Indian Agriculture - Agricultural Macro Management, Marketing & Research Education

Macro Management of Agriculture:

Agriculture being a State subject, the primary responsibility for increasing agriculture production, enhancing productivity and exploring the vast untapped potential of the sector rests with the States. The role of the Centre is to compliment and supplement their efforts in a catalytic way so that the efforts of the States in agricultural development yield quick results and benefits percolate down to the poorest farmers. The Macro Management of Agriculture Scheme which was evolved by integrating 27 identified schemes is being implemented in all States/Union Territories since 2000-01. Under this scheme, the states have been given flexibility to develop and pursue activities on the basis of their regional priorities.

Integrated Nutrient Management (INM):

The main concern of INM Division is to ensure adequate availability of quality fertilizers to farmers through periodical demand assessment and timely supply through ECA allocations, promoting soil test based judicious and balanced use of chemical fertilizers in conjunction with organic manures and bio-fertilizers, promotion of organic farming and ensuring quality control of fertilizers through implementation of Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985, to give additional thrust on integrated use of all sources of plant nutrients through chemical fertilisers and organic manures, etc.

India is the third largest producer and consumer of fertilizers in the world after China and USA. Against 16.8 million tonnes of fertilizer nutrients (NPK) consumed during 2003-04, the nutrient consumption is estimated at 18.7 million tonnes during 2004-05. India is 100 per cent self sufficient in respect of urea and about 95 per cent in case of DAP. All-India average fertilizer consumption is 89.9 kg./ha though there is wide variation from State to State. from 184 kg/ha in Punjab, 167 kg/ha in Haryana to less than 10 kg/ha in States like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Sikkim, etc. Considering the skewed pattern of fertilizer use, Government of India is promoting the balanced and integrated use of Fertilizer nutrients through various initiatives.

Agricultural Marketing:

The Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI) extends support to the Central and State Governments on agricultural marketing policies and programmes and implement various schemes under them.

The DMI administers the Agricultural Produce Grading and Marking Act, 1937 as amended in 1986. The grade standards notified under the Act are popularly known as Agmark standards and such standards have been formulated and notified under the Act in respect of 181 agricultural and allied produce.

The DMI undertakes marketing, research, surveys and in-depth studies of marketing system for various agricultural commodities in the country and suggests remedial measures.

The Directorate is implementing a Central Sector Scheme ‘Marketing Research and Information Network’ to establish a nationwide network for speedy collection and dissemination of market information. Under this scheme, 993 markets have already been provided connectivity out of which, 764 markets were made operational by the end of March 2005. Besides, connectivity to 411 additional agricultural markets are under process. At present, daily prices of more than 300 commodities and about 2000 varieties are being reported.

Cooperation:

The Cooperative movement in India traces its origin to the agriculture and allied sector and was evolved as a mechanism for pooling meager resources of the people with a view to providing them the advantages of economics of scale. After independence, the cooperatives were considered as part of the strategy of planned economic development. The cooperatives are today at the cross road of existence particularly in view of the fast emerging scenario of economic liberalisation and globalisation. The cooperative reforms are, therefore, vital to the future of the cooperatives.

The Central Government has taken a lead in providing required autonomy to the cooperatives by enacting MSCS Act, 2002, replacing the MSCS Act, 1984. It aims at providing functional autonomy and democratic management to the Multi-State Cooperative Societies. Though this Act is applicable to national level cooperative societies/federations and other Multi-State Cooperative Societies, it is expected that it will work as a model Act for reforms in State Cooperative Laws.

NCDC Act, 1962 has been amended vide NCDC (Amendment) Act, 2002 expanding the mandate of NCDC to include foodstuff, industrial goods, livestock and services in the programmes and activities in addition to the existing programmes. The definition of agriculture produce has been amended to cover wider range of activities by including  edible and non-edible oilseeds, cattle feed, produce of horticulture and animal husbandry, forestry, poultry farming, pisiculture and other allied activities to agriculture.

Vide the amended Act, definition of industrial goods and livestock have been elaborated covering the products of allied industries in the rural areas and includes any handicraft or rural craft. The livestock includes all animals to be raised for milk, meat, fleece, skin, wool and other by-products. NCDC will be able to provide loan directly to the co-operatives without State/Central Government guarantee on furnishing of security to the satisfaction of the NCDC. So far activities concerning water conservation, animal care/health, disease prevention, agricultural insurance and agricultural credit, rural sanitation/drainage/sewerage have been made notified services.

National Policy on Cooperatives has been formulated by the Government in consultation with States/Union Territories. The objective of the National Policy is to facilitate all round development of the cooperatives in the country. Under the policy, cooperatives would be provided necessary support, encouragement and assistance, so as to ensure that they work as autonomous, self-reliant and democratically managed institutions accountable to their members and make a significant contribution to the national economy, particularly in areas which require people's participation and community efforts.

Agricultural Research Education:

The Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for coordinating research and educational activities in agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries. Besides, it helps to bring about inter-departmental and inter-institutional collaboration with national and international agencies engaged in the same and allied fields. Department provides government support, service and linkage to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

ICAR has played a pivotal role in developing agricultural technologies, input material and critical scientific base leading to self-sufficiency in food.

The research set-up of ICAR comprises 52 Central Institutes, 32 National Research Centres, 12 Project Directorates and 91 All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs). For higher education in agriculture and allied fields there are four deemed to be universities, 37 State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and one Central Agricultural University at Imphal.

Indian Agriculture - Agricultural Macro Management, Marketing & Research Education