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| AGRICULTURE TRIBUNE | Monday, April 3, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
New policy may help small
farmers Organic farming best hope Travails of kinnow growers Technologies for increasing milk
production How large can a pumpkin grow? Resource handling in chicken |
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New policy
may help small farmers POLICY makers have to attach more importance to agriculture, if they want to promote the welfare of the masses, arrest the widening inequalities, and put the overall growth of the economy at a higher and sustainable level. The agriculture sector still engages more than 60 per cent of the work force and supports roughly 70 per cent of the population. The national agriculture policy being formulated is likely to address the problem of low capital investment and is likely to lay stress on conservation of natural resources like land, water and bio-diversity. The policy draft is understood to have been circulated to various government departments and organisations concerned and their view will be incorporated while framing the final paper. The policy will be announced soon. There is need for improving the quality of life in the rural areas and the most important concern of the farmers is providing irrigation facilities. The government is understood to have ruled out the possibility of giving the status of industry to agriculture, but the farmers are likely get all the facilities without the agriculture sector getting the status of industry. It is also likely that private sector funds may be invited in agriculture as there is need for a large amount of funds in the agriculture sector in order to reduce the subsidy burden. The government is also to play a major role in the supply of foundation seeds. The new agriculture policy will be the highlight of the government’s agendas for the year 2000. The year has been smooth as far as food production goes. There has been no shortage and no glut of vegetables. Foodgrain production looks better than ever before and is poised to touch a record breaking 204 million tonnes. In fact, the figure for 1998-99 has also been estimated at a record 203 million tonnes. The Government of India has also introduced a crop insurance scheme in all states simultaneously during the current rabi season. This scheme will also cover vegetables and fruits and the Centre has already received suggestions in this regard from all the state governments. The government is also considering a proposal to subsidise exports to make it internationally competitive and reduce the bulging stocks of grain in the state account. On the other side the government is also considering roping in private parties for grain storage jobs. This will help in reducing the subsidy burden and wastage in FCI godowns. The government is also likely to bring major reforms in the marketing, processing and storage of agricultural commodities and the government has to take certain steps to improve the incentives to produces without hurting consumers. The poor will have to be protected not through price controls in agricultural commodities, but through a proper income policy. The government has also decided to have a separate department for watershed development for overseeing the implementation of various programmes being implemented. India has the best and biggest agriculture research system in the world and we are in the process of reorienting our system to meet new challenges. Indian farmers are a pampered lot. Besides high procurement prices they get subsidised canal water, power, fertilisers, R&D all adding up to perhaps Rs 55,000 crore a year. India’s food security can be ensured in the long term only if the government replaces the present interventionist marketing system with a framework built on private trade which could maintain grain flows that would keep prices stable and invest in modern transport, storage and processing. This has been recommended by the World Bank after a fresh analysis of India’s foodgrain marketing and their success in ensuring food securities. According to a World Bank report, a mere 10 per cent reduction in food subsidies could generate a fiscal saving of as much as $ 170 million per year. The RBI has advised the government that connected policy action will be required to promote agricultural productivity and to make agriculture a viable and profitable economic proposition. The country might have become self-sufficient in food production, but it needs to produce larger quantities than at present to keep pace with the ever-increasing population. It is estimated by the
Planning Commission that the country needs to produce 300
million tonnes of foodgrain by 2011-12, an increase of
almost 100 million tonnes in less than a decade and a
half. |
Organic
