KASHMIR CENTRIC FOOD SECURITY VISION

1, THE CROPPING SCENARIO

By prof DR GHULAM MOHYUDDIN WANI

This series of our articles shall be Jammu and Kashmir agricultural development  centric. It may have repetition in some or the other  of our articles in this and other websites.It  is designed for the Jammu and kashmir state but may have relevence for the whole world too,espacilly similar ecosystems.

INTRODUCTION

Higher productivity gains can be achieved through application of technology and production recommendations at farmer’s field. We have 65% small and marginal farmers whose awareness potential is low. The production system prevailing with these farmers is a mixed farming or composite farming. In contrast to USA and European agriculture our necessity is to increase “Crop opportunities” RATHER than COMODITY production gains.

MIXED FARMING MODULES ARE OUR NEED

      A mixed Agriculture University and Education set ups is our necessity. We are at present going astray to our need. Quick and fast measures are needed to unify our educational system, involving all agriculture and allied disciplines, industries, corporate sectors and farmers’ institutions.

GREEN REVOLUTION DAYS

It is worth mentioning that Indian Agricultural pride years of green revolution post 1968 saw reduction in food gain imports and subsequently white, blue and other revolutions sustained our population pressures and agriculture growth. Our agricultural growth rate needs to be equal if not more to population growth rate (PGR). Our AGR target ought to be double the PGR. This is important as consumption rates, purchasing power and employment /income prospects increase.

FOOD GRAIN SECURITY

 An estimated food grain of 210 million tons at present may need to be doubled in next 10 years. We have to achieve higher targets of productivity by vertical expansion as horizontal land expansion is not possible. our  target of 4 t/h of rice or wheat shall make Jammu and kashmir self sufficient ,a food security base shall need 5t/h.On an average we have 2-3 t/h rice and marginally less wheat production in the state. Combining vegetables ,fruits and other pulses we may be comparatively better off in the future. The per capita food grain consumption is marginally more than rest of the Indian state because of severe cold and more calorie  are needed.

EXPERIEMENTAL YIELDS

 Under our experimental stages and even under experimental trails of miniskirts our overall productivity in rice ranges between 5-6t/h, wheat 3-4 t/h, maize 3-5 t /h .The experimental peak yield of 8-10 t /h with some varieties was reported.The  other details have been reported Wani, 2007.and is available on this website too. The increase in yield  of paddy , from 1947 to 2009 have been amassing from 40-50 kegs a kanal (i/8th of an acre and measure of land in J& K )to round 350 to400 kgs a kanal.This achievement has been possible under assured irrigation systems with use of both biological, organic and chemical fertilizers. Organic experiments made under our supervision in an IVLP project showed higher production of 2 q per hectare with change of a wooden plough to an iron plough called as Shalimar plough.The use of manure both farm yard and green have reduced the chemical fertilizer use and increased productivity.Due to less than 1/10th of fertilizer use than recommended or that used in Punjab we are better off in JAMMU AND KASHMIR specially at terminal ends in the mountainous regions.We can directly swithch to the organic farming of all dry fruits and vegetables forth with,

COMMERCIAL CROPS

Commercial crops like mushroom,honey,flouriculture,dairy farming  poultry and sheep for meat production  have an tremendous potential for the development.The aquatic and forest vegetable along with naturally growm medicinal bushes and herbs have a trememdous market and economic viability.The bee keeping as polinizers and even around dal ,wular and other lakes have a tremendous potential of producing iodine rich honey which can fetch exorbant prices in the world market and can be used by the thyroid deficiency and gout patients.

DISEASE RESISTANT LOCAL GENOTYPE

A varieties of loca vegetables which grow of their own on the denuded forest and other bunds and nomams kand called nunar is rich in iron.Many other self growm weeds use as best and nutririve vegetables can be the best soil binders and providers of organic,rainfed vegetative cover to the denuded and eroded lands besides livestitritive cock fodder and human and poor nutritive support for the nomaids and the tribials.There are a number of the local genotype which grow of their own in our dry ,wet and marshy lands .A sequential DNA Mappling is needed to know their potential and nutritive value.There cultivation and propagation shall give a ready made organic .sustianable and low input base and food security.The mapping shall reveal their properties and one can plan and propagate them,One such model for the fine cashmere bearing goats was run by the author with fruitful results for the whole pashmina industry,This attempt referred saved our valuable gene pool,This gene pool was other wise being diluted with Russian and Mongolian bred DON goats.The cross breeding was stopped by the author and thus preserved the gene pool of our low yielder but fine diameter giats from cross breeding.Similar attempts to conserve and preserve the local vegetable,rice,ffruit and nut mfishmanimal gene pools are to be preserved and improved through biotechnological use.

