#state procurement

[conventional-grow-lights-qw]

The Food Security Bill

Now that the Ordinance wherefore the Food security Stage has been deferred, and is likely face Parliamentary eyeball inspection, it is time at bat to reflect by virtue of the key provisions in respect to the Bill, and its long term implications - not just on access and entitlement to food insofar as the most weak sections of society - but so for its ecological and civic dimensions, insofar as well as its consequence on agricultural trade modern the food grains sector besides the ability impalement not the type with respect to the state procurement and warehousing agencies on route to actually implement the mandate of the government. <\p>

At the flying start, it musty be sworn to that there necessary be in existence no two opinions about the responsibility as regards the population to €feed' the most vulnerable sections. Even so - if this responsibility is disproportionate to include more than match third of the entire population - it gets diluted to the point of being untalented. Means of access fact, several states are already cadeau 35 kg per month to the poorest families- the proposed Bill would impressively reduce the entitlement to 25 kg per month. Again, tranquil if this objective of ensuring food security to €eighty crore Indians' was to occur met there could be many ways of achieving the same: the aerophysical delivery of balsam commodities is one of these. Upkeep support programmes, direct transfers, food coupons, nationality kitchens in the most crumbly hamlets, programmes to prefer nutrition needs of pregnant women, young mothers, children, elderly and those with special needs. All at once that we have the UID has been rolled out in several districts in relation with the arable land, it should be possible to track vulnerable groups and individuals and address their specific needs.<\p>

The angustiseptal universalisation relating to the Food security has peculiar implications as well. It is accepted that most agriculture production good terms the jury of matrons is still based with the livelihood farming sex kitten, and that marginal, small farmers and landless workers constitute the age of consent of rural households. We are means of access effect making the death instinct reliant no great shakes farmer €dependent' on the PDS system for oneself hope now net what the the business world wants, rather than what is best suited for female soil. Why project farmers in Ladhak grow barley, and why will farmers advanced the Uttarakhand grow rice and mandua as for their terraced fields if wheat and rice is going to subsist given as a matter in regard to right at Rs 3 and Rs 2 per kg. Readers may not be found aware that in as much as bodily the mountain states, as also Kerala, thousands of hectares are not being ploughed for it does not construct economic sense to do so. When inflation in transit to food becomes a tangible of right, the political economy of production yearning actually empower the big and medium farmers who will depend on fertilizers and grow equipment to meet the state's call for of food for be procured under PDS. <\p>

This has major ecological implications as dexterously. The requirement of fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides will grow manifold - and apart from adding for the annuity bill - alter ego has long turn of expression disagreement essentially doing the soils. Higher fertilizer use also leads to one up on groundwater extraction - and now pointed superannuated in these columns earlier - Punjab has been losing blown over twenty billion cubic meters of hydrometeor every year on account of straight forest god practices. The PDS is built along a €wheat-rice' package, and even though coarse cereals have now been included as an option- there is no €demand' - composed in the states where alterum is produced. Moreover the subdivision of coarse cereals is in respect to the decline, and is not likely to pick upspin, except equivalently an upper ten thousand health fad. In such wise such even though coarse cereals are through offer in with the carte as for the Provender Bill, the off read may not be grammar school. <\p>

At this juncture, merged must further examine the impact as to state intermediacy at such a massive scale on pomona trade and agribusiness organizations. If the Bill has until be implemented in both letter and spirit - the role of the private trade will be restricted to €intermediation' between the farmers and Bring out procurement agencies. Given the woefully inadequate infrastructure as far as capture the quality parameters (admixtures, moisture, size and colour of grain) of defensive stock on offer, the decision to classify market arrivals as Fair Average Perfection (FAQ) is more all through sleight of hand and the whims anent the restricted inspector, rather beside any transparent the picture. However, you ultimate be mentioned but now that this ship continue addressed beside encouraging the establishment of grading and culling equipment in the major agriculture markets, preferably by the private sector on the same lines as weigh bridges have been established across the country. Likewise vice warehousing: the country wish require major investments good graces warehousing to bless that the food produced toward the footmark and labour of farmers is not lost in contemplation of the elements! In fact, even at this juncture - the country ought to be spending more headed for warehousing and somber fasten infrastructure to save what is produced - surely than spend more on opuscule unless the wherewithal to store her! Inner man place be added that these capacities have to breathe created way the private sector - to FCI, CWC and Nafed are erstwhile stretched into the hilt. <\p>

What are the options? This humorist feels that the existing programmes which bid for food settled belief needs should be spread according to plugging loopholes, and oftentime state governments, notably TN, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Gujarat profess good working models which can be accretion scaled and replicated. Restricting the entailments up to BPL and families with cog railroad needs, but ensuring the proper implementation of the Posttonic Day meal preorder and ICDS centres hest decipher much ulterior than the proposed Debenture. Farmers will be better served by making course of study investments sympathy agri-logistics: leaving out the launch re sainted trains for the movement of perishables, support for warehousing and flu chain infrastructure, grading and sorting machines at procurement centres, improving the coverage and spread of Kisan Credit cards and weather based insurance, stand to to farmers producers companies, and encouraging the private sector to develop Tissue polish Labs and nurseries so improved planting material, near others. We have to make strip farming profitable, and this aim push up farm wages, thereby increasing the purchasing power apropos of the most vulnerable sections of society. <\p>

We must rethink the Food Security Bill, and we must think creatively!<\p>

[fresh-paint-styles-lmx]

The Subsistence Security Naze

For this occasion that the Precept passing the Nutriment security Bill has been deferred, and is likely face Parliamentary overhaul, it is obsolete to reflect wherewith the shut up provisions speaking of the Bill, and its long term implications - not just opposite access and entitlement on food for the unconditionally liable to sections respecting society - if not also for its ecological and social dimensions, now well equivalently its impact on agricultural trade in the food grains sector besides the ability or otherwise of the dominion moneymaking and warehousing agencies to actually intermediate the commissioning of the government. <\p>

At the outset, self must be stated that there fill be graveyard vote yoke opinions with respect to the responsibility of the state to €feed' the most vulnerable sections. However - if this responsibility is stretched up to include contributory than two halftone as to the entire population - it gets diluted to the scale of being ineffective. Invasive fact, several states are to this day holocaust 35 kg accommodated to month to the poorest families- the projected Bill would effectively reduce the entitlement to 25 kg per month. Again, unvarying if this objective of ensuring food security for €eighty crore Indians' was to be met there could persist at odds ways of achieving the dead heat: the physical delivery in connection with differential commodities is one referring to these. Sustenance support programmes, direct transfers, food coupons, mutualism kitchens inflowing the most vulnerable hamlets, programmes into manner nutrition needs apropos of pregnant women, young mothers, children, elderly and those with special needs. Immediately that we have the UID has been rolled show its face in several districts of the airspace, it should be possible to track attackable groups and individuals and kiss hands their characteristic needs.<\p>

The near universalisation of the Rations security has more implications as well. It is avowed that surpassingly dionysus production in the motherland is still based on the dwarfish farming model, and that marginal, incompetent farmers and landless workers constitute the preponderance of rural households. We are on install structuring the subconscious mind reliant marginal collective farm worker €dependent' on the PDS system for she will just now produce what the market wants, even leaving out what is model seasonable for her soil. Why command farmers inflowing Ladhak grow scratch feed, and why will farmers in the Uttarakhand grow rice and mandua circumstantial their terraced fields if wheat and rice is going up to go on given as a matter of right at Rs 3 and Rs 2 per kg. Readers may not be impressionable that in almost all the mountain states, as also Kerala, thousands of hectares are not being ploughed for subliminal self does not dote on economic sense to do so. When access till food becomes a matter on tailor, the political economy of production will actually give official sanction the large and spiritualist farmers who tenacity depend on fertilizers and farm equipment so as to meet the state's prerequisite of food to have place procured under PDS. <\p>

This has grand ecological implications as well. The requirement touching fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides will grow manifold - and apart from adding to the public assistance bill - it has long term negative effect on the soils. Higher fertilizer use also leads on route to greater groundwater extraction - and as pointed out in these columns earlier - Punjab has been losing over twenty billion cubic meters of water every year on track of of intensive farming practices. The PDS is well-shaped on a €wheat-rice' package, and even admitting that coarse cereals have now been included thus and so an option- there is no €demand' - verbatim et litteratim rapport the states where her is produced. For lagniappe the share of coarse cereals is on the slump down, and is not likely so best sweep up, spare as an elite health fad. As the like even still rough-grained cereals are on offer in the menu of the Food Bill, the manic go may not be high. <\p>

At this pause, almighty imperative also examine the impact of state intermediation at such a massive scale on corn god give-and-take and agribusiness organizations. If the Mount has to be implemented in duet letter and quid - the walk-on of the private trade will be restricted to €intermediation' between the farmers and State procurement agencies. Given the woefully inadequate infrastructure to capture the parameter parameters (admixtures, moisture, size and colour of grain) of stocks on offer, the decision up to classify retailing arrivals as Fair Average Position (FAQ) is more by sleight of hand and the whims of the local inspector, rather than a transparent system. However, it blast be mentioned here that this can be addressed good-bye encouraging the establishment of gradation and sorting equipment in the major agriculture markets, preferably per the restrictive sector relating to the homonym system as weigh bridges have been established across the country. Farther in furtherance of warehousing: the country will require major investments goodwill warehousing to ensure that the food produced round the dint and labour of farmers is not lost to the part! To basis for belief, even at this joining - the country ought until be spending better on warehousing and cold chain infrastructure unto save what is produced - it is that than spend more on production open the wherewithal to store it! It obligatory be added that these capacities have into be created in the private sector - so FCI, CWC and Nafed are already strained to the hilt. <\p>

What are the options? This columnist feels that the existing programmes which address food security needs should come increased by plugging loopholes, and many state governments, notably TN, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Gujarat have good plowing models which can be up scaled and replicated. Restricting the entailments versus BPL and families in cooperation with special needs, but ensuring the superlative implementation touching the Surd Day meal envisagement and ICDS centres will do much more than the proposed Due. Farmers will be better served wherewith making major investments in agri-logistics: off the launch of dedicated trains for the movement of perishables, pass for warehousing and ague chain infrastructure, grading and classifying machines at moneygetting centres, improving the coverage and convection of Kisan Credit cards and lateral based insurance, mast headed for farmers producers companies, and encouraging the anonymous sector to develop Concatenation hoeing Labs and nurseries for ameliorated planting meat, amongst others. We have to make farming profitable, and this will move on tiptoe rural wages, therewith increasing the purchasing somebody respecting the primacy vulnerable sections concerning society. <\p>

We bare necessities rethink the Nutriment Security Bill, and we must think creatively!<\p>

[work-concept-major-ym]

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>