India is among the top 10 countries in the export of pulses and is the largest producer and importer in the world. While traditional cropping had included pulses as a mixed or seasonal crop, the explosive demand due to it being the main source of vegetable protein has ascended its level to a major aspect of cultivation, with a need for huge imports in addition to production to meet the growing needs of the population. Pulses are now sown in Kharif (eg: arhar), rabi (eg: gram), and Zaid agricultural seasons. Madhya Pradesh is the largest pulse-producing state in the country, closely followed by Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh. While Madhya Pradesh holds first place as far as the area under cultivation and production is concerned, it does not have that prominence as far as the average yield is considered. India is also the third-largest producer and exporter of cereals in the world. It contributes most to global rice exports and accounts for about 25% of the total trade. West Bengal is the largest producer of rice, while Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh rank first in the cultivation of wheat and maize respectively. Rice is sown in both rabi and Kharif seasons, while wheat is the major rabi crop in the country. During the winter season, good rain can destroy rabi crops, while it is beneficial for Kharif crops.
For the further advancement of the pulses industry, it is necessary to include more varieties, this being a factor that holds back Madhya Pradesh’s yield. The non-availability of such seeds adds the most important constraints to this expansion.
Customized seeds that can thrive and produce a high yield in the required agricultural conditions need to be developed scientifically.
Fertilizers have not been used as prescribed owing to the poor conditions that farmers suffered, and reducing subsidies on the same has done nothing to improve the situation.
Pulses are quite delicate as far as crops go, and there are many pests and insects that can severely impact their growth and survival. And even though extensive research has brought forth seeds with a higher degree of resistance, they are not made adequately available to the farmers.
Both pulses and cereals have not witnessed many technological improvements in their cultivation, and this is what holds any agricultural sector back the most.
Cereal crops have also witnessed a loss in crop area, and that has contributed to their downfall.
These problems have only been intensified since the onset of the Corona pandemic. One of the most significant of these is how the severe traffic restrictions have resulted in the supply chain breaking. Adequate labor has not been available as migrant workers have returned to their native lands, while mills have been closed since the beginning of the lockdown. Retailers have suffered the most in this crisis. Consumer demand has also decreased drastically in the world and is likely to disrupt further. A lot of produce is also going to waste, either unharvested or not processed through mills, and the losses sustained consequently are likely to affect these sectors for a long time to come. The lockdown coincided with the harvesting part of the rabi season, which resulted in a severe blow to such crops most of which could not be harvested properly, combined with the locust attacks on the largest scale in the past 27 years in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. To counter the damaging blow dealt, strong measures need to be implemented to help both industries recover as soon as COVID-19 no longer remains a threat, and if possible, even sooner. Some of them are mentioned below:
As most of the farmers (85%) belong to small marginal households with no alternative sources of income, as the main concern of the Government is to ensure the welfare of every citizen, they should also do their best via various programs and schemes to compensate for the devastating losses they would have suffered.
Investments in key logistics, along with e-commerce and delivery platforms and also startups should be encouraged to increase and maintain the demand for agricultural supply and commodities.
Special care should be taken to sustain the rural economy, and this can be achieved by paying attention to small businesses which function directly with agricultural produce.
Fresh guidelines and solutions should be contemplated after serious research, and toll-free call centers which dedicated volunteers who are fluent in the local language may be set up to provide condolence and advice to troubled farmers.
With the Kharif season approaching, and the prospects of many major crops among both cereals and pulses along with it, farmers should be supported in every way possible to start their cultivation, including loans offered at subsidized interest rates, availability of thriving seeds at affordable rates, wavering off previous loans to an extent as they would not be in any economic state to pay them back, and so on.
Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) may relax their rules a bit, particularly those that pertain to farmers not being allowed to sell their products beyond designated mandis. Should this expansion be permitted, farmers will be greatly relieved.
As the COVID-19 pandemic is the most challenging situation at the international level, most funds will automatically be devoted to the health sector for its continued improvement and sustenance. However, care should also be taken to ensure that no damaging impact occurs on the economy.
Land leasing, private agricultural markets, and contract farming have been suggested for many years as ways to resolve the various issues faced by the agricultural sector and to enable its enhancement. However, there is no better time to implement these policies and help realize the true and full potential of the agricultural sector.
One of the benefits of a Post-COVID scenario is that it offers prospects of switching over to a far nutritious diet model by favoring the cultivation of any suitable crop.
Keywords: Kharif, Rabi, Zaid agricultural seasons, the largest producer, importer in the world, pulses industry, Corona pandemic, Cereal crops, Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs), subsidized interest rates, agricultural sector, Post-COVID, e-commerce, locust attack, STF.
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