Seed multiplication

 We have developed many disease resistant and high yielding varieties, in paddy at rice research centre at Khodwani.The seed multiplication is slow and needs a proper state-central, icar-skuast convergence, which has not been forthcoming for problems at apex level.A policy decision has to be made to utilize the available agricultural and allied graduate to raise private-public partnership mode seed banks.We need 10,000 quintals of paddy seed alone per annum.We utilized all the land available under our KVK system but were hardly able to produce a few hundred quintals of the paddy seed.The private –public association and partnership too resulted in marginal than a substantial increase.The only solution to provide the seed farming land is the flood channels available for two among three years,The SRI IS A PROPOSITION yet to be tried in the state.Alternatively let us use these flood channels and utilize the unemployed graduate to harness seed farming revolutions in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.The only risk of flood is once in five years which can be sustained by the profits or the insurance cover available for such ventures.A sectional judicious planning can even avert these risks too.

NATIONAL LEVEL PLANNING

. Likewise production of 100 million tonnes of wheat from 25 million hectares needs a productivity of 4t/hac.Jammu and Kashmir is 1/100 th of the country, Thus we need one million ton of wheat and rice each to feed our one crore population. Our population growth is slower than the rest of the states .purchasing power is better than the average farmer or the person in India. We our aim to double our per hectare productivity needs more technical manpower in extension, industry and at gross root level. The climate disasters, earthquakes, Titanic tsunami, floods; have affected our agricultural production in the past and additional requirements needs to be kept in mind while planning food security. We need to increase per capita consumption expenditures of Rs. 600 per month. We need to bridge the gaps between potential and actual yields at farmers’ level. The chemical farming hazards of poor soil fertility, low water availability, pollution and environmental concerns impede our agricultural development. Thus refined technology, participatory research and educational modules are needed. The new pressures of global marketing. World trade and tariff regulations have to be accommodated. This all will need incorporation of new themes like post-harvest management, value addition, packaging, communication, and credit and market information services in our course curricula. Thus a new multidimensional change in academic curriculum is envisaged.  

“We feel pride in calling ourselves as the 2nd largest Agricultural Research System (ARS) in the world. When we review our performance, we are nowhere in top ten of most cited agriculture publications in the world. The USA tops the world list with 3, 62, 79,842 cited publication/annum, with small country like Switzerland at No.10. The scientific output in agriculture is highest in USA with 27 lakh publication/year followed by Japan, Germany, U.K, France, Canada, Italy, Russia, China and Australia. Our contribution to Agriculture publication is 5.48% only with our share of  citation at 2.32%. This demands more focus on Quality Assurance. Our prime agenda should be quality, Accreditation, Desired Knowledge, Assessment, Skill and competence building and academic audit. Quality assurance means strengthening resources, information and maintenance of educational infrastructure. Thus we need to regulate grants and Centre-State relations rationally,” said a group of experts associated with the author of this report.

ICAR GRANT SYSTEM

We have Central Agricultural Universities and 200 general Universities, with 48 agricultural faculties. The total disciplines needing grants may be strengthened in 5 yrs by 1core grants to each discipline for quality assurance. We produce 10,000 under graduate, 5500 post graduates and 1600 Ph.D. in agriculture every years. They add to our unemployment pool. For making them self-employees in new ventures and for increased employment, they need competence building in global economics and trade policies. Biotechnology, Bio information, Bio fertilizers, Pesticides and Fungicides. New faculty development in all the Universities and colleges is to be executed in coming 5 years. Such as  Pest information and survey; management Analysis; decision support system and Geographic information system. A new trust is to be given to course curriculum integrating field practices in a partnership mode with farmer. A teacher-student-farmer-industry, interaction and co-operation is to be integrated, unified and fine-tuned to end results. This will demand inter and inter faculty harmony and synchronized course curricula at UG, PG and PhD level. This has to be fine-tuned to our field requirements and location orient Agricultural extension is evolving worldwide and there is much emphasis today on community-based mechanisms of dissemination in order to bring sustainable change. The factors that make farmer groups successful in disseminating INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGIES NEED DETAILED analysis. A mixed methodology, multiple-stage approach stands used to obtain data.

 

 

 

