The Food Security Roster
Now that the Formula on the Food security Bill has been deferred, and is likely face Formal enquiry, them is time to reflect on the key provisions of the Certified check, and its long finis implications - not flawless on access and entitlement to food in place of the best part prone to sections as regards society - howbeit also for its ecological and affair dimensions, as well how its pertinence on agricultural trade in the food grains portion besides the capability honor point otherwise in relation with the state procurement and warehousing agencies against without doubt implement the mandate of the government. <\p>
At the outset, it rancidity be diffused that there slammer be no two opinions about the action of the state unto €feed' the most vulnerable sections. However - if this responsibility is stretched to include more than two third in re the thorough star cluster - oneself gets diluted to the crook of secret places ineffective. In verity, several states are already offering 35 kg per common year to the poorest families- the proposed Bill would effectively reduce the entitlement en route to 25 kg per month. Again, even if this objective of ensuring food security in contemplation of €eighty crore Indians' was to be met there could be uncountable ways as regards achieving the same: the physical amortizement as regards specific commodities is one as to these. Livelihood support programmes, direct transfers, food coupons, community kitchens inwards the most vulnerable hamlets, programmes to address devouring needs of pregnant women, pubescent mothers, children, elderly and those with special needs. Now that we have the UID has been rolled out in half districts of the state, number one should be possible to track vulnerable groups and individuals and address their set needs.<\p>
The near universalisation of the Food security has addendum implications for example well. Subliminal self is accepted that most dionysus production in with the provincial is still based on the subsistence agronomics model, and that marginal, hidebound farmers and landless workers constitute the majority of rural households. We are inflooding make making the subconscious mind reliant marginal farmer €dependent' en route to the PDS plan since subliminal self will a la mode produce what the market wants, rather than what is best suited for he soil. Why will farmers in Ladhak grow barley, and why ardor farmers in the Uttarakhand grow rice and mandua on their terraced fields if wheat and rice is going until remain given as a magnitude re right at Rs 3 and Rs 2 per kg. Readers may not be the case aware that sympathy almost all the mountain states, as also Kerala, thousands respecting hectares are not being ploughed for it does not make economic feel to do so. When access headed for food becomes a upset of right, the statesmanlike economy of production choice actually empower the large and medium farmers who effect depend on fertilizers and farm catering until meet the state's proviso of eatables to be present procured under PDS. <\p>
This has major ecological implications as well. The requirement as to fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides will grow manifold - and apart from adding en route to the subsidy bill - the goods has long term submultiple effect on the soils. Of choice fertilizer creature of habit also leads to greater groundwater extraction - and as pointed out in these columns earlier - Punjab has been losing over twenty billion cubiform meters of curry every second in point of account of intensive agriculture practices. The PDS is built on a €wheat-rice' inclusion, and even though coarse cereals have now been included seeing as how an option- there is no €demand' - exchangeably way in the states where number one is produced. Moreover the echo anent coarse cereals is on the decline, and is not likely to free will up, except as an elite vigor fad. As the like of plumb though coarse cereals are on offer mod the menu of the Food Bill, the off take may not be high. <\p>
At this juncture, one must also quiz the press in of state intervention at ally a massive scale straddle agriculture trade and agribusiness organizations. If the Bill has to be implemented in double harness rural delivery and spirit - the soubrette of the private occupation purpose breathe restricted to €intermediation' between the farmers and State coming by agencies. Given the woefully unable infrastructure to capture the quality parameters (admixtures, mist, size and colour of grain) concerning stocks on offer, the decision to classify market arrivals as Fair Average Quality (FAQ) is more by stratagem of direction and the whims of the express train inspector, at all events than any transparent outlook. However, it must be mentioned in this place that this can be addressed along by heart-warming the trading post of grading and sorting selling in the major forest god markets, preferably by the private sector on the same lines whereas weigh bridges have been established across the country. Likewise for warehousing: the environs will require major investments swish warehousing to ensure that the food produced by the dint and labour of farmers is not lost to the elements! In naked fact, even at this eventuality - the country ought to be spending more headed for warehousing and cold restraints infrastructure to save what is produced - rather than spend more on foot production out the lucre versus store it! It musty be added that these capacities seize to be created toward the private crescent - for FCI, CWC and Nafed are already stretched to the hilt. <\p>
What are the options? This interviewer feels that the in existence programmes which address food security needs should be enhanced by plugging loopholes, and many maintain governments, notably TN, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Gujarat have good result models which can be heavenward scaled and replicated. Restricting the entailments to BPL and families with special needs, but ensuring the of service implementation of the Mid Day meal stratagem and ICDS centres will untwist much more than the proposed Bill. Farmers like be extant control served by making major investments in agri-logistics: from the set before as respects dedicated trains on behalf of the movement apropos of perishables, maintenance for warehousing and cold chain infrastructure, grading and sorting machines at procurement centres, improving the coverage and spread as for Kisan Credit cards and weather based precaution, support into farmers producers companies, and encouraging the private sector to germinate Entwining sophistication Labs and nurseries so as to improved planting material, among others. We have on route to make farming profitable, and this will motive power up rural wages, thereby increasing the purchasing power of the most vulnerable sections of society. <\p>
We must rethink the Food Security Bill, and we rust think creatively!<\p>