Stating that Indian agriculture has become a victim of its own success, the Economic Survey for 2015-16 on Friday called for measures for adoption of high yielding Genetically Modified (GM) crops, stepping up pulses and oil seeds output, increasing investment in irrigation and expanding the coverage of Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism among farmers.
The economic survey which was tabled in Parliament also stated that a host of studies have demonstrated significant net benefit of GM crops and countries such as Brazil and China have adopted to the new technologies. “There are good reasons for some of the public apprehensions on GMOs. Therefore, the regulatory process in India needs to evolve so as to address the concerns in a way that does not come in the way of adopting high yielding technologies and rapidly moving towards the world’s agro-technological frontier,” the survey noted.
Calling for bringing in efficiency in water usage, the survey has suggested investment in adoption of technologies such as sprinker and drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting. It noted that since independence India has invested numerous resources on irrigation – canal and tubewells, which had promoted inefficiency in water usage.
“In order to facilitate this shift, the new irrigation technologies need to be accorded infrastructure lending status (currently accorded to canal irrigation) and both the centre and states need to increase public spending for micro irrigation,” the survey has noted. The survey also noted that Indian agriculture has become cereal-centric and as a result, regionally-biased and input-intensive, consuming generous amounts of land, water, and fertiliser.
Encouraging other crops, notably pulses will be necessary to match supply with evolving dietary patterns that favor greater proteins consumption.
Criticising the current procurement mechanism policy for disproportionately focussing on crops such as rice and wheat instead of pulses and oilseeds, the survey has said while in principle Minimum Support Price (MSP) exists for most farmers for most crops, its realistic impact is quite limited for most farmers in the country.
“This has resulted in buffer stocks of paddy and wheat to be above the required norms, but also caused frequent price spikes in pulses and edible oils, despite substantial imports of these commodities,” the survey stated.
Expressing concerns over declining agricultural growth owing to two consecutive drought years — 2014 and 2015, the survey noted that although agriculture is likely to register low growth for a second year in a row on account of weak monsoons, “it has performed better than last year.”
Farm factor
* Survey said that a host of studies have demonstrated significant net benefit of GM crops
* The survey suggested investment in adoption of technologies such as sprinker and drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting
* Survey said while in principle Minimum Support Price exists for most farmers for most crops, its realistic impact is quite limited