KASHMIR CENTRIC FOOD SECURITY VISION

SERIES 2
THE TECHNOLOGY BASED FARMING

BY PROF GHULAM MOHYUDDIN WANI
Moreover, we have to use more technology based cropping system to increase productivity per unit land. Horizontal expansion is not possible. Embargo on indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other farm-use-agents is another constraint to increase productivity of food grain. Unfortunately our food grain-production pace has declined. Growth rate of 1-2% has put pressures on our economy. Imports of food grains, an anomaly over past decade, needs problem-cause-analysis. The whole system of National Agricultural Research, extension and field functionaries have registered a fatigue. Similarly, the land degradation, mineral depletion and environmental pollution demands new mechanism to boost productivity.
SAMETI
“State Agriculture Management and Extension Training Institute  may help to make adjustments in our farming system so as to integrate agriculture, aquaculture, water conservation and livestock rearing with new technology driven profit earning enterprises. This needs a continued and farmer friendly policies of sustainable agriculture. Technology awareness and application is must to produce more unit of land. We do have a chance as our yields are lower than many countries and even our neighbouring states of India,” said a group of knowledgeable person of Kashmir valley.
ORGANIC FARMING
Organic farming is advocated as modern technology. We left our traditional organic farming for adopting chemical farming, which landed us in trouble. This rotation of modernity and traditionalist taxed us heavily. We perhaps jumped in adopting or testing technologies without comparing them with our own practices. Now reverting back to our own traditional ways is fraught with problems too. The questions often asked are, can we sustain or even maintain our productivity levels by restoring to the organic farming? The Blending of modern technology of today and traditional technology of yester years may answer this question. Can information and communication skills and technology bridge a new union?
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
The present day information and communication technology has trespassed all barriers of race, religion, culture and countries. A Comprehensive study of 23 review papers and a dozen book and journals were presented by the author in 2005. How communication and information can help production and sustain yields stands discussed in detail. Strong warning systems for climate risks, floods and cyclones, pests and mites could help to raise more crops. Farming informatics and awareness packages through print, mass and now E-mails is possible. The role of competitive farming, economic survey and evaluation of farming and women’s integration needs attention. Women, the half of agricultural work force, are still unaware of the technological skills. The barriers of customs, veil, religion and social bondages could be overcome by educating them through TV, cassettes, e-mails or other modern communication appliances.
TECHNOLOGY TRANFER
Technology transfer is easy. We can announce technology practices or even demonstrate them. The key issue is its adoption. India with 25% of its GDP from agriculture spends some 2% of the same on its subsidies rather than on transfer of technology. Blending subsides with agricultural exports will need a drastic cut under new WTO agreements. The global market access opportunity limit of 3% import shall further complicate the issues. The international standards of sanitation shall need more awareness at farmer’s door. Our Agricultural exports from  agricultural items has been up and now we export around 18.45% agricultural good in the shape of apiculture, floriculture, fresh fruits, mushroom, spices, sugar, molasses, rice, tropical fruit juices, pulp, concentrates and even agro-chemicals. Fruit, nuts and vegetables have increased our export earnings. Our limitations in expanding our exports are infrastructure to provide international bio-safe packaging, phyto sanitation & quarantine measures. Our yields too are low to complete with others. Thus, transfer to technology has not to be limited to man methods, publication, leaflets, folders, bulletins, newsletters, journals, magazine, newspaper publication, rural farm broadcasts or television interviews but has to be supplemented with video conferencing, massive awareness campaigns through video cassettes, cable net works and other local farm telecasts. The propaganda, publicity and persuasion has to be supplied with communication skills like rural journalism, popular participation, motivation and more so through management of information systems. The farm visits, farmers calls, letters have to be intensified. Farmers need information on markets, bio standards and marketing research and networking mechanisms.
Apple is an important principal crop of J&K State. The state produced 10414017 MT of apples from 100702 ha of orchard area during year 2005-2006. The state contributes 57% of national production of apples, while as Himachal Pradesh contributes 24% despite having received considerable governmental attention. The state produces early, mid and late season cultivation of apple. The commercial apple varieties are Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Ambri, White Dotted Red, Royal delicious Kulu Delicious, Hazratbali, Benoni.
POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGY
Post harvest handling of apple encapsulated many management decisions and processes that are involved in harvesting, handling, storage, packing and transport of apple fruit necessary to provide consumer with an acceptable and product. The characteristics of apple which determine its acceptance in market place are size, shape, colour, texture, flavour, juiciness, freedom from blemishes and bruises. A proper export oriented packaging, sanitary evaluation and eco-friendly shall improve its consumer acceptability under WTO regime.

As regards walnut, it may be stated that it is an important nut crop grown in the state of J&K. The state produces 86263 tonnes of walnut from an area of 61723 hectares with the productivity of 1.39 tonnes/ha and has monopoly in the export to many countries of the world. Walnut cultivation is common in Badarwah, Poonch, Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Budgam, Srinagar, Anantnag and other hilly areas of J&K. Walnut are consumed as luxury snacks as well as commercially used for preparation of bakery products, chocolates, ice cream, ornaments, oils, confectionery and salad products. Shells are sued in glue and plastics and for making solutions for cleaning and polishing surfaces.

But there are constraints in walnut trade, which need to be addressed.

These include awareness of maturity indices, method of harvesting and non-scientific de-hulling. Besides there are post harvest bottlenecks such as improper storage, drying, grading practices at farm level. Lack of awareness about sanitary conditions to handle nuts and lack of integrated handling system to manage the nuts. Non-adoption of international standards of grades and lack of processing/storage facilities/orchard management.

