Swaminathan commission for agriculture Development
The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) was constituted on November 18, 2004 under the chairmanship of Professor M.S. Swaminathan. The Terms of Reference reflected the priorities listed in the Common Minimum Programme. The NCF submitted four reports in December 2004, August 2005, December 2005 and April 2006 respectively. The fifth and final report was submitted on October 4, 2006. The reports contain suggestions to achieve the goal of “faster and more Growth-3/”>Inclusive Growth” as envisaged in the Approach to 11th Five Year Plan.
The NCF was mandated to make suggestions on issues such as:
- a medium-term strategy for food and Nutrition security in the country in order to move towards the goal of universal Food Security over time;
- enhancing productivity, profitability, and sustainability of the major Farming Systems of the country;
- policy reforms to substantially increase flow of rural credit to all farmers;
- special programmes for dryland farming for farmers in the arid and semi-arid regions, as well as for farmers in hilly and coastal areas;
- enhancing the quality and cost competitiveness of farm commodities so as to make them globally competitive;
- protecting farmers from imports when international prices fall sharply;
- empowering elected local bodies to effectively conserve and improve the ecological foundations for Sustainable Agriculture.
Findings and Recommendations
Farmers’ distress
Agrarian distress has led farmers to commit suicide in recent years. The major causes of the agrarian crisis are: unfinished agenda in land reform, quantity and quality of water, technology fatigue, access, adequacy and timeliness of institutional credit, and opportunities for assured and remunerative Marketing. Adverse meteorological factors add to these problems.
Farmers need to have assured access and control over basic Resources, which include land, water, bioresources, credit and insurance, technology and knowledge management, and markets. The NCF recommends that “Agriculture” be inserted in the Concurrent List of the Constitution.
- Distribute ceiling-surplus and waste lands;
- Prevent diversion of prime agricultural land and forest to corporate sector for non-agricultural purposes.
- Ensure grazing rights and seasonal access to forests to tribals and pastoralists, and access to common property resources.
- Establish a National Land Use Advisory Service, which would have the capacity to link land use decisions with ecological meteorological and marketing factors on a location and season specific basis.
- Set up a mechanism to regulate the sale of agricultural land, based on quantum of land, nature of proposed use and category of buyer.
Out of the gross sown area of 192 million ha, rainfed agriculture contributes to 60 per cent of the gross cropped area and 45 per cent of the total agricultural output. The report recommends:
- A comprehensive set of reforms to enable farmers to have sustained and equitable access to water.
- Increase water supply through rainwater harvesting and recharge of the aquifer should become mandatory. “Million Wells Recharge” programme, specifically targeted at private wells should be launched.
- Substantial increase in Investment in irrigation sector under the 11th Five Year Plan apportioned between large surface water systems; minor irrigation and new schemes for groundwater recharge.
Credit and Insurance
Timely and adequate supply of credit is a basic requirement of small farm families.
The NCF suggests:
- Expand the outreach of the formal credit system to reach the really poor and needy.
- Reduce rate of interest for crop loans to 4 per cent simple, with government support.
- Moratorium on debt recovery, including loans from non-institutional sources, and waiver of interest on loans in distress hotspots and during calamities, till capability is restored.
- Establish an Agriculture Risk Fund to provide relief to farmers in the aftermath of successive natural calamities.
- Issue Kisan Credit Cards to Women farmers, with joint pattas as collateral.
Food Security
The Mid-term appraisal of the 10th Plan revealed that India is lagging behind in achieving the Millennium Development Goals of halving hunger by 2015. Therefore, the decline in per capita foodgrain availability and its unequal distribution have serious implications for food security in both rural and urban areas. The proportion of households below the POVERTY line was 28% in 2004-05 (close to 300 million persons). However, in 1999-2000, the Percentage of Population consuming diets providing less than 2400 kcal (underlines definition of below Poverty Line) per capita per day was almost 77% of the rural population. Several studies have shown that the poverty is concentrated and food deprivation is acute in predominantly rural areas with limited resources such as rain-fed agricultural areas.
The report recommends:
- Implement a universal Public Distribution System. The NCF pointed out that the total subsidy required for this would be one per cent of the Gross Domestic Product.
- Reorganise the delivery of nutrition support programmes on a life-cycle basis with the participation of Panchayats and local bodies.
- Eliminate micronutrient deficiency induced hidden hunger through an integrated food cum fortification approach.
- Promote the establishment of Community Food and Water Banks operated by Women Self-help Groups (SHG), based on the principle ‘Store Grain and Water everywhere’.
- Help small and marginal farmers to improve the productivity, quality and profitability of farm enterprises and organize a Rural Non-Farm Livelihood Initiative.
Prevention of Farmers’ Suicides
In the last few years, a large number of farmers have committed suicide. Cases of suicides have been reported from states such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. The NCF has underlined the need to address the farmer suicide problem on a priority basis.
Some of measures suggested include:
- Provide affordable health insurance and revitalize primary healthcare centres. The National Rural Health Mission should be extended to suicide hotspot locations on priority basis.
- Set up State level Farmers’ Commission with representation of farmers for ensuring dynamic government response to farmers’ problems.
