LIBERALIZATION AND INDIAN AGRICULTURE SECTOR
Dr. Pravinaben N. Pandya.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The increasing economic integration of the Indian economy with global processes has brought considerable challenges at the door of its agricultural sector. These challenges have arisen from two broad sets of problems. In the first place, a number of major crops have been witnessing a decline in productivity growth, in particular over the past decade. Second, and perhaps more important from a short run perspective, is the fact that Indian agriculture faces unfair competition from cheap imports, which poses an enormous threat to the livelihoods of the farming communities. It is quite clear, therefore, that a comprehensive framework needs to be evolved, one that addresses the specific problems that the agricultural sector faces at the present juncture.
The above-mentioned trends in the use of SPS measures and TBT hold significance for India for yet another reason. Suggestions have been made in some quarters that Indian agriculture should focus on exports to provide impetus for its growth. These suggestions are based on the assumption that the relatively low cost agriculture in India will have the competitive advantage in the global market place, which can help generate additional markets. However, as food standards become increasingly important in the larger markets, mere price advantages that countries like India enjoy, can contribute precious little in obtaining additional market access. India would therefore have to invest heavily in upgrading its production facilities - from the farm to the processing units - to have a look-in into the larger markets. But with investments in agriculture decreasing steadily from the mid-1980s, it would require a complete turnaround in the government's priorities to reverse the trend. The larger issue that needs to be addressed in the context of the suggestions for an "export-oriented" agricultural sector in India is the impact such a policy orientation would have on the country's food security. Arguments advanced in this respect have been that the increase in the stocks of foodgrains is an indicator that the country has solved its problems relating to food security. As a corollary it was suggested that diversification of Indian agriculture should take place rapidly so as to better utilise the available resources
Impact of Economic Reforms Process on Indian Agricultural Sector
Agricultural sector is the mainstay of the rural Indian economy around which socio-economic privileges and deprivations revolve, and any change in its structure is likely to have a corresponding impact on the existing pattern of social equality. No strategy of economic reform can succeed without sustained and broad based agricultural development, which is critical for raising living standards, alleviating poverty, assuring food security, generating buoyant market for expansion of industry and services, and making substantial contribution to the national economic growth. According to [Bhalla97], of the three sectors of economy in India, the tertiary sector has diversified the fastest, the secondary sector the second fastest, while the primary sector, taken as whole, has scarcely diversified at all. Since agriculture continues to be a tradable sector, this economic liberalization and reform policy has far reaching effects on (I) agricultural exports and imports, (ii) investment in new technologies and on rural infrastructure (iii) patterns of agricultural growth, (iv) agriculture income and employment, (v) agricultural prices and (vi) food security [Bhalla93]. Reduction in Commercial Bank credit to agriculture, in lieu of this reforms process and recommendations of Khusrao Committee and Narasingham Committee, might lead to a fall in farm investment and impaired agricultural growth [Panda96]. Infrastructure development requires public expenditure which is getting affected due to the new policies of fiscal compression. Liberalization of agriculture and open market operations will enhance competition in "resource use" and "marketing of agricultural production", which will force the small and marginal farmers (who constitute 76.3% of total farmers) to resort to "distress sale" and seek for off-farm employment for supplementing income.
Indian Agricultural Sector
The Indian Agricultural sector provides employment to about 65% of the labour force, accounts for 27% of GDP, contributes 21% of total exports, and raw materials to several industries. The Livestock sector contributes an estimated 8.4 % to the country GDP and 35.85 % of the agricultural output. India is the seventh largest producer of fish in the world and ranks second in the production of inland fish. Fish production has increased from 0.75 million tons in 1950-51 to 5.14 million tons in 1996-97, a cumulative growth rate of 4.2% per annum, which has been the fastest of any item in the food sector, except potatoes, eggs and poultry meat. The future growth in agriculture must come from [GBSingh2K] viz., new technologies which are not only "cost effective" but also "in conformity" with natural climatic regime of the country; technologies relevant to rain-fed areas specifically; continued genetic improvements for better seeds and yields; data improvements for better research, better results, and sustainable planning; bridging the gap between knowledge and practice; and judicious land use resourc surveys, efficiemanagement practices and sustainable use of natural resources.