Pertinent to mention that cherry is another important fruit crop of the valley, which is being marketed outside the state. In Kashmir cherry is the first fruit crop which comes to the market and fetches good prices. The quality of fruit is good in cool climate. Cherries after harvest is to be pre-cooled, stored packed and carried under refrigerated conditions to the terminal market. The fruit transport under refrigerated condition remains healthy for a longer period, compared to the fruits stored under ambient conditions. Storage, packaging, transport and preservation are needed at local level.
EXPORT OF FRUITS
For export of horticulture produce, we have to integrate production activities with post harvest management. Infrastructural facilities for Pre-cooling, packaging, grading, processing centers, refrigerated vans, cold storage, cargo handling facility at airport, laboratories for pesticide residue analysis, good road connectivity, market promotion through IT network, credit facility for exporters and awareness programmes are essential prerequisites for export of horticultural produce from the state.

“Major problems in Horticulture being poor quality planting materials & its inspection mechanization. Low disease diagnostic appliances and poor orchard management. Low capital-small farmer-holdings and poor technological applications. Besides poor post-harvest handling, industrial base and poor quality control measures and laboratories. Marketing network modernization and poor database and electronic use. Hence new options such as germplasm base, analysis, collection of materials across the state are needed. Besides standardization of rootstock for all important crops, development of horticultural cropping systems for all districts and certification and quality control laboratories need attention,” say people connected with horticulture trade.

Horticulture sector

As stated earlier, the major contributor to J&K’s Gross Domestic product is horticulture and horticultural global market share for India is around 15%. We dominate markets in Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal and Bangladesh. Our share is relatively less in countries like Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Israel, Kuwait, Pakistan, Oman and Brunei. But with enhancing trade in SAARC countries, we may have more opportunities of expansion in domestic Asian markets. Thus a trust towards horticultural export orientation is linked with peace and union among SAARC countries. We share cultural, religious and food habits, thus our products could be preferred over others. This needs proper post-harvest and market-led extension and outreach system. Given proper attention we may capture markets of Japan, Hong Kong, China and other countries too. For more aggressive development of horticulture in J&K state, there is need to lay stress on the development of marketing facilities, employment and income generation options and setting of export promotion zones.

In order to give boost to exports, thrust needs to be given to strawberry, mushroom and cumin seed, berries, wild fruits and indigenous vegetables. The local horticultural germplasm needs investigative and innovative projections. As local germplasm is well suited to our environment for it needs less water. The new market options for organic fruits produced in J&K need prioritization and certification under WTO regulation. International bio safety measures, grading and packaging of available fruits, initiates for development of new varieties of fruits like kiwi fruit, wild apricot, black cherry, broccoli and mushroom are the suggested ways for the development of this sector. The options for air transport, cargo from Leh, Srinagar and Jammu to centers of consumption like Delhi, Chandigarh and Mumbai need exploration. The agro-based industrial set-ups using low grade apple for juice, shampoo, bio fuels and use of available horticultural and floricultural wastes for marketable commodities as gift packs, scents, ornamentals, dehydrated flowers, perfumes and bio-fuel.

It is reported that Horticulture Planning and Marketing J&K has established Fruit and vegetable markets within the state. The department is in the process of strengthening three main operating markets of Nowpora (Sopore), Parimpora (Srinagar) and Narwal (Jammu). So far multipurpose grading, packing and auction sheds have been constructed at Nowpora Sopore. Further 17 satellite markets have been established within the state. Market information service has been introduced to collect and disseminate market intelligence through NET connectivity within and outside state. It is further reported that regular agricultural marketing news as Zariye Khabernama has been started in Kashmir Door Darshan.

Pertinent to mention that most of the fruit crops are rain-fed, need development of irrigation facility in the form of drip/sprinkler irrigation. Site specific nutrient management technique need to be adopted to improve and economize fertilizer use in fruit and vegetable crops.

Strategies need to be evolved for the development of cost effective, eco-friendly crop production and plant protection technologies free from all hazardous chemicals with minimal damage to soil, water, air, plants and animals. Besides diversification of fruit cultivation, cultivation of dry fruits in rain-fed areas is need of the hour. Use of local genotypes of wild fruits like nuts, berries etc shall help in a big way.

“There is need for the production of fruits, vegetables and flowers in off-season and creation of facilities for making off-season products thereof. Rejuvenation of sick and unproductive horticulture units such as orchards, fruit nurseries and processing units etc. Promotion and popularization of hybrid technology in vegetables and establishment of tissue culture laboratories and green houses for mass multiplication of disease free planting material, tubers/corms and seeds. Degraded soils of the fruit crops where crops are growing for decades due to soil erosion or in soil chemical change, need to be given attention to ameliorate it. Above all establishment of modernized fruits and vegetables processing/preservation units.  Infrastructure facilities are needed for post harvest management of horticulture industry in J&K State,” suggest experts.

