthedeathtoll(lessthan100) a no-moonday, Aila’slandfallcoincidedwiththehighest the amplitudeincreasesto5.4-6metres.Thatfatefulday, are atleast3-3.6metres.Onafull-moonorno-moonday, ebb. Inthisinter-tidal zone,dailyfluctuationsin waterlevel But allthishappenedwhenwaterintheriverswasatalow velocity andsomeperipheraleffectsofthe2004tsunami. Aila. Theislandshaveweatheredcycloneswithgreaterwind living orrecordedmemorycouldhavepreparedthemfor equipped todealwithacalamityonthisscale;nothingin but surrendertonature’sfury. Theregionwassimplynot widespread havocthatthebraveislanderscoulddonothing On May25,2009,however, CycloneAilacausedsuch submerged, andtoperpetualrebuilding. to crumblingembankments,cultivatedplotsbeing river currents.Indeed,thepeoplehereareaccustomed onslaught ofthewavesandtheirfoundationsbypowerful suffered continuouserosion,theiruppersurfacesfromthe It wasaconstantbattleasthefragileembankments determination toovercomenature’sunendingchallenges. The peopleoftheSunderbansmaintainedtheir dense populationsprangupontheislands. Soon agriculturebecamepossible,andwitha several monsoonssothatsurfacesalinityofthesoilreduced. keep outthesurroundingsaltwater, andwaitedthrough protective earthenembankmentsallaroundtheislandsto more thanacenturyago.Theyclearedtheforest,made nature sincetheislandswereclearedandmadecultivable have hadmorethantheirfairshareofstrugglesagainst CULTIVATORS INTHEREMOTEislandsoftheSunderbans Agriculture atnature’smercy harvest alittlerice produce, whilethosewhoplantedtraditionalsalt-tolerantvarietiesmanagedto was acostlymistake:everyfarmerwhosowedthemodernseedendedupwithno Cyclone Aila,whichcausedahugeinundationofsaltinthefields,provedthatthis choose modern,high-yieldingvarietiesofpaddy, oblivioustotheirsensitivitysalt. In recentdecades,marketforceshavepromptedfarmersintheSunderbansto Agricultural revival in theSunderbanscametobe dominatedbyricevarieties embankments beingbreached. Andso,modernagriculture new varieties.Thisledfarmers toignoreannualwarningsof demonstrations ofsignificantly increasedreturnsfromthe to salt.Undernormalconditions, therewereindeed varieties, oblivioustotheirsensitivity andvulnerability intrusion, farmersbeganchoosingmodernhigh-yielding sense ofassuranceagainstthepossibilitysaltwater which farmers’choicesaredetermined.Withaperverse decisions, andproductivityhasbecometheyardstickby In recentdecades,marketforceshavebegundriving adjoining regionsofsouthernWest Bengal. Kheetish. ThesewereimportedtotheSunderbansfrom planted, likeDudheswar, NonaBokhra,Shal,and soil decreasedandothervarietiesofricebegantobe agriculture ontheislandsprogressed,salinityof suggesting thattheywereextremelysalt-tolerant.As varieties werenotknowntoexistoutsidetheSunderbans, varieties likeHamiltonandMatlabeinggrownhere.These settlement musthavebeenquitehigh;wehearofrice Soil salinityintheSunderbansduringinitialyearsof that cantoleratesalinityabovethismargin. through theagesindifferentsoilconditions;therearesome The ricefamilycomprisesmanyvarietiesthathaveevolved crops. Butifthesalinityexceeds3dsm,itharmsagriculture. salinity of1-2decisemenspermetre(dsm)isidealforraising islands preferredricewhichissalt-tolerant.Usually, soil It wasonlynaturalthereforethatthefirstsettlerson that israisedaproductofthemonsoon. water forirrigationeconomicallyunviable.So,thesinglecrop been foundbyborewellsonsomeislands),makingliftingof groundwater inmostplacesissalty. Andit’s deep(ashas rain istheonlysourceofwaterforagriculturebecause crop duetotheshortageoffreshwater. Ontheseislands, synonymous withpaddycultivation,inaregionthatismono- on agriculturedirectlyorindirectly. Agriculture hereis the inhabitedislands,around90%ofhouseholdsdepend apart from48othersthatconstitutereserveforests.On There are54populatedislandsintheIndianSunderbans, Agriculture beforeAila SUKANTA DAS GUPTA embankments wererepaired, theSunderbansDevelopment programmes wastoridtheponds ofsalinewater. Oncethe embankments, oneoftheearly livelihoodsupport understood thethreatquickly. Together withrebuilding The peopleoftheSunderbans andtheadministration to supplementagriculturalneedsafterthemonsoons. rotting fish.Thisalsomeanttheendoftankandpondwater after theevent,islandswerefilledwithstenchof the tanksandponds,destroyingfreshwaterfish.Aday time ofyear. Whenthecyclonestruck,saltwatersurgedinto only aminimumlevelofwater, whichisnotunusualforthis Towards theendofsummer2009,tanksand pondshad therefore bothforthepaddycropandfreshwaterfish. the islandersessentialprotein.Themonsooniscrucial Further, thetanksholdfreshwaterfishstocksthatprovide like tomatoesandchillies,whichdowellintheseparts. the rainsareover. Theyalsohelppeoplegrowvegetables ripening ofthemonsoonpaddyinlaststage,wellafter dry season,thetankshelpislandersstorewaterrequiredfor large enoughtoallowforanothermajorcropduringthe for domesticandagriculturalworkthroughouttheyear. Not one tank.Thesetanksarethesolereservoirsoffreshwater various sizes.Almosteverylandedhouseholdhasatleast The Sunderbanislandsaredottedwithtanksandpondsof Tanks andponds irregular anddeficientcomparedtotheaverage. quickly washawaythesalt.Butmonsoonwaslate, hope wasthatalongandheavymonsoonin2009would shortly beforethescheduledonsetofmonsoon.The for heavyshowerstoreducethesalinity. Thecyclonehit Farmers areexpertsintheirfield —theywaitedandprayed would recommendanyvarietyofpaddyforsuchland. showed arangeof9-15dsm!Noexpertonagriculture Sunderbans, measuredatvariousplacesontheislands, coated theuppersurfaces.AfterAila,landsalinityin When, atlast,thesaltwaterreceded,layersofstill exposure tothesurroundingrivers. deposits onthem,dependingthedurationoftheir Cultivable landontheislandsreceivedvariedlevelsofsalt patchwork repairsmorequicklytokeepouttheseawater. embankments wasnottotal,residentswereabletocarryout the exposedland.Inotherareas,wheredestructionof Every incomingtidecontributedtofreshsaltdepositson into low-lyinglandswiththetwice-dailyturnoftide. many partsoftheislands.Thismeantflowsaltwater Cyclone Aila,theycouldnotberestoredforoveramonthin When theembankmentscrumbledunderforceof Soil conditionsafterAila little salt-tolerance. engineered forthemainland,withhighproductivitybut livelihoods mustalsochange every aspectoftheresidents’ alone isnotthesolution; experience shows,salttolerance increasingly fragile.Asthelatest agriculture herewillbecome disruptions toweatherpatterns, daunting prospectoffurther With climatechangeandthe an adequatecrop.Butthenanother problemcroppedup. flowered and,inmanyplaces, showedinitialsignsofbeing salt tosubsidebeneaththesurface soil.Atlasttheplants as vigorouslyusual.Thestanding waterhadforcedthe After transplantation,thepaddy didindeedgrow, albeit not field whentherewasareasonablelevelofstandingrainwater. Those thatsurvivedtheinitialphaseweretransplantedto others thatdidwereweakanddiedintheseedbeditself. first monsoonshowers.Someoftheseedsfailedtogerminate; soil salinitywasrelativelylow. They beganlate,wellafterthe themselves. Theybuilttheirseedbedsonhigherlandwhere They hadnoothermeanstosustaintheirhouseholdsand were readytotakeachancewiththeadverseconditions. number offarmers,manywhom,driventodesperation, Jarava, SabitaandSwarnaseedsweredistributedtoalarge tolerant seedvarietieswereavailableinitsreserve.Lunishree, pockets toattemptcultivation.Itprovidedwhateversalt- Department ofAgriculturetriedtoinducefarmersinlesssaline be high.Thestatehadtodosomething.West Bengal Even afterthe2009monsoon,soilsalinitycontinuedto agriculture orforfreshwaterfish. in thetanksandpondswassaline—unusableeitherfor After themonsoon,therefore,waterthathadcollected with itsaltthathadaccumulatedonthelandsurface. directly fromtherain,ithadflowedacrosslandcarrying was hopedfor. Althoughthepondsdidreceivefreshwater August toOctober. Sadly, theresulthasnotbeenwhat emptied tomakewayforrainwaterfromthemonthsof islands appearedtobesuccessful.Tanks andpondswere With NGOsaidingefforts,therecoveryprocessinmany ready toreceivefreshmonsoonwater. the saltwateroutoftheirinundatedpondsandmakethem area) gavethetankownersmoneytohirepumpsetslift Board (anapexstatebodytopromotedevelopmentinthe Coping withclimatechange 29 ISSUE 19 2010 30 ISSUE 19 2010 Agriculture, WestBengal Dr SukantaDasGuptaisAssistantDirector ofAgricultureattheDepartment the residents’livelihoodsmust alsochange. shows, salttolerancealoneisnot thesolution;everyaspectof here willbecomeincreasingly fragile. Asthelatestexperience disruptions inweatherpatternsandcyclonicevents,agriculture With climatechangeandthedauntingprospectoffurther of theislands’menhavetemporarilymigratedtofindwork. struggle continues,forafterthefailedcropsof2009many able toquicklymobiliseaidandassistance.Yet thelonger-term communications andthevastinformationnetworkthatwas cyclone weremitigatedtotheextentpossiblethanksinstant Compared withagenerationago,theeffectsof2009 that thestruggleforexistenceagainstalloddswillcontinue. what ishappeningtodaytherule,notexception.And by naturallawsandevents.Thishelpsusunderstandthat who chosetomaketheislandstheirhomehasbeendictated over andagain,atalltimesthesustenanceforpeople agree thattheislandshavebeendepopulatedandrepopulated has goneonforyearsaccordingtonature’sdiktat.Historians The cycleofconstructionanddestructionintheSunderbans marginal success. after themonsoon,thesecropsfailedentirelyorhadonly which isimportantforpoorhouseholds.In2009,however, using pondandtankwater, fortheirownconsumption household growssmallquantitiesofwintervegetables, water reserves(tanksandponds)areavailable.Almostevery places wheretransportationisaccessibleandample like sunflower, tomatoesandchilliesarealsocultivatedin requires littleornoirrigation.Othercommercialcrops grain innormalyears.Oneexampleiskhesari,apulsethat Apart fromrice,thecroplandsproducesomepost-monsoon proved totallyunsatisfactoryintheareathisyear. MTU7029, themostpopularpaddyvarietyinWest Bengal, followed byHYVvarietieslikeLunishree,JaravaandSabita. Dudheswar, Marichsal andNonaBokhraperformedthebest, varieties becameglaringlyclear. Localricestrainssuchas The differencebetweenlocalvarietiesandhigh-yielding yielded only1.5-2tonnesperhectare. the Sunderbans—3.5-4tonnesperhectarethisharvest greatly reduced.Comparedwiththeusualriceoutputin their land,harvestedalittlerice.Butoutputwas varieties, andwereluckytohavelowersaltdepositson Those whowereabletocollecttraditionalsalt-tolerant sowed themodernseedvarietyendedupwithnoproduce. to normalcyintheSunderbans?Almosteveryfarmerwho What wastheoutcomeoflong,tiringstruggletoreturn Mixed outcome roots, cripplingtheplantsanddestroyingricegrain. under thesoilsurfacewassuckedbackupbyplants’ the standingwaterinfieldsevaporated.Thesaltfrom The monsoonbeganabatingbeforethericeripened,and Agricultural revival and nature Resilience ofman monsoon rains.Whereembankments couldnotbequickly remained submergedinamixture oftrappedsaltwaterand stretches offields,asIhadexpected. Thesefieldshad Sunderbans, Isawamixedscenario. Therewerevast Further intothemazeofislandsthatmakeup their resilience. and takenrootinthedamagedfieldsshowed weak andyellowish,theveryfactthatseedshadsprouted immediately followingAila.Althoughtheplantslooked pleasant surprisetoseeattemptsatcultivationintheyear patches ofgreenfields,newlyplantedwithrice!Itwasa expected toseeempty, discolouredlands.Buttherewere saline water, standingcropsturnedbrownwithsalt—I of theaftermathcyclone—landssubmergedby Sunderbans hidtheeffectsonagriculture.Withmemories resembling normalcy. Buttheveilofroutinelife inthe situation onthegroundhadlimpedbacktosomething islands onlythreemonthsaftertheevent,whenchaotic I wasabletoembarkonaproperexploratoryvisitthe After Aila are likelytooccurmorefrequentlyinfuture. Climate changepredictionsestablishthateventslikethese that wouldunfoldwithtime. many outsiderslikemesensedthegravityofcalamity relying onagriculture—andthesinglemonsooncrop the all-importantmonsoonseason.Withmostislanders it ensuredlittleornoagriculturefortheinhabitantsduring The destructionwasnotmassiveintermsoflosslife.But drowning almosteverypartoftheislandsinsalinewater. islands’ earthenembankmentsgavewaytonature’sfury, On ano-moonday, withunusualhigh-tide levels, the southern tipofWest Bengal. with thetidenorththroughnumerouschannelsfrom are surroundedbytheBayofBengal,whosewaterstravel the mazeofriversinIndianpartSunderbans.They none ofwhichhasanyfreshwatersource—aremudflatsin monsoon. Theseislands—theofficialfigureis54islands, densely populatedSunderbansislands,justbeforethe2009 CYCLONE AILAdevastatedtheeconomyoflow-lyingbut sprouting sprouting notwithstanding, seedswere three monthslater, salinity in theSunderbans.But broken thebackofagriculture Cyclone Ailaseemedtohave SANTADAS GHOSH from below! little greenleavespeepingout banana trees,buttherewere rotten brownstemsofdead like banana.Isawmanytall gardens andgrewfruittrees people maintainedkitchen embankments nearby. Here, for toolong,evenwithexposed so theriverwaterdidn’tstay surrounding paddyfieldsand generally higherthanthe areas, homesteadlandswere Even inthemostdevastated surface water, comingbackuponlyonhigher ground. themselves deepintheearth tostayawayfromthesalty (salt waterisdeadlytothem); theymusthaveburied although infewernumbers.Earthworms toohadsurvived on themostdamagedislands, thesespecieshadsurvived, would becrippled.Butpeopleconfidentlytoldmethateven a drasticdeclineintheirpopulation,theentireecosystem frogs andearthwormswiththeinhabitants.Iftherewas discussed theimpactofsaltwateronfreshwatersnakes, freshwater ecosystemontheislandshadrevived?I (non-venomous) thatIspottedinafield.Didthismeanthe There weremoresurprisesinstore.Thefirstwasasnake little greenleavespeepingoutfrombelow! rotten brownstemsofdeadbananatrees,buttherewere gardens andgrewfruittreeslikebanana.Isawmanytall embankments nearby. Here,peoplemaintained kitchen the riverwaterdidn’tstayfortoolong,evenwithexposed generally higherthanthesurroundingpaddyfieldsandso Even inthemostdevastatedareas,homesteadlandswere rewarded withsomericeyields. was reducedthankstorainwater, desperatefarmerswere land wastoosalineforseedstosprout.Butwheresalinity repaired andtidalinundationsregularlyoccurred,the changes intheSunderbans Politics, VisvaBharati,Shantiniketan,and hasextensivelychronicledecological Dr SantadasGhoshisaReaderinEconomics intheDepartmentofEconomicsand to (seepreviousissueof be possiblein2009,aviewthatItooinitiallysubscribed the perceptionthatnoagricultureinSunderbanswould following Aila,thereisalsoevidenceofresilience,refuting indicates destructiontoagriculture Although alltheevidence islands intheSunderbansareuseful. of firsthanddatacollectionon323villagesspreadover19 post-Aila livelihoodadjustmentsontheislands,findings As Ihaverecentlybegunnewresearchonthedynamicsof agriculture wasreportedduringthepost-Ailamonsoon. pockets, thelandsurvivedhigh-salinitywashandnormal places, partsofislandsfacedifferentsituations.Inafew In somecases,thisistrueforthewholeisland.other no oneevenconsideredputtinganyeffortintoagriculture. In manyplaces,soilsalinityhadrisentosuchanextentthat and 40%oftheirnormalproduction. attempted agriculturereportedyieldsvaryingbetween25% This patternseemsperfectlyrational,asthosewho using familylabour. agriculture. Itwasmostlysmallfarmerswhotriedtheirluck, salt deposits,bigfarmerswereafraidtotakeariskwith the salinewaterdidn’tstaylong,andlandreceivedless to maketheeffortremunerative.Therefore,evenwhere hectare; itwouldrequiremorethan35%ofnormaloutput for cultivation,thecostwasestimatedatRs3,500per usual output.For largerfarmers whoneededhiredlabour cultivation ifthepost-Ailayieldwasmorethan10%of prices. Therefore,farmersestimatedaprofitinattempting a normalcropwouldyieldvalueofRs10,000,atlocal Rs 1,000perhectareintheSunderbans,againstwhich and theprocessingofricefrompaddytotalsaround farmer families,thecombinedcostoffertilisers,pesticides the familydoesn’tneedtohirelabouragainstcash.For such Monsoon paddycultivationispossibleataminimalcostif everything dependsonfamilylabourandhiredlabour. My discussionswithseveralvillagersyieldedthefollowing: across households,eveninthesamevillage. poor harvestbecausethe‘costs’ofgrowingcropsdiffered was thatsomefamilieswereabletosurvivedespiteavery wanted toknowwhohadtriedandhadn’t.Mytheory farmers attemptedagriculturewhileothersdidnot.I Even onislandswherelandsalinitywasuniform,some Not everyonewithlandriskedeverythingoncultivation. was totryandgrowcrops. trial. Butrightthroughthehardships,theirnaturalinstinct water andanoutbreakofdiarrhoeahasbeenadreadful months oninsufficientreliefprovisions,verylittledrinking For thepopulationoftheseislands,survivingpost-Aila communities). Coping withclimatechange Infochange Agenda oncoastal 31 ISSUE 19 2010 32 ISSUE 19 2010 for thefuture. The plansandpolicesofthe past willthusnomorebevalid cheap energycostsandsubsidies willnolongerbeavailable. will alsobeaffectedasthebenefits theyenjoyedbecauseof rising foodprices.Industrialised systemsoflivestock-rearing inflation reached11.6%inSeptember 2009thanksmainlyto finance ministry’sMid-Year Review2009-10,consumerprice with foodpricesspirallingupwards.Accordingtothe major issueinmanydevelopingcountriesincludingIndia, dependence onagriculture.Food securityisbecominga the effectsofclimatechangebecausetheirgreater The poorarealreadydisproportionatelyvulnerableto sector onclimate. livestock developmentthatismindfuloftheeffects the countrywillnonethelesshavetoembarkonapolicyof is partlybecauseIndia’semissionsfromindustryarelow, opposed toaworldaverageofapproximately6%.Whilethis accounts foraround10%ofIndia’stotalemissionsas Livestock-rearing alongwithotheralliedactivitiestoday stress inlivestockfarming. increased andchangingpestloads,greaterriskofheat distribution, extremeweatherevents,risingsealevels, prolonged andmorefrequentdrought,changesinrainfall hand, climatechangewillimposefreshproblemssuchas disrupted inaworldofdiminishingfossilfuels.Ontheother production tocentresofdemand.Thesepatternswillbe and livestockproducefromareasofcheapsurplus markets, andinternationaltransportofagricultural vertical integrationofcommoditiesintocompetitive This demandsapatternoflivestock-rearingthatincludes having thepotentialtogrowinthisdirection. high. Indiaisnotyetasignificantexporter, butseesitselfas China andIndia.Globaltradeinlivestockproductsisalready increasing affluence,especiallyindevelopingcountrieslike century, asaresultofgrowinghumanpopulations andtheir demand forlivestockwilldoubleduringthefirsthalfofthis sector, several internationalagenciespredictthatglobal with globalwarmingandclimatechange.For thelivestock to cope globalisation areindirectcontrasttowhatisneeded THE CONVENTIONALGROWTHpathwaysrecommendedfor Animal farms communities torevitaliseandre-integratelivestockagriculture. small andlandlessfarmers.OrganisationssuchasAnthraarenowworkingwith rearing andagriculture,leadingtothefurthercrumblingoffragilelivelihoods intensive systems.Asaresult,therewasanartificialdividebetweenlivestock- were encouragedtoshiftfromlow-inputbackyardsystemscorporatisedcapital- The GreenRevolutionimpactedlivestock-rearingaswellagriculture.Farmers Agricultural revival and researchtoaddressproblems thatchallengethepoorest systems, lossofbreeds,inadequacy ofnewtechnologies in alargepartofthecountry isthebreakdownoftraditional But therearemanyinstances offailuretoo.Thedismaltruth cooperative movementboasted anumberofsuccessstories. Subsequently, thepoultryindustrytookoffanddairy where livestockindustrialisationwasalreadyunderway. poultry withbreedsthathadprovedsuccessfulincountries breeds, ourpigswithYorkshires andBerkshiresour merinos fromRussiaandAustralia,ourgoatswithSwiss breeds, oursheepweresoughttobereplacedwithexotic While ourcattlewasreplacedwiththeJerseyandHolstein results. This wasrepeatedinspeciesafterspecies,withmixed genetic material,improvedhealth,andmarketing. fodder, increased feed,artificialinseminationtoupgradeour breeds, andbuffalo-rearingwhichwasbasedonimproved the WhiteRevolutionthatbaseditsmodelonexoticdairy and replacingitwiththedairybuffalo.Whatfollowedwas the work-bullockfromfarmingsystemsintheseinitialareas results oftheGreenRevolutioninIndiawasdisplacement areas ofthecountryrichinnaturalresources.One mechanisation andchemicalfertilisers,beganinthose The GreenRevolutionfocusedonimprovedseeds,irrigation, two predominantmodels:theGreenandWhiteRevolutions. our agricultureandlivestockproductionsystemsthrough The developmentpathselected50yearsagoforIndiadrove largest producersofmilkandeggsintheworld). and 44.5millionkgofwoolin2004-05(Indiaisamongthe (mt) ofmilk,45.2billioneggs,2.12milliontonnesmeat, crore. Thelivestocksectorproduced90.7milliontonnes with meatandproductsaccountingforRs1,720 in 2004-05,ofwhichleatheraccountedforRs2,660crore, livestock, poultryandrelatedproductswasRs5,120crore goat populationsintheworld.Total exportearningsfrom buffalo populationstogether, thirdinsheep,andsecond and 16%ofcattlepopulation.Itranksfirstin the world.Ithas57%ofworld’sbuffalopopulation India hassomeofthelargestlivestockpopulationsin India’s livestock,bynumbers SAGARI RRAMDAS NITYA SGHOTGE sector inthepolicyspace.Therehavebeennomeasuresto imbalances, illustratedintheignoringofunorganised cash cropswithnoediblecropresidue.Therearemany not beenencouraged,withfarmersbeingforcedtogrow recycle cropresiduetofeedanimals.Thisunfortunatelyhas India’s farmingstrengthhasbeenthefarmer’sabilityto The pushtogoprivate more problems. with foodgrain(andcropsforbiofuel)wewillfacemany land forfoddercrops;however, iffoddercropscompete recommendation wastotargetatleast10%ofcultivable resources forlivestockwerenotverysuccessful.The Tenth Five-Year Plan(2002-07)inraisingfeedandfodder shortcomings. For instance,theeffortsmadeduring animal husbandryanddairying,therewereanumberof report ofthePlanningCommission’sworkinggroupon that theearlierpathwasnotsustainable.Accordingtoa Plan (2007-12),theUniongovernmentbegantorecognise areas ofIndiahasbeenadisaster. BytheEleventhFive-Year The expansionoftheseprogrammestodrier, moremarginal and moredependentonexternalresourcesinputs. livestock-rearing fromagriculture,withbothbecomingmore the mostdevastatingresultswasartificialseparationof fragile livelihoodsdependentonlivestockresources.Oneof farmers ofthecountry, andultimately, thecrumblingof have beenrecommendedtokeepticksandfleasatbay. and toxicchemicalslikeivermectin,butoxevenDDT rid ofinfectiousdiseaseandinfestations.Anti-parasiticals past toboostlivestockproductionaswellsupposedlyget other chemicalshavebeenextensivelyadvocatedinthe growth boostersandhormones,anti-parasiticals,urea ushered intheageofchemicallivestock-rearing.Antibiotics, for consumption.Alongwithchemicalagriculture,wealso More worrisomeiswhetherourlivestockproductsaresafe and competewithlargeinternationalpoultrycompanies. farmers arecrumblingunderthestressofhavingtoproduce detrimental tosmallproducers.Already, poultrycontract and qualityoflivestockproducts—couldproveextremely of production—especiallyintermshealthlivestock small producers.India’sinabilitytomeetglobalstandards and largeprivateagri-businessunitsthreatentowipeout from internationalplayers,multinationalcorporations challenges forIndianlivestockproducts.Competition are well-known,globalmarketregimestodayposenew Although India’scooperativemilkmarketingsuccesses per annum. Plan thegrowthrateofmilkproductionwaslessthan3% working groupstatedthatinthefirstfouryearsofTenth market aswellpotentialforexport,eventhoughthe which otherwiseenjoytremendousdemandinthedomestic develop theunorganisedsectorproducingdairyproducts, Livestock