Informatics for agricultural development requires coordinated inter-sectoral approach and application of appropriate Information Technology (IT) tools, in the areas of :- Agricultural Research,
Agro-meteorology, Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural Engineering and Food processing, Agricultural Extension and Transfer of Technology,
Credit & Co-operation, Crop Production and Protection, Environment & Forest, Fertilizers and Manure, Fisheries, Irrigation and Drainage Systems, Livestock, Dairy Development and Animal Husbandry, Rural Development and Planning, Soil and Water Management, Watershed Development, and Wastelands Development For increasing production at micro level, an inventory of currently used, potentially available, and an evaluation of the quantity and quality of these resources is required. This requires design and development of agricultural resources information system using state-of-the-art IT Tools, as given below, to facilitate effective agricultural planning and development :- Data warehousing (Data Bases & Model Bases) Expert Systems & Knowledge Bases
Networking (Internet, Intranet and Extranet) Geographical Information System (GIS) Application of Remote Sensing Data Multi-media Information System Decision Technology System E-Commerce & E-Governance, and Digital Library Decision Support Systems
Decision Support Systems (DSSs) can deliver the technology of management and the relevant knowledge which managers need to get their jobs done. Most of today's DSSs support the "choice" phase of decision making. Enhanced DSSs, known as Management Support Systems (MSSs), are attempting to fill the gaps in decision-making support, not provided by the traditional DSSs. For complete support of critical management activities of communication and decision making - including qualitative and creative processes - a collection of computer information system, as given below, is required:- Decision Support System (DSS) Group DSS (GDSS) Executive Information System (EIS)
Executive Support System (ESS) Expert System (ES) Idea Processing System (IPS) Management Information System (MIS) Office Automation System (OAS) Transaction Processing System (TPS) DSSs, Group DSSs, ESs, and components of ESSs and MISs primarily support the decision making process. "A complete set of enhanced DSS together with an IPS constitutes a Decision Technology System (DTS) which provides complete, integrated support for all phases of the decision-making process and delivers the complete technology of management for full decision support". Development of Decision Support Systems on the following areas facilitating Agricultural Resources Management are envisaged using the state-of-the-art IT tools :- Crop Suitability based on factor endowment Land Suitability Assessment; Land Productivity Assessment; Population Supporting Capacity; Land Evaluation and Land Use Planning; Land Degradation Risk Assessment; Quantification of Land Resources Constraints; Land Management; Agro-ecological Characterization for Research and Planning; Agricultural Technology Transfer; Agricultural Inputs Recommendations; Farming Systems Analysis and Development; Environmental Impact Assessment;
Monitoring of Land Resources Development. Livestock (cattle, buffalo, goat, & sheep) Farming Systems Water allocation in an irrigation system
Fodder Resources Development Water Bodies (Basin) planning systems using Watershed and Agro-Eco Region Planning Concepts
There have been a lot of research publications and also software products developed by various Agricultural Research institutions, both in India and abroad. It has been envisaged to utilize these packages and develop DSSs in districts for agricultural resources management.
Conclusion
This IT-led globalisation will certainly benefit the medium and large farmers who can invest on IT, as has happened during "green revolution". Since the agricultural development strategy has been mostly "growth-oriented" and therefore had a "built-in bias" in favour of Large farmers over Small farmers. Farmers can invest on computers to get access to Internet, but it is not possible for them to invest on "agricultural informatics" with decision support system using geomatics technology.
Reference
] Dhuruva Narayana,V.V & Prasad, B.S.N : "Soil and Water Conservation for better land & water management", Indian Farming 39(7):17-18
: Guissepi A.Forgionne 1991 "Decision Technology Systems : A Step Toward Complete Decision Support", Information Management Systems, Vol. 8, No 4, Fall 1991, Auerbach Publishers
K.V.Sundram : "The Small Framer Development Strategies For The Next Millennium", presented at National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad, 2000