 

Lack of technical knowledge, lack of soil-tested seeds, high cost of fertilizers retard development of Agriculture/ Horticulture

Hence people urge Govt., to launch Farmers’ awareness programme, provide them subsidized fertilizers and irrigation-facilities to boost production in J&K

 

KASHMIR CENTRIC FOOD SECURITY VISION

3. GLOBAL VILLAGE AGRICULTURE

The world has shrunk into a global village and as such technological developments taking place in any advanced country become known instantly, which help other countries like ours to adopt and follow their techniques to remain updated. One of such countries is Israel, which is characterized by topographical variations and a wide range of soils, enabling the growing and raising of a variety of crops and animals. A large increase in population immediately after 1948 required a rapid increase in food production, followed by development of research and extension facilities and services. In recent years Israel, like many other countries, has faced difficulties in continuing the supply of services it previously provided. This difficulty led agricultural organizations to begin assuming the responsibility of partially financing extension for a few years, and later trying to reflect the cost into the farmers. Farmers are apparently willing to pay for on-farm extension visits. Under this system, the Flower Board is financing many public extension activities and charging the farmer for partial costs of on-farm visits. This system operates successfully, aided by reports that are filed electronically by agents all over Israel to the Floricultural Department Head Office, and from the Head Office to the Flower Board. Advantages of the new system being a tremendous increase in agent-to-farmer commitment; the professional level of agents remains at least the same as before; and the financial situation of the majority of agents is better than before. The disadvantage is that some farmers are consuming less extension than before.

Similarly, California’s land grant extension programme has been successful in assisting agricultural Industries develop as major world producers. Extension has been a leader in facilitating quality-of-state. However, population explosion has transformed California into an urban state, with changing societal issues, values and priorities. Agricultural extension programmes continue to directly serve a declining number of clientele that represent less than 1.5% of the population. Financial support for extension is decreasing at the country and state levels, thus such models used by us in SAU could be catastrophic and need change.

As far as Horticulture sector is concerned, Iran has marched ahead in this field and is one of the world’s top ten horticultural producers. However, post-harvest losses in Iran are six times greater than the world average. Even after establishing an agricultural extension service, Iran still experiences great problems in reducing post-harvest losses. Results revealed that education, material possession, mass media exposure, extension contact, scientific orientation and risk preference were significantly and positively correlated with the knowledge level of farmers pre- and post training. Its model can be adopted after attempting to contain post-harvest losses so that horticultural potential could be exploited and harnessed to improve our economy in J&K State.

“We must remember that agricultural development programmes often produce unexpected results as we have come to know from the history sheet of several countries of the world. This can be attributed to the fact that the target farmers already have their own knowledge and competencies that determine their practices. In order to improve their knowledge, it would be appropriate to adopt models of those countries, which have earned laurels in different sectors of Agriculture. Ours being an agricultural-based economy, so this sector needs to be given due thrust, especially after having failed to revolutionize Industrial sector in Kashmir valley,” suggested a group of keen Watchers of Kashmir valley.

From the study of advanced countries of the world, it has emanated that the attitudes of the farmers have been significantly and positively related to education, organizational membership, land holdings, contact with extension agent, mass media exposure, socio-economic status, awareness, income and material possession. Lack of proper technical knowledge, lack of irrigation facility and high cost of fertilizers/chemical can be the retarding factors to reduce the level of production of agricultural products. Hence, we must lay emphasis on the adoption of models of agriculturally advanced countries of the world so that hackneyed methods are discarded and agricultural base revolutionized to become responsive to our present and future needs in J&K.

 

 Experts suggest replacement of top down planning with grass root planning, improved seeds and extensive participation of farmers

With launching ‘Grow More Food’ slogan, we witnessed green revolution, freedom from hunger, but harmed environment. We have to look for alternate options for the execution of research and develop database for patent formulations. We need replacement of top down planning with grass root planning. And more farmer’s participation reduced risks. Research in past, cantered on improved seeds, irrigation, and chemical use.

Extension education, dissemination of information to farmer has to be the first concern of the public and private establishments and planners. Bird’s eye viewers have to be replaced with visionary professors and professionals.
Farmer farming and farm business shall be the first ranking scientific. Pursuit investing at least an equivalent amount on it has to be spent on health or nuclear establishments. Our polity should be Independent and self-conscious farmers, with records of annual balances, gains and losses, risks and benefits.

We shall have to bring self-reliant proud farmer trained & well versed in Agri-business. Farming concepts and international zoo-phytosanitation recommendations and regulations. We need to stop WTO restrictions or options till our farming and farmers are not completely knowledge driven and economically resourceful to face the global farming competitions.

Four paradigms of Agricultural Extension consists of Technology transfer, prevalent since colonial times & later National Agriculture Extension Project (NAEP), reshaped in 1970-80 as training and visit system across Asia. It involved top down approach. Its role needs discussion. The second paradigm called as Advisory work is what is present system of extension, where, government agencies, NGO and technical industries respond to farmer’s inquiries which we call advisory role. The third paradigm consists of Human Resource Development. This innovation helped Europe and North America. The Universities gave training to rural youth. It is these educated, trained youth, which became future farmers in developed countries. What is known as outreach system of colleges and universities is still unknown in our Agricultural Research System including State Agriculture Universities. A half hearted attempt as Agri-business and Agri-clinical is still to be backed with University, research, banking and economic support. Is it, which can help us to increase productivity in India or Asia needs consideration?