33 Sudharak Olwe ISSUE 19 2010 34 ISSUE 19 2010 56% ofhouseholdsreported ownership ofatleastone to buffaloes.Accordingthe 54thNSSOround,amere shift inthecompositionofbovine populationsfromcattle 1991-92 and2002-03.There hasbeenacorresponding that workingcattleinruralareas declinedby25%between the NationalSampleSurveyOrganisation (NSSO)reports 71% in1961tolessthan23%1991.The59throundof the shareoffarmanimalsasdraughtpowerdecliningfrom There wasadrasticdeclineofbullocksafterthe1980s,with available. with indigenousbreeds,qualityanimalswillsimplynotbe associated geneticmaterial.Shouldfarmerswishtorestock is therapiddisappearanceofindigenousbreedsand The secondeffect,whichhasfar-reaching consequences, end upsellingtheanimalsandlosingtheirlivestockassets. make endsmeet.Themoremarginalisedamongthemsoon the animals,andincreasedhealthcare,theyareunableto find thatbetweenrepayingloans,feedingandwatering water, labour, capital,andhealthcare.Poor familiesoften breeds makegreaterdemandsonourresources,fodder, altogether. This hashadtwoeffects.One,‘high-producing’ ‘high-producing’ varietiesorreplaceindigenousbreeds and policydirectiveshavetriedtoupgradelocalstock not shiftorstepoutoflivestock-rearingaltogether. Efforts farmers cannotcopewiththesechanges;theyeitherdo are beingencouragedtoshiftdairybreeds.Mostpoor poultry farmingorcontractfarming.Smallruminantholders poultry farmersarebeingencouragedtoshiftcommercial systems tocapital-intensive,high-inputsystems.Backyard Farmers arebeingencouraged toshiftfromlow-input Change inlivestockproductionsystems contributing over5%ofnationalGDP. the positiontakendespiteanimalhusbandryanddairying to 0.2%—canbesolvedthroughprivatisation.Thisis decreased overthepast10Five-Year Plansfromabout 1.2% to animalhusbandryanddairying—Planoutlayhas The officialargumentisthatdecliningbudgetaryallocations manpower tocarryoutprogrammesonanimalhealth. are notwell-equippedwithinfrastructureandtechnical states, departmentsofanimalhusbandryanddairying poultry, thelossisborneentirelybyowner. Inmost Regarding diseasesamongsmallruminantsandbackyard disease (Ranikhetdisease)causesubstantialeconomiclosses. contagious bovinepleuropneumonia,andNewCastle blue tongue,sheeppoxandgoatpox,swinefever, Emerging diseaseslikepestedespetitisruminants(PPR), a majorthreattotheanimalproductionprogramme. eradicated, newandemergingdiseasescontinuetopose While thegovernmentmayclaimthatrinderpesthasbeen livestock productsweconsume—milk,meatandeggs. body throughmultipleroutesandultimatelycollectinthe to controlrodentsandotherpests.Theyentertheanimal’s They areoftenusedinplaceswhereanimalfeedisstored, Agricultural revival energy-intensive, promoteexotic hybridsandcrossbreds, and foodsecurity. Thesemodels,whicharecapital-and such developmentandgrowth modelsoffoodproduction civil societygroupshavebeen questioningthevalidityof For severalyearsnow, farmerorganisations, scientistsand economic andmarketlogictherein. of “voluntary”decision;noristhereany“evolutionary” from ruraltourbanareas.Itisnot,asimplied,somekind of theserurallivelihoodsandthedisplacementpeople farmers tofarmandrearlivestock,resultinginthecollapse and livestocksectors,makingitincreasinglyunviable for agriculture the nurturing corporatisationof encouraging and in bytheIndiangovernmentoverpasttwodecades, result ofneo-liberaleconomicreformsandpoliciesbrought forcibly imposedonpeasant/farmingcommunitiesasa services sector. Therealityisthattheso-calledshifthasbeen allied sectorsandamovetowardsurbanareasthe as an“inevitableshift”outofruralareas,agricultureand down from4.5%to2.52%.Thereporttreatsthisdecline that theemploymentrateinlivestocksectorhasgone husbandry anddairyingreaffirmsthisdecline;itrecords Indeed, thereportofworkinggrouponanimal over time,thenumberperruralhouseholdhasdropped. the totalpopulationanddensityoflivestockhasincreased all thesehouseholdsarenow‘non-livestockowners’.While farmers, recentstudiesacrossIndiaindicatethatoverhalfof livestock beingownedbylandless,marginalandsmall matter ofgrowingconcernisthatdespite70%India’s laterally, anddoessomoreequitablythanlandholdings, a penetrates sectionsofruralsocietybothverticallyand marginal andsmallfarmers.Whilethelivestockeconomy There isnowadeclineinlivestockassetsamongstpoor, A falseshiftawayfromlivestock for poorruralfarmerstokeepanimals. The dataindicatesthatitisbecomingincreasinglydifficult confirm thebroadtrendsthatobtaininNSSOstudies. studies carriedoutinGujarat,AndhraPradeshandOrissa landholding category(over10hectaresofland).Micro-level decades. Theaveragenumberhasincreasedonlyinthelarge landless, marginalandsmallfarmersoverthepastthree and goatstockper100householdshasdecreasedamongst 493 (59thround)revealthattheaveragenumberofsheep in allmajorIndianstates.NSSreports402(48thround),and households; itfellfrom54to36.Thisdeclinewasobserved an overalldecreaseinin-milkbovinestockper100rural to just1in2002-03.Duringthesameperiodtherewas per 100rurallandlesshouseholdsfellfrom16in1971-72 2002-03 showthattheaveragein-milkbovinestockowned The 59throundoftheNationalSampleSurveyreports landless households. with thedeclineinlivestockholdingbeingsharpestamong composition varyacrossdifferentlandholdingcategories, livestock in1998-99.Changespopulationsand In contrast,ecologicalagricultural practicespreventthe that thusabdicatesitscentral roleofcriticalenquiry. accepted unquestioninglyby thelargerscientificcommunity change stresses,anddisease resistance —hasbeguntobe — fromincreasingproduction yields,copingwithclimate Biotechnology asaquick-fixtechnologyforallproblems of aprivatisedveterinaryhealthcaredeliverysystem. scientists tocarryoutresearchwithintheframework veterinary servicesduetolackofresourcespersuades acceptance thatthereisnowayforwardbuttoprivatise that havebeendrawnupbytheState.For instance,the end upconductingresearchwithinpresetboundaries extension fieldsas‘givens’—nottobequestionedand and processesevolvingintheresearch,development have beguntounquestioninglyacceptcertainparadigms research institutionsandanimalhusbandrydepartments commodities andtrade,health.Scientistswithin many challengeslieattheinterfaceofagriculture,forestry, between farmersandscientists,acrossdisciplines,as A majoreffortaimsatenablingdialogueandconversations alternative strategies. are detrimentaltofarmingcommunitiesandofferconcrete critical policyresearchcampaignstochallengepoliciesthat food productionsystems.Theyalsoconstitutethecoreof communities thatareinvolvedinrebuildingautonomous proactive outreachprogrammetosensitiseandempower have formedthebasisofongoinglearningasalsofora the soilandclosingcarboncycle.Theseexperiences waste intothesoiltherebyreturningvaluablecarbonto energy efficiency(draughtpower),andrecyclinganimal into ongoingecologicalagricultureinitiativestoimprove government veterinarydepartment,integratinglivestock medicines, accessingpreventivehealthcareservicesfromthe and waterneedsoflivestock,promotingethno-veterinary indigenous livestockandpoultrybreeds,enhancingfodder concrete communitystrategiestoconserveandrearlocal livestock andagriculture.Theseincludedemonstrating with communitiesineffortstorevitaliseandre-integrate challenges posedbyclimatechange.We haveworked and environmentaljusticealsotheemerging with aviewtoaddressingissuesoffoodsovereignty communities. Anthraaimstotransformthecurrentsituation have beenworkingcloselywithfarmingandpastoralist It iswithinthisframeworkthatorganisationslikeAnthra Rebuilding foodsovereignty, copingwithclimatechange to definetheirownfoodandagriculturalsystems. ecologically soundandsustainablemethods,theirright healthy andculturallyappropriatefoodproducedthrough posit thepoliticsoffoodsovereignty:rightpeopleto alternatives tothisglobalmodelofdevelopment,which experiences fromdifferentareasshowthattherearemany driven farmerstodespairandsuicide.Atthesametime, chemical fertilisers,pesticidesandchemotherapy. Theyhave towards meetingthebasicneedsofpoor. freeing upvitalfossilfuelresourcesthatcanberedirected that willforcetherichtoreducetheirconsumption,thereby way ahead,ithastobematchedbypoliticalinterventions While thefoodsovereigntyparadigmisonlysustainable chemical fertilisers. thereby aidingbothagricultureandreducingdemandfor slurry frombiogasplantsisrecycledintolocalagriculture, their energyneedsaretakencareofatthelocallevel.The households makefewerdemandsonfossilfuelenergyas useful domesticenergy. This,inturn,implies thatrural gas thancarbondioxide,isefficientlytransformedinto Methane, whichis22timesmorepotentasagreenhouse energy toruralhouseholds,ithasothermultiplebenefits. generated fromanimalwastenotonlyprovidesdomestic costs, thusthefoodmarket’scarbonfootprint.Bio-energy communities tolocalconsumersreducestransportation strengthening localmarketsbyconnectingfarming raw materialrequiredtoproducechemicalfertilisers.Finally, Manure reducesdemandforfossilfuel,whichisthemain Managing manureisanimportantpieceofthewhole. dependence onfossilfuels. promotes draughtanimalpower, therebyreducingour land fromfoodtofodder. Encouraginglocallivestockbreeds provide vitalfeedforlivestockwithouttheneedtodivert irrigated systems.Localcropsthatalsoyieldcropresidue water reducestheneedforexpensive,energy-dependent drought. Encouraginglocalcropvarietieswhichrequireless retention, reducingtherisksposedbysuddenperiodsof Returning valuablebiomasstothesoilensureswater of greenhousegasemissionsenteringtheatmosphere. build-up ofanimalwaste,therebyreducingthechances Climate Change’.Leisa,24:4,December 2008.p23 Ghotge, NSandRamdas,R.2008.‘Integrated LocalSystemsforMitigating Sovereignty Via Campesina.2007.NyeleniDeclaration. Selingue.Mali:Forum ofFood Indo-Swiss NaturalResourcesManagement Programme,Orissa,India Study ofGenderIssuesintheLivestockSectorOrissa’,technicalreportNo21. Ramdas, S Watershed DevelopmentProgramme,AndhraPradesh’ Interventions: AReportofaStudyCommissionedbyNABARDfortheIndo-German Ramdas, S.2003.‘StrategiesforLivestockDevelopmentinWatershed Institute ofDevelopmentResearch Study ofLivelihoodOptionsunderDrylandFarming Systems inGujarat’.Gujarat Shah, Amita.2004.‘ChangingInterfacebetweenAgricultureandLivestock:A reports(215,338, 408,493) NSSO of Management,Ahmedabad Livestock Farmers andtheIndianLivestockSector:AStatusPaper’. IndianInstitute Chawla, NK,Kurup, MPG, andSharma,VijayPaul. 2002.‘StateofIndian References biodiversity andpeople’slivelihood centre offeringtraining,researchandadvocacyinitiativesintheareasoflivestock, Dr NityaSGhotgeandSagariRRamdasareCo-directorsofAnthra,aresource et al.1999.‘BetweentheGreenPasture andBeyond…AnAnalytical Livestock 35 ISSUE 19 2010 36 ISSUE 19 2010 ownership, security of tenure, land quality issues in cases ownership, securityoftenure, land qualityissuesincases acute anddistressingmanner. Theseproblems relatetoland communities faceinthegeneral population,butinamore ‘progressive setofproblems’that othermarginalised The problemsofwomeninagriculture resemblethe dried fruits,fuelwood,dairyproductsandhandicrafts. labour contributionstoarangeofmarketedproductssuchas women’s effortsarenon-monetisedalthoughtheymakelarge and areinchargeofhouseholdmaintenance.Inmostcases, the householdwheretheyareinvolvedincropprocessing men’s, whileinotherregionstraditionsrestricttheirworkto production —incertainregions,women’stimeinputequals Women playanimportantroleinalldimensionsofagricultural financially stableones. involvement ofwomeninincome-generatingactivitiesthan production, andpoorhouseholdsrequirethegreater representation isgreaterinalliedagriculturethangrain of labourwithinagivenfamilyunit.Usually, women’s background alsohaveimplicationsforthespecificdivision patterns, ethnicaffiliationandeconomiceducational participation inagriculture,thereforelocation,cropping There arecommunity-baseddifferencesregardingwomen’s variations inagro-productionsystems. but thenatureandextentoftheirinvolvementdifferswith women areextensivelyinvolvedinagriculturalactivities, are dominantwithinthedomestictasks.RuralIndian agricultural situations,betakentoalmostequal,women agricultural activitiesmay, inseveralcommunitiesand Although thetimedevotedbybothwomenandmenin as womenwhomanagefarmingwhentheirmenmigrate). 35% ofruralhouseholds(widows,desertedwomenaswell agriculture. Female-headed households rangefrom20%to female workers,and86%ofallruralworkersarein land arewomen:58%ofallmaleworkersand78% market. Adisproportionatenumberofthosedependenton drying vegetables,fruitsandnutsfordomesticuse post-harvest cropprocessingactivitieslikecleaningand weeding, horticultureandfruitcultivationtoaseriesof agro-oriented activitiesrangingfromseedbedpreparation, rural economy. Women andgirlsengageinanumberof therearedistinctmale andfemalerolesinthe IN INDIA, Women farmers:From seedtokitchen communities improved as much10-20%,theecologicalbalancecouldberestored,andfoodsecurityof to suggestthatifagriculturewerefocusedonwomen,outputscouldincreaseby Women contribute50-60%oflabourinfarmproductionIndia. Thereisevidence Agricultural revival generally easiertoadminister. Gatheringoffuelwoodisthe they worklongerhoursandmoreintensively, andare table forwagedifferentialsinagriculturallabour).Moreover, because theirwagesarelowerthanthoseofadults(see certain regions.Girlsarepreferredincottonseedproduction is estimatedat50%to60%oftotallabour, muchhigherin In allfarmproduction,theaveragecontributionofwomen Women’s rolesrangefrommanagers tolandlesslabourers. varies withtheland-owningstatusoffarmhousehold. The modeoffemaleparticipationinagriculturalproduction water isthatmuchgreaterandmoreacute. dependence onagriculturecommonlands,forestsand tending ingeneral,foodsecurityneedsandsoon.Their roles —fuelwoodcollection,fodderlivestock related tomanagementofthehouseholdintheirreproductive existing genderrolesthatwomenareexpectedtofulfil,mainly women farmorethanmen(positiveornegative),giventhe Any changesinlandownershipandagriculturalpatternsaffect in termsofagricultureandthesupportsystemsitrequires. where landownershipisassured,andmanagementissues KAVYA DASHORA

