The National Agricultural Policy of India 2000 -2020 - Essay Example

The National Agricultural Policy of India 2000 -2020 al Affiliation National Agricultural Policy (NAP) of 2000 wasreleased by the Indian government as its strategic plan for the next 20 years. It was developed to serve the greater needs and improve of the Indian agricultural sector through scientific and technological upgrade. After a period of green revolution and disintegration of agricultural policies, which introduced other challenges and opportunities in Indian agriculture, there was a need to come up with a formal statement that gives direction to the broader agriculture (both of fertile and dry lands) and those untapped potentials. The document provides an analysis of the background, aims and objectives of the NAP. It also addresses the implication beyond NAP areas in the consumption/market and health sector. Finally, the government’s accountability in development, implementation and evaluation, how much people are informed on the policy, and policy’s outcome. Keywords: National Agricultural Policy, Indian Government, Agricultural Sustainability, Food Security, Environmental Safety, Resources, Growth rate, Diversification, Farmers, Consumers, GMOs, Production, Bio-technologies, Food Prices, Initiatives, and Credit Institutions, Background of the policy Prior to the introduction of the policy in India, the country had experienced various agrarian reforms since the 80s. When the green revolution period set in agricultural production improved due to the technological breakthrough. This brought diversification in agricultural activities, influenced investment, change in economic policies and growth in output. However, the impact was not the same in regions of dry lands in India. In fact, such parts had not realized the benefits of technological breakthrough, meaning the policies and reforms that existed failed to serve equally the entire country. The Indian government tried to implement policies that sought to change the situation in the dry lands, but instead brought more confusion and challenges/opportunities for the agricultural sector. Chand states there was strong pressure for the Indian government to develop a formal agricultural plan to direct the sector in new and emerging sectors; this yielded the new agricultural policy of 2000 intended to guide the sector for the next two decades (n.d.). It is a broad policy focused on addressing the challenges in Indian agriculture, one of which is sustainable agriculture and practices that affects environmental concerns. Aims and objectives India has high population of people, second after China, which makes the government work on maintaining food security through its agricultural sector. NAP came in to integrate and coordinate the dispersed development plans and reforms to benefit the greater society. According to Singh, the objectives of NAP entails “the promotion of technically sound, economically viable, environmentally non-degrading and socially acceptable use of country’s natural resources - land, water and genetic endowment – to promote sustainable development of agriculture” (2009, p. 129). It’s evident that agriculture has flourished over the years in India. However, it’s essential that agricultural activities are conducted in a manner that considers its environmental effects. For example, agro-forestry initiatives in sustainable agricultural goal of NAP are basic plans for enhancing ecological balance and environmental sustainability (Singh & Yadava, 2003). The wastelands can serve to support a sustainable environment when put into use through afforestation plans. In the course of NAPs operation, its goals focuses on various untapped growth potentials of agricultural sector in India, promoting farming activities (through employment and pricing of products) as well as strengthening the rural infrastructure (Mani, 2009) . To monitor and improve the economic contribution of agriculture in India, the policy provides an estimated figure of anticipated growth rates, emphasizes on efficient use of resources, sustainable and distributed growth. NAP aims to achieve a greater that 4% growth rate, efficient using land, water and biodiversity resources while ensuring conservation, promoting farming investment, enhancing movement of agricultural commodities and rural electrification across the country by 2020 (“New Agricultural” n.d.). These are opportunities for farmers and employment to the greater populations. The country is looking at agricultural diversification of farming (small and large scale) for increased production through scientific methods; a situation where India would enhance and maintain its capacity to meet its needs (Singh, Kumar & Woodhead, 2002). Similarly, due to technological upgrade of the agricultural operations in India, imminent changes and innovation of agricultural systems will help realize the visions, goals and objectives both in the long terms and short term. Introduction of bio-technologies will facilitate stronger breeds of crops that ensure environmental safety, while conservation of bio-resources will serve to prevent depletion of bio-diversity (“National Agricultural” n.d.). Implications beyond the policy area or the jurisdiction (who or what else is affected by this policy?) NAP policy and India Consumer market: One of the features of NAP policy is price protection for Indian farmers. It seeks to ensure farmers receive tangible benefits from their farming activities and not be exploited by the larger market mechanism that can suppress prices of agricultural produce. While farmers strive to improve Indian food security, there is a growing concern among farmers who push to be paid above market prices for food production for the national stockpiles (McClanahan, 2013). This drags two essential entities in the contexts: The World Trade organization (WTO) and the consumer in the Indian market. NAP pricing protection strategy affects the consumer purchasing will, whom would prefer taking the cheaper and imported products rather than the expensive Indian produce caused by from protective agriculture plan (Hindustan Times, 2014). Though NAP seeks to provide the farmers and their families with secure standard of living, high protection (e.g., though high prices) of the domestic producers affects the huge consumer market through food price inflations. It’s evident that an increase in price of products produced by Indian arming households would improve their income and standards of living. However, considering that households are the products’ consumers, they experience adverse effects while adjusting to the trade shocks and hiking prices (Mittal, 2007). Eventually, the costs incurred will always be transmitted to the end consumer. Bio-diversity and Health sector Agriculture has taken a different direction to facilitate consistent and cheaper food production. Unfortunately, India among other developing countries have come to adopt the genetically modified crops despite the rising controversies over its unhealthy impacts in people’s lives. Though biotechnology has been adopted as an essential factor in sustainable agriculture, development of GMO crops and its consumption has been accused of having ill effects in the long term from the farms and consumers bodies in general. There have been many farmers in India who have used the Monsantos