We must remember that the impact of National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) (1986-92) revealed that technologies generated were few and adoption rate not high, even then an estimated monetary benefit of Rs. 2000/ per hectare was observed. Low relationship between technologies developed and adopted  a mixed farming technology capsule as 65% of our farmer’s of our farmer’s are small and marginal farmers. This needs a total shift to left in our agricultural extension methodology. T&V Programme initiated with central assistance in state have around all round technological awareness among agricultural experts. Its dialogue and technology transfer from University (Scientists) to experts’ agricultural extension workers was nearly total revolution. The (ZAREC) Zonal Agricultural advisory Research and Extension counselling was the best plate farm to discuss main issues impeding agricultural development. The missionary publication of production recommendations helps a lot in transfer to technology. The presentation of production recommendations in local language is helpful in increasing productivity in many countries.

“Brinjal production technology adoption in Parbani, Maharashtra was the result of social participation, risk management guarantee, marketing orientation, information websites and communication methods. Various limitation of transport, extension staff was the reasons of poor productivity gains in Malakhand agency of Pakistan. The adoption of legume production technologies under Jodhpur arid conditions was low. The problems as indicated by farmers are small farm size. Small holder farmer was less interested to adopt these technologies. Non-existence of market and pricing policy, risk of failure, feeding habits, social taboo and lack of Post Harvest Technology (PHT) were identified. Proper guidance or information support was the major constraint to 60.8% non-adoption rate among farmers. Other contributory factors are technological unawareness (13.33%), sloppy land (11.31%), farm input cost (9.41%), non-availability of irrigation (8.29%) and lack of inputs (7.95%), said a few experts. ………………………………………………………………………………………(To be continued).

 

Agriculture becoming less remunerative

The  adoption of improved varieties and biotechnological use to make Agriculture more attractive has to be on our top agenda.

  We in developing countries in future will have Industrial expansion to have more economic security. This will mean fewer people being attracted to agriculture or in other words agriculture becoming less remunerative. We need improved varieties, their rapid propagation through biotechnological use. We may have little options not to use modern bio techniques.

This is where we talk now of molecular farming, using biotechnology for more transgenic crops, animals, aquaculture and commercial floriculture.
Besides methodologies for analysis of farming system, options for development & sustainable eco-friendly farm science technology are need of the hour. We do have subject-matter-specialists, but the agents for evaluating the composite effect of various discipline oriented technology cover is yet to be structured. This is exactly where we should intervene and restructures the discipline, programmes and divisions of extension education in the country. In fact a total change from existing slow action, low innovative, conventional and disintegrated extension system has to be refined into analytic, manage mental, social, economical, marketable system, so that the whole technology transfer could be evaluated in terms of productivity and combinations need to be evaluated & monitored. The impact analysis of wide range of agricultural technology transfer be it training, entrepreneurship or agric business is needed, both before and after technology application.

A survey conducted among 120 farmers in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India, revealed that education, social participation, scientific orientation, risk management, mass media exposure, economic and market orientation were positively and significantly correlated to the extent of adoption recommended hybrid jowar (sorghum) seed practices by the farmers. Majority of the farmers (43.33%) had a medium level of the adoption of the recommended practices. (Kumar et al, 2005). It is suggested that five categories of factors determine the adoption of irrigation systems and are the keys to designing relevant, effective and innovative irrigation extension programmes among horticulturists. The five categories of factories being soil type and topography; crop quality; sowing time; saving water and crop yield (Kaine & Beswell, 2005). We in J&K under SREP Strategic Research extension plan of Districts notice lack of information on sowing time, seed rate and fertilizer application in almost all the crops.

“The available research results have to pierce the farmers farming practices. Non-adoption is the result of our low productivity levels per unit of land. Inspire of tremendous yield gains, the per unit profitability has not raised the economic conditions of our farmers. Our farm economy still fluctuates between seasons’ rainy years among regions. Now for any widespread rains farm technology, it is essential to know its impact and adaptability rate. It is therefore necessary to develop new technologies after considering socio-organizational arrangements, local existing soil, water, human needs and resources. The local skills need to be known and refinement is made to improve profitability. Our experience under IVLP showed a net productivity gains of 2 /hac in rice production by improving local village driven plough. Similar innovative ideas and local technologies with improved or exotic ones gave good results in development of profitable farming,” remarked some knowledgeable persons of Kashmir valley.

Hence conscientious citizens suggest that improved varieties and adoption of latest technologies need to be adopted to revolutionize agricultural production to woo farmers, who can get attracted by industrial expansion to earn quick bucks. It is not the question of monetary considerations, but the level of agricultural production to ensure food security .

 

Low agricultural production is attributed to untested fertilizers, economic constraints and lack of advanced technology

Hence application of Precision Agriculture needs to be clubbed with information and communication networking to boost productivity in J&K

In Kenya, use of advanced information and communication technologies reduced gaps in yields of agricultural crops between research and farmer’s fields. It is the country where 70% population is connected with agriculture for livelihood directly or indirectly and 80% of its export is agricultural oriented. Reduction in yield gaps through effective use of information and communication technology will have a significant impact.