Sudharak Olwe Organic farmingneedspromotion toincreasewomen’s advantages oflandownership vestingwithwomen. do notholdmuchgroundgiven theoutweighing more sustainableuse.Thearguments forlandfragmentation men tothosecontrolledbywomen. Women alsoputland to 10-20% ifinputswerereallocatedfromplotscontrolledby been reportedthatoutputcouldbeincreasedbyasmuch as tangibly thanworkinginagender-neutral manner. Ithas and foodsecurityforcommunities,allincreasemuchmore positive socialimpactslikeincreasedstatus,self-confidence productivity, restorationofecologicalbalance, forhigh in awoman-centricmanner, thepotentialforincreased lower returnsfortheirwork.However, whenaddressed production and,becauseofgenderdiscrimination,get health hazards.Theycarrytheheavierworkburdeninfood bear thedisproportionatecostsofbothdisplacementand shifts agricultureintocapital-intensivemode,women producers offoodfromseedtokitchen,andasglobalisation society. Theyhaveconventionallybeenboth expertsand seed-keepers andseed-processorsiswellknowninour during theagriculturalyear. Theirtraditionalroleasprimary household fieldsandothertasksthatwomenundertake determined bythelifecycleofhousehold,location The roleofwomeninagriculturalproductionislargely increases theirriskofgender-based violence. education orothereconomicandpoliticalenterprises, decreases thetimethatwomenareabletospendon deforestation orextensiveforestkillfromdiseaseinfestations) drought, desertificationorincreasedsalinity)andfuel(dueto environmental stress.Increasedtimetocollectwater(due disease andfamine,especiallywhencommunitiesareunder make womenandgirlsmoresusceptibletopoornutrition, distribution offoodmaybeinfluencedbygenderand unique nutritionalandhealthneeds.Publicfamilial (10-15% ofallwomen,atanygivenpoint)astheyhave be especiallydetrimentaltopregnantornursingwomen limits cleanwater, hygieniccare,andhealthservicescan seed varietiesandfertilisers).Damagetoinfrastructurethat watering technology, farmimplements,climate-appropriate limited accesstocreditandagriculturalservices(forexample, to purchasetechnologyadaptclimatechangedue in women-headedhouseholds.Poor womenarelessable options andexacerbatesfinancialstrainonwomen,especially Limited rightsoraccesstoarablelandfurtherlimitslivelihood climate-related damagetoorscarcityofnaturalresources. and women’slivelihoodsare,therefore,directlyimpactedby environment fortheirlivelihood.Maintenanceofhouseholds Rural womenareoftendependentonthenatural the seedisplanteduntilitharvested. weeding, arerecurrentdailyactivities,lastingfromthetime within astipulatedtime.Female activities,however, suchas fertiliser applicationareone-timejobs,usuallyaccomplished activities suchaslandpreparation,planting,sowing,and exclusive responsibilityofwomenandgirls.Ingeneral,male All-Indiaaveragedailywageratesinagriculturaloccupations(Rs)—2007-08 New Delhi Kavya DashoraisascientistattheNationalBureauofPlantGenetic Resources, increased outputswithsecure landrights. There isempiricalevidenceto suggestthatwomencangive empowerment ofwomenbut alsoforefficiencyinlanduse. has argued,thisisnotjustforthewelfare,equalityand of thematter. AsresearcherandwriterBinaAggarwal — notjustinlaw, butinpractice —seemstobethecrux agriculture. Therefore,effectivelandrightsforwomen go alongwaytowardsachievinggenderequityinIndian rights andjointbankaccountswiththeirhusbandswould involved. Empoweringwomenfarmerswithlandholding in whichalargenumberofwomenaredirectlyandactively sector (suchastea,coffee,rubber, arecanutandcardamom) for minimumsupportpricestobefixedtheplantation based ongenderwhichmustbeaddressed.Onesolution is for unnecessaryagriculturalinputs.Thereisawagedisparity chemicals, andavoidadrainonscarcefamilyincometopay productive roleinagriculture,decreasehealthhazardsfrom Dec-07 Jun-08 May-08 Apr-08 Mar-08 Feb-08 Jan-08 Dec-07 Nov-07 Oct-07 Jul-07 Jun-08 May-08 Apr-08 Mar-08 Feb-08 Jan-08 Dec-07 Nov-07 Oct-07 Jul-07 Jun-08 May-08 Apr-08 Mar-08 Feb-08 Jan-08 Sep-07 Aug-07 Nov-07 Oct-07 Jul-07 Source: ‘Wage Rates in Rural India 2007-08’, Ministry of Labour, Government of India of Government Labour, of Ministry 2007-08’, India Rural in Rates ‘Wage Source: Sep-07 Aug-07 Sep-07 Aug-07

72.56 92.56 74.76 71.78 72.40 86.72 72.59 75.33 74.44 72.77 73.32 71.96 72.91 73.12 71.96 95.47 94.91 95.16 94.72 92.62 89.84 89.46 73.47 72.94 76.71 75.51 75.67 74.97 74.10 72.96 71.38 89.68 88.43 72.21 86.96 77.66 Men Men Men

Transplanting

Ploughing Threshing Women Women Women 58.15 46.00 62.85 58.96 61.27 52.14 61.31 61.06 58.34 57.62 58.08 58.45 58.32 61.41 59.95 50.00 52.00 64.38 47.14 46.50 58.00 60.38 64.38 63.95 63.74 63.31 63.05 61.63 58.63 48.13 46.43 61.14 46.88 62.13

Children Children Children

41.10 46.19 44.00 45.14 41.96 40.27 41.27 39.08 38.24 38.07 44.67 46.24 38.78 40.53 48.24 46.67 45.79 45.79 45.79 45.14 44.71 42.53 Women farmers

69.40 79.60 74.78 73.27 70.26 74.80 73.37 74.59 72.20 72.88 70.75 71.55 74.88 74.45 75.08 84.03 84.06 82.86 81.92 79.64 77.79 77.54 74.57 71.07 79.58 78.23 76.95 75.13 74.19 74.21 73.66 77.74 76.26 72.01 75.10 75.29 Men Men Men Harvesting

Women Women Women Sowing Picking 57.17 58.26 61.87 60.62 57.95 53.57 60.83 60.07 60.19 59.97 56.51 56.16 57.14 61.12 61.98 58.54 59.46 59.17 59.04 58.45 56.13 55.79 57.37 56.98 66.11 64.50 63.82 62.94 61.36 60.73 61.83 56.53 56.18 57.63 55.00 60.65

Children Children Children 46.74 48.80 44.02 38.44 40.02 41.77 41.40 38.16 43.20 45.27 42.40 41.24 40.82 41.48 40.18 44.50 45.56 45.00 44.44 44.44 43.91 44.00 39.77 38.56 44.68 43.83 44.54 45.11 44.10 43.14 39.60 45.01 45.25 36.68 43.91 37.89

48.07 70.30 71.34 68.88 46.07 68.45 68.38 48.29 48.49 48.53 48.26 47.30 47.47 70.30 71.46 74.41 72.49 72.00 70.95 71.21 69.23 68.71 46.88 46.57 73.76 73.03 72.12 71.99 71.74 69.75 69.93 68.69 66.82 46.41 67.53 49.38 Men Men Men Herding livestock Winnowing

Weeding Women Women Women 37.53 58.67 56.70 53.70 36.89 55.82 55.13 38.81 38.78 38.23 38.06 37.39 37.46 54.30 54.79 62.49 61.80 60.05 59.35 59.61 57.56 57.04 37.46 36.50 57.80 58.39 57.83 57.22 57.22 55.15 54.89 56.35 55.14 36.92 55.32 39.29

Children Children Children

31.32 43.01 43.45 30.55 40.06 38.53 32.36 32.16 32.05 31.47 30.75 30.81 43.89 43.00 41.67 42.23 43.91 42.28 42.15 30.45 30.80 42.53 40.45 39.53 40.53 40.53 43.24 41.46 30.62 41.25 33.45

37 ISSUE 19 2010 38 ISSUE 19 2010 was lowerbyover10%inthe caseofmaleworkers. of labourersinagriculture.In contrast,thisproportion half ofwomenfarmerswere engaged inthecapacity to bemoreconfinedagriculture thanmen.More in Maharashtrawas76.72% in 2001.Thus,womenseem female workersinagriculturetototalmain Parikh andSarthiAcharyasaythatthe proportionof on Women Farmers: AGenderBudgetingAnalysis’,Alka In theirstudy‘ImpactofMaharashtra’sAgriculturePolicies growing pressurefromurbanisation. capital andwhoseruralagriculturallanduseisunder Maharashtra andGujarat,bothstatespursuingindustrial and insightsemergedfromastudyconductedin Programme (UNDP)inIndia2004,valuableperspectives Resource CentreoftheUnitedNationsDevelopment policies onwomen,heldbytheHumanDevelopment In theconsultationonimpactofmacro-economic inputs. significant delaysinprocurementofcreditandagricultural are requiredbeforecreditcanbeprovided.Thiscauses titles remaininthemen’snamesandsignatures when theyneedit,ifatallgetsincemostland is constrainedbywomen’sinabilitytosecurecredit farm managers.Yet, effectivemanagementbywomen migration ofmenhasledwomentobecomedefacto access toresources.InNepal,forexample,large-scale they oftenliveamongtheworld’smostpoor, withlimited exceedingly vulnerabletoclimatechange,especiallyas on naturalresourcesandagriculturethatmakesthem so on.Itistherelianceofadivasiandindigenouswomen locations, weeding,fertilising,processingproduce,and gardens, bearingresponsibilityforchoosingseedsand women arethechiefproducersinjhumfieldsandhome feminisation ofagriculturalwork.Asisseenworldwide, Indigenous communitiesarenotimmunetothis women. with therelegationoflessprofitablecropproductionto agriculture sectors.Thesefactorsareoftencombined of menforbetterpaidworkinagricultureandnon- workplaces —andcommoncausesfordistressmigration of womenonacasualbasisinsmallunregulated reflects commoncircumstances—increasedemployment feminisation ofagriculturallabourdiffersacrossregions,it pieces oflandlessthan0.2hectares.Whiletherate women, largelyassubsistencefarmerswhoworksmall the poorerarea,highercontributionof A generalpatterninIndiaandthroughoutAsiaisthat approximately 50%ofagriculturalandlivestockworkers. in lessindustrialisedAsia.InIndia,womenconstitute labour force,andperformmorethan70%offarm Women constituteapproximately70%oftheagricultural Feminisation ofagriculturallabour Agricultural revival increased. scarcities followedand,asaconsequence,women’swork half theworkingpopulation.Water, fuelwoodandfodder incomes inagriculture,whichstillcontinuestooccupy stagnancy inagriculturalgrowthandadeclinepercapita the environmentalfrontstartedtakingplace,leadingto economic growthatanycost.Seriousdeteriorationon policy environmentreachedasituationofpursuing and economicgrowth.Inthedecadeof1980s, has alwaysgivenprimacytoindustrialdevelopment The studysaysthatGujaratstate’spolicyenvironment is congenial,thatis,onewhichhuman/women-centric.” utilisation cantakeplaceonlyinapolicyenvironmentthat development andgenderequity, andtheirappropriate programmes. Adequatebudgetaryallocationsforwomen’s few resourcesisnotanewobservationingovernment of someprogrammesareobserved.Thisthinspread though inafewindividualvillagessomepositiveimpacts status. Impactisalsonotobservedatthetalukalevel, overall developmentofwomenandimprovementtheir of theachievementsanyprogrammeson here andafewwomentherebenefit.Thereisnoreflection programmes haveverymeagrecoverage.Afewwomen getting meagrefunds,”saytheauthors,“thuseachof are alargenumberofschemesandprogrammes,all development andgenderequityistoofragmented.“There budget analysisshowedthattheapproachtowomen’s Mahadevia andVimalKhawas,foundthatanoverall Agriculture LabourHouseholdsinGujarat’,byDarshini and ProgrammesonWomen ofSmallandMarginal In Gujarat,thestudy‘ImpactofAgriculturalPolicies workload asunpaidfamilyworkers. raise women’sstatusorwhethertheyonlyincreasetheir whether animalhusbandryprogrammessubstantially 1998-2002. Butitisopentofurtherinvestigationas have beendeclininginthefouryearsunderthisstudy, allocations toanimalhusbandryandthefisheriessector men migrateduetoincreasedirrigationoutside.Budgetary only inthelowestrungs;theirworkloadwouldincreaseif Irrigation wouldbenefitwomen,buttheymightfindjobs four years(1998-2002),allocationswereslashedin2003-4. After tryingtomaintainirrigationexpenditurelevelsfor schemes explicitlyaddressingtheneedsofwomenfarmers. agriculture (lessthan1%ofthetotalbudget)isdevotedto in the1990s.Just6%ofbudgetfundsallocatedto case offemale(104%)comparedtomaleworkers(71%), note. “Thegrowthinagriculturalwageswasfasterthe percentage ofpeoplelivingbelowthepovertyline,”they “Real wageshaveincreased,leadingtoadeclineinthe as beingabovesmall-farmer level, theycannotbeexpected productivity islow;although thesefarmersarecategorised deliver asurplustorepaytheir debts.Thisisbecauseland enough producetomeettheir minimumneeds,letalone this category. The extentoflandheldbythemdidnotyield most farmerswhocommittedsuicideinVidarbhawere land, andconstitutingabout11.7%oftotalholdings,since semi-medium farmerswithholdingsizesof2-4hectares Further, itisdifficulttoignorethosewhoareclassifiedas together accountforahigh81.9%ofoperationalholdings. holdings, whichmeansthatsmallandmarginalfarmers with plotsizestotalling1-2hectaresmadeup18.9%ofthe farmers withlessthan1hectareofland.Small of operationalholdingsin2001washeldbymarginal Census Divisiondata,63%ofthetotal159.9millionhectares According totheMinistryofAgriculture’sAgricultural Farm size summarise landholdingsizesinIndia. reviewing thefarmcreditscenario,itwouldbeusefulto community —didnotgettheirfairshareofcredit.Before that smallfarmers—whoconstitutethebulkoffarming the officialdata.Thereisenoughproofforustoconclude version ofagriculturalcreditandthenumbersthatmakeup Yet theexperiences offarmersdonotmatchthis‘alliswell’ reports, looksunlikelytobemissed. 10, thetargetisRs325,000crorewhich,fromallavailable This toowasexceededbyaroundRs7,000crore.For 2009- A highertargetwassetfor2008-09—Rs280,000crore. crore. by Rs348 crore, wasexceeded of Rs225,000 2007-08, agricultural sectoriswellsuppliedwithcredit.Thetargetfor Judging bythetargetssetandachievements, targets forthefollowingyear. happened injusttwoyears.Hewentontosetbiggercredit then Unionfinanceminister, inhis2007-08budgetspeech, to bedoubledinthreeyears.That,claimedPChidambaram, In 2004,thegovernmentwantedcreditflowtosector that ithasnotonlyachieveditstargets,butsurpassedthem. institutional agriculturalcredit.Theaggregatedatashows THE GOVERNMENThasgoodreasontobehappywith Empty claimsoffinancialinclusion policies andpracticestreadthepathofexclusion a balanceoverRs100.Itisparadoxicaltotalkabout‘inclusivegrowth’whenour opened wereinoperative,72%hadzeroorminimumbalance,andonly15% the agriculturalsector. Butthesenumbershavelittlemeaning:85%ofaccounts Government hasbeenbroadcastingitssuccessindoublinginstitutionalcreditto on Financial Inclusion’s observation (the C Rangarajan on FinancialInclusion’sobservation(theCRangarajan no bankingservicesatall,letalonecredit.TheCommittee institutions. Infact,51%ofallfarmers,bigandsmall,enjoy marginal and70%ofsmallfarmersdonotgetcreditthrough According toaWorld Bankreport, asmuch87%of between creditandthosewhomitissupposedtoreach. small andmarginalfarmers?Manystudiespointtothegap every yearforthelastthreeyears,howmuchofitreaches While totalcredithas,accordingtotheofficialdata,increased agriculture policythatignoresthesefactswillbeeffective. farmers are0.40,1.41and2.72hectaresrespectively).No (the averageholdingsofmarginal,smallandsemi-medium means theaveragesizeofholdinginIndiais1.32hectares distributed over120.8millionholdings,bigandsmall.That million hectaresoftotaloperationalareainthecountryis 62.96% ofthetotaloperationalarea.For thatmatter, 159.9 operate in100.6millionhectares,whichworksoutto medium —accountfor93.6%ofholdings.Together, they These threeclassesoffarmer—marginal,smallandsemi- waiver ofinstitutionalloans.) included inschemeswithevenlimitedbenefit,suchas must recognisethat‘semi-medium’farmershavetobe to bemuchabovethepovertyline.(Thisiswhypolicymakers Rural credit P SMRAO 39 ISSUE 19 2010 40 ISSUE 19 2010 cases, workerslost90days’wages. to completethepaperworkdemanded ofthem;inextreme to visitbanksandgovernment officesanumberoftimes order togetloansandsubsidies. That,apartfromhaving and Vizianagaramdistricts— reportedpayingabribein sample villages—oneeachin Mahboobnagar, Anantapur Worse, asizeablenumberoffarmersstudiedinthethree may getonaccountofinterestsubsidy. cost aloneoftencancelsoutwhateverbenefitthefarmer as insurancepremium(2.5%onrabiand2%kharif).This two cropsinayearhastopay4.5%ofhis/herloanamount to thefarmer’sburden.Apaddygrowerwhotakesloans for compulsory forbankborrowers,addinganotherpremium way ofcollectingextrafees.Inaddition,cropinsuranceis all banksimposetheseuniformly, yeteverybankhasitsown process andappraisalchargeledgerfoliocharge.Not charge, serviceno-duescertificatefee,goldloan fee, inspectioncharge,penalinterest,equitablemortgage there areotherchargesleviedbybankssuchasprocess up tothetimethatloansdonotbecomeoverdue.Then which thegovernmentinterestsubventioniseligible,and interest scalecomingintoplayonlyincaseofloansfor rates rangingfrom7%to16%,withthelowendof costs tooareburdensome.Theyincludedhighinterest in rainfedareasofAndhraPradeshconfirmsthatthese institutions isreasonable.AstudyIrecentlyconcluded This isnottosaythatthecostofborrowingfrom have intheprocessofdebtredemption. farmers. Thus,poorfarmerslosewhateversmallassetsthey who havenocollateralismorethantheratechargedtorich in developedcentres,andtheratechargedtopoorpeople annum. Interestratesinbackwardareasarehigherthan own admission,rangesbetween24%and48%per non-institutional sources,accordingtothegovernment’s cost ofinterestandharshterms.Theratefrom depend oninformalsourcesofcreditandthenbearthehigh all theirrequirements;thismeansmostfarmershaveto institutional credit.Moreover, thosewhodocannotmeet This suggeststhatthebulkoffarmersdonotget group, thegreaterisexclusion.” regions, socialgroupsandassetholdings.Thepoorerthe that exclusioningeneralislarge,italsovarieswidelyacross and centralregionsrespectively. Thus,apartfromthefact 95.91%, 81.26%and77.59%inthenortheastern,eastern proportion oftotalfarmhouseholdsisespeciallyhighat households notaccessingcreditfromformalsourcesasa which one-thirdalsoborrowfrominformalsources).Farm of totalfarmhouseholdsareindebtedtoformalsources(of Further, despitethevastnetworkofbank branches, only27% credit, eitherfrominstitutionalornon-institutionalsources. out ofatotal89.3millionhouseholds,donotaccess that 45.9millionfarmerhouseholdsinthecountry(51.4%), “National SampleSurveyOrganisation(NSSO)datareveals Committee, 2008)onfarmersnotgettingenoughcreditis: Agricultural revival Table 1 the focusbeingonfinancial viabilityofRRBsratherthan been broughtdowntothelevel ofothercommercialbanks, 1992-93. Theirresponsibility of prioritysectorlendinghas have changedcharacterafter thereformsintroducedin set uptoprovidecreditweaker sectionsinruralareas, Similarly, regional ruralbanks(RRBs),whichareexclusively responsible forprovidinglivelihoodsandfoodtothenation. principles arenowwidelyappliedtolendingasectorthat’s the socialapproachofprotectingagriculture.Commercial concerns oflendingagenciesaretakingprecedenceover and highcostofoperation.Thisshowshowtheviability suitable forrurallendingowingtotheircommercialapproach nearly 78%in2008-09.Earlier, theywerenotconsidered year fromwhichbankingreformsstartedtakingroot,to banks haveincreasedtheirsharefrom33%in1992-93,the While cooperativeshavebeenlosingground,commercial helping thefarmsector. position inagriculturalcredithadreformsbeenaimedat all overIndia—wouldhaveledthemtooccupyadominant network ofcooperatives—thereareover100,000outlets in 2002-03andover50%aboutadecadeago.Thewide has droppedtoamere12.8%in2006-07,from33.9% agricultural institutionalcredit—intotal of cooperatives—whichwereoncesynonymouswith credit deliverysystemandfinancialinclusion.Theshare the governmentistalkingaboutstrengthening sections aremovingawayfromthatrole,atatimewhen set uptomeetthecreditneedsoffarmersandweaker Another worrisometrendisthatspecialisedinstitutions years, asshownintheaccompanyingtable. bank creditwasintheregionof12%duringlastfive The shareofagriculturalandalliedactivitiesinthegross banks; itwas10.9%to15.9%inthecaseofprivatebanks. credit between2003and2009,inthecaseofpublicsector credit rangedbetween14.5%and17.2%ofthenetbank India data,theshareofagriculturaladvancestonetbank agriculture israrelyfollowed.AccordingtoReserveBankof livelihood. Thenormofearmarking18%netbankcreditto them dependentonagricultureandalliedactivitiesfortheir although 72%ofthepopulationlivesinruralareas,most percentage oftotalbankcreditdecliningovertheyears, There istherelatedissueofagriculturalcreditasa by, regardlessofclaimsmadebythecentralgovernment. All thissuggeststhatagriculturalloansaredifficulttocome

