Next govt: reducing imports to half by 2020
Bilal
Hussain
Though
it might seem sarcastic to most that food security of Jammu and
Kashmir is at serious threat however, patterns and figures present a
gloomy picture of the state. Apparently there are almost negligible
signs of starvation deaths and malnutrition widely here which gives a
false sense of food security.
According
to the World Food Summit of 1996 that defines food security as
existing “when all people at all times have access to sufficient,
safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life”.
Commonly, the concept of food security is defined as including both
physical and economic access to food that meets people's dietary
needs as well as their food preferences.
According
to an estimate that puts the quantum of annual imports of mutton,
milk and poultry to the tune of Rs 700 crore, which gives a notion
about the quantum of imports particularly food items to the state.
This huge dependence on the food imports makes the state most
vulnerable in terms of food security.
The
imports are not limited to mutton, milk and poultry items only but
the state gets bulk of agricultural produce as well. The main reason
for this is due to the decline in the share of agriculture and allied
sectors towards GSDP that has gone down from 56.64 per cent in
1970-71 to 32.58 per cent in 2000-01 and 21.12 per cent in
2009-10 and further to only 19.36per cent at constant prices. Less
contribution of agriculture towards state economy is attributed to
the factors like: Low Seed Replacement Ratio (SRR) in case of High
Yielding Verities (HYV) of major crops is yet to surpass 15
per cent in comparison to the national level SRR of above 25 per cent
. To sustain continuous growth in productivity, seed management plays
a crucial role.
The
agriculture sector faces challenges on many fronts. On the supply
side: the yield of most crops is not improving. It needs to mention
that yield of food grains is stagnant at around 16 quintals per
hectare based on last four years average figure. Regarding some cases
it fluctuates downwards. The cultivable area is about 8 per cent of
geographical area and 34 per cent of the reporting area, net area
sown constitutes only 30 per cent of the reporting area. The scope
for increase in the net area sown is limited rather bleak. Farm size
is continuously shrinking.
Availability
of irrigation facility is restricted to 44 per cent of the net area
sown and 56 per cent is still a rain fed area. A major constraint to
the development of agriculture in J&K is the fact that only 50
per cent of the ultimate irrigation potential of the state has been
harnessed.
J&K
is also deficient in rainfall: development of irrigation potential in
the state becomes necessary for reducing dependence on import of
food-grains and other agricultural products.
Inadequate
double cropping- due to lack of irrigation facility in some areas and
climatic difficulty in others places. Only 56% of the net area is
sown more than once.
Small
size of land holdings: 94 per cent of the land holdings fall in the
size class of less than 2 hectare. More importantly the average
holding size is 0.67 hectares as compared to 1.23 hectares in India
as per latest agriculture census. Inadequate research in the field of
agriculture in the state and inadequate Agricultural Finance
facilities further aggravates the problem.
As
a part of food habit, per capita consumption of meat, poultry items
and milk is higher in J&K state than all India, but the state is
deficient in meat, poultry, eggs and milk production thus making
state to heavily rely on imports from other states. Due to mismatch
in demand and supply of mutton, the import of sheep and goat is
continuously increasing. The import of sheep & goat has increased
by 71 per cent when compared with such import figures of 1995-96.
The
state spends annually an average Rs 700 cr on the import of mutton
and poultry from other states. Given the resources constraint nature
of the economy, the state cannot bear this flight of capital.
The
Jammu-Srinagar Highway is the only lifeline that connects the state
to the rest of India. Of late the government has taken the initiative
of creating an alternate highway via Shopian-Bufliaz popularly known
as Mughal road. The project is expected to be completed by 2013 under
the Prime Ministers Reconstruction Plan
(PMRP), lets be optimistic on it.
All
I could think of that the state on priority should do is to employee
latest technology for of high yielding varieties to different
crops like Paddy, Wheat, Maize etc. Organic Farming needs to be
encouraged. Increasing seed replacement rate from the current rate
level of less than 15 per cent to national average of 25 per cent.
Promoting dry land farming in Kandi area. Ensuring Hassle free credit
facilities to farmers and insurance for all crops. Consolidation of
land holdings by way of legislation and its strict implementation.
Increasing agricultural research by way of establishing of seed
testing and quality control system in agriculture. Optimum
utilization of existing irrigation potential and creation of
additional irrigation potential will define the future course of
growth of our agriculture.
The
state incurs huge sum on import of meat, poultry, eggs etc annually.
If the whooping sum gets pumped back into the economy, it would
change the complexion of the state economy. Therefore, there is an
urgent need for improving the production and productivity of mutton
and poultry to eliminate the gap between the supply and demand in the
state.
To
promote organized farming and institutions of dairy, poultry and
sheep cooperatives, appropriate policy measures and development
interventions for promoting livestock sector in the state are
required. Extension facilities to far off and backward places,
genetic improvement, introduction of hi-tech commercial broiler for
enhancing white meat production and dropper breed of sheep to
increase the mutton production, proper health cover can help a lot in
the pursuit of this goal. Livestock is a fast growing sector and to
boost it further, new initiatives in the pipe line need to be
addressed with more determination.
The
World Food Summit goal is to reduce, between 1990–92 and 2015, the
number of undernourished people by half. Millennium Development Goal
1, target 1C, is to halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of
people who suffer from hunger. On the similar pattern the state
government in J&K should have targets for their respective
electoral terms like: reducing imports to half by 2020 at
least that would ensure food security for the state.
