The basic crisis is that India experiences hunger amidst 8.5% growth, as one in every five Indian suffers from hunger. In terms of numbers it is staggering – 350 million Indians are chronically food insecure. This situation is severe in vulnerable communities. For example, 99% of tribal households in Rajasthan and Jharkhand face chronic hunger. One survey among 500 Adivasi households in Rajasthan, said that none had access to two square meals through the year. Children are the most vulnerable of all. 50% children are malnourished or undernourished, according to the National Family Health Survey. In Maharashtra, 2,814 children died of malnutrition during Jan-July 2005.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Extent of Small Farming
Small and marginal farmers, whose land holdings are below 2 hectares, constitute almost 80% of all Indian farmers, and more than 90% of them are dependent on rain for their crops. In terms of operational holdings, which includes land owned, the land taken on lease, the land taken on mortgage and any other land cultivated by fair or unfair means, 1.6% of farmers are in the large farmer category, with average holding of 45 acres control 17% of the total land.
In the so called granary of India –Punjab, the figure is 6% of the operational holdings are in the large farmers’ category operating 27% of the total agricultural land, and the average size of such holdings is about 40 acres.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Most households include all generations of a family from great-grandparents to a new- born baby.
When a daughter gets married she will move into the household of her husband, and when a son is
married his wife will move into his household with his parents and grandparents. Most couples tend to
have an average of three children. Indians diets are based around a staple grain, such as rice or wheat,
served with vegetables and yogurt. Ninety-three percent of daily intake of food in India consists of
vegetable products and only 7 percent consists of animal products. Vegetables eaten are those that are
currently in season. The most commonly eaten meat is fish, while lamb, goat, beef, chicken, shark,
lobster, and shrimp are also occasionally eaten too. Animal products are not a staple part of the Indian
diet because they require refrigeration, and over 80 percent of Indians are Hindu, and the Hindu culture
does not allow them to consume beef. Food is usually bought the same day it is eaten. Although most
Indian’s are vegetarians, animals are very important to farmers. They not only provide milk, they also
serve as their work force for plowing land and hauling crops.
When a daughter gets married she will move into the household of her husband, and when a son is
married his wife will move into his household with his parents and grandparents. Most couples tend to
have an average of three children. Indians diets are based around a staple grain, such as rice or wheat,
served with vegetables and yogurt. Ninety-three percent of daily intake of food in India consists of
vegetable products and only 7 percent consists of animal products. Vegetables eaten are those that are
currently in season. The most commonly eaten meat is fish, while lamb, goat, beef, chicken, shark,
lobster, and shrimp are also occasionally eaten too. Animal products are not a staple part of the Indian
diet because they require refrigeration, and over 80 percent of Indians are Hindu, and the Hindu culture
does not allow them to consume beef. Food is usually bought the same day it is eaten. Although most
Indian’s are vegetarians, animals are very important to farmers. They not only provide milk, they also
serve as their work force for plowing land and hauling crops.
Almost 1.1 billion people live in India, a population that is growing rapidly. India’s population has
tripled in size since the beginning of the twentieth century. It occupies 2.4 percent of the world’s land,
and contributes to 15 percent of the world’s population. Almost half of Indias land is covered with farms.
Part of the reason India’s population is growing so rapidly is because family is very important to the
Indian people. Indian tradition is to have many children because the parents will most likely rely on the
children to support them when they are older, though often some children will die from disease,
malnutrition, or accidents before they reach adulthood. Almost 40 percent of Indians are younger than 15
years of age. Also population growth is increasing because the mortality rate is decreasing due to better
healthcare. The better healthcare may include better access to facilities, and more doctors. Only fifteen
percent of people suffer from no health care, but with India’s population being so large, fifteen percent is
over 150 million. There are still only 48 doctors for every 100,000 people. Though not everyone has
health care, it has drastically improved, causing the fatality rate to decrease.
tripled in size since the beginning of the twentieth century. It occupies 2.4 percent of the world’s land,
and contributes to 15 percent of the world’s population. Almost half of Indias land is covered with farms.
Part of the reason India’s population is growing so rapidly is because family is very important to the
Indian people. Indian tradition is to have many children because the parents will most likely rely on the
children to support them when they are older, though often some children will die from disease,
malnutrition, or accidents before they reach adulthood. Almost 40 percent of Indians are younger than 15
years of age. Also population growth is increasing because the mortality rate is decreasing due to better
healthcare. The better healthcare may include better access to facilities, and more doctors. Only fifteen
percent of people suffer from no health care, but with India’s population being so large, fifteen percent is
over 150 million. There are still only 48 doctors for every 100,000 people. Though not everyone has
health care, it has drastically improved, causing the fatality rate to decrease.
India is a country of its people, being the world’s largest democracy. Indians have had freedom of
speech, religion, and the press ever since their constitution was adopted on January 26, 1950. Within this
democracy people still live everyday being food insecure. “Food insecurity exists when all people, at all
times, do not have physical and economic access to the sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their
dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.” Poverty easily coexists with food
insecurity and is the main cause of hunger and malnutrition. Poverty exists when there is lack of income,
productive malnutrition, illiteracy, homelessness, inadequate housing, unsafe environment, social
discrimination, and many more factors. More than 850 million people all over the world live everyday
being food insecure. One in seven people live with a problem that can be fixed. “Malnutrition not only
denies people their right to health; it also has serious economic implications. Malnourished children are
less able to concentrate in school, and malnourished adults are less able to work effectively – thus
undermining productivity and economic growth.” Although urbanization is increasing, the poor are still
mainly in the rural areas. An estimated 7.3 million people move into the rapidly growing urban areas of
India every year. Though the number of middle class citizens is growing, there is an extreme gap between
the rich and poor. Around 35 percent of the population is living below the poverty line. The growing
population is over straining natural resources. For example, water and electricity in the cities has not
been able to keep up with the number of people moving in. The back up of low cost housing being built
has also lead to many people having to live in the slums, having up to ten people in a one room shack.
The governmental policies that relate only to a country’s internal affairs are known as domestic policies.
Though India's overall economy and trade relations are improving, the poor people are still struggling to
survive. Food and nutritional security can be improved through developments in domestic policies.
speech, religion, and the press ever since their constitution was adopted on January 26, 1950. Within this
democracy people still live everyday being food insecure. “Food insecurity exists when all people, at all
times, do not have physical and economic access to the sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their
dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.” Poverty easily coexists with food
insecurity and is the main cause of hunger and malnutrition. Poverty exists when there is lack of income,
productive malnutrition, illiteracy, homelessness, inadequate housing, unsafe environment, social
discrimination, and many more factors. More than 850 million people all over the world live everyday
being food insecure. One in seven people live with a problem that can be fixed. “Malnutrition not only
denies people their right to health; it also has serious economic implications. Malnourished children are
less able to concentrate in school, and malnourished adults are less able to work effectively – thus
undermining productivity and economic growth.” Although urbanization is increasing, the poor are still
mainly in the rural areas. An estimated 7.3 million people move into the rapidly growing urban areas of
India every year. Though the number of middle class citizens is growing, there is an extreme gap between
the rich and poor. Around 35 percent of the population is living below the poverty line. The growing
population is over straining natural resources. For example, water and electricity in the cities has not
been able to keep up with the number of people moving in. The back up of low cost housing being built
has also lead to many people having to live in the slums, having up to ten people in a one room shack.
The governmental policies that relate only to a country’s internal affairs are known as domestic policies.
Though India's overall economy and trade relations are improving, the poor people are still struggling to
survive. Food and nutritional security can be improved through developments in domestic policies.
Agri-innovations key to food security in India
15 November 2009
In view of global food insecurity, use of biotechnology and innovations in agriculture can improve yields and provide relief to the farmers, say experts. At a workshop in India’s capital, the need for a new Green Revolution has been strongly recommended.
New Delhi: After a controversial decision by a government committee to give its approval for commercial production of Bt Brinjal in India, the country’s minister of state for