Source: RBI’sAnnualReport2006-07and2008-09 Share ofagricultureingrossbankcreditIndia(2005-09)(AmountRscrore) usadn giutr n Pretg n Total bank Percentage in Agricultureand Outstanding Mar-09 Mar-08 Mar-07 Mar-06 Mar-05 up to allied activities 338,656 275,343 230,180 173,875 124,269

12.78 12.25 12.49 12.04 11.88 total 26,48,501 22,47,289 18,41,878 14,43,920 10,45,954 credit It iswelldocumentedthatthe currentagriculturalcrisis pointed thisoutrecently. have bankbranches—RBIGovernor DrDSubbaRaohimself are morethan600,000settlements inIndia,only30,000 we hearagreatdealabout‘inclusive growth’.Whilethere banking servicestothepeopleistakingabackseatalthough focus beingonprofitability, thesocialobjective ofproviding around 12,500,whichwastheratioinearly-1990s.The population-to-branch ratiohasgoneupto15,000from Overall, evenwithatotalof76,050bankbranchesthe share butinabsolutenumbersalso(seeTable 2). rural andincreaseinurbanbranches—notonlyrelative respectively. Thechangeisseen—bothin thereductionof metropolitan brancheshasincreasedby5,829and7,155 by March2008.Incontrast,thenumberofnewurbanand down by4,313,from35,389branchesin1993to31,076 of scheduledcommercialbanks(includingRRBs)hascome centres. AccordingtoRBIdata,thenumberofruralbranches are eitherclosingruralbranchesorshiftingthemtourban Commercial banksasablocareshowinganurbanbias.They Closure ofruralbranches urban depositsofRs32,866crore. Similarly, theirdepositportfolioofRs85,311 crorecontains Rs 52,449crore,theirruralcreditisonly35,003crore. While theiroutstandingcredit,asofSeptember2007,is did thesebankshaveinurbanandmetropolitanareas? total of15,029branches,asMarch2008.Whatbusiness metropolitan and751urbanbranchesamongacombined tiny commercialbankswithasocialapproach’—have73 and definedas‘region-based,rural-oriented,low-cost Regional ruralbanks—originallyconceivedas‘socialbanks’ exist asseparateentities. function ascommercialbanksthereisnoneedforthemto from theoriginal100%—acompleteU-turn.IfRRBsareto to earmarkonly10%oftheirlendingweakersections, financial aidtofarmers.Asaresult,RRBsarenowmandated Institution/Year Table 2 Note: Figuresinparenthesesindicaterelativesharetotal Source: EconomicSurvey2006-07,GOIandannualreportsofdifferentyearsNABARD banks Total agencies Other Commercial rural banks Regional Cooperatives (Amount inRscrore) Share ofdifferentinstitutionsinformalagriculturalcredit,India -