GM seeds for production, yet their crops have failed in production and could not meet the people’s expectations. Production and use of GMO products produced by the biotech companies in India (e.g. Monsantos and DuPont) have slowly turned the “sustainable diverse ways of agriculture into unsustainable globalized agribusinesses that threaten sustainable organic farming and livelihood of Indian farmer and health for al l of us as consumers” (Settle Organic Restaurants, 2014). Though opponents claim lack of evidence on harmful effects of GMO products, there are issues of introduces toxins and caused minuscule antibiotic resistance in animals/ human bodies upon consumption. Accountability (who is responsible for development? implementation? evaluation?) The government of India formulated the policy early the 21st century with the hope of improving agricultural production and operations across the India. Like in the past it had formulated separate policies in agriculture, but this time integrated them into broad policy. The government through its agencies and committees are responsible of developing and making changes to the policy upon a need. Indian government had to establish the critical areas in agriculture that needed to be corrected to achieve the designed goals. The same government went ahead to launch the policy and remains a strong support of its plan to fulfil the long term vision. The central and different States government have showed their commitments in implementation of the policies from the higher national level. So far the public has witnessed the subsidization of agriculture, low borrowing rates and credits in cooperative institutions, encouraged investment and privatization in agricultural sectors encouraged by the government (Chopra, Dungaria, Bhesania, Akmanchi, Shah & Jadhav, 2010). The government works closely with communities, local authorities and organizations to implement and monitor performances. Through this the government agencies can easily keep track of the performances and make evaluations of the effects, as to what can be corrected or requiring tight control. However, individuals, societies of interests and organizations among others in the public player an important role in criticizing and questioning the direction the government seeks to take to support implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the introduced agricultural initiatives. Communications (how much does the public know about this policy?) Different channels serve to inform the people, of NAP’s agendas, implemented steps, awaiting initiatives and its effects to the society. One way is through the ministry of Agriculture in India, which seeks to raise awareness, especially to the farming community through projects, conferences and training sessions. The government provides training to agricultural students, supports research services and collaborates with mass media infrastructures as well as students and experts to address the farmers queries, inform and update them among other agricultural extension services to respective groups (Mj ABM, 2013). Through the India’s agricultural society’s websites, publications of government policies and agricultural forums within India also provide various insights on policy’s agendas. The government has remained transparent on the direction it follows and provides the public with relevant information on the policy, as well as open lines for consultations through partnered organizations. Outcome Since the role out of the policy various schemes have been implemented and some plans are actually visible and in action. Despite the numerous critics there is positive progress in the policy effectiveness. Tracing from 2001 to date, credit facilitation to farmers (especially to small and marginal ones) in India has increased to improve agricultural practices and adopt modern practices (“Farmer’s access,” n.d.). For initiatives like this associated with legal and commercial businesses, entailing monetary and fiscal concerns, it’s possible to keep track of the figures determine its effectiveness. For example though commercial banks are required to hit the 18 per cent target in agro-lending, RBI calculated its effectiveness and determined that it was 3.7 per cent lesser in 2003 to achieving it (De, 2010). This is an efficient way of monitoring the progress and effectiveness of the policy. In terms of management and initiating the plan for different schemes and revising existing platforms/mechanism progress can be established. However, clear follow up plans and committees should be initiated. Reference List Chand, R. (n.d.). India’s National Agricultural Policy: A Critique. Retrieved from http://assets.wwfindia.org/downloads/national_agriculture_policy__a_critique_2.pdf. Chopra, A., Dungaria, R., Bhesania, T., Akmanchi, P., Shah, M. & Jadhav, M. (2010). Managerial Economics Davar’s College Year 2010-11: Agriculture. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/MitaliShah3/economics-agriculture-project. De, S. (2010, July). Agricultural Credit in India: An Essay. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/915389/Agricultural_Credit_in_India_An_Overview. Famer’s Access to Agricultural Credits. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://agricoop.nic.in/imagedefault/credit/Agriculture-Credit-Overview.pdf. Hindustan Times. (2014, July 27). Fair Deal for our Farmers: India means Business at WTO. Retrieved from http://www.hindustantimes.com/comment/fair-deal-for-our-farmers-india-means-business-at-wto/article1-1245293.aspx#sthash.mCsh1KlA.dpuf. Mani. R. (2009, May 12). Ministry of Agriculture Announces National Agricultural Policy (2000). Retrieved from http://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/ministry-agriculture-announces-national-agricultural-policy-2000. McClanahan, P. (2013, October 21). India Pushes to Change WTO subsidy Rules so it can Stockpile Food: India says Paying Farmers higher Prices will help Boost Food Security, but Critics say it will Hurt Poor producers elsewhere. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/oct/21/india-pushes-change-wto-rules-food. Mittal, S. (2007, July). OECD Agricultural Trade Reforms Impact On India’s Prices and Producers Welfare. Working Paper 195. Retrieved from http://www.researchgate.net/...Impact_on_Indias_Prices.../09e41... Mj ABM. (2013, June 29). National Agricultural Policy 2000. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/mrityunjays2/national-agriculture-policy-2000-by. National Agricultural Policy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://agricoop.nic.in/agpolicy02.htm New Agricultural Policy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://rrtd.nic.in/agriculture.html. Settle Organic Restaurants. (2014). Indian Farmers Committing Suicide as a Result of Monsantos GM Crops. Retrieved from http://www.seattleorganicrestaurants.com/vegan-whole-foods/indian-farmers-committing-suicide-monsanto-gm-crops/. Singh, K. (2009). Rural Development, Principles, Policies and Management. New Delhi: SAGE Publications. Singh, R.B., Kumar, P. & Woodhead, T. (2002, March). Small Holder Farmers in India: Food Security and Agricultural Policy. Retrieved from ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/005/ac484e/ac484e00.pdf. Singh, V.P. & Yadava, R. N. (2003). Watershed Management. New Delhi: Allied Publishers Pvt Ltd. Read More