Dr. Hari Shankar Gupta, Director, IARI talks about agriculture and what changes need to be brought in
Having been part of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Dr. Harishankar Gupta, Director, IARI has seen agriculture in every possible aspect. Talking to Vikas Kumar, he shares his views about the sector
B&E: Green Revolution was a spectacular success but, challenges have taken different dimensions and imminent need is to feed a billion plus mouths. What can be done?
HSG: (Smiles and leans forward) In late sixties, Norman Borlaug introduced dwarf seeds from outside. Mr. Borlaug and MS Swaminathan also crossed these dwarf seeds with local varieties. From then on, there was no looking back. (Pauses). But in the process we resorted to indiscriminate use of fertilizers and indiscriminate use of ground water. Farmers started using more Nitrogen a+nd fewer amounts of Potash and Phosphorus. These two things upset the whole equation. Apart from that, there are other challenges of irregular weather and climate change. We now see spring coming in March in stead of April.
B&E: Even after six decades agriculture and farmer are dependent on mercies of Rain Gods. Where is the problem?
HSG: Last year government increased MSP of wheat by Rs 200/quintal and farmers were very happy. If we provide right price to the farmer then there is not much problem. But, cost of inputs has gone up significantly over the years and prices of agriculture commodities have not increased to that level. This is why farmers are suffering.
B&E: Agriculture growth rate has been sluggish and has hovered between 2-4%. Do you feel government has sacrificed the interests of agriculture for the sake of the service sector?
HSG: No, rather I feel government now better understands needs of agriculture. We do not have shortage of funding especially for research. However, it is true much more needs to be done. Had it been done 10 years back, things would have been certainly different. Investment is still required.
B&E: Private sector seed products are more popular than public sector seeds despite later are much cheaper?
BSN: The difference in quality of public sector and private sector seed brands is minimal. But, public sector seed companies lack aggressive branding and marketing strategies than their private counterparts. Public sector has mostly focused on research and they are really not good at marketing. Now, we have given license to 19 private sector companies of the variety Pusa Rice Hybrid-10.
B&E: There are certain agriculture products which are perishable in nature. We have not developed storage capacity for them. This has seriously affected economic health of farmers What is your view point?
HSG: This reference is about fruits and vegetable products. It is a shocking truth that 30% of these products are wasted due to lack of proper storage capacity. To solve this problem government is giving thrust to the food processing sector. Now, coming to field crops our storage capacity is much less than what we need.
B&E: One of the major problems of the farmers is the lack of proper advice at right time. Why IARI has not been able to move in this direction?
HSG: You are right. Agriculture is a state subject. While central government can only act as facilitator, the onus lies on respective state governments. Wherever, agriculture extension machinery has been good, there is good progress but wherever, state government has been inept, agriculture has suffered.
Having been part of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Dr. Harishankar Gupta, Director, IARI has seen agriculture in every possible aspect. Talking to Vikas Kumar, he shares his views about the sector
B&E: Green Revolution was a spectacular success but, challenges have taken different dimensions and imminent need is to feed a billion plus mouths. What can be done?
HSG: (Smiles and leans forward) In late sixties, Norman Borlaug introduced dwarf seeds from outside. Mr. Borlaug and MS Swaminathan also crossed these dwarf seeds with local varieties. From then on, there was no looking back. (Pauses). But in the process we resorted to indiscriminate use of fertilizers and indiscriminate use of ground water. Farmers started using more Nitrogen a+nd fewer amounts of Potash and Phosphorus. These two things upset the whole equation. Apart from that, there are other challenges of irregular weather and climate change. We now see spring coming in March in stead of April.
B&E: Even after six decades agriculture and farmer are dependent on mercies of Rain Gods. Where is the problem?
HSG: Last year government increased MSP of wheat by Rs 200/quintal and farmers were very happy. If we provide right price to the farmer then there is not much problem. But, cost of inputs has gone up significantly over the years and prices of agriculture commodities have not increased to that level. This is why farmers are suffering.
B&E: Agriculture growth rate has been sluggish and has hovered between 2-4%. Do you feel government has sacrificed the interests of agriculture for the sake of the service sector?
HSG: No, rather I feel government now better understands needs of agriculture. We do not have shortage of funding especially for research. However, it is true much more needs to be done. Had it been done 10 years back, things would have been certainly different. Investment is still required.
B&E: Private sector seed products are more popular than public sector seeds despite later are much cheaper?
BSN: The difference in quality of public sector and private sector seed brands is minimal. But, public sector seed companies lack aggressive branding and marketing strategies than their private counterparts. Public sector has mostly focused on research and they are really not good at marketing. Now, we have given license to 19 private sector companies of the variety Pusa Rice Hybrid-10.
B&E: There are certain agriculture products which are perishable in nature. We have not developed storage capacity for them. This has seriously affected economic health of farmers What is your view point?
HSG: This reference is about fruits and vegetable products. It is a shocking truth that 30% of these products are wasted due to lack of proper storage capacity. To solve this problem government is giving thrust to the food processing sector. Now, coming to field crops our storage capacity is much less than what we need.
B&E: One of the major problems of the farmers is the lack of proper advice at right time. Why IARI has not been able to move in this direction?
HSG: You are right. Agriculture is a state subject. While central government can only act as facilitator, the onus lies on respective state governments. Wherever, agriculture extension machinery has been good, there is good progress but wherever, state government has been inept, agriculture has suffered.
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