831 (33.00) 15,169 4,960 (5.00) (62.00) 9,378 1992-93

6,070 (8.72) (57.17) 69,560 80 39,774 (33.97) 23,636 2002-03

7,581 (8.71) (60.29) (30.89) 86,981 52,441 ------84 26,875 2003-04

12,404 (9.89) (65.02) (25.07) 125,309 81,481 31,425 2004-05

(8.43) 15,223 (69.73) (21.83) 180,486 125,859 39,404 2005-06

(10.00) (69.05) 20,434 (20.00) 203,296 140,382 42,480 2006-07

(9.93) (71.11) 25,312 (18.95) 254,658 181,088 48,258 2007-08

(9.30) (77.89) 26,724 (12.80) 287,149 223,663 36,762 2008-09

farmers attheirheart. policies thatgenuinelyhavetheinterestsofagricultureand emerge onlywhensincereeffortsaremadetoputinplace of India’sruralpoor. Resultsthatreflecttrue‘inclusion’will the contraryneitherhidetruthnorreducesufferings and marginalfarmersareharddoneby;anyassertionsto rural areasingeneralandagricultureparticular. Small These examplesshowthatrecenttrendsaregoingagainst the lendingprocedure. borrowers areconvertedtoKCC holderswithoutchanging used ascreditcards.Instead,agriculturalcash(ACC) Rural Development(NABARD)—mostofthecardsarenot data compiledbytheNationalBankforAgricultureand of cardswereissued—86,359,000by2009,accordingto credit cardsisthesame.Althoughanimpressivenumber had abalanceofoverRs100.Theexperiencewithkisan zero orminimumbalance,andonly15%ofaccountsstudied accounts openedwereinoperative;72%ofhad Financial ManagementandResearch,foundthat85%of Chennai-based CentreforMicrofinanceoftheInstitute by theCollegeofAgriculturalBankingRBIand any tangiblebenefitstothepoor. Astudy, jointlyconducted inclusion’. Buttheopeningofbankaccountsdidnotbring campaign districtsweresaidtohaveachieved‘financial 2008, tremendousprogresswasreported:155outof355 all households,aspartoffinancialinclusion.ByNovember banks toopenaccountswithsmallornodeposits,covering proved uselesstofarmers.InNovember2005,theRBIasked Measures likeno-frillsaccountsandkisancreditcardshave have alsohikedbankingandcreditcostsforthissection. by farmers,particularlysmallandmarginalthey reforms havenotonlyresultedinreducedaccesstocredit our policiesandpracticestreadthepathofexclusion.The It isparadoxicaltotalkabout‘inclusivegrowth’whilst needs offarmers,particularlysmallandmarginalones. itself indicatesthefailureofinstitutionalcredittomeet unable tocleartheirdebts,mainlyprivatesources.This Farmer suicidesareseentobetheconsequenceoffarmers product prices,andtheabsenceofextensionservices. unresponsive institutionalmechanism,non-remunerative public investmentinagriculture,risinginputprices,an is theresultofahostfactorsincludingdeclining was formerlywiththeAndhraPradeshGrameenVikasBank Dr PSMRaoisaconsultantonmicrofinance,ruralcreditandlivelihoodissues. He Rural credit 41 ISSUE 19 2010 42 ISSUE 19 2010 even theelderly. Then,becausereturnsaretoolowto But thewholefamilyworkson thefarm—children,women, production systems,especially smallandmarginalfarmers. Very often,farmersdonotfactor labourcostsintotheir for goodcompost?Andinthe quantitiesrequired? terms oflabour. Howwouldtheymaintainmoisturelevels one familycoulddoallthisandmanagethehugecostin did notdecomposeuntiltherainscame.Iwonderedhow had madeseveralcompostheaps,andtheyjustgrew; right, andwaterisatapremiumintherollinguplands.We You havetowateritregularlykeepthemoisturelevels requires agreatdealofeffortintermstimeandlabour. grudgingly, andthenholdsback.Justmakingcompost some years.TheredinorganicsoilofKashipurgivesalittle, permaculture, doubledigging,andothertechniquesfor We hadbeenexperimentingwithorganicfarming, monitored stockof‘local’non-exoticworms. replenishing hersuppliesseveraltimesfromourcarefully difficult togethercultureright;shemanagedonlyafter matter forthewormstothrive…Sumaniherselffoundit to havetherightmixofcowdungandpartiallydecomposed the organicmatterhastodecomposejustright;youhave attacked bypests;suffertoomuchorlittlewatering; vermicomposting going,andtherisksarehigh:theycanbe non-irrigated uplands?Thesefamiliesfindithardtokeep about smallfarmingfamilieswithlessthan2acresof mulch, sufficientwaterandotherresources.Butwhat fair portionofareafortreesthatproduceleafmouldand need togrowfoodforthefamilyandsocouldafforda dairy withstall-fedcattle,alargishcampusthatdidnot Vermicompost isallverywellunderidealconditions—a vegetable patch. tried itwithgreatenthusiasm,and,Ihope,successonher own. Sheeventookabottleof vermiculture andshetookapotofwormstostarther is mystrongestcritic,andafollower. Iimpressedherwith unusual incultivationpracticewithdeepsuspicion.Sumani as mostpeople,includingmycolleagues,viewanything Orissa. Andaquirky, lateralapproachdoeslittletohelp, out ofthered-brownsoilthatcoversmostKashipurin IT’S ALONG, ARDUOUSSTRUGGLEgettingsomething Natural farming,tribalfarming organic conservationagriculturewithtribalfarmersinOrissa natural farmingtechniques,Agragameediscoveredduringitsnascentinitiativesin soil andecosystem.Tribal farmersinparticularhaveanintuitiveunderstandingof farmers escapethedownwardspiralthatimpoverishesthemevenasitdestroys destruction ofcroppedlands.Conservationagriculturecanhelpsmallandmiddle In majorpartsofIndia,agricultureisincrisis,withverylowreturnsandlarge-scale Agricultural revival panchakavya frommeand cauliflowers died,butthechillies andbrinjaldidwell.Long transplanted cabbage,brinjal andchilliseedlings.The soil fromthefurrowsoneither sideontothebeds,and added sometoprovidesoilcover, spread EWM,threw of thebeds,weedshadgrown enough.Inothers,we I hadcutandmulchedweeds onanunusedbed.Insome Perhaps wehadsownthemlate… returned whenwefoundthatthemilletshaddonepoorly. and congratulatedmeonmysuccess.Butherscepticism well. Sumanimadespecialtripstomonitormyfields, neighbouring fields,myno-tillmethodscomparedvery The paddydidindeedsprout!WhenIpeeredatthe beds withfingermilletandfoxtailmillet. successful firststepemboldenedmeandwemadesimilar sowed ourpaddy, andmulchedallthebeds withleaves.This from thefurrowsinbetweenontobedseitherside, compromised. We raisedbeds 4-5 feetinwidth,threwsoil was uplandpaddythatdidnotrequirestandingwater. We the rains,asyoudoinyourfields.Hewantedtodig.This Ratha, atthesametimeandway, justbefore land. We hadjustcutthegrass. Justsowthepaddy, Itold I hadchosenanunusedpatchoftheAgragameecampus pesticides? no weeding,fertilisers(notevenorganicones),and How thenwouldtheyreacttohismajortenetsofnotilling, substitution weredifficultformycolleaguestoswallow. Moreover, even theconceptsoforganicfarmingwithinput I wasn’taricefarmer, andwedidnothavericelands. pages oftheexcitingbookOneStrawRevolution. farming, farminginnature’simage,seemedgoodthe compelled tore-examinehispracticalphilosophy. Natural When thegreatMasanobu-san(Fukuoka) died,Ifelt limitations. to eucalyptusplantations,whichholdevenmorerisksand they optoutoftheirtraditionalcroppingpatternsandmove chemicals, startingupthecycleofdependenceanddebt.Or, At thefirstopportunity, farmersgiveinandtaketo too, thereallabourcostsarenotfactoredin. sustain them,theyworkonthefarmsoflargefarmers;here VIDHYA DAS But first categoryoflandisatapremium. Itispainfullycarved hilly uplands.Withtheentire terraininundulatingrelief, the lowlands, backyards,non-irrigated croplands,anddongaror Land isdividedintofourzones inthisregion:irrigated cultivated, werenowquiteuseless. lowlands, wherethebestpaddyinregionusedtobe landslides, destroyingbothuplandandlowlandcrops.The disaster. Heavyrainsafewyearsagohadcausedhuge shifting cultivationhasbeenpractisedtothepointof where Agragameeworks,arehillyuplandareas But itwasnotaneasytask.Tribal regions in southOrissa, beyond thecampus. we eagerlybegantheprocessofexpandingourexperiments natural farms.Thiswassuccessbeyondallexpectations; that theywouldliketoturntheirfarmsintozero-tillage During thecourseofworkshop,15farmersdeclared The farmer-to-farmer communicationworkedwonders. farmers, andthendemonstratedthetechniquesinpractice. words. Hebrieflyexplainedhismethodsandtheirvalueto with, weinvitedRajuforaworkshop.ismanoffew and, seekingtoreachoutthetribalfarmersweworked should helpthelocalcommunitybenefitfromthismethod, campus intozero-tillage,naturalfarms.We alsofeltwe and graduallywebegantoturnallthecultivatedlandon We returnedconvincedthatthis wasthefutureoffarming, the practicalinsights. Raju explainedthetheoreticalaspects,hiswifegaveusall managed almosttheentireagriculturaloperation.While from neighbouringvillages.Hiswifeandjustonehelper enriched hisland;thefuelwoodhegaveawaytopeople was coveredwithsubabulandotherfruittrees.Theleaffall produced enoughforhisfamilyeventhoughhalfland of goldenwheatputtheneighbouringfieldstoshame.He to seethefarm.Thatwasturningpoint.Raju’sfields Fukuoka hadvisitedandhelped design.Someofuswent farm’ inHoshangabad,MadhyaPradesh,whichMasanobu visiting teamwrotemeaboutRajuTituswhohada‘natural After returningfromafarmers’fair, amemberofthe agriculture, asyieldsdroppedagainthenextseason. an exceptionthatonlyprovedthevalueofconservation had retaineditshumusandorganicmatter. Butthiswas neat littlefurrows.Theygotgoodresultsfromthesoilthat perfectly straightrowsofcabbageandonions,wateredin pulled outandputintocompostbins,soontherewere and apparentdisarray. Thebedsweredugup,weeds experts sawourfieldsandwereshockedbytheovergrowth Disaster struckintheformofexpertadvice.Agroup the approach. colleagues grudginglybeganshowingalittleacceptanceof whole campusturnedintoazero-tillagezone;evenmy No-till needsunderstandingandpatience.Gradually, the time, hadexhausted,minesurvivedandcontinuedtoyield. after otherbedsofchilliandbrinjal,plantedatthesame controlling pestsandweeds. enriches thepotassiumcontent ofthesoil,whilstalso to surviveandproduceabountiful harvest.Theburning thin soillayers,whiletheirmoisture toleranceenablesthem to thissortofrain.Theirshallow rootzonesthriveonthe extent. Shiftingcultivationcrops arecompletelyattuned without thesoilbeingwashedawaytoanysignificant provides themoisturenecessaryforhillslopecultivation, continuous drizzleforfourtofivemonthsintheyear. This is themainagriculturalseason.Itcharacterisedbyathin conditions ofthesouthernOrissadistricts.Here,monsoon The Podu systemhasdevelopedintunewiththeclimatic aggressive marketstrategies. is beingusurpedbymultinationalcorporationsandtheir value today, whenthegeneticwealthofplantresources and differenttypesofsoil.Thisknowledgesystemisgreat different systemsarepractisedontypesofland rich diversityofcrops,asalsocultivation, by thetribalcommunitiesthathashelpedpreservethis either. But,it istheentiresystemofagriculturepractised all ofthelandundershiftingcultivationismountain most scentedvarietiesofpaddyarelowlandvarieties.Not typical shiftingcultivationorswiddenland.For example, Not allofthisisgrownonhillormountainslopes,the variety commonlycalled‘baeil’. broad bean,arhar, cowpea,ricebean,urad,andalocal sorghum. Amongstpulses,theygrowseveralvarietiesof common milletsincludingfoxtailmillet,pearlmilletand are short-andlong-durationvarietiesofragitheless in colourbeforeitisde-husked.Apartfromthis,there being ‘kalajeera’,socalledbecausethepaddyisblack varieties ofscentedricearegrownhere,themostfamous on themiddleregionslopes.Someofmostexquisite short-duration andlong-durationuplandpaddythatgrow Koraput regionareamazing. Thereareseveralvarietiesof have beenpreservedbytribalfarmersinOrissa’sundivided knowledge systemofthePodu farmer. Thericevarietiesthat sustainable agriculturalpracticesareapartoftheinherited it hasgenerated.Croprotations,intercropping,andother helped sustain,asalsothediversityofcultivationpractices is significantforthediversityofcropsithastraditionally and-burn cultivationiscalledintribalregionsofOrissa, Even so,thereisopportunitytoo.‘ handled. too littletobeofanysignificanthelp,andisoftenbadly is declaredforfarmerswhohavelosttheircrops,itmuch farmers fortheirlosses.Althoughanofficialcompensation Governments havealsobeenveryunkindincompensating the farmerintodeepdespair. destroy thecropssolovinglynurturedonthem,throwing the uplandsaredenuded,asingledayofheavyrainscan years ofbackbreakingworkwithbullocksandplough.When out ofhillslopesandnarrowstreambedsthroughyears Stories ofchange:Orissa Podu chaso’,asslash- 43 ISSUE 19 2010 44 ISSUE 19 2010 slopes was surveyed and settled with ownership slopes wassurveyedandsettled withownership priority beinggiventothelandless. Thezoneof0-10-degree strips of1hectareanddistributed totribalfamilieswith were markedforplantation. Hill slopesweredividedinto slope wasmarkedforagro-forestry; slopesabove30degrees conservation measuresbeing undertaken;the10-30-degree was markedforannualcropping,withsoilandwater into threezonesbasedongradient.The0-10-degreeslope wherein hillslopesundershiftingcultivationweredivided A majorthrustoftheOTDPprogrammewasagro-forestry, of theselandsbyindustrialandminingcompanies. Acquisition Act,specialprovisionsalsofacilitateacquisition economic securitytowomenaswell.UndertheLand of bothhusbandandwifeonthetitledeed,providing The revenuedepartmentwasrequiredtorecordthenames tribal familiesonslopesbetween10-30degreegradient. legislation, inwhichtitledeedsweresanctionedtolandless agricultural andmarketdevelopment.Thiswasalandmark objective beingtoimprovetriballivelihoodsthrough forward-looking andpro-poorprovisions,themajor Project (OTDP)inKashipurblock.Theprojecthadseveral Development (IFAD)-funded OrissaTribal Development provision undertheInternationalFund For Agriculture to berecordedinthenameoflandlesstribalsasaspecial In 1993,thegovernmentpassedanorderforuplandslopes special considerationcantakedifferentforms. allowed ownershipexceptunderspecialconsideration.This wastes”. Thesearegovernmentlandsonwhichnobodyis losses. Mostoftheuplandsarereferredtoas“uncultivable monsoons whichinundatelowlandsandresultinhugecrop has beendecreasing,leadingtolandslidesduringthe due tovariousreasons,thelengthoffallowperiod land hasgoodregeneratingcapacityandproductivity. But 10-45 degreegradient.Withsufficientfallowperiods,this Upland: medium landsareunderprivateownership. gullies steadilyeatingintothecroppedarea.Mostof fallow periods.Thislandishighlyeroded,withrillsand The landiscultivatedinthree-tofour-year cycles,withequal niger crop,arecultivatedannuallyunderrainfedconditions. degree gradient.Here,riceandmillet,followedbyalast Medium land: land: southern Orissaispractisedonprimarilytwocategoriesof The typicalshiftingcultivationoftribalcommunitiesin while optimisinglanduse. withstand thewatercurrentsofmonsooninvalley, duration andshort-durationvarietiesthatenablecropsto water managementandcropoptimisation,combininglong- tribal communitieshavedevelopedindigenoussystemsof cultivation cyclesatoptimallevel.Inlowlandpaddyareas, of thecroprotationpracticesrequiredtomaintainshifting Tribal knowledgesystemsalsohaveadeepunderstanding Thesearehillyregionswithslopesrangingfrom Agricultural revival Thislandhasasloperangingfrom3-10 and technologyusedforthe treatment ofwatersheds,and However, therehasbeenlittlereviewofthe techniques failure areattributedtopoor levelsofparticipation. watershed programme,andmany ofthecausesthis Several reportsindicatethemulti-level failureofthe vegetative cover. soil fertility, decreasetopsoillossorhelpestablish ahealthy the landdevelopmentmeasureshavedonelittletoimprove fraction doesnotincludethepoorersections.Furthermore, community improvetheirlivelihoods.Butbyandlarge,this A fewwatershedshavehelpedafractionofthetribal model forenvironmentallydegradeduplandtribalareas. the viabilityofsoilconservationanderosiontreatment hardly anyimpact;norhavetheydonemuchtoestablish water resourcedevelopment,manpower, etc,havehad projects, whichsawsubstantialinvestmentsinearthworks, various governmentprogrammesintribalregions.These Several watershedprojectshavealsobeentakenupunder inappropriate. and eco-friendlyalternativestoshiftingcultivationwas also showsthatthetechnologyselectedtoprovideviable soil lossanddegradationoflandresourcescontinues.This the gains.Eventhoughownershipisnowrecognised, practice ofslash-and-burncultivationnegatedmuch measures seemedtohaveworked,verysoonthetribal Although initiallythesettledlandsandsoilconservation ‘software’ side,bothduringdesignandimplementation. of developmentwasgivenfarmoreimportancethanthe of adevelopmentinterventioninwhichthe‘hardware’side evaluation reportstatesthattheOTDPisaclassicexample shifting cultivationareas.Admittingitsfailures,theIFAD of measuresaimedatreclaimingwastelandsinhigh-relief and soilconservation,nowbeartestimonytotheinadequacy barren hillslopes,wherealotwasspentonagro-forestry implemented, andtheinitialimpactwasnotsustained.The the groundprogrammewaspoorlyplannedand should beapplicabletoalltribalareas.However, on government passedanorderthatthisformofagriculture The landwassettledand Initially, thetribalsadoptedthismodelenthusiastically. making process,tominimiseconflict. NGOs andtriballeadershipwereengagedinthedecision- Kashipur, andpattasdistributedinover150villages.Local and settlementprocesseswerecompletedin400villages 30 degrees.Usingsophisticatedequipment,landsurvey Miscellaneous plantationsweretakenuponslopesabove and cashewwereintroducedaspartofagro-forestry. measures. Fruit-bearing treeslikemango,litchi,guava appropriate drainagetreatmentandothererosioncontrol hill slopes,checkinggullyandravineformationthrough constructing contourstoneandvegetativebundsonthe Soil conservationmeasureswereundertaken,like rights giventothetillers. pattas wereissuedafterthestate region areamazing in Orissa’sundividedKoraput preserved bytribalfarmers rice varietiesthathavebeen practices ithasgenerated.The the diversityofcultivation helped sustain,asalso of cropsithastraditionally significant forthediversity tribal regionsofOrissa,is burn cultivationiscalledin ‘Podu chaso’,asslash-and- any levelofpeople’sinvolvement andsustainability. There isanurgentneedtoaddress alltheseproblemsfor systems anddolittletopromote indigenouscropvarieties. Watersheds alsofailtorecognisetraditionalknowledge payments assomesuccourin theirpoverty-strickenlives. respond inasuperficialmanneranticipationofwage approach dolittletobuildthefaithoftribalpeoplewho local communities.Thepooroutcomesofthewatershed with accompanyingimpoverishmentanddistressamong the paceofenvironmentaldegradationisaccelerating, This isespeciallyunfortunateinuplandtribalareaswhere allocated.” yielded disappointingresultsgiventhevastresources government watersheddevelopmentinvestmentshave of governmentagenciestoinvolvethepeople.Most failed togeneratesustainabilitybecauseofthefailure evaluation reportshaveshownthatmostprojects implemented watershedprojectsformorethanadecade, the ministriesofagricultureandruraldevelopmenthave years. AccordingtothePlanningCommission:“Although stagnated ataround142millionhectaresoverthelast20 approach arenotreflectedinthenetsownareawhichhas million hectarestreatedunderthemicro-watershed According toaPlanningCommissionreport,the16.5 watersheds stillraisemanyquestions. of moremarginalisedsections,thecost-benefitratiosfor thanks totheirincreasedsensitivitytowardstheneeds sections ofthecommunity. Thus,whileNGOs farebetter linking theinterventionstolivelihoodneedsofpoorer ecologically balanceddevelopmentofremote tribalcommunitiesinOrissa Vidhya DasiswithAgragamee,agroup engagedinculturallysensitiveand other partsofthecountry. will enablethepositivesfrom ourexperiencetobeofusein support andpartnershipofgovernmentisrequired,forthat deeper understanding,thenextmonsoon.Thisiswhere only boostedenthusiasmamongstthemtotryagainwith understanding ofsuchanapproach.Ourearlymistakeshave tribal farmershighlightedthefarmer’sinterestandintuitive nascent initiativesinorganicconservationagriculturewith rural communitiesaddressimpoverishment.Agragamee’s through approacheslikeconservationagriculture,willhelp that areinshortsupplysuchaslentils,oilseedsandmillet, that helpincreasetheproductionoffoodcommodities On theotherhand,supportforecologicallysoundmeasures final costsandreceiveverylittlebenefit. Pradesh indicatethat,withsuch‘solutions’,farmersbearthe produce. However, failedexperimentsinstateslikeAndhra will helpfarmersfindreadyandreliablemarketsfortheir agreements directlywithfarmers.This,itispresumed, retailers andfood-processingcompaniestoenterinto of corporatisation,whichallowsagri-businesscompanies, government’s actionstobailoutfarmerstakestheform As thefarmsectorgoesintoadownwardspin, community. the managementofwomen’sgroupsandvillage uplands, irrigatedbackyardgardens,andcommons,under to improveagriculturalproductioninrainfed local experienceandwisdom,thisapproachcanbeadapted an overallsurgeinecologicalgains.Whenintegratedwith combining agricultureandplantationcropstobringabout Conservation agro-ecologysystemscouldalsobedesigned land inIndiaiscroppedprimarilyunderrainfedconditions. agriculture theboostitneeds,asamajorportionofarable among farmersinrainfedregions.Thiscouldgive Acceptance ofconservationagricultureismuchgreater ecosystem. that impoverishesthemevenasitdestroysthesoiland middle farmerstohelpthemescapethedownwardspiral agriculture needstobetakenupextensivelywithsmalland of croppedlands.Anapproachsuchasconservation is incrisiswithverylowreturnsandlarge-scaledestruction Not justtribalregionsbutinmajorpartsofIndia,agriculture opportunities oftribalcommunities? ecological destruction,whilsthelpingimprovethelivelihood tribal knowledgesystemsandpracticestoreversethe a waywherecurrentknow-howcanbecombinedwith programmes, andyetpovertyincreases.Couldtherebe government expenditureonnaturalresourcemanagement that failedthesepoorcommunities?Thereisnodearthof technology orthe‘software’(asIFAD reportmentions) What couldtheoptionsinsuchascenariobe?Was itthe Stories ofchange:Orissa 45 ISSUE 19 2010 46 ISSUE 19 2010 A numberofcultivatedfood plants havetheirwildrelatives 129 speciesarevulnerable,according toIUCNclassification. are criticallyendangered,148 speciesareendangered,and birds, 52speciesofamphibians. Amongthese,55species 229 speciesofplants,31 ofmammals,15species important astheyhouseendemic floraandfauna,including levels ofspeciesendemism.Theforestshereareglobally of the18biodiversityhotspots.Itischaracterisedbyhigh The areafallsentirelywithintheWestern GhatsofIndia,one environmental stresses. geographic settingofWayanad makesithighlysensitiveto of thisregionsustainthelivelihoodsmanypeople.The rivers originatinginthearea.Thus,soilsandwaters the adjoiningareasreceivemostoftheirwatersupplyfrom watershed functions.Alargenumberofpeoplelivingin months, landperformsimportanthydrologicaland high annualrainfallwithinashortspanofthreetofour Since Wayanad isalargelymontane areathatreceives marginal farmers. the districtofWayanad, 83%belongtoeithersmallor gardens. Ofthetotalestimated155,855landholdingsin important cropinthedistrict,isalsogrownhome farmers inWayanad district.Pepper, thesecondmost crop inthehomesteadsofover80%smallandmarginal covers atotalareaof67,429hectares,isgrownasunder- together constitute38%ofcroppedarea.Coffee,which major plantationcrops(tea,coffee,pepperandarecanut) geographical areaandisdominatedbycashcrops.The The grosscroppedareaofWayanad covers97.82%ofthe the totaldistrictpopulation. inhabitants (2001census).Aboriginaltribesform17.4%of covers anareaof212,560hectaresandishometo780,619 and anenvironmentallyfragileecosystem.Thedistrict the highestproportionofaboriginaltribes,alowsexratio, district isdistinctlydifferentfromtherestofKerala, with underdeveloped regionsinIndia.Thesocialfabricofthe agriculture-dependent economyandisamongthemost the restofplainsinstate.Thisdistricthasapurely (700-2,100 metresabovemeansealevel)comparedto Deccan plateauandisuniquebecauseofitselevation WAYANAD DISTRICTINKERALAliesontheedgeof The homegardensofWayanad and sustainability and promisinglandusesystemmaintainhighlevelsofproductivity, stability trees withfieldcrops,livestock,poultryandfish.Homegardensformadominant also knownforwidespreadhomesteadfarming.Atypicalhomegardenintegrates Wayanad, whichhasbeeninthenewsforhighnumberof farmersuicides,is Agricultural revival or community-ownedlandsfor theirbiomassrequirements. the inhabitantsofareahave notdependedonforests grow multiplesetsofcropon theirfarmlands.Traditionally, Most farmersinWayanad aresmall,marginal,andtendto diversity andshade. unhindered habitatforwildlifeintheareaduetoplant lies contiguouswiththenaturalforestsandprovidesan under-storey plantswerereplacedbycrops.Thissystem composition offarmlandswaslargelyleftintact;onlythe systems composedmainlyofhomegardens,thenativetree prevalent landusepatterns.Intraditionalagro-forestry pepper andginger, alongwithmanytrees,arethemost pepper. Coffee-based croppingsystemsinvolvingcoffee, are characterisedbyhomesteadfarmingwithcoffeeand vegetables andbanana.Theuplandsadjoiningthewetlands hectares. Paddy-based croppingsystems involvepaddy, Paddy, thestaplefoodofregion,iscultivatedon11,331 farming atthesubsistencelevelandsmallholderplantations. The districtofWayanad ischaracterised byhomestead production landscapes Sustainable useofbiologicaldiversityinsocio-ecological cultural characteristics. Each ofthesetribalgroupshasitsownuniquesocialand Kattunaickan, MulluKuruman, UraliKuruman andKurichian. communities livinginWayanad arethePaniyan, Adiyan, of severalreligiousinstitutions.Thesixmaintribal of rituals,customsandlifestyleshasledtotheestablishment social, religious,andlinguisticgroups.Theculturaldiversity In additiontorichbiodiversity, Wayanad ishometodiverse huge challenge. forests fromfragmentationandoverexploitationisa severe fragmentationoftheforests.Conservingthese comprises teaandcoffeeplantationsthathaveresultedin However, alarge proportionoftheWayanad landscape of thesouthwesternghatstonortherndrierforests. they representatransitionzonefromthemoistforests The forestsofWayanad areuniqueandimportantbecause pepper, cardamom,cinnamonandcurcuma. in thesewetevergreenforests,includingthespicesblack SANTHOSHKUMAR KAORU ICHIKAWA A V cultivation not commercially viablefor species thatare useful but cases, thelastrefugefor components are,inmost choices. Moreover, these bears theimprintoftheir selection byfarmers,and generations ofconscious garden istheresultof The biodiversityofahome present inanaturalforest. distinct fromthebiodiversity garden isuniqueandtotally biodiversity presentinahome The highdegreeof as 116treesperhectare. density oftreesinahomegardenisestimatedtobeashigh similar tothatofatropicalevergreenforest.Themean gardens exhibitamulti-tieredcanopystructuresomewhat lack adiscernibleplantingpattern.Physiognomically, home deliberately plannedtomimicanaturalforestandthereby Home gardenswithamulti-storeycanopystructureare sustainability andequitability. system, maintaininghighlevelsofproductivity, stability, gardens constituteadominantandpromisinglanduse besides generatingemploymentandcashincome.Home fruits, fodder, fuel,timber, medicinesand/orornamentals, availability ofmultipleproductssuchasfood,vegetables, and/or fish,withthebasicobjectiveofensuringsustained that integratestreeswithfieldcrops,livestock,poultry A typicalhomegardenrepresentsanoperationalfarmunit gardens tomeettheirvariedneeds. maintain aspectacularvarietyofplantsintheirhome lands, unlikeinmanyotherplacestheworld.Farmers One ofthereasonswasabsencecommunity-held community ofwildplantsand animals.Thisstructure which resemblenaturalforests, offersahabitattodiverse The multi-layeredvegetation structure ofhomegardens, agricultural fieldsdominate. landscapes wherelarge,monotonous andmono-functional gardens alsofulfilecologicalfunctions,particularlyin medicinal plantsareencounteredinhomegardens.Home commercially viable,theyarenotcultivated.Mosttraditional are necessaryforreligiousceremonies;notbeing traditional societies.Someplantspeciesinhomegardens garden productsandplantingmaterialiscommoninmany outweighs theproductivefunction.Theexchangeofhome serve asastatussymbolandtheaestheticvaluepartly an importantsocialandculturalfunction.Attimes,they In additiontotheirproductionvalue,homegardenshave source usedinfarming. to thecowswouldserveasmajormechanicalenergy in thehousehold,andfodderfromhomegardensfed home gardensusedtobeamajorsourceofchemicalenergy advent ofelectricity. Thegreenleavesandcowdungfrom source oflightingfuelintraditionalhomesteadsbeforethe varied sources,likecoconutandsesame,usedtoserveasthe litter collectedfromthehomegarden.Oilsextracted requirements aremetthroughtwigsandotherformsof household’s energyrequirements.Mostcookingfuel Home gardensalsomeetasignificantportionofthe which satisfyasubstantialproportionofsociety’sdemands. contain highvolumesofcommercialtimberandfuelwood Various studieshaveindicatedthathomegardensusually that areusefulbutnotcommerciallyviableforcultivation. components are,inmostcases,thelastrefugeforspecies and bearstheimprintoftheirchoices.Moreover, these the resultofgenerationsconsciousselectionbyfarmers, in anaturalforest.Thebiodiversityofhomegardenis is uniqueandtotallydistinctfromthebiodiversitypresent The highdegreeofbiodiversitypresentinahomegarden a household. could accountformorethan50%ofthetotalincome perennials suchasfruittrees.Incomefromahomegarden a homegardenisfrommarketablesurplusderived generation ofacashincome.Mosttheincomefrom Another importantfunctionofhomegardensisthe home gardensalsoprovidelargeportionsofstaplefoods. areas withoutsufficientstaplecropfields,asinWayanad, particular crops.Indenselypopulatedorheavilydegraded with adverseclimatic,biologicalandmarketimpactson self-sufficiency andreducingtheeconomicrisksassociated results inarangeofoutputfromgivenarea,increasing in homesteads household. Cropdiversity of the requirements home gardensmakeupasignificantpartofthenutritional the seasons.Tubers, vegetables,fruitsandspicesfrom of theregionastheysupplyvariedproductsthroughout Home gardensplayanimportantroleinthefoodsecurity Stories ofchange:Kerala 47 ISSUE 19 2010 48 ISSUE 19 2010 informal (tribalsystems).For manyfamilies,agriculture that underpinhealth,bothformal (ayurvedasystem)and food securityandnutrition,providing therawmaterials In Wayanad, biodiversityandecosystemscontributeto services fromforestsandagricultural landsfortheirsurvival. A largeproportionofthepoor dependonecosystem demise intocashcropproductionsystems. traditional characteristicsofhomegardensandtheirgradual this region.Studiesreinforcethegeneralfearofloss about anegativeconversionprocessofhomegardensin the relatedadoptionofmodernmanagerialsystemsbring have voicedconcernsthatsocio-economicchangesand technologies liketheapplicationoffertiliser. Scientists characteristics, suchaslowfertility, canbealteredwith ecological characteristics.For example, manyagro-ecological over time,withadecreaseintheimportanceofagro- of socio-economicfactors(suchascommercialisation) principally attributedtoanincreaseintheimportance becoming irrelevantorevenextinct.Thischangeis linked tosocio-economicchanges,thepointofthem gardens aresubjecttodifferentconversionprocesses increase intheuseofexternalinputs.Traditional home homogenisation ofthehomegardenstructure,andan cash cropspecies,increaseinornamentalplants,gradual diversity, gradualconcentrationonalimitednumberof of modernisationincludesadecreaseintree/shrub space formoreremunerativemono-crops.Theprocess many farmerstoshrinktheirhomegardensmake by themisquitelow. Lowereconomicreturnsforce economic calculationsasthemarketablesurplusproduced Despite theseadvantages,homegardensranklowin ability tomeetunforeseencontingencies. appreciation, divisibility, flexibleharvestingtimeandthe useful ‘assets’tothepoorsuchaslowinvestmentcost,rapid support. Tree componentsofhomegardensoffermany intensive andrequireslittleoutsidetechnicalorfinancial The technologyinvolvedinhomegardensissimple,labour- landholder. activity withoutrequiringachangeinoccupationforthe Farmers areabletoutilisefamilylabourasapart-time peaks andtroughscharacteristicoftropicalagriculture. more evenlyseasonally, thusreducingtheeffectsofsharp for agriculture.Andtheyspreadtheneedlabourinputs farmers bysupplyingrawmaterials(suchasleafcompost) cropping oftreesandotherspecies.Homegardensalsohelp per unitoflandthroughspatialorinter-temporal inter- from homegardens;theyincreasethevalueofoutput protection. Farmers deriveavarietyofservicesandproducts increase siteproductivitythroughnutrientrecyclingandsoil resulting fromintensiveagriculture,andmaintainor Home gardenssaveagriculturallandsfromthedegradation home gardensystems. appears tocontributesubstantiallythesustainabilityof Agricultural revival Advanced Studies Dr Kaoru IchikawaisaconsultantattheUnitedNationsUniversity Instituteof Kerala Agricultural University Dr AVSanthoshkumarisAssistantProfessor, CollegeofForestry, Institute ofAdvancedStudies) of theprogrammeactivitiesSatoyamaInitiative,UnitedNationsUniversity benefit ofbiodiversityandhumanwellbeing’.Thisstudywasconductedaspart production landscapes’andasbackgroundtothe‘SatoyamaInitiativefor of thetechnicalseries,‘Sustainableusebiologicaldiversityinsocio-ecological (Published bytheSecretariatofConventiononBiologicalDiversityaspart maintenance. of theselandscapesfortheirconservationandcontinued are neededtodocumentandunderstandthedynamics document andconservebiodiversity. More effortslikethese under localself-government institutions(panchayats)to Biodiversity Register(PBR)isanexampleofonesuchattempt crafted formalinstitutionsremainsachallenge.ThePeople’s However, integrating theseinstitutionswiththenewly- public opinionandthepoliticaldecision-makingprocess. institutions intheformoftribalclansthatstronglyinfluence systems inthearea.Thereexistalargenumberofinformal institutions tosavefarmingandtraditionallanduse There ispotentialtostrengthenformalandinformal agriculture, andpoorinfrastructuralfacilities. peculiarities, climatechangeeffects,poorinvestmentin institutional factors,socio-economicgeographical the agriculturalfrontinthisarea,includingpolicychanges, macro-level factorshavebeencitedasreasonsforfailureon farmers, attributedtolossesinfarming.Manymicro-and The areawasinthenewsforhighnumberofsuicidesby decreased drasticallyovertheyearsduetovariousreasons. today. Agriculturalproductionandproductivity have However, agriculture inWayanad isfacingmanyproblems atmospheric CO2isbeingrecognisedoflate. land usesystemstoserveassinks(soilandbiomass)of and value-addition.For example, thepotentialoftraditional social value,theyhavealsoenhanceditthroughselection conserved biodiversityofgreateconomic,cultural,and is nowrecognisedthattraditionalfarmershavenotonly systems hasbeenreceivingalotofattentionrecently. It The favourableroleoftheselandscapesandproduction sanctuaries andagriculturallandsadjoiningforestedareas. managed bythestateasreserveforestsorwildlife The landscapeofWayanad isamosaicofforestedlands have atellingimpactontheirlivelihood. their survival,andanydeteriorationoftheseresourceswill almost entirelydependentonthesenaturalresourcesfor dependence onforestscontinues.Tribal populationsare extractive dependencehavechangedovertime,people’s soil andwaterquality. Thoughthenatureandmodeof where harvestsaremorevulnerabletodeteriorationof They inhabitmarginal,lessagriculturallyproductiveland families havelimitedaccesstoalternativesourcesofincome. (mostly subsistence)isthemainoccupationandthese per annumwhilethetotalworkforce grewat1.94% two decades,theagricultural workforcegrewat1.04% agricultural sectorvis-à-vistotal employment.Overthelast as aresultofslowergrowth employmentinthe The overallstructuralchange inemploymenthasoccurred sector asawhole. sector inagriculturalemployment,wehavedealtwiththe Given theoverwhelmingdominanceofunorganised be differentiatedbysizeoflandholdingasagoodproxy. (98%) arecasuallabourers.Farmers areagroupwhichcan one-third (36%),wageworkers.Almostallworkers or ‘farmers’aswecallthem,andtheremaining,alittleover two-thirds ofagriculturalworkers(64%)areself-employed, total agriculturalworkerswas98%during2004-05.Nearly The shareofunorganisedsectoragriculturalworkersin as theunorganisedagriculturesector. sector, theCommission hascategorisedtheremainingparts by corporationsandlargecooperativesintheorganised agriculture thatcomesunderplantationsandthosecovered on individualorjointholdings.Exceptforthesegmentof rural areas.Agriculturalproductiontakesplacelargely million ofthetotalruralworkforce341arein been estimatedat258million,asof2004-05.About248 THE TOTAL NUMBERofagriculturalworkersinIndiahas use ofHYVandotherland-augmentingtechnologies.” to catchupandinsomecasesevensurpasslargefarms support includingcredit,ithasbeenpossibleforsmallfarms appropriateinstitutional than thatfromlargefarms.