Current Science

Anirban Mukherjee ¹, Aniruddha Maity ²

Affiliations
1 Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, IN
2 Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi 284 003, IN

Abstract

After Green revolution, Indian agriculture has seen a paradigm shift in technology development and dissemination. There is now an overflowing basket of goods and services ready to be served to the Indian farmers. But the traditional agricultural extension system designed to disseminate information and services to the farming community is not able to deliver as per expectations. This gap in demand and supply has lured private sector players to come in and explore the vast opportunities. The economic policies allow private extension agencies to capture the world's largest farming community and they have been very proactive. They supply quick, timely, efficient and appropriate services, making the traditional way of disseminating the technologies by public system seem even weaker. Though it is guided by profit motive, they serve the purpose of meeting the unmet needs of farmers in India. This situation has raised questions/doubts on the intention, policies, products they are promoting and the people they are targeting. At this juncture, the government has no option but to remain an active partner with private extension system. But it has a role to play in monitoring and controlling the quality of services and goods. Total privatization is not advisable for agriculture. So, for better utilization of scarce resources, there is a need to reduce the redundancy, repetition and to facilitate convergence and better linkage in this Public-Private Partnership. This article will focus on some essential factors that need to be considered.

Keywords

Agriculture, Extension System, Farming Community, Private Sector.

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Arindam Nag ¹, Anirban Mukherjee ², Pragati Pramanik ³, Aniruddha Maity ⁴

Affiliations
1 Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour 855 107, IN
2 ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora 263 601, IN
3 ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, IN
4 ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi 284 003, IN

Abstract

Historically soils have been classified according to their appearance and characteristics. The Chinese textbook, Yugond (2500 BC) is probably the first ever on soil classification; indeed, it provided an effective and interpretative classification. Dokuchaev and others used vernacular soils like chernozem, solonetz and gley as central concepts for scientific classification. Vernacular soil names have been used throughout history and helped provide the basis of scientific classification. Folk soil taxonomies were characterized, developed, refined and used generation after generation through time-tested trials and errors. Basically, indigenous wisdom which farmers have acquired and preserved over time has repeatedly been ignored rather than streamlined. Scientific systems and detailed soil mapping have already replaced folk taxonomies, especially in the more developed countries.

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Kumari Shubha ¹, Nongmaithem Raju Singh ¹, Anirban Mukherjee ¹, Aniruddha Maity ², Rachana Dubey ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Crop Research, ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna 800 014, IN
2 Plant Breeding, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, US

Abstract

Mechanized farming for vegetable production has evolved as an integral part of commercial agriculture during the past few decades. As a first step towards mechanized farming the use of tractors in Indian agriculture has increased by 528% during the period 1990–91 to 2018–19 from 0.15 to 0.8 million/year. Undoubtedly, use of such technologies has made vegetable as well as foodgrain production a profitable venture by easing land preparation, weed management and other intercultural operations, crop harvesting, etc. However, their continuous use in production fields has resulted in the substantial compaction of soil along the wheel lines of tractors and similar heavy machinery. Reports indicate a significant yield loss (13–73%) owing to soil compaction because it restricts ischolar_main penetrance into the soil, limiting nutrient and water uptake by the plants, and also potential water stagnation, which can limit the normal activities of respiring ischolar_mains leading to retarded plant growth and ischolar_main diseases. In this context, control traffic farming (CTF), which aims to reduce the area affected by the operation of heavy machinery that otherwise lead to soil compaction, brings a substantial value to the current global focus of sustainable and precision farming. CTF attempts to restrict the spatial movement of machinery wheels to fewer operation lanes during and across production cycles for a long time and allows specifically the undisturbed areas of soil for crop production. Research confirms a significant improvement in crop yield in different crop production systems worldwide and reduction in methane emission due to soil absorption (372–2100%) compared to random traffic farming. In this article, we discuss the advantages of CTF in terms of ischolar_main growth, nutrient mobilization and energy efficiency of the vegetable production system, and also argue on its scope in the Indian context, given the situation that no or only a few studies have been reported from the country.

Keywords

Controlled Traffic Farming, Environmental Impact, Soil Compaction, Vegetables.

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Sonaka Ghosh ¹, Anirban Mukherjee ², Ujjwal Kumar ², Ashutosh Upadhyaya ¹, Bharat S. Sontakki ³

Affiliations
1 Division of Land and Water Management, ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna 800 014, IN
2 Division of Socio-Economics and Extension at ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna 800 014, IN
3 Extension Systems Management Division, ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad 500 030, IN

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in determining the factors that contribute to the happiness and well-being of farmers. Farmers are gradually becoming engulfed in a quagmire of distress circumstances and it is time to examine how we can make their lives better. Efforts to improve the happiness and well-being of farmers in India will not only benefit them, but also their families, their communities and the entire country. The Indian Government and policy makers have a crucial role to play in improving the happiness levels of farmers by implementing policies that are geared towards addressing the challenges faced by them. By taking a multi-faceted approach and prioritizing the needs of farmers, it is possible to make significant progress towards improving their happiness and well-being.

Keywords

Farmers, Happiness Factor, Income, Indicators, Policies.

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Shreya Anand ¹, Souvik Ghosh ¹, Anirban Mukherjee ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Extension, Palli Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati University, Sriniketan 731 236, IN
2 ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna 800 014, IN

Abstract

Farmer producer organizations (FPOs) have been pivotal in empowering Indian agriculture in recent years. The Government of India has taken several steps to help in the growth of FPOs. For example, it has initiated the ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) scheme. In each district of the states, major commodities are identified which can be promoted through FPOs. The present study focuses on the experiences in Bihar, where abundant production of cash crops like makhana (about 85% of the world’s production) has been achieved by the farmers (about 50,000 t of makhana). Despite the huge demand, makhana has been lagging in exports due to a lack of quality produce, skill, mechanization in harvesting and processing, and a near absence of value addition. In this context, integration of the ODOP scheme with FPOs can be a potential option to combat production constraints, facilitate marketing and export of the produce. This study proposes a strategy using a conceptual model, viz. technology–infrastructure–policy–export orientation (TIPE) model, that specifies the steps to be undertaken for better promotion of products through FPOs. A congenial ecosystem is necessary for the growth of producer organizations to provide a comprehensive solution with required policy backup and triggering factors that can contribute to the sustainable development of FPOs.

Keywords

Agriculture, Cash Crops, Conceptual Model, Farmer Producer Organizations, Government Schemes.

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