This stands proved by the low productivity in Soybean, which was found to be due to partial adoption of production recommendations by farmers in Maharashtra. The low yield factors were analyzed. Economic constraints, situational factors and communication gaps on crop production, protection, seed treatment and fertilizer application were found responsible for it. The modernization of agricultural production and rural development on a pilot basis could have worked well.

It has been observed that Precision Agriculture till date has focused on site-specific data collection for soil and crop management. The technologies for the site-specific field operations and automated data recording are available, but precision agriculture rarely involves them for improvement. The application of precision agriculture has to be clubbed with information and communication networking to harvest the gains and to improve productivity. This network may consist of an open software platform, which can be operated by the farmer himself. For efficient communication Internet and mobile telecommunication have been identified as important components. The development of an information and communication network integrating modern software and hardware technologies in a new user-friendly manner is necessary to achieve better acceptance of technologies and improved productivity.

It is worth mentioning that the Australian centre for remote sensing (ACRES) has introduced a new service to provide satellite data for near real time applications. The STAR (Speedy Transmission after reception) service provides access to digital satellite data products in full resolution or compressed format within 12 hrs of a Satellite overpass. The data obtained from ground stations is processed at a facility via a high-speed communication link and high priority procession. This system provides Satellite data on critical applications, like crop yield modelling, pre-harvest crop production forecasting, detecting crop diseases, monitoring crop stress, pest infestation, floods, fires and oil-spills. SPOT –late is a low cost, off the shelf satellite data product from ACRES that is ideal for use in Geographical information system (GIS). SPOT-LIFE can be accessed at any time via the Internet and is available in the form of tiles covering most of Australia.  Advance studies with high applications for increasing agricultural production needs quick dissemination. The effect of rooting zone restriction (RZR) on vegetative and reproduction growth of fruit trees via grapes, peach and citrus has been investigated. It is known that it improved crop productivity under low availability of water.

“The available communication facilities for agricultural information in 15 states of India were studied. The results suggest that while communication networking opens up agricultural economy, it is not cost effective. The communication networking has to become cost effective. An attempt to have better communication between various forest research divisions and other organizations interested in sustainable forestry has shown encouraging results. An attempt was made to have quick information flow among and between researchers, extension officers and dairy farmers in East Azerbaijan. The information input, output and intersystem communication were studied.  The information likes advertising, public relation and personal selling was found to be best promoters,” said a group of knowledgeable persons of Kashmir valley.

In the “Unique Selling” approach of the communicator effects target audience, the impact of integrated approach utilizing computers in agricultural information & dissemination in Greece and Poland was studied.  The gap in technology known and applied at farmers’ field was found. Researchers lack training in using new information technologies. Thus improvement in agricultural productivity has to keep pace with advanced communication and information technology using computers. Hence application of Precision Agriculture needs to be clubbed with information and communication networking to boost productivity in J&K

 

China, Denmark and other countries have made remarkable progress in the field  of Agriculture, Animal husbandry

Hence Experts suggest copying their models to gain experience and improve our socio-economic conditions in J&K

In order to improve our socio-economic conditions, we must undertake study of other countries of the world to see how they have marched ahead.  Chinese experience needs a try as their successful improvement of Sheep and yak herds can be a good example for use in India. Under this project, they first took stock of rangeland and livestock resources. Then socio-economic conditions of the livestock breeders were analyzed. Livestock and pasture management by rodents was studied. Rangeland revelation methods were tested and propagated. Seeded fodders and effect of these improved methods of pasture development on disease control and profits from livestock were analyzed.  Thus, the extension education programmes should ensure facilitation of Farmer empowerment and not dependence on subsidy. This means incorporating studies and programmes of Agri-livestock economics, grassland and rangeland management, crop and tree production in Agri-extension curricula.

Similarly, a new participating approach of clubbing local and outside knowledge to solve the agricultural problem is needed. Innovate approaches for soil and water conservation in Ethiopia and Tanzania was helpful. A new model of particularly modified Technology development approach is first being recognized, as the only way of clubbing traditional and modern technologies for agric-development.

The Dutch Model for total reformation of agricultural technology transfer shall need refinement of elementary methodologies used in extension consisting of PRA, PERT or other specific management, communication and modern IS-Geographic Information System use. This would involve a total change in Extension Education, objectives, methodology & course curriculum. We need agricultural networking for bringing out results of transferable technologies. Experimental learning and knowledge sharing has to be incorporated, as research on farmers field. Farmers have to be part of our learning, and experimentation process. Dutch model could be used. In India to ensure quick technology use. Let us evaluate technology use. It been seen that some progressive farmers have awareness of technology but being absentee farmers, their workers have no knowledge or skills to use them in the field. It is time to come out of “Technology dissemination Scenario” to “Technology Use Status in the field” and “Productivity gain assessment models”.