“With value ofoutputfromsmallfarmsis,ingeneral,stillnotless of smallholderagriculturehasshownthattheperhectare than thatofsmallfarmerhouseholds.TheNCEUSanalysis sources oflivelihoodforthesehouseholds,oftenmuchmore significant becausefarmingthenbecomesonlyoneofthe ever before”.Thepredominanceofmarginalfarmersis has saidis“muchmoreprominentandpertinenttodaythan smallholding characterofIndianagriculture,whichNCEUS of farming,andrevealsthenaturepotential Perspective’ (2009).Itprovidesaninsightintothecharacter Challenge ofEmploymentinIndia:AnInformalEconomy for EnterprisesintheUnorganisedSector(NCEUS),‘The This extractisfromthereportofNationalCommission Small farmerzindabad markets andcredit increase profitability, andatthesametimeimproveavailabilityaccesstoinputs, through measuresthathelppromoteandstabiliseincomes,reducerisks, counterparts. Itisthereforeimperativetoprotecttheinterestsofsmallfarmers empirically establishedthatsmallfarmsproducemoreperhectarethantheirlarger More than80%ofIndia’sfarmersaresmallandmarginalfarmers.Ithasbeen by enhancedinvestmentsinirrigation andsupporting result ofland-augmentingtechnological changes,propelled 1980s), agriculturalemployment increasedprimarilyasa It iswidelyrecognisedthatin thepastdecades(1960sto Growth, grainandlivelihoods worker inagricultureandtheothersectors. widening ofthedisparityinincomegeneratedper of agriculturalworkers.Theresultthishasbeenasteady a sustainedandrapidimprovementinthelivingconditions improvement iscertainlyfarfromadequatetobringabout of productivityincreaseinthesecondperiod.Thisrate over theentireperiod,bothsectorsshowlowerrates sector showsahighergrowthrateinlabourproductivity sub-sectors, vizcropandlivestock.Whilethelivestock 94 to2004-05).Theseresultsalsoholdforthetwomajor with adeclineingrowthratethesecondperiod(1993- has notremainedentirelystagnantbutgrownslowly two sub-periodsrespectively. Thus,agriculturalproductivity 1.52% fortheentireperiod,and1.24%1.79%in labour productivity)alsoincreasedatanannualrateof employment, agriculturalGDPperworker(ameasureof agricultural GDPgrewataratefasterthanthegrowthin by higherincomesandproductivityperworker. Since shown thatsuchincreasedemploymentisaccompanied workers canbeoflittleconsolationunlessitalso The factthatagriculturecontinuestoabsorbmore confining themprimarilytothissector. the scopeofwomen’semploymentoutsideagriculture, Further, structuralconstraintsappeartoberestricting agricultural sectortoabsorbtheincrementalworkforce. that thereisagradualdeclineinthepotentialof agricultural employment.Itisobviousfromtheseresults the decelerationwasclearlynotassharpincaseof during 1983/1993-94to1.85%1993-94/2004-05, the growthintotalemploymentalsodeclinedfrom2.03% sharply inthelastdecade,from1.38%to0.72%.Although the growthrateofagriculturalemploymentdecelerated between 1983/1993-94and1993-94/2004-05showsthat employment. Acomparisonofemploymentgrowthrates employment grewataratefasterthanmaleagricultural per annum.During1983-2004/05,femaleagricultural Protecting smallfarmers 49 ISSUE 19 2010 50 ISSUE 19 2010 to protecttheinterestsofmarginal andsmallfarmers with globalmarketsithasbecome evenmoreimperative In theliberalisedscenarioand withincreasedintegration suggest remedialsteps. Farmers andtheCommitteeonAgriculturalIndebtednessto several commissionsincludingtheNationalCommissionon has promptedthecentralandstategovernmentstosetup agricultural sectorhavedrivenfarmerstotheextreme.This to facepriceshockswithgreaterliberalisationofthe leading tohigherindebtedness,cropfailuresandincapacity marginal andsmallfarmers.Increasingcostsofcultivation, in thelastseveralyears,andvictimshavelargelybeen markets andcredit.Farmer suicideshavebeenwidespread dependence onprivatesourcesforinputs,extension, The withdrawaloftheStatehasledtomuchgreater rationalised. in agriculture;subsidiestothesectorarealsobeing government supportintheformofdeclininginvestments in thepost-1990speriod,therehasbeenadecline agricultural workersbecomesevenmorepertinent.However, policy initiativesandschemestoprotecttheinterestsof In theseconditions,governmentsupportintheformof to increasinginputcostsanduncertainoutputmarkets. marginal andsmallfarmers,arealsofacingacrisisdue labourers. Ontheotherhand,farmers,particularly the situationevenmoreunfavourableforagricultural that haveshownsignsofdecelerationinthe1990smaking had anadverseeffectonthegrowthinagriculturalwages growth —particularlyinfoodgrainhasdeclined.This There isclearevidencethatinrecentyears,agricultural the contoursofanagriculturalemploymentstrategy. determine as they examined insomedepth be to issues need improvement inproductivityoragriculturalincomes.These through fragmentationandsharingofwork,withlittle with thesectorretainingagrowingpartofworkforce of thissectormayshowfeaturesagriculturalinvolution, the agriculturalsectordoesnotgrowfastenough,parts adequate remunerativeemploymentopportunities,andif must recognisethatifthenon-farmsectordoesnotprovide diversification thathasoccurred.Atthesametime,one has alsoprovidedsomescopeforthelimitedoccupational relatively fastgrowthofthe(unorganised)non-farmsector has beenacquiringamorelaboursavingcharacter. The technological changes.Moreover, agriculturalgrowth to agricultureandapeteringoutoftheimpetussuch studies haveshownadeclineinthepublicsupportavailable sub-sectors suchasdairyfarmingandlivestock.Recent dramatic growthinemploymentnon-cropagricultural farmers. Simultaneously, therehasalsobeenafairly in differentregionsandacrosssizeclassesof although thisincreasetookplaceatdifferenttimeperiods, intensity, aswellgreaterlabourusepersownhectare, increases inbothsownarea,throughhighercropping institutions andpolicies.Thesechangesmadepossible Agricultural revival a handfulofstatesinthenorthwest (Punjab,Haryanaand in West Bengal.Itislessthanhalfthetotaloutputinonly across states,rangingfromabout 19%inPunjabto86% small farmersatlessthan50% ofoutput.Itvarieswidely Only 10statesshowthecontribution ofmarginaland and smallfarmerscanhardlybeunderrated. few. Theimportanceofalivelihood approachtomarginal employment whenalternativeopportunitiesbecomefarand provides intermsoffood,somecollateral,andasource is seentobecrucialbythesehouseholdsforthesecurityit of smallfarmerhouseholds.Afootholdinlandcultivation livelihood forthesehouseholds,oftenmuchmorethanthat because farmingthenbecomesonlyoneofthesources in Bihar. Thepredominanceofmarginalfarmersissignificant Uttarakhand, 10:linWest BengalandKerala, andclose to8:l and smallfarmers,toashigh18:linTripura, 12:lin ranging from2:linstateswithlowincidenceofmarginal small farmers,marginalfarmersoutnumber possessed forcultivation.Withinthegroupofmarginaland of 27statestheyalsoaccountformorethan50%land outnumber mediumandlargefarmersinallstates,17out for 90%orabove.Whilemarginalandsmallfarmers of farmers,accounting overwhelming majority the constitute states. In12outof27states,marginalandsmallfarmers as agroupoutnumbertherestoffarmersinall Inter-state analysisindicatesthatmarginalandsmallfarmers 13.1% ofland. area, whilelargefarmers(0.9%ofthetotal)stilloperate households) operatemorethanone-thirdoftotaloperated and operation.Mediumlargefarmers(6%offarmer to reckonwithconsiderableinequalityinlandownership pertinent todaythaneverbefore.Nonetheless,westillneed character ofIndianagricultureismuchmoreprominentand as comparedtoabout61%in1960-61.Thesmallholding farmers accountedfornearly80%ofoperationalholdings marginal of operationalholdingsalso.By2002-03,andsmall case in the is discernible in landdistribution similar pattern A land wentupfrom16.3%in1953-54to43.5%2002-03. 2002-03. Theshareofmarginalandsmallfarmersinowned gone upfromnearly38%in1953-54toabout70% increased overtime.Thepercentageofmarginalfarmershas the total,andalsolandoperatedbythem,hassteadily of land.Thepercentagemarginalandsmallfarmersin farm sizegroups,owningoroperatinglessthan2hectares more than80%offarmersbelongtomarginalandsmall As pointedoutbythisCommission,attheall-Indialevel, in access. recent yearsreversingearliertrendstowardsexpansion credit amongsmallandmarginalfarmershasincreasedin sources forinputs,irrigationand,mostimportantly, for However, wehaveobservedthatthedependenceonprivate improve availabilityandaccesstoinputs,marketscredit. reduce risks,andincreaseprofitability, andatthesametime through measuresthathelppromoteandstabiliseincomes, Collective organisationforfarmers maybesaidtoasine resulted ininappropriatechoice ofcropsandinputs. public extensionserviceshas become veryweak,whichoften travel morethan10kmforseeds andpesticides.Accessto which ismorethan2-5kmaway. Farmer households haveto In mostcases,inputsareavailableinthenearestlargevillage organic manureismostreadilyavailablewithinthevillage. Situation AssessmentofFarmers Surveyshowsthatonly HYV seeds,organicmanureandveterinaryservices),the quantities. Amongthevariousinputs(pesticides,fertilisers, also costsandknowledgeofusetheseinputsintheright easy andtimelyavailabilityqualityoftheseinputs,as small farmersinparticular, oftenfaceproblemsregarding ensure agoodcrop.Farmers ingeneral,andmarginal and usageoffertiliserspesticidesisalsoimportantto increased costofcultivation.TimelyavailabilityHYVseeds the GreenRevolution,whichisalsooneofreasonsfor Input usetoenhanceproductivityhasgreatlyincreasedsince majority ofworkersarewomen. workers arewomen.Inforestry/plantationactivitiestoo,a categories. Inanimalhusbandry, morethanthree-fifthsof India arefromamongthewomen.Thisholdsforallsize of Farmers 2003showsthatnearly 40%offarmersin makers inthehousehold.TheSituationAssessmentSurvey women farmersareoftentheprincipal(andsole)decision- that duetothemovementofmenoutagriculture, perception haschangedprincipallybecauseitisrecognised work ofmales,whoalsotookallthemajordecisions.This in farmhouseholdswasseenasmainlysupplementingthe role ofwomeninthefarmingcommunity. Women’s work programmes. Tillrecently, littleattentionwas paidtothe need tobemovedcentrestageinagriculturalpoliciesand Our analysishasalsoshownthatgenderissuesinfarming technologies. large farmsinuseofHYVandotherland-augmenting for smallfarmstocatchupand,insomecases,evensurpass institutional support,includingcredit,ithasbeenpossible cropping intensityanddiversification.Withappropriate ones, andaregenerallycharacterisedbyahigherindexof capital buthigherlabourandotherinputs,especiallyowned Small farmsarecharacterisedbyapplicationsofsmaller country asawholewellinmostpartsofthecountry. value terms)perhectarethantheirlargercounterpartsinthe established thatsmallfarmscontinuetoproducemore(in farms. TheNSSO59throundFarmers’ Surveyhasempirically small farmsis,ingeneral,stillnotlessthanthatfromlarge We haveshownthattheperhectarevalueofoutputfrom recommendations Approach oftheCommission,analysisand proportion totheirshareinoperationalcropland. Karnataka). Buttheirshareinproductionisoftenhigher and MadhyaPradesh)south(AndhraPradesh Uttarakhand), centre-west(Rajasthan,Gujarat,Maharashtra reduce thefinancialrisksandincreaseviability. cover productionandalsomarketrisksforallcrops,to insurance. Thereistheneedforinsuranceinstrumentsthat appropriate farmingstrategiesaswelladequate and risk.Also,theriskfactorhastobemitigatedthrough the problemsofirrigation,inputs,markets,procurement and apexorganisations,facilitatefindingsolutionsto in ordertoincentivisetheformationoffarmersgroups of aspecialprogrammeformarginalandsmallfarmers The Commissionhasthereforeadvocatedthesettingup reduced andfarmerscanbenefitfromeconomiesofscale. approaches sothattherequiredtransactioncostscanbe Organisationally, suchastrategymustfocusongroup with respecttomarginalandsmallfarmers. Commission feelsthatthereisneedforafocusedstrategy less effectivewithrespecttothesecategoriesoffarmers.The brings outthatgovernmentinterventionsalsotendtobe markets. Atthesametime,Commission’sanalysisclearly farmers facevariousdisadvantageswhiledealingwiththe small farmsarethebackboneofIndianagriculture.These and smallfarmers.IntheCommission’sview, marginaland neglect hasbeenmostprominentinthecaseofmarginal investment, credit,extensionservices,R&D,andsoon.This the degreeofpublicsupportreceivedbyagriculturein environment. Theseconstraintshaveseriouslyaffected from systemicissues,whichincludethemacro-policy The presentconstraintsonIndianagriculturestem small farmers. regions, andisparticularlylowamongmarginal other groupsisverylowamongfarmers,exceptinsome among farmers.Yet membershipofcooperatives,SHGsand of organisationhavealonghistoryinruralIndia,especially and accesstocredit,inputsmarkets.Cooperativeforms cooperatives helptoovercomediseconomiesofsmallsize that are,byandlarge,urban-oriented.Farmers groupsand assistance especiallyinthecontextofeconomicreforms qua nonfordemandingandsecuringpublicservices Protecting smallfarmers 51 ISSUE 19 2010 52 ISSUE 19 2010 these gainscannotbemaintained, butprogressisbecoming before), andmaize.“Thereis nophysiologicalreasonwhy yields forthebigthreecereals: wheatandrice(slowerthan • Fourth, plant breeders are making steady gains in potential provision ofadvisoryservices canmakemarketsworkbetter. development, ruralfinance,organisingfarmers,and while arangeofinnovationsinriskmanagement,market now morefavourabletowardsrapidproductivitygrowth, are needed.Inmuchofthedevelopingworld,policies further, complementarychangesinpolicyandinstitutions • Third,fortechnologytoworkbestatpushingupyields technology (ICT). younger adoptionphaseofinformationandcommunication world’s cultivatedland.Thispromiseisbackedbytheeven (GM) technologyrevolution,usedonlessthan10%ofthe approaches basedonno-tillageandthegeneticallymodified natural resources”.Theseincludeconservationfarming of enhancingproductivityandsustainablymanaging stage ofadoption”which“promiseawin-wincombination • Second,therearemanytechnologiesthatat“anearly economically exploitable“yieldgaps”remaininmanyplaces. the past50yearsinmostofworld,butlargeand • First,therehavebeenimpressivegainsinyieldsover corporation willdispenseforpublicconsumption: While thatwebistakingshape,thisthereasoning with retailchainsthatwillstiflelocally-basedcompetition. smooth thepathforbusiness-friendlyactsandregulations, sector), withindividualpoliticiansandlegislatorswhocan with newandpotentiallylucrativebio-technologylabs(private requires afewalliances—withcentralandstategovernment, must besustained.Suchacorporation’sworkandview Quite simply, asaconsumerforwhichconsuming system pesticides. Howdoesthiscorporationseethefarm? the channelsthatprovidefarmerswithseeds,fertiliserand works hardtoinfluencepolicy, programmes andeventually the needfortechnology-intensiveagriculturalresearch, its besttoconvincedevelopingcountrygovernmentsabout inputs itsbusinessseeagriculture?Thisentity, whichdoes HOW DOESATECHNOLOGY CORPORATION thatmakesfarm The tiredmirageoftop-downtechnology entirely. Thishasbeenanerrorofstaggeringproportions technology toclosetheyieldgap,whileoverlookingago-ecologicalapproaches obsessed withthearea-production-yieldmantra,isgearedtowardsharnessing India’s largeandcomplexpublicagriculturalresearchextensionsystem, Agricultural revival That civicimperativeissteadily changing,forinIndiaas efforts havebeensociallyand politicallydriven,inthemain. small farmersinAsia,helped lessentheyieldgapbutthese transfer”. Publicsectoragencies have,inreachingthebillion in ruralinfrastructureandinstitutions, plustechnology scale neededrequires,asthey say, “massiveinvestments the problemisthat“closingyieldgap”onlarge and partnersingovernmentthelocalprivatesector, For theglobalagbiotech-seedcorporationsandtheirclients means toclosetheyieldgap. inputs becauseoftheireffectsonsoilfertility. Herewasthe waste onthefarm,andurgingeliminationofchemical the importanceofhumusandre-useagricultural through closelyworkingwithYeshwant Wad), underlining techniques (practice,experimentationandinsightsgained lifetime, hepublishedseveralbooksdescribingcomposting in Indiatheearlypartof20thcentury. Overhis to chemicalagriculture,asusualonthebasisofhiswork agriculture, wasoneofthefirsttoarticulateanalternative Howard, consideredbymanytobethefatheroforganic Such chemical dependence isespeciallytragic in India.Albert South vstheNorth). countries thaninindustriallyadvanced(inthe Fertiliser useperhectareisalso nowhigherindeveloping countries nowaccountfor68%oftotalglobalfertiliseruse. the historicaltrendoffertiliseruse(seebox).Developing the pursuitofthismodelhascostIndiacanbeseenin of scale.Thesaddestandmostpervasiveindicatorwhat automatically forindustrialmodelsandpapereconomies the nationalagriculturalresearchsystem,havereached India, centralandstateplanners,ridingthejuggernautof (APY) modelofmeasuringandaddressingagriculturein With thedominanceofarea,productionandyield abiotic stressesofthedevelopingworld”. sound use”anditspotentialis“toaddresscriticalbiotic proven recordofoveradecadesafeandenvironmentally are fallingrapidly. Moreover, “transgenictechnologyhasa multinational seedcompaniesandelsewhere,theircosts being regularlyappliedtospeedbreedingintheleading is genomicsandmoleculartechniqueswhicharenow more difficultwithconventionalbreeding.”Theanswer RAHUL GOSWAMI designed to. agricultural researchsystem, very simplybecauseitisnot systems cannotfindfavourwith thecoreofourpublic to quellcriticism,buttheorganic traditioninIndia’sfarming Research (ICAR)maymakeappropriate noisesnowandthen now beingrecognised.TheIndian CouncilofAgricultural has madeanerrorofstaggeringproportionswhichisonly proto-technical holdoutfromabygoneera.Indoingso,it agro-ecological approachestocultivationasaclumsy India’s nationalagriculturalresearchsystemhastreated (agricultural researchfordevelopment). by acombinationthatbringstogetherICTand‘AR4D’ stocked public-privatepartnershipstable,nowstrengthened The new“solution”ismostlikelytocomefromthewell- respond tonewchallenges,hamperedasitisinstitutionally. South Asia,theagriculturalextensionsystemisunableto employed for. Theresultingdifferenceisenormous:45.4kg/hectare! it trulyis.Chemicalfertiliser, however, affectstheparcelofland,andisnotdivisiblebynumbercropsland to 190millionhectares(gross).Andthatishowtheperhectareconsumptionoffertiliserportrayedasmuchlower than gives usgrosssownarea.Countingcultivatedlandmorethanonceraisestheareafrom143millionhectares (net) land isusedtogrowmorethanonecropperyear, thatareaonwhichthesecondcropisgrowncountedagain, sown area.Netareaisthelandsurfaceonwhichcropsaregrown.To assessoutputandproductivity, whencultivated consumption. Thesurveyhasconcealedtrueperhectareconsumptionoffertiliserbyswappingnetsownareawith gross 130 kgin2004-05.In2008-09,therudeequationis:143millionhectaresofnetsownarea;24.9mttotalfertiliser The surveyiswrong.perhectareusecrossed105kgin1997—nineyearsbeforethesaysitdidand NPK applicationandofpropernutrients,basedonsoilanalysis.” 128.6 kgin2008-09.However, improvingthemarginalproductivity ofsoilstillremainsachallenge.Thisrequiresincreased agricultural sector. Theperhectareconsumptionoffertilisersinnutrient termsincreasedfrom105.5kgin2005-06to The EconomicSurvey2009-10states:“Chemicalfertilisershaveplayedasignificantroleinthedevelopmentof hectare usehasshotuptoover174kg/hafrom130in2004-05—ajumpof33%justfouryears. per hectareuse.For 2008-09,totalfertiliseruseat24.9mtismorethan6.5thefigurefor2004-05,andper remained atthoselevelsuntil2004-05.Inthelastfouryearstherehasbeenanastonishinglysteepincreaseintotal useand 46% astheavailableagriculturallandplateauedataround140millionhectares.Bothtotaluseandperhectareapplication of the1990s,totalfertiliseruseinIndiaroseby44%(from12.54mtto18.06mt)andperhectareapplicationwent upby and anothersixyearstocross80kg/ha—in1989-90India’stotalfertiliserusewas11.56milliontonnes.Inthedecade Per hectareapplicationoffertilisercontinueditsupwardtrendin1975-76;ittooklessthaneightyearstocross50kg/ha million hectaresandtotalfertiliserusestayedbetween2.652.89tonnes. For thattime,the‘nationalaverage’remainedbetween18and20kg/ha,whiletotalnetsownareavariedlittlefrom140 60 years—inintensityoffertiliseruse.Thoseweretheglobaloilcrisis,so-called‘firstshock’the’70s. it tookonlyfiveyearstoreach20kg/ha.Theperiod1971-721975-76sawlittlechange—thesuchinlast in 1967-68whenthenetsownareawas139.88millionhectaresandtotalfertiliseruse1.53tonnes.Thereafter, was the‘nationalaverage’.Ittook16yearsbeforethataveragecrossed10kgoffertiliserperhectare,andhappened agricultural inputinonlyafewdistrictsthatwerebeingprimedforwhatwastobecometheGreenRevolution.Still, which 69,000tonnesoffertiliserwereused.Ofcourse,thisisanotionalaverageuseonly, as60yearsago,fertiliserwasan In 1950-51,averagefertiliseruseinIndiawasonly0.58kgperhectare.Thenetsownarea118.75millionhectaresupon 105.5 kgin2005-06to128.62008-09.”Thisisfalse.Herewhy. the surveydealswithagriculture,andstates:“Theperhectareconsumptionoffertilisersinnutrienttermsincreasedfrom The EconomicSurvey2009-10hasattemptedtoconcealthetrueimpactofchemicalfertiliserabuseinIndia.Chapter2 India’s fertiliseraddiction Economic Survey2009-10 Data sources:ReserveBankofIndiaHandbookStatisticsonIndianEconomy2008-09.For2007-08and2008-09,totalNPKconsumptionfiguresarefromthe health throughtheadoption of organicfarmingmethods. of macro-andmicro-nutrients —thatpointtoenhancedsoil quality —physical,chemical, biological properties,availability by 11.7%.Moreover, therewasanoverall improvementinsoil produce combinedwithareduction inthecostofcultivation availability ofpremiumprice(20-40%)forcertifiedorganic compared toconventionalfarming.Thisismainlyduethe 9.2%, providedhighernetprofittofarmersby22.0%, farming, inspiteofthereductioncropproductivityby Science farming. Reportingtheirfindingsinthejournal benefits oforganicfarmingversusconventionalhigh-input Hyderabad, has,inrupeeterms,comparedthecostsand Science, Bhopal,andtheDirectorateofOilseedsResearch, by agroupofresearchersfromtheIndianInstituteSoil The evidencehasbeenaccumulating.Asurveyconducted (May 10, 2010), the group’s work shows that organic (May 10,2010),thegroup’sworkshowsthatorganic Agricultural research Current Current 53 ISSUE 19 2010 54 ISSUE 19 2010 India hasallthenecessarypreconditions formaking through enhancingtheoverall shareofcompetitivefunding. competitiveness andaccountability ofresearchsystems systems. However, itremainsimportant toimprovethe need tofundlong-termbasic researchthroughblockgrant research issues.Thismeansthat therewillalwaysbea agricultural technologyfundsfocusmainlyonshort-term Seven yearsago,anICARpolicybriefingsaid:“Competitive Is thattakingplaceinIndia?Theshortansweris‘no’. machinery, andadvisoryservicesfarmernetworks. management practicesadaptedtospecificsites,appropriate sharply increasedinvestmentinresearchonsuitablevarieties, knowledge-intensive andlocation-specificrequiring (FAO) inJune2009.Conservationagricultureisseenas 2050’, organisedbytheFood andAgricultureOrganisation during the‘ExpertMeetingonHowtoFeed theWorld in efficiency andyieldofcropping,”wasanobservationmade a majoropportunitytoimprovethesustainability, energy conservation tillage,wideradoptionofthepracticerepresents “With lessthan10%oftheworld’scroplandunder important sourceofcarbonsequestrationintropicalsoils. also pointedout,conservationtillageisapotentially Intergovernmental Panel onClimateChange(IPCC)has (with recordedincreasesinwheatyieldsof11%).Asthe by small-scalefarmersofzero-tillageinrice-wheatsystems irrigated SouthAsiansystemstherehasbeenwideadoption fuel useforfarmpowerinagricultureby66-75%— farms. Next,conservationfarmingusingzero-tillagereduces carbon ofsoilinorganicfarmscomparedtoconventional studies havefounduptoa30%increaseintheorganic better soilaggregationandphysicalconditions.InIndia, The densityofsoilislessinorganicfarms,whichindicates compelling forourfarminghouseholdsandcommunities. of climatechangeandenergyscarcity, becomeevenmore agro-ecological farmingwhich,underthegrowingshadow There arebiologicalandenergybenefitsoforganic products arebeingexportedannually. agriculture), about586,000tonnes’worthoforganic thenodalagencythat promotes Indianorganic (APEDA, Processed Food ProductsExportDevelopmentAuthority entirely export-oriented.AccordingtotheAgriculturaland grain andherbsworthaboutUS$78millionisalmost farming industryisestimatedtoproducefruit,vegetables, certified organicfarms.Economically, theIndianorganic to beunderorganicfarminginIndia,withabout45,000 Today, anareaofmorethan528,000 hectaresisestimated organic farmsand50comparableconventionalfarms. Pondicherry), Kerala andUttarakhandinvolving50certified 2008-09 inMaharashtra,Karnataka,Tamil Nadu(including with conventionalfarms.Thesurveywasconductedduring production potential,economics,andsoilhealthcompared real benefitsandfeasibilityoforganicfarmingintermsthe The groupsurveyedcertifiedorganicfarmstofindandlistthe Agricultural revival industry chain. hands ofafewpatentholders highupintheagbiotech-seed concentrates theownershipof plantgermplasminthe and subsistencefarmerssofar hasnotbeenthekindthat that thekindofbiotechnology thatworksbestforpoor holders. India’sNARSstillshrinks fromtherecognition be forcedtoconsumeblack-boximportsfromlargepatent to improveandadapttheircircumstances,ratherthan biotechnologies itmustdemandthatfarmerscancontinue their intellectualproperties.Ifatallthereisanadvocacyfor direct financialrewardthroughcommercialisingorlicensing system existsprimarilytoassistthefarmerratherthanseek an innovator, andthatthenationalagriculturalresearch this networkfailedtorealiseisthatthefarmeralsooften mix ofcropscientistsandadministrators.However, what sprawling, complexsystemdenselypopulatedbyanuneasy arose fromtechnologicalinnovationsprovidedbythis Forty yearsago,therewerebenefits tothefarmerthat ICAR/SAU system. research attheirinstitutesandmayalsofundinthe of ScienceandTechnology, supportandconductagricultural Scientific andIndustrialResearch(DSIR)undertheMinistry of Biotechnology(DBT),ScienceandTechnology (DST),and indirectly. For example,thecentralgovernmentDepartments support orconductagriculturalresearcheitherdirectly are non-agriculturaluniversitiesandorganisationsthat System (NARS)—thatis,theICAR/SAU system—there In additiontothetraditionalNationalAgriculturalResearch control, thatconsistofteamsmulti-disciplinaryscientists. their ownresearchinfrastructure,underICARadministrative pests), ICARhasestablishedspecialprojectdirectorateswith oilseeds, water, croppingsystems,andbiologicalcontrolof for themostimportantAICRPs (rice,wheat,maize,cattle, administrative controloftherespectiveSAUs. However, AICRP centresarelocatedonSAU campusesunderthe scientists frombothICARinstitutionsandSAUs. Most Coordinated ResearchProjects(AICRPs), whichdraw In addition,ICARmanagesalargenumberofAll-India what itcalls“missionmode”. centres forapplied,commodity-specificstrategicresearchin of germplasmandsoil-surveywork;nationalresearch research; nationalbureausforconservationandexchange education; centralresearchinstitutesforcommodity-specific institutes forbasicandstrategicresearchpost-graduate a vastnetworkofresearchinstitutes,includingnational campuses andregionalinstitutes.ICARfundsmanages the StateAgriculturalInstitutes(SAUs) andtheirvarious system consistsofICARanditsvariousinstitutes, Currently, thepublicagriculturalresearchandextension Indian nationalagriculturalresearchsystem. conditions? To answerthatrequiresfirstaprécisonthe What hasitdonewiththeseavailableandfavourable competitive fundingeffectiveandefficient.” Though anewentranttoagriculture, Patil hastouchedon as villageaccountant. satisfying bothmonetarilyand work-wisethanhisearlierjob all organic,”saidSMPatil, whofindsagriculturemore converted 9acresoffallowland intoafertilefarm,and 2002, theorganicmovementhadreacheditspeak.Ihave wanted togetintofarming.WhenIstartedagriculturein becoming popularamongfarmers.“After retirement,I The lasttwodecadeshaveseentheorganicmovement right answers,butdidithavethequestions? the researchitself?Aspeoplesay, theresearchhadall was thequestionasked:Was theresomethingwrongwith ‘ignorance andinability’tohandletheiragriculture.Never time somethingfailed,farmerswereblamedfortheir were onlyatthereceivingendofresearchoutputs.Every was thoughtofasanexpertdomainandhencefarmers agricultural research.For alongtime,agriculturalresearch It hasbecomeveryimportanttostakefarmers’claimsover agricultural practices. farmers —tocategoricallysupportenvironment-friendly participants includedbothchemicalandnon-chemical current tendencyamongfarmersinKarnataka—although and concludewithaverdict.Theentireexercisereflectedthe farmers toreviewthepresentstatusofagriculturalresearch The process,whichfolloweda‘citizen’sjury’model,allowed farming withafocusonagriculturalresearch. evidence fromtheseexpertsondifferentdimensionsof members duringthethree-dayevent.Farmers collected representatives toopresentedtheircaseinfrontofjury the inclusivenatureofevent,privateseedcompany society organisationsandconsumeractivists.Underlining the StateAgricultureDepartment,representativesofcivil audience includedresearchers,farmerleaders,adirectorof and insightsof28smallfarmersfromKarnataka.The January 2010,inBangalore.Theeventheardtheviews were speakingattheRaitateerpuevent,organisedin of thefarmers’jury. Sadashivaiahandhisfellow participants statement wasgreetedwithapplausefromothermembers a profit,Iwouldoptfornature,”saidSadashivaiah,andhis “GIVEN ACHOICEBETWEENprotectingnatureandmaking The gapbetweenfieldandlab technology andpolicymaking Karnataka, wantstoensurethatcitizensareinvolvedindecisionsaroundscience, end ofagriculturalresearch,neverinvolvedinit.Raitateerpu,afarmers’jury workers andconsumers.Butfarmersconsumersareonlyatthereceiving In India,publicly-fundedresearchshapesthechoicesavailabletofarmers,food customers. “After people startedaskingforgrainflour, I long term,hisdecisionpaidoff andhenowhasregular doesn’t recognisethevalueof non-chemicalgrain.Inthe he avoidedsellinghisproduce inthegeneralmarketwhich mainly forhomeuse.Marketing wasnoteasyforhimas Shankaranna’s fields,whilevegetables andfruitsaregrown Native paddyandpulsesarethemajorcropsin consumers throughouttheyear. preservation techniques,heisabletoofferhisproduce now Iamcontentwithagriculture.” Having learnttraditional Organic farmingrequiresmoreattentionandhardwork, but organisation. Theperiodoftransformationwasnoteasy. organic farmingfiveyearsago,influencedbyacivilsociety a smallfarmerinKhanapur, Belgaumdistrict.“Ishiftedto experiments arealwayspronetorisk,”saidShankaranna, entire benefit.“Reachingthatstageisnoteasy, forsuch and jams.Whenthemixworksoptimally, farmers getthe depending onthecrop,whethersun-driedfruitorpickles Growers addvaluetotheirproduceatvariousstages dependence onlabourandgoodmarketopportunities. agriculture afterthe1980s.Suchfarmingmeanslower one suchway, andwascommonamongthose whostarted exploitation. Tree-based farmingwithhorticulturecropsis explored economicwaysthatleadoutofmarket-related organic movementinKarnataka.Organicfarmershave Value-addition anddirectmarketingareoffshootsofthe district tobuythePatils’ fruitinbulk. On thecontrary, peopletravel5kmfromAthani inBelgaum from amarketthatdoesnotknoworvaluetheirproduce. Maharashtra. Theyproudlysaythattheyhaveneversuffered has customersalloverthestate,eveninneighbouring bottle tobesentacustomerbycourier. ThePatil couple the post,”saidPushpaPatil, wrappingaliquidjaggery doorstep, andplacetheirorderseitherpersonallyorthrough the qualityofourproducts.Consumersapproachusat into promotingourproducts.We havealwaysmaintained some ofhisuniqueproducts.“We haven’tputmucheffort and toothpowder;tomatojamturmericpickleare dry fruit.Healsoprocessesherbsintosoap,mouthfreshener produce issapotawhichgetsprocessedintopowderand form thebaseofhissuccessfulventure.Hismainfarm the heartofmatter. Value-addition anddirectmarketing Agricultural research ANITHA PAILOOR 55 ISSUE 19 2010 56 ISSUE 19 2010 days, and tender coconut expositions have attracted growers coconutexpositions haveattracted days, andtender of eventsfromnativeseedfestivals, mangofairs,paddyfield Koulagi createdanewwaveandinfluencedmany. Arange Fukuoka’s OneStrawRevolution organic movementinKarnataka. Translation ofMasanobu The mediahasplayedanimportant roleinstrengtheningthe fruit andsoappowder. Nesara: theshopoffersarangeofproductsfromgrainto with thesettingupofanoutletfororganicproducecalled movement hascrossedovertotheconsumersideinMysore, are naturalanddonotincludeartificialpreservatives.The Home-made productsareusuallyofexcellentquality, asthey and marketing. entered themarketwithoutattractivepackaging took timeforconsumerstoacceptfarmers’productsthat village, 17kmfromMysore.Althoughthecityisnearby, it Chandrashekhar, wholivesonhis13-acrefarminKalalavadi to matchdemandandsupply.” Itwasnotaneasyjobfor compelled toprocesstheproduce.Now, themajortaskis quantities duetoourmixedcroppingsystem—wewere marketing producewasalwaysaproblem—wehavesmall to organichadaclearunderstandingofthesituation.As intricacies ofnature.Thefirstgenerationthatshiftedback agriculture requiresintelligence.We havetounderstandthe dared toaddvaluehisproduce25yearsago.“Organic A PChandrashekharisapioneeringorganicfarmerwho group certification,whichisaffordable. small subsistence farmers, which iswhysome have optedfor public attention,althoughorganiccertificationiscostlyfor The bottomlineisthatnon-chemicalfoodgettinggreater or fromthosewhomweknowproperly.” So weusuallyprefertobuyfromcertifiedorganicgrowers careful thattheyarechemical-freeandofgoodquality. Procuring fromotherfarmerscanberiskyaswehaveto cannot holdontoourconsumerswithjustoneortwoitems. networking helpsusdisplaydiverseproducts,”hesaid.“We and honeyfromAnkolaforsaleattheweeklymarket.“Such dry grapesfromBelgaum,turmericandkokumSirsi, Hosamani inDharwar, 200kmaway. Hosamaniprocures rare varietiesofnativepaddygrownonhisfarmtoGM and produce.BNNandeesh,afarmerinShikaripur, sends of networking,whereinfarmersexchangetheirproducts exploited farmersextensively. Thereistheadditionalbenefit and (3)removingfromtheequationmiddlemenwhohave incentive toraisethevalueoftheirproducebyprocessingit, which helpsthemplantheircrop,(2)givingthe farmers by(1)bringingthemclosertoconsumerneeds, Weekly organicmarketsareincreasinginnumber, helping Dharwar. a temporarystallattheGandhiShantiPratishthana,in gardening,” hesaid.OnThursdayafternoonsopens vegetable seedstothosewhowanttakeupkitchen decided togoforthissecond-levelprocessing.Ialsosell Agricultural revival by farmer-writer Santosh that myproduceshouldnot get lostinamarketdominated time, HOPCOMSofferedmeRs 15akgforsapota.Ithought years, Iusedtoselltheproduce athomeonly,” hesaid.“This sapota, bananas,mangoesand drumsticks.“Inthelastfew to adjustimproves.KBVirupakshar, afarmer inHubli,grows farmer andconsumergetto know oneanother, theability there isamismatchbetweendemandandsupplybut,as to farmerswhentheyareinitiatedbytheirpeers.Attimes for driedfruit.Theseeffortsaresustainable,andappeal plot. Shebeganafterlearningthattherewasgooddemand bananas andjackfruitwhichareinter-crops inherareca farmer inSirsi,alsoworksonherproduce.Shesun-dries their ownsetofcustomers.ManoramaJoshi,anothersmall — vegetables,value-addedproductsandfruiteachhave his produceseparately. Regularcustomers visittheshop shop inthenearbytownofSirsi,wherevendordisplays Every Saturday, Vankatesha takeshisproducts toavegetable be reasonable.” demand ismore,wedonotincreasetheprice.Profitshould work andmaterialcosts,”saidVenkatesha’s mother. “Evenif for Rs20each.“Thepricesarefixedtocompensateour popular. He prepares 200plantseveryyearandsellsthem (400 kmaway).Venkatesha’s coconutplantsarealso has broughtthemcustomersfromasfarawayBangalore has increasingdemand.Theirsteadfastinsistenceonquality prepares squash;fragrantandpureturmericpowderalso them withsugarorjaggery, dependingonthedemand,and properties; hiswifeGangaextractsfruitessences,mixes white kokum(Garciniaindica),whichhasvaluablemedicinal towards themarketarewhatwork.Hisownexamples Venkatesha feelsthatgoodqualityandaproperapproach successfully sellinghisproduceandvalue-addedproducts, in theirpackageofpractices.”Asafarmerwhohasbeen should alsorecognisefarmers’expertiseandadoptthem and issustainablewelcome.Agriculturaluniversities applicable infarmers’fields,helpsthemgetagoodyield, Venkatesha added:“Any newtechnologywhich is research. designing, data-collectionandanalysisofagricultural where communitiesandfarmersareinvolveddirectlyin well astoinitiatewell-groundedactionsinvolvingresearch steps todialogue,debateanddiscussfarmer-led researchas realisation thathasdrivenmanycivilsocietygroupstotake are deniedparticipationinagriculturalresearch?Itisthis When farmershavesomuchtooffer, whyisitthatthey Each ofthesefarmsisauniversityforbiodiverseagriculture. humans, theircattleandtheland,”saidVenkatesha. need-based, andaharmonyshouldbedevelopedbetween work accordingly, wealwayssucceed.Farming shouldbe chemical andnature-friendly. Ifweunderstandnatureand farming methodsisnotimportant.Itimportanttobenon- inputs evenatthepeakofGreenRevolution.“Classifying Venkatesha, afarmerinUttaraKannada,refusedchemical and consumerstotheconceptofhealthyfood.Bengali research system. deciding theprioritiesadopted bythenationalagricultural in agricultureandalsowhether farmershaveanysayin Hemavva wascurioustoknow theroleofresearchers As afarmerjurymemberofthe Raitateerpuprogramme, reimburse myloss,whichwas notmyfault,”sheasked. chemicals. Ihadtochangemycroppingpattern.Whowill neighbour startedgrowinggherkins,whichrequiredheavy meet. “Ilostmychillycroptoanunknowndiseaseafter Hemavva posedaveryimportantquestionattheRaitateerpu work benefits.” understand whattheyaredoingandwhomtheir universities, whichwereestablishedtoserveus?We donot every crisis,wefarmersareblamed.Whataboutagricultural they askustoavoidusingthem.Isitthateasy?For eachand us,” saidHemavvaLamani,asmallfarmerinHaveri.“Now officials weretheoneswhointroducedchemicalinputsto on outsideinputsforfarming.“Agriculture department they havelosttheirself-reliance andareheavilydependent fertiliser andpesticides’.Alongwithtraditionalpractices, the majority, agriculturestillmeans‘packet seeds, chemical farming fraternitybothinrainfedandirrigatedlands.For not easy. Organicawarenesshasnotreached thelarger is agreatinterestinorganicfarming,thechangeover transformation toorganicsuccessfully. Althoughthere These aretheexperiencesoffarmerswhohavemade Rs 20perkg. organic awarenesswhereverwego.”Hesellshissapotaat different directmarketoutletsandsell.We passon by chemically-dependentproduce.NowmywifeandIvisit and wascloselyinvolvedwiththeRaitateerpu farmers’jury Anitha PailooriswiththeCentreforAgricultural Media,Dharwad,Karnataka, in India. the governanceoffoodsystems andbiodiversity with theincreasingimpactof climatechange—for institutional choicesthatareimportant—especially policymaking. Theyalsoconsiderresourceallocationand involvement indecisionsaroundscience,technologyand inclusive processesareameanstobroadencitizens’ interests. Thesenewexperimentswithdeliberativeand to servethepublicgoodratherthannarroweconomic convincingly atRaitateerpu—ensuringthatitcontinues the governanceofscienceandtechnology—asshown is anincreasingneedtoexplorewaysofdemocratising also theenvironmentsinwhichtheyliveandwork.There available tofarmers,foodworkersandconsumers, lab. InIndia,publicly-fundedresearchshapesthechoices significant, showingclearlythegapbetweenfieldand The differenceinperceptionsonbothsideswas jury member. researchers areanswerabletous,”saidGangamma,another has definitelyboostedourmorale.We realisedthatthe us tospeakforourselvesandourfarmingcommunity. This answers fromtheresearchers.“Itwasanopportunityfor scientists onanequalfootingtoairtheirdoubtsandseek For thefirsttimeincountry, farmersinteractedwith honeybees” —gavethediscussionsanewdimension. — suchas“willGMcropshaveanegativeimpacton opportunity tospeakatpublicmeetings.Theirconcerns and smallfarmers,themajorityofwhomhavehadno At Raitateerpu,mostfarmerjurymemberswereilliterate Agricultural research

