Current Science

P. Venkatesh ¹, I. Sekar ¹, G. K. Jha ¹, Premlata Singh ², V. Sangeetha ², Suresh Pal ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Agricultural Economics, ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110 012, IN
2 Division of Agricultural Extension, ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110 012, IN

Abstract

Creativity and innovation are important factors for sustainable agricultural growth. Intellectual property rights (IPR) is the key driver of innovation. However, many argue against this view, as it would benefit only a certain section in a country. The present study analyses the perception of stakeholders on Indian IPR system for plant varieties. A perception survey was conducted among various stakeholders of the seed industry across the country during 2011-12. Contrary to the view that IPR plays no role in innovation, this study finds a positive perception of majority of stakeholders on plant variety protection (PVP), while highlighting the hits and misses of Indian PVP.

Keywords

Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation, Perception, Plant Varieties, Stakeholder.

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S. Paul ¹, K. Vijayaragavan ¹, Premlata Singh ¹, R. Roy Burman ¹, V. P. Chahal ²

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, IN
2 Krishi Anusandhan Bhawan-I, New Delhi 110 012, IN

Abstract

A micro level analysis for understanding the major determinants of research productivity of individual scientists in the National Agricultural Research and Education System of India was undertaken. A sample of two hundred scientists was drawn through multistage disproportionate stratified random sampling from a high performing and a low performing agricultural institute in India. Forced choice Q-sort technique was employed to record perception of respondents regarding relative influence exerted by selected variables on their research productivity and a factor analysis using principal component method with varimax rotation helped in extracting 11 major factors determining research productivity of agricultural scientists, namely, organizational research environment, creativity, perseverance and commitment, research facility, ability to work under constraint, incentive policy, proactiveness, purpose-driven orientation, achievement motivation, involvement in teaching and job satisfaction. The apparent uniformity in percentage variance contribution of these 11 factors implies that optimum research productivity of scientists can only be harnessed when personal and organizational factors work in harmony.

Keywords

Agriculture, Determinants, Productivity, Research, Scientists.

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Sudipta Paul ¹, Sangeetha Vellaichamy ¹, Satyapriya ¹, Premlata Singh ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Agricultural Extension, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, IN

Abstract

India, the largest producer of milk, wheat and fruits, and the second largest producer of rice, pulses and vegetables in the world, with 194 million undernourished people, tops the ‘world hunger list’ as well. It is astonishing to find that the nation has failed to achieve both Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and World Food Summit (WFS) targets, despite consistently high agricultural production over the years and a promisingly higher rate of economic growth. This failure is inconceivable in the sense that the country still has a farming population of around 54% of the total, and has made great strides towards achieving ‘self-sufficiency’ in food production.

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C. N. Anshida Beevi ¹, Monika Wason ², R. N. Padaria ², Premlata Singh ²

Affiliations
1 ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad 500 059, IN
2 Division of Agricultural Extension, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi 110012, IN

Abstract

Agriculture is the mainstay of the global economy and women play a significant role in the sustainable development of the economy. They contribute in agricultural activities often at par with men by justifying the ancient African proverb ‘without women we all go hungry’. Women play the main role in agriculture from manually growing crops to agroprocessing to homemaking. More than half of the world’s food is grown by women, but worldwide her hard work has been unpaid¹. Most of the time their inputs are less recognized, their importance and contributions are never acknowledged, because their service does not contribute enough in the direct material income^2,3.

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Sukanya Barua ¹, Rajeev Kumar ¹, Satyapriya ¹, Premlata Singh ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, IN

Abstract

The earlier strategies for agricultural development in our country focused primarily on enhancing agricultural production and food security. The policies largely emphasized on increase in agricultural productivity through latest technologies and cultivars, and augmented use of quality seeds, agrochemicals and plant nutrients. Those approaches transformed India not only as food selfsufficient at the national level, but also as one of the leading food-exporting countries at the global level; though it did not explicitly recognize the need to increase farmers’ income and never identified any direct means to support the welfare of farmers. Past experiences show that although growth in production enhances farmers’ income in some cases, in most others, it does not enhance with output. The net result is the stagnating farmers’ income, which is evident from the increasing poverty among rural households. The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) survey data on consumption expenditure for the year 2011–12 revealed that one-fifth of rural households whose main occupation is agriculture fall below poverty line. Furthermore, farming occupation fetched income which is less than non-farm workers. This discrepancy is large and needs a policy strategy to enhance farmers’ income at a profitable rate. It could be achieved in two ways, i.e. increase in producers’ share in consumers’ rupees, and reduction in the number of farmers to share their total income.

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