- Restructure microfinance policies to serve as Livelihood Finance, i.e. credit coupled with support Services in the areas of technology, management and markets.
Competitiveness of Farmers
It is imperative to raise the agricultural competitiveness of farmers with small land holdings. Productivity improvement to increase the marketable surplus must be linked to assured and remunerative marketing opportunities.
The measures suggested by NCF include:
- Promotion of commodity-based farmers’ organisations such as Small Cotton Farmers’ Estates to combine decentralised production with centralised services such as post-harvest management, value addition and marketing, for leveraging institutional support and facilitating direct farmer-consumer linkage.
- Improvement in implementation of Minimum Support Price (MSP). Arrangements for MSP need to be put in place for crops other than paddy and wheat. Also, Millets and other nutritious Cereals should be permanently included in the PDS.
- MSP should be at least 50% more than the weighted Average cost of production.
Structural change in the workforce is taking place in India albeit slowly. In 1961, the percentage of the workforce in agriculture was 75.9%. while the number decreased to 59.9% in 1999-2000. But agriculture still provides the bulk of employment in the rural areas.
The overall employment strategy in India must seek to achieve two things. First, create productive employment opportunities and second to improve the ‘quality’ of employment in several sectors such that real wages rise through improved productivity. The measures to do so include:
- Accelerating the rate of growth of the economy;
- Emphasizing on relatively more labour intensive sectors and inducing a faster growth of these sectors; and
- Improving the functioning of the labour markets through such modification as may be necessary without eroding the core labour standards.
- Encourage non-farm employment opportunities by developing particular sectors and sub-sectors where demand for the product or services is growing namely: (i) trade, (ii) restaurants and hotels, (iii) transport, (iv) construction, (v) repairs and (vi) certain services.
- The “net take home income” of farmers should be comparable to those of civil servants.
Bioresources
Rural people in India depend on a wide range of bioresources for their nutrition and livelihood security. The report recommends:
- Preserving traditional rights of access to Biodiversity-2/”>Biodiversity, which include access to non-timber forest products including medicinal Plants, gums and resins, oil yielding plants and beneficial micro-organisms;
- Conserving, enhancing and improving crops and farm animals as well as fish stocks through breeding;
- Encouraging community-based breed conservation (i.e. conservation through use);
- Allowing export of indigenous breeds and import of suitable breeds to increase productivity of nondescript animals.
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The Swaminathan Commission for AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT was set up in 1976 by the Government of India to review the state of agriculture in the country and recommend measures for its development. The Commission was headed by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, a renowned agricultural scientist and Nobel laureate.
The Commission’s report, which was submitted in 1978, made a number of recommendations for the development of Agriculture In India. These recommendations included:
- Increasing the production of food grains, oilseeds, and pulses
- Diversifying the agricultural sector
- Increasing the productivity of land and water
- Improving the marketing and distribution of agricultural produce
- Providing credit and other support services to farmers
- Promoting research and development in agriculture
The Commission’s report was accepted by the Government of India and a number of its recommendations were implemented. As a result, there has been significant progress in the development of agriculture in India in the past few decades.
The production of food grains has increased significantly, from 120 million tonnes in 1978-79 to 270 million tonnes in 2017-18. The production of oilseeds has also increased, from 12 million tonnes in 1978-79 to 29 million tonnes in 2017-18. The production of pulses has increased, from 12 million tonnes in 1978-79 to 22 million tonnes in 2017-18.
The agricultural sector has also diversified, with the production of fruits, vegetables, and milk increasing significantly. The productivity of land and water has also increased, as a result of the use of improved seeds, Fertilizers, and irrigation techniques.
The marketing and distribution of agricultural produce has also improved, with the establishment of a Network of agricultural markets and cooperatives. Farmers now have better access to credit and other support services, such as extension services and agricultural research.
Research and development in agriculture has also been promoted, with the establishment of a number of agricultural research institutes and universities. As a result of these efforts, India is now self-sufficient in food grains and is a major exporter of agricultural products.
The Swaminathan Commission’s report has had a significant impact on the development of agriculture in India. The recommendations of the report have been implemented and have resulted in significant progress in the sector. India is now a major agricultural producer and exporter, and the sector is playing a key role in the country’s Economic Development.
However, there are still a number of challenges that need to be addressed in order to further develop agriculture in India. These challenges include:
- Increasing the productivity of land and water
- Improving the marketing and distribution of agricultural produce
- Providing credit and other support services to farmers
- Promoting research and development in agriculture
The Government of India is aware of these challenges and is taking steps to address them. A number of new initiatives have been launched in recent years, such as the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). These initiatives are aimed at increasing the productivity of land and water, improving the marketing and distribution of agricultural produce, and providing credit and other support services to farmers.
The Government of India is also promoting research and development in agriculture. A number of new agricultural research institutes and universities have been established in recent years. The Government is also providing financial support to private sector companies for research and development in agriculture.
The Government of India is committed to the development of agriculture and is taking steps to address the challenges that the sector faces. The initiatives that have been launched in recent years are expected to result in further progress in the sector.
What is agriculture?