57 Rahul Goswami ISSUE 19 2010 58 ISSUE 19 2010 well wherevertheyhavebeen sown.Thechiefcharacteristics Kudrat andKarishmarespectively, andthey haveperformed Raghuvanshi hasnamedhispaddy andwheatvarieties saved astheyareopenpollinated seeds. ladiesfinger andvegetablevarieties. Alloftheirseedscanbe varieties ofarhar, besidesmoong,peas,mustard,papaya, developed 80varietiesofwheat,25paddy, 10 Raghuvanshi’s bodyofworkisindeedremarkable:hehas facilities, awell-equippedlab,orresearchgrants. the resultshehasproduceddespitelackofmodernresearch several agriculturalscientistsandtheyhavebeenamazed by has beenparticipatinginkisanmelasandmeets.Hemet Ever sincehisworkonplantbreedingbegan,Raghuvanshi come upwithgoodresultswithinashortperiodoftime. agricultural scientistinspiredRaghuvanshitodohisbestand thereby theirincomes.Thistimelyencouragementfroman small andmarginalfarmersimprovetheiryields new varietiesofseedthatwouldperformwellandhelp Agricultural University, encouragedRaghuvanshi todevelop University andaformervice-chancellorofPantnagar Dr MahatimSingh,formerprofessoratBenarasHindu vegetables. resistant varietiesofpaddy, wheat,arhar, moong,peasand and intheprocessdevelopedseveralhigh-yielding,disease- Raghuvanshi continuedfromthepointhisfatherleftoff, begun theprocessbutcouldnottakeittoitsconclusion. ability toadaptsuddenclimatechanges.Hisfatherhad moong seedsfortheirhighyields,diseaseresistanceand bank on3acresoflandandchosewheat,paddy, arharand out otherfarmerstoo.Hebegandevelopingalivingseed and help difficulties Raghuvanshi toovercomethese resolved by chemically-dependentfarmingnearly15yearsago, Spurred bycroplossesandfinancialsetbackscaused Raghuvanshi’s successatplantbreeding. it istheapproachoflisteningandlearningthathasledto enquiry andareductionistattitudetonaturefarming, village level.Far morethanadry, mechanisticformof tradition ofgrassrootsresearchandinnovationatthe PRAKASH SINGHRAGHUVANSHI epitomisestheIndian Kudrat, Karishmaandotherlivingseeds the cycleofdebtanddependence thereby freeingthefarmerfromstrangleholdofforeignseedcompaniesand Varanasi. Hisaimisclear:toconserveandprotectdesi(indigenous)seedvarieties, trains farmersinthebasicsofselectionandplantbreedingathissmallfarmnear open pollinatedseeds,distributingthemto2millionfarmersin14states.Healso Prakash Raghuvanshihasdevelopeddozensofhigh-yielding,disease-resistant, Agricultural revival research system.Cowdungandsomeirrigationareallthat varieties thathavebeendevelopedbyIndia’sagricultural requiring massivechemicalinputsasdohigh-yielding traditional varieties;theydelivergreateryieldswhilenot flavour astheyhavebeenselectedanddevelopedfrom for thenextseason’scrop;theyaresuperiorintasteand they areopenpollinatedandcanbesavedbythefarmer of temperature,rainfallandotheraspectsclimatechange; of hisseedvarietiesare:theyadaptverywelltoextremes ANJALI PATHAK

Sudharak Olwe farming andofprotection indigenouscowbreeds.He Raghuvanshi isapractitioner andadvocateoforganic debt anddependence. the strangleholdofforeignseed companiesandthecycleof (indigenous) seedvarieties,thereby freeingthefarmerfrom Varanasi. Hisaimisclear:toconserveandprotectdesi selection andplantbreedingathissmall15-acrefarmnear 15 years.Raghuvanshialsotrainsfarmersinthebasicsof — byhisownestimate,2millionfarmersin14states,over several beejyatras wheat varieties18-20quintalsperacre.Hehasgoneon His paddyvarietiesyield25-30quintalsperacreandhis The proofofRaghuvanshi’smethodsisseeninthefield. Kudrat andKarishmaneed. gm seedpackets. to farmersalloverIndiathroughfreedistributionof100-200 • IntroducethevariousKudrat andKarishmaseedvarieties nearly adecadeago.Itsobjectivesare: Raghuvanshi launchedhisBeejDanaMahadanacampaign Recognising theimportanceofsavingindigenousseeds, the urbanpoortomakeupproteingapintheirdiets. protein; itcanbegrownbysmallandmarginalfarmers Moong: 1,405 kgand742respectively. oil content.Theiraverageseedyieldperhectareis1,430kg, bunchy pods,agreaternumberofseedsperpod,andhigher Mustard: quintals and10-12quintals. respectively, whileyieldsperacreare12-15quintals, 10-12 possess 500-1,000,400-600and450-650podsperplant Pigeon pea: and 15-17quintals. yields peracrearerespectively25-30quintals,20-22quintals 135 days,115-120daysand90-100respectively, while Lal Basmati—progressthroughamaturityperiodof130- Paddy: 20 quintalsand22-27respectively. 90-95 cmrespectively;yieldsperacreare20-25quintals,15- Kudrat 17,haveplantheightsof85-90cm,95-100cmand Wheat: seed varieties: Raghuvanshi haslistedthecharacteristicsofhisimproved Mahadana campaign Seed varietiesandtheBeejDana Thethreepaddyvarieties—Kudrat 1,Kudrat 2and The threewheatvarieties,Kudrat 5,Kudrat 9and The Kudrat JanKalyanivariety contains24% Kudrat Vandana, Kudrat GitaandKudrat Sonihave The Kudrat 3,Chamatkar andKarishmavarieties distributinghisseedsfreelyandwidely village, Jakhinipost,Varanasi district,UttarPradesh. season. Hisaddressis:PrakashSinghRaghuvanshi,Tadia utilised toplant10-15acresoflandwithpaddy, inthenext to 40kgofseedinonegrowingseason.Thiscanthenbe good soilconditions,a100gmseedpacketcanproduceup 500 gmfreeofcosttoindividualfarmers.Ifplantedunder commercially. Raghuvanshisendssmallseed packetsof100- stations. Theyareawaitingpatentsandnotavailable various agriculturaluniversitiesandgovernmentresearch The seedsdevelopedbyRaghuvanshiareundertrialat farming households. have abeneficialeffectonfarming,farmanimalsand • PropagateancientVedic practiceslikeagnihotra vegetables producedfromindigenousseeds. through consumptionofcereals,pulses,oilseedsand • Improvethehealthofbothruralandurbanpopulations suicides, andimprovingIndia’sfoodsecurity. foreign seedmultinationals,puttinganendtofarmer • Returncontrolofseedstofarmerstherebyneutralising and saleofKudrat seedvarieties. farm yieldsandearnhigherincomesthroughcultivation • Enablesmallandmarginalfarmerstoharvestimproved • Inculcateprideinfarming,andsohaltmigrationtocities. convert toorganicfarming. • Inspireandurgefarmerstogiveupchemicalfarming • Encouragefarmerstokeeplocalbreedsofcows. meet futureneeds. breeding sothattheycandeveloptheirownvarietiesto • Teach farmersthebasicsofplantselectionand villages toconservelocalseedvarieties. • Encouragefarmerstostarttheirownlivingseedbanksin another spiritualteacherbased inBangalore,isalsoa farms toproducebountifulharvests. SriRaviShankar, used theimprovedseedsdeveloped byRaghuvanshiinhis in Ahmedabadwhoownsseveral largefarmsandhas financially byShriNarayanSaiji, areligiousteacherbased his improvedseedvarieties.He hasalsobeensupported cultivation andscalingupmanufacturingchannelsfor Micro Venture InnovationFund fornurserydevelopment, Foundation gavehimagrantofRs1.9lakhunderthe on November18,2009,byPresidentPratibhaPatil. The was givenaNationalAwardforInnovationinAgriculture the NationalInnovationFoundation (NIF),Ahmedabad.He Raghuvanshi’s extraordinaryworkhasbeenrecognisedby learn firsthand. welcomes farmersandvisitorsathisfarmtoobserve Grassroots researchandinnovation which which 59 ISSUE 19 2010 60 ISSUE 19 2010 has distributedvarietiesofhis wheatseedstofarmers A regularatkisanmelas like Monsantohavedropped sharply. seeds havebeendistributedto farmers,salesofcompanies undermining India’sfoodsecurity. WhereverRaghuvanshi’s wheat seeds—areholdingfarmerstoransomand seed companieslikeMonsanto—thatsellhybridriceand aim isthecountry’sfoodsecurity. Hisviewisthatforeign deal withwhatamountstocommercialcrime.Yet, histrue an NGOandthespeedyregistrationofhisseedpatentsto legal actionagainstthedefaulters.Hereliesonsupportfrom varieties arestillpending,Raghuvanshicannotresortto from thesaleofhisseeds.Aspatentsforseed the pastwhorefusedtogivehimhisduewhileprofiting has beendupedseveraltimesbyunscrupulouspartnersin Although thearrangementisstraightforward,Raghuvanshi sale isover. seed variety. Raghuvanshigetsacommissionafterthe acknowledging Raghuvanshiasthesourceofparticular and thepartnersproceedtosellseedsfarmers, for theseedsisagreeduponwhencropharvested, various farmersintheirrespectiveareas.Aroughsaleprice batch ofseedsandhispartnersgetthemmultipliedby arrangement issimple:Raghuvanshiprovidestheinitial in Rajasthan,Gujarat,Maharashtra,AssamandOrissa.The funds. Atpresent,hehasverbalagreementswithgrowers to supporthislargefamily, hehasfelttheneed toraise order tosustainhisBeejDanaMahadanacampaign,and his seedvarietiestocompanies.Nevertheless,in has stayedawayfrombecomingfullycommercialorselling Coming fromaconservativeruralbackground,Raghuvanshi achieve overtheyears. example ofwhatconcertedteameffortbyafarmfamilycan agriculture theirlivelihood,Raghuvanshi’ssonsarean children aremigratingtocitiesanddonotwantmake advocacy andoutreachwork.Inatimewhenfarmers’ farmers inthevillageandassisthimhisplantbreeding, greatest success—isthathisthreeyoungsonsarealso Raghuvanshi’s greatestadvantageperhaps—andhis family’s needsandtogrowgreenfodderforthecows. rice, wheat,pulses,oilseedsandvegetablestomeetthe seed bank.Another9-10acresaregivenovertogrowing breeding workandtopreservehisseedvarietiesinaliving the brothers,andRaghuvanshiuses3acrestodohisplant from Varanasi. Thelandhetillsandsowsisheldjointlyby brothers. HisfamilycomesfromthevillageofTadia, 30km family withhismother, wifeandsixchildren,oneofhis plant breeder, Raghuvanshiis50yearsoldandlivesinajoint Nationally recognisedforbeinganinnovativefarmerand how doeshelive? What shapedRaghuvanshi’sthinkingandapproach, Raghuvanshi supporter. Agricultural revival innorthernIndia,Raghuvanshi desh bachao kheti apnikhad,apnabeejaswad, coining sloganstogethismessageacrossfarmers: Over theyears,Raghuvanshihasbecomeproficientat benefited fromregularandappreciativemediacoverage. have extendedtheirsupporttoRaghuvanshi,whohasalso few examples;numerousotherindividualsandorganisations has popularisedKudrat paddy inRajasthan.Theseareonlya helped makehisbeejyatras moral andfinancialsupporttoRaghuvanshihas philanthropist basedinNewDelhi,hasextendedvaluable farming amongstfarmers,isanother;Yashpal Bansal,a good workatthegrassrootsleveltopromoteagnihotra organisation; MadhavashraminBhopal,whichhasdone Mumbai, convenedbyRamakrishnaPandey, isonesuch different partsofIndia.TheRashtriyaAsmitaManchin small organisationsworkingatthegrassrootslevelin indigenous seedvarieties.Hehaslinkedupwithvarious importance ofhavingstrongalliesinthestruggletosave At thestartofhiscampaign,Raghuvanshirecognised is thenorm. as helivesinafertilezonewhereirrigatedfarming Raghuvanshi’s focushasbeenonpaddy, wheat andpulses aware oftheimportancemilletinIndiandiet, to whichhybridbrinjalvarietiesaresusceptible.Although as soilconditionerspreventstheaggressiveattackofpests brinjal variety. Hesaysusingneemcakeandmustardoil lies inshowingfarmersthesuperioryieldsofhisimproved introduction ofBtbrinjal,Raghuvanshibelievesthesolution While awareofthecontroversyragingaround Slow Food Movement. with Vandana Shivaandwasgrantedlifemembershiptothe evoked alotofinterest.In2008,RaghuvanshiwenttoItaly organised bySristi-NIFinNovember2006,wherehisseeds and alsoparticipatedinthetraditionalfoodfestival,Saatvik, meeting inMay2006tointeractwithfellowinnovators, informalResearchAdvisoryCommittee invited toNIF’s Kota, Bharatpur, JaipurandSikarinRajasthan.Hewas Jalgaon, Yavatmal, AmravatiandPuneinMaharashtra; Pradesh; Raipur, BhilaiandDhamtariinChhattisgarh; Narsingpur, Khargaon,Indore,BhopalandUjjaininMadhya in Varanasi andAllahabadinUttarPradesh;Jabalpur, essential descriptionofwhat hasbecomealife’swork. of hiscampaign.“Iamonlyanobserver,” ishissimple, Indian farmingfortheappealofhismessageandsuccess knowledge andwork,creditingentirelythetraditionsof Raghuvanshi takesaphilosophical-spiritualviewofhis distribution ofpamphlets. are supportedbyavarietyofbanners,postersandthe worked withgrowersandplantersofthe northeast,theDooarsandNilgiris Dr AnjaliPathakisanaturopath,writer and organicfarmingconsultantwhohas aretwofavourites.Duringbeejyatras asuccess;DrBKSahuofKota andBeejbachao, these Apni

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