farming best hope FARMERS of Punjab use the maximum quantity of chemicals on crops as compared to any other state of the country, Excessive use of chemicals not only increases the cost of production but also poses threat to the environment and sustainability of production. Even the residual effect has been noticed in farm produce and milk. Thus, the chemicals have started contaminating agricultural produce. Agricultural produce of Punjab will face tough market competition from next year due to globalisation of trade. In order to compete in the world market Punjab has to maintain high quality of produce at competitive rates. Quality is the most potent weapon to face fierce competition and it needs to be nurtured through the right attitude and quality culture. In future, doing things rights or quality would not only be a plus point, it would be an essential requirement for survival.Organic farming will be the best hope for Punjabi farmers. There is great demand in the rich countries for products without the use of any chemicals. Our farmers are so used to apply chemicals that they cannot think of growing crops without the application of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and weedicides. The writer got a chance to visit Denmark a few months ago where organic farming is encouraged by the government. Denmark exports 80 per cent of its agricultural products to other countries. One can see many farms where crops are being grown successfully without the use of any chemicals. Chemicals are being replaced with effective micro-organisms, commonly known as EM. Successful use of effective micro-organisms was made by the Japanese scientist, Dr Teruo Higa. He considers the replacement of chemicals with EM as an earth saving revolution. EM is a mixed microbial culture of selected species of micro-organisms such as lactic, acid, bacteria, yeast, photosynthetic bacteria and actinon yeast. All of these are mutually compatible with one another and coexist in liquid culture. When applied to soil as an inoculant, these micro-organisms function cooperatively to exert beneficial effect on soil quality. Some of the micro-organisms in EM are known to produce bio active substances such as vitamins, hormones, enzymes and antibiotics that can directly or indirectly, enhance plant growth and protection. It has also many uses for environmental applications. Healthy crops, vegetables and nurseries are grown in Denmark without the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. They are applying only EM, which is commercially available in bottles. Some dairy farmers started feeding EM mixed fodder to cattle and they claim that their cattle are healthy and give more milk. In Punjab farmers burn the straw after harvesting wheat and paddy with combine harvests. In Denmark farmers make use of EM to enhance the decaying of the straw. It is also being claimed that EM can convert farm and kitchen waste into good quality compost. In Japan kitchen waste is converted into compost with EM to use the same in kitchen gardens. By returning EM garbage compost to soil the soil becomes active and is capable of producing healthy vegetables and flowers. It is also being claimed that sewerage water can be used for irrigation after treating with EM. At present untreated sewerage water is being used to irrigate vegetable crops near cities. These vegetables have been found contaminated with toxic elements. Restoring the beauty of nature is the common wish of all of us. However, the conditions such as air pollution, green house effect and ozone depletion are steadily worsening. So, how can we solve global pollution issues of the earth? EM gives us a suggestion. There are two natural courses of nature. One is resuscitation of living things and the other is decomposition or contamination. At this point, the earth is on the path of destruction because the speed of contamination exceeds that of the natural recovery process. To overcome this problem, there is need to change the direction of the flow. The glory of the EM is that it guides all micro-organisms toward the course of resuscitation. This is because they are a group of micro-organisms that generate antioxidant items we could truly benefit from EM is even being used as room freshener, to clean the drains and bathrooms etc. There is urgent need to
initiate research on EM under Punjab conditions. Punjab
Agricultural University should prepare projects on
priority basis to test the efficacy of this wonder
formulation. If proved successful if can come as a born
for Punjab farmers Successful application of EM will give
a new direction to agriculture in the state. In addition,
it will promote sustainability and help in preserving the
environment. It will also help in promoting a second
thrust in agriculture for which special efforts are being
made by the government. |
Travails
