Contemporary Agriculture in India, Agro economics - Challenges & Perspectives

A seminar on "Contemporary Agriculture in India, Agro Economics – Challenges & Perspectives” was organized at the Neelam Rajasekhar Reddy Research Center (NRR RC) on 29th September 2024.

The seminar was dedicated to the 22nd Anniversary of the Centre which was established by veteran farmers leader & researcher on agriculture sector Late Shri Y.V. Krishna Rao.

A large number of agricultural economists, leaders of farmers' associations, women, youth and intellectuals participated in the seminar which was chaired by Dr. Suresh Babu, the NRR RC Director. In his welcome remarks, Dr Suresh Babu said that over the past two decades, the NRR RC has been contributing to the research and policy discussions on a variety of socio-economic and political, ideological aspects including Agriculture, rural development, and economic growth. He added that the seminar was timely and relevant. Indian agriculture and it's stakeholders have been facing numerous challenges, including some of the recent arbitrary policies of the current government which are detrimental to the farmers precisely owners of medium and small land holdings, favouring corporatising the agriculture and etc..

Eminent agricultural expert and Professor D. Narasimha Reddy presented an overview of the current state of the agriculture sector and explained in detail the causes for the food security problem and plight of farmers. He said that even today, the majority of the cultivation in the country was being done by farmers 85 percent of which are small farmers and agricultural labourers who own small land holdings, he said. He stated that the reason for farmers' suicides today was that they do not get the fair price and income for their crops.

The veteran All India Kisan Sabha leader & expert on agriculture research Shri Sarampalli Mallareddy made a presentation in which he asked the government to create credit marketing and research policies that are favorable to small farmers. Similarly, referring to the heroic fight against the entry of corporate companies in to agriculture three years ago, Malla Reddy informed that the farmers were asked to fight unitedly against corporates and for clinching affordable prices. It is suggested that a memorandum with specific proposals should be drafted and submitted to the government.

Another Agricultural Scientist (ICAR) Dr. Sarath Babu asked how corporates owned by Adani, Ramdev Baba's Patanjali are grabbing and cheating the plant genetic wealth of the country, instead of designing new hybrid seeds in the country. He called for protection of the genetic wealth in the country.

Retired Hyderabad University Professor Naresh Sharma has questioned the government's pro-corporate policies, and said that the rural economic structure was collapsing and the development gap between rural and urban areas has increased tremendously.

Another ICAR Scientist Dr. Soma Marla said that the allocations in the central budget for the rural population of the country which stands at 60% is very little and that they were gradually decreasing. He urged that the land reform in the country should be honestly implemented and investment components in the rural agriculture sector should be increased in the budget. Similarly, stating that the current methods of cultivation of crops are causing environmental crisis, he urged to implement the system of cultivation of pulses, oil seeds and small grains, which use less water and investment, to reduce the cultivation of paddy and cotton. Dr K. Poorna chandra Rao, Former Principal Scientist ICRISAT also touched upon various relevant aspects of the agriculture sector.

Many farmer leaders and young farmers participated in the discussion after lunch and shared their views. Leaders of Rythu Kooli Association Smt. Jhansi in her speech stated that the current rural plight is due to the feudal, corporate undemocratic policies of the ruling class. She called upon Agricultural scientists and intellectuals to study this crisis more deeply and suggest solutions.

A few young agricultural activists, farmers movement leaders and a couple of farmers have also taken part in the discussion. Retired Agricultural scientist Prof A. Prasad Rao, Coperative Societies movement leader Sri S. Govardhan, Young Kisan Sabha leader Sri Ramakrishna Reddy, Com. Prabhulingam have also addressed the seminar.

The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Suresh Babu, Director of the Research Centre.

News coverage in New Age