Agricultural policy of Manipur state
- Part 1 -

Prof N Ram Singh *

The condition of Paddy field in Nambol Areas in last week of July 2012 :: Pix - Bunti Phurailatpam

The word policy refers to plan of action and the meaning of plan or planning is the objectives to be achieved within a given interval of time. Manipur state needs an agricultural policy because of the rising numbers of agricultural problems.

The main problems are:

a) No irrigation even during flooded season.

b) Negligence of the people about the time and value of cultivable land.

c) Slow action of the government.

d) Changing livelihood system of the farmers family.

e) Failure of market competition and

f) Decreasing farmers income.

The Agricultural Policy of Manipur State needs to be consider on the basis of the following facts:

i) There is a wide gap between the physical achievement and the financial achievement in the agricultural sector.

ii) There is scarcity of input water for rice crop.

iii) All farms are without any crop for about 7 months (from January to July)

iv) The agricultural product price of Manipur is higher than the price of other non local products.

v) There is shortage of agricultural labour during peak seasons.

vi) There is no marketing channel of the marketable surplus of rice, potato, ginger, tomato, cabbage, pineapple, orange and cauliflower during harvesting season and

vii) General Strike, blockade, public curfew etc are regular phenomenon during kharif season.

In a plan economy the problems of agriculture are tried to be overcome by the use of irrigation facilities, land improvement, better implements of production, proper system of plant protection, fertilizer and soil conservation, management of flood and drought problems proper facilities for marketing, so that risks and uncertainties due to abnormal situations might not upset the calculation in the plan. It is in the context of Manipur state the importance may be given to the horticultural production i.e., fruits, vegetables tuber crop, fish, eggs and milk supplemented with cereals and oilseeds and any amount of food grain shortage of the state.

The National Agricultural Policy (NAP), 2000 envisages a growth exceeding 4 per cent per annum in the agriculture sector. The Tenth plant also targeted a 4 per cent growth, but not achieved the target. The NAP envisaged the following type of growth:

1. Growth that is based on efficient use of resources and conserves our soil, water and bio-diversity.

2. Growth with equity, i.e., growth which is widespread across regions and covers all farmers.

3. Growth that is demand driven and caters to domestic markets as well as maximizes benefits from exports of agricultural products in the face of the challenges arising from economic liberalisation and globalization.

4. Growth that is sustainable technologically, enyironmentally and economically

On the demand side there is evidence that farmers face adverse demand conditions. Not only has agricultural growth been low in the last decade, the prices received for agricultural products have also failed to keep pace with the costs or the general price level and, as a consequence, profitability has declined. In most cases the price of locally produced commodities are more than that that of the non local commodities.

The National Commission on Farmers has drawn attention to the knowledge deficit which constrains agricultural productivity. To overcome this, farmers will need effective links to universities and best practices. A good extension system is the means for achieving this linkage but unfortunately the extension system has virtually collapsed in most states, partly as a result of constraints on non-plan expenditure. The results are that farming 'practices in large parts of the country are sub-optimal.

The NDC in its 53rd meeting also decided to launch a programme to incentives the States to increase the share of investment in agriculture in their state plans. Accordingly, on August 16, 2007, the Government approved the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) with an allocation of Rs. 25,000 crore for the Eleventh Five Plan. The RKVY aims at achieving the 4 per cent annual growth in the agriculture sector during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period by ensuring a holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors.

The RKVY will be a State Plan Scheme and the eligibility for assistance under the scheme would depend upon the amount provided in the state budgets for agriculture and allied sectors, over and above the baseline percentage expenditure incurred on agriculture and allied sectors. The funds under the RKVY would be provided to the states as 100 per cent grant by the Central Government. An outlay of Rs. 1,500 crore was approved for 2007-08. The main objective of the schemes are:

i) To incentivise the states to increase public investment in agriculture and allied sectors.

ii) To provide flexibility and autonomy to the states in planning and executing agriculture and allied sector schemes.

iii) To ensure the preparation of plans for the districts and the states based on agro-climatic conditions, availability of technology and natural resources.

iv) To ensure that the local needs/crops/priorities are better reflected.

v) To achieve the goal of reducing the yield gaps in important corps, through focused interventions.

vi) To maximize returns to the farmers.

Government of India has approved the National Policy for Farmers, 2007 taking into account the recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers and after consulting the State Governments. The National Policy for Farmers, among other things, has provided for a holistic approach to development of the farm sector. The broad areas of its coverage include:

i) Focus will be on the economic wellbeing of the farmers in addition to production and productivity.

ii) Asset reforms: To ensure that a farmer household in villages either possesses or has access to a productive asset or marketable skill.

iii) Water use efficiency: The concept of maximizing yield and income per unit or irrigation water in all the crop production programmes would be accorded priority with stress on awareness and efficiency of water use.

iv) New Technologies lie biotechnology, information and communication technology (lCT), renewable energy technology, space applications and nano­technology would be encouraged for improving productivity per unit of land and water on a sustainable basis.

v) National Agricultural Bio-security System would be established to organize a coordinated agricultural bio-security programme.

vi) Seeds and Soil Health: Quality seeds, disease free planting materials and soil health enhancement hold the key to raising small farm productivity. Every farmer is to be issued with a soil health passbook containing integrated information on farm soils with corresponding advisories.

vii) Support services for women: Appropriate support services like creches, child care centres and adequate nutrition needed by women working in fields would be funded.

viii) Credit & Insurance: The financial service would be galvanized for timely, adequate and easy reach to the farmers at reasonable interest rates.

ix) Gyan Chaupals at village level with the help of ICT and farm schools in the fields of outstanding farmers to promote farmer to farmer learning would be set up through the State Governments for strengthening extension services.

x) Necessary steps would be taken to put in place an appropriate social security scheme for farmers.

xi) Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism to be implemented effectively across the country so as to ensure remunerative prices for agricultural produce.

xii) Food Security basket is to be enlarged to include nutritious millets such as bajra, jowar, ragi and millets, mostly grown in dry land farming areas.

The strategy regarding agricultural development in Manipur will basically involve stabilization of production performance, soil and water conservation, efficient water management, integrated development of crops, and livestock, efficient management of credit and input supply, and above all are the basic components of new strategy relating to agribusiness activities development. It will require sustained efforts on the part of planners and farmers.

To bring about increase in agricultural production and productivity, specific attention will have to be given to the following programmes:
(i)CD soil and water conservation,
(ii) water management,
(iii) cropping pattern,
(iv) input supply system,
(v) institutional support,
(vi) incentive price and
(vii) agroindustries.

To be continued..