of kinnow growers ON a visit to Punjab last month, I happened to read Khushwant Ahluwalia’s piece (Tribune 14.2.2000) on difficulties faced by kinnow growers in marketing their produce. Ignorance combined with apathy of officialdom in facilitating the marketing and regulating the supply of such produce, is the hallmark of our nation, which is further aggravated by the blatant greed and outright selfishness of the middle-man. A well planned strategy in advance is the most essential ingredient required for a seasonal and perishable horticulture produce. It is unthinkable to send a truck-load of kinnow all the way from Hoshiarpur to Bangalore and expect a good return through the middle-man knowing fully well the farmer has placed himself at a dis-advantage. It is precisely a situation like this that the middle-man exploits to his advantage. He knows it very well that the farmer has placed himself precariously once he has sent his consignment so far away from his area of activities. It is equally perplexing to understand what particular advantage the author of the piece was expected to gain by travelling to Bangalore with the produce, and expecting a better deal by his presence on the spot. It is no good advising the simple and gullible farmer to send his produce to the “right man”. He is not a part of a sophisticated marketing setup nor is he a member of an organisation looking after his interests at large. He has to carry the burden of his pains and solution thereto, on his shoulders alone. If the middle-man can innovate and exercise his business acumen to pack smartly and divert the produce from Delhi to Bangalore, you cannot blame him for the sense of timing or business-like attitude. It is also not right to condemn him if the produce is purchased at the prevailing rates at Delhi. Since that is the place where the farmer has struck a deal. One is being naive to think that the middleman will “keep alive the ethics and take into confidence” the poor farmer. The middle-man is known throughout the world as selfish, crafty and unscrupulous, and in a nation where honesty is at a premium, it is rather tragic to think that he will act with better sense of ethical behaviour. No one can agree more to the concept of quality produce, with excellent packaging, proper handling and transportation. Once that is achieved, the farmer without doubt is likely to get a better deal. Do not get into the trap of subsidies and other goodies from the official agencies. It never pays in the long run. It can even end up in tragical consequences for the farmer, who has no reserve power to offset sudden changes in government policies. I am afraid the burden
of successful marketing strategy of kinnow and other
horticulture produce, lies entirely on the shoulders of
the farmer. It is time he organises himself into a
cooperative of marketing run entirely and administered by
himself. There are numerous successful ventures in the
past where the individual producer has benefitted
enormously for the right reason. It is only through an
organisational system of marketing that success and
economic benefit could be achieved. There is an export
market awaiting to be exploited. If Chile all the way
from the other side of the world can export grapes to the
Gulf, and if Australia can successfully market their
apples as well, I cannot see why Hoshiarpur growers
cannot export their kinnow to the Gulf as well. But what
is the most fundamental and basic requirement of a
successful business is, an absolute dedication,
determination and conviction of purpose, business ethics
and true organisational spirit. |
Technologies
for increasing milk production THE overall milk production target by the turn of this century was 35 lakh tonnes for which the strategies adopted were increasing genetic potential of animals, raising the proportion of crossbreeds in the population, augmenting the overall management of animals, management of information and supporting R & D programmes. The genetic potential can be improved by introduction of superior crossbred bulls, progeny testing young bull calf production programme, F bull calf production programme, replacement of exotic bull stock, use of embryo transfer technology, proven bull semen for premium AI and elimination of generally inferior female stock. For increasing crossbred population, AI facilities should be provided at the doorstep of the farmer. Moreover, monitoring the quality of frozen semen, pedigree details of the bulls, control of natural service and periodic training of AI technicians should be followed. An efficient feeding, reproductive and management practice coupled with care of growing stock and management of information systems should be followed, supported by efficient R &D programmes. Animal health services substantially reduced livestock losses due to diseases and death. Strengthening milk veterinary institutions to augment veterinary health care system will generate significant gains for the poor. Moreover, sufficient funding for medicines, augmenting vaccination system to control contagious diseases, introducing animal health card systems and computerisation at the panchayat-level are needed. To achieve this a strong technology generation and dissemination service has to be implemented. The services of non-governmental organisations can also be utilised for providing better extension services. Applied research in feeds and fodder production, multi-disciplinary and epidemiological research has to be prompted. Incentives to encourage public sector veterinatries to enter into the private sector should be hastened. The services should be reliable and effective. Extensive veterinary training and familiarity with local conditions provide a strong foundation for effective extension programme. Meat output increased by an average of 5 per cent during 1988-92. Poultry meat and egg output displayed an impressive growth. Despite continuing increase in supply the per capita consumption of livestock product is comparatively low in India. There are regional, religious and cultural factors which affect this sector. Most meats are sold without sanitary inspection. Moreover, processing of meat is limited. High taxes on packaging materials further constrain the profitability of meat production. The absence of laws restricting slaughtering also contribute to poor quality of domestically consumed meat and may cause health hazards to the public. Poor enforcement of hygienic standards constrains India’s export competitiveness, while poor enforcement of environmental standards will increase pollution problems in the future. Detailed socio-economic studies, including an assessment of domestic acceptability of culling animals to eradicate diseases, need to be conducted to determine the feasibility. Continued increase in feed cost is the single major impediment affecting sustainability of dairy farming. Since it accounts for more than 75 per cent of the total cost, sufficient measures should be taken to reduce the cost of milk production. For this fodder cultivation has to be popularised. Increased integration of crop and livestock system, more proactive fodder production methods, elimination of unnecessary regulations and movement restrictions and promotion of increased competition in the concentrate feed manufacturing sector should be given more emphasis. To compensate for the low productivity farmers tend to maintain large herds. Mini dairy unit is more feasible in Punjab. Proper coordination of different agencies working in these areas has to be met with. India has more than 2000 markets where livestock and livestock products are traded. All of them are under the jurisdiction of respective governments and local bodies and 60 per cent of the milk produced in India is sold through these markets. Of this more than two-thirds is through the unorganised sector mainly due to the poor performance of many cooperatives. Government intervention over cooperative operations resulting in a diversion from the original farmer-controlled cooperative concept, contributed to its poor performance. Elimination of state interventions, close adherence to the Anand model, greater farmer control of operations, upgrading skills in production, marketing and financial management would help cooperatives to meet the new marketing challenges. Strengthened cooperatives should take the challenge of processing milk to the quality conscious consumers, diversifying the milk product manufacturing system, aiming an expansion of milk products export, thus ensuring better return to consumers. Moreover, the
sustainability of the livestock sector can be achieved
through effective integration with agriculture and other
allied fields. This should be given utmost importance in
Punjab where high density of population and reduced areas
of cultivable land poses greater threat to the livestock
sector. |
How large
can a pumpkin grow? A giant pumpkin was declared as the largest pumpkin in 1999, at a Half Moon Bay’s great pumpkin competition in the USA, Half Moon Bay is a little towards southwest of San Francisco, California in the USA. It was grown by John Hunt, a medical technician from the Sacramento valley of California. The 449.9 kg pumpkin broke local, state and West Coast records as the giant pumpkin. John Hunt, the backyard gardener, said that his champion pumpkin started the growing season with an unpromising performance but was gaining 16 kg a day by mid-August and finished its career with a girth of 3.81 metres. The record is held by a pumpkin weighing 482 kg. The pumpkin festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday on Main Street in Half Moon Bay in October every year. The competitors come from as far away as Washington state. Hunt (37) beat out the tough Pacific north-westerners this year with a combination of great weather and a sophisticated water and fertilisation system. He started his pumpkin — a variety called Atlantic Giant — in a pot in late May and transferred it on June 3 to a garden plot at Capital City Nursery. Hunt had already sent the soil to a testing lab and adjusted the nutrients. The pumpkin started to grow, expanding by 8 cm a day for two months. Hunt tended his crop every day after leaving his job as an anaesthesia technician at the University of California-Davis. Hunt has thoroughly studied the art and science of raising giant pumpkins. He searched the Internet for specialised advice and took a pumpkin tour of the Pacific Northwest, where most recent winners have originated. In the fall of 1903, a gardener, William Warnock, grew the biggest pumpkin the world had ever seen. It weighed 183 kg. The record stood for 75 years, until Howard Dill, with an obsession for gigantic pumpkins, produced one weighing 199 kg. Since 1979, Dill has marketed his seeds to other gardeners and helped start a craze that has grown along with the size of pumpkins. Dill has become a millionaire by selling his pumpkin seeds. Each successive autumn over the past two decades, records have tumbled as pumpkins grew to 272, 318, 363, 409 kg, and sights were set for the first 450 or 500 kg. This was almost realised in 1996 by Paula and Nathan Zehr who grew a pumpkin weighing 482 kg, about the weight of a large horse. Champions can make a few thousand dollars in prize money from the very largest pumpkins. A California company buys the world champion at $ 4.5 a kg. We do not see such unusually large pumpkins in India. References to pumpkins date back many centuries. The name pumpkin originated from the Greek word for “large melon” which is “pepon”. “Pepon” was nasalised by the French into “pompon”. The English changed “pompon” to “pumpion. “Shakespeare referred to the “pumpion” in his play, “Merry Wives of Windsor”. People who went to America to start a new life in the 15th and 16th centuries changed “pumpion” into “pumpkin”. The “pumpkin” is referred to in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater and Cinderella. Pumpkin is a vegetable related to squash. Pumpkin plants produce round or oval fruits, also called pumpkins, which have hard shells and coarse, stringy pulp. A central cavity within the fruit holds the seeds. Most pumpkins weigh from 7 to 14 kg and are orange in colour, but many pumpkins are white, yellow, greenish or other colors. Pumpkins are rich in vitamin A and potassium. People cook pumpkins in various ways. Many farmers use pumpkins as livestock feed. Pumpkin seeds,which provide protein and iron, are a popular snack. Pumpkin plants have large, prickly leaves and produce male and female flowers. Only the male pumpkin blossoms have pollen that is transferred by bees to the female flowers. Pollinated female blossoms develop into pumpkins. But each female flower opens for pollination for only one day. In addition, most pumpkin blossoms are male. Consequently, a few flowers actually produce pumpkins. Pumpkins grow on vines and bushes. Those on vines are planted in mounds about 3.7 metres apart. The bush varieties are spaced closer together. Pumpkins thrive in slightly acid soil, and most mature about four months after the seeds are planted. Pime pumpkins that are well developed can be stored at 4°C to 10°C for several months. Pumpkins are part of the Halloween decoration in the USA. Children carve faces on hollowed-out pumpkins and put lighted candles inside to make Jack-o’-Lanterns. Halloween or All Hallow’s Eve is celebrated on the last day of October. Children go out from house to house demanding “trick or treat”. The treat, usually candy, is generally given and the trick rarely played. The United Nations
Organisation (UNO) has used the Halloween festival to
collect money for its children’s fund. |
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BROILER chicken have been bred to allocate increasing proportions of their resources to growth especially growth to market weight. When internal or external insults (disease pathogens/mismanagement) occur there must be a capacity for a quick or persistent redistribution of available resources to meet these new demands. A young chicken devotes the majority of its resources to growth (60 per cent) followed by maintenance (30 per cent) with minor reserves for health (10 per cent) and none for reproduction. In contrast, maintenance is a major user of resources in the adult chicken (55 per cent) as a second. Health (10 per cent) remains the same as for the broilers with allocation for growth minima (5 per cent). Thus, the main focus of the allocation of resources will vary depending on where the chicken is in its life cycle. Genetic selection for growth result in changes in the allocation of resources. A composite of reasoning is seen with resources allocation in healthy birds, where there is still a 10 per cent reserve for maintaining health had an equal division of resources (30 per cent each) for growth, reproduction and maintenance. However, when a chicken becomes sick, the allocation of resources for reproduction and growth are, maintenance is reduced (20 per cent) and resources are directed towards improving health status (80 per cent). For this re-distribution of resources to occur it is essential, in some cases, that changes occur quickly while in other cases changes may be more gradual. Faster growth in hybrid broiler chicken requires more resources as such (62 per cent) as well as for maintenance (33 per cent), which in turn, reduces resources available for health (5 per cent). It is evident that the availability of resources for the variety of demands during the life of an individual bird is limited. Intense genetic election to improve the growth of broilers to market weight has resulted in extremely proficient in feed utilisation for the body weight gain and in their response to diets designed to enhance this potential. A preferential allocation of a greater proportion of resources to growth, reduces the ability to adjust quickly to other biological needs that may result from factors such as pathogens, fluctuations in feed quality, and environmental factors. Industries demanding superfast growth, high yielding, feed efficient broilers must recognise the effects of limited resources. —
Kulwinder Sandhu |