“Besides experience learning, market designs, farm economics, sustainable agriculture, Agri-information, communication skills and farm business shall be the knowledge bank available to Agri-Extension & communication experts, whom we should name “FBM” – “Farm Business management Experts”, suggest a group of experts of Kashmir valley.

The Extension Education is outdated and too often used and misunderstood phrase. Extension includes now every attempt to communicate with farmers. Today’s Extension agencies can be university scientists, Subject matter specialists, Agri experts, farmers or even partially Agri known NGO or their agents. Thus, the whole blame of others has to be shared by University experts. Agri-University, applied knowledge has to be communicated to farmers as “end product” as pharmaceutical companies do. Thus all the current ‘building block”, known knowledge has to be computerized and stored. This has to be reshaped and re-arranged as knowledge packs for innovative and whole farming capsules rather than one commodity knowledge sharing as in the West. We do have commodity but not composite agriculture packages. A booklet on its composite effects has been published as Broad Based Extension Education. Training & visits on farm level failed but farmer-training & farmer-research participation or demonstrations at farmers’ field did achieve a great success. With constraints of men and resources and crop insurance in vogue, we must induce researchers to have direct participatory research at farmer’s doors, on their fields. This venture can be on cost-sharing basis or with participatory involvement of Industry.
Our farm economy still depends on seasonal rains, lacks assured irrigation facilities and lacks technological back up

New strategies and our missions

Hence people demand development of Canal-networks and  adoption of Chinese Model to improve food production in J&K

Methodologies for analysis of farming system, options for development & sustainable eco-friendly farm science technology are needs of the hour. We do have subject-matter-specialists, but the agents for evaluating the composite effect of various discipline oriented technology covers is yet to be structured. This is exactly where we should intervene and restructures the discipline, programmes and divisions of extension education in the country. In fact a total change from existing slow action, low innovative, conventional and disintegrated extension system has to be refined into analytic, management, social, economical, marketable system, so that the whole technology transfer could be evaluated in terms of productivity and combinations need to be evaluated & monitored. The impact analysis of wide range of agricultural technology transfer be it training, entrepreneurship or agri-business is needed, both before and after technology application.

  The available research results have to pierce the farmers farming practices. Non-adoption is the result of our low productivity levels per unit of land. Inspire of tremendous yield gains per unit profitability has not raised the economic conditions of our farmers. Our farm economy still fluctuates between seasons, rainy years and among regions. Now for any widespread rains from technology, it is essential to know its impact and adaptability rate. It is therefore necessary to develop new technologies after considering socio-organizational arrangements, local existing soil, water, human needs and resources. The local skills need to be known and refinement made to improve profitability.

“Chinese experiences need a try under our socio-economic conditions. Besides successful improvement of Sheep and yak herds in China can be a good example for use in our country in general and J&K in particular. Under this project they first took stock of range-land and livestock resources. Then socio-economic conditions of the livestock breeders were analysed. Livestock and pasture management by rodents was studied. Rangeland revelation methods were tested and propagated. Seeded fodders and effect of these improved methods of pasture development on disease control and profits from livestock were analysed.  Thus extension education programmes should ensure facilitation of Farmer empowerment and not dependence on subsidy. This means incorporating studies and programmes of Agri-livestock economics, grassland and range land management, crop and tree production in Agri-extension curricula,” suggested a few prominent experts of Kashmir valley.

A new participating approach of clubbing local and outside knowledge to solve the agricultural problem is needed. Innovate approaches for soil and water conservation in Ethiopia and Tanzania were helpful. A new model of particularly modified Technology development approach is first being recognized, as the only way of clubbing traditional and modern technologies for agric-development. The total reformation of agricultural technology transfer shall need refinement of elementary methodologies used in extension consisting of PRA, PERT or other specific management, communication and modern IS-Geographic Information System use. This would involve a total change in Extension Education, objectives, methodology & course curriculum. We need agricultural networking for bringing out results of transferable technologies. Experimental learning and knowledge sharing has to be incorporated, as research on farmers field. Farmers have to be part of our learning, and experimentation process. Dutch model could be used in India to ensure quick technology use. Let us evaluate technology use. It been seen that some progressive farmers have awareness of technology but being absentee farmers, their workers have no knowledge or skills to use them in the field.

Small farmers are neglected by extension services and need proper awareness. Agricultural extension specialists must specialize in community structure, development, education learning tools, technology and policy issues. Thus these disciplines or topics need incorporation in Farm business Management curriculum. Partnership process, management and communication should be the main thrust. Co-operative mechanism, farm business management and evaluation and monitoring tools should be used.

But for revolutionizing our farm economy, people demand development of Canal-networks and adoption of latest Models to improve food production in J&K.Our irrigation system has not come up to our requirements despite pumping huge sums of money in this Sector. Therefore, there is urgent need to develop scientific irrigation system to reduce dependence on rains and share experiences of other advanced countries, particularly that of China to boost food production in J&K State.