Agriculture is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to live in cities. The history of agriculture began thousands of years ago. After gathering wild grains beginning at least 105,000 years ago, nascent farmers began to plant them around 11,500 years ago. Pigs, sheep and cattle were domesticated over 10,000 years ago. Plants were independently cultivated in at least 11 regions of the world.
What are the different types of agriculture?
There are many different types of agriculture, but some of the most common include:
- Subsistence agriculture: This type of agriculture is used to meet the basic needs of the farmer and their family. It is often practiced in developing countries where there is little access to markets or other sources of food.
- Commercial agriculture: This type of agriculture is used to produce crops or livestock for sale. It is often practiced in developed countries where there is a large market for agricultural products.
- Industrial agriculture: This type of agriculture is characterized by the use of large-scale machinery and technology. It is often used to produce crops or livestock on a large scale.
- Organic agriculture: This type of agriculture is based on the principles of sustainability and environmental protection. It does not use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
- Sustainable agriculture: This type of agriculture is designed to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It includes practices such as Crop Rotation, cover Cropping, and no-till farming.
What are the benefits of agriculture?
Agriculture provides us with food, fiber, fuel, and other essential products. It also plays a role in the economy, providing jobs and income for millions of people around the world. Agriculture can also help to protect the Environment by conserving water and Soil, and by providing habitat for wildlife.
What are the challenges of agriculture?
Agriculture faces a number of challenges, including Climate change, pests and diseases, and competition from other land uses. Climate Change is causing changes in temperature and Precipitation patterns, which can make it difficult for farmers to grow crops and raise livestock. Pests and diseases can also damage crops and livestock, and can spread rapidly in a globalized world. Competition from other land uses, such as Urbanization and development, can also reduce the amount of land available for agriculture.
What is the future of agriculture?
The future of agriculture is uncertain, but it is likely to be shaped by a number of factors, including climate change, technology, and Population Growth. Climate change is likely to make it more difficult to grow crops and raise livestock in some areas, while new technologies may help to improve yields and reduce the use of resources. Population growth is also likely to put pressure on the world’s food supply, and it will be important to find ways to produce more food in a sustainable way.
The Green Revolution was a period when agricultural production increased rapidly in India. Which of the following was NOT a factor in the Green Revolution?
(A) The introduction of new, high-yield varieties of crops
(B) The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides
(C) The construction of large Dams and irrigation systems
(D) The introduction of new farming techniquesThe Green Revolution had a number of positive effects on India. Which of the following was NOT a positive effect?
(A) Increased food production
(B) Reduced poverty
(C) Improved nutrition
(D) Increased Environmental DegradationThe Green Revolution also had a number of negative effects on India. Which of the following was NOT a negative effect?
(A) Increased use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides led to pollution of the environment
(B) The introduction of new, high-yield varieties of crops led to the displacement of small farmers
(C) The Green Revolution benefited large farmers more than small farmers
(D) The Green Revolution led to the loss of traditional agricultural practicesThe Swaminathan Commission was a commission set up by the Indian government in 1970 to study the problems of Indian Agriculture. Which of the following was NOT a recommendation of the Swaminathan Commission?
(A) The government should invest more in agricultural research and development
(B) The government should provide more support to small farmers
(C) The government should promote the use of sustainable agricultural practices
(D) The government should encourage the use of genetically modified cropsThe Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations were largely ignored by the Indian government. Which of the following is the most likely reason for this?
(A) The government did not have the resources to implement the recommendations
(B) The government was more concerned with other issues
(C) The government was lobbied by powerful interests who opposed the recommendations
(D) The government did not believe that the recommendations would be effectiveThe Green Revolution and the Swaminathan Commission are two important events in the history of Indian agriculture. Which of the following is the most accurate statement about the relationship between these two events?
(A) The Green Revolution was a success, but the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations were not implemented, which led to the problems that India is facing today.
(B) The Green Revolution was a failure, but the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations were implemented, which helped to solve the problems that India was facing at the time.
(C) The Green Revolution was a success, and the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations were implemented, which helped to further improve the situation in Indian agriculture.
(D) The Green Revolution was a failure, and the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations were not implemented, which made the situation in Indian agriculture even worse.Which of the following is the most likely reason for the increase in food production in India after the Green Revolution?
(A) The introduction of new, high-yield varieties of crops
(B) The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides
(C) The construction of large dams and irrigation systems
(D) The introduction of new farming techniquesWhich of the following is the most likely reason for the reduction in Poverty in India after the Green Revolution?
(A) The increase in food production
(B) The increase in employment opportunities in the agricultural sector
(C) The increase in government spending on social welfare programs
(D) The increase in Remittances from Indian workers abroadWhich of the following is the most likely reason for the improvement in nutrition in India after the Green Revolution?
(A) The increase in food production
(B) The decrease in the price of food
(C) The increase in government spending on nutrition programs
(D) The increase in awareness of the importance of nutritionWhich of the following is the most likely reason for the increase in environmental degradation in India after the Green Revolution?
(A) The increase in the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides
(B) The construction of large dams and irrigation systems
(C) The increase in deforestation
(D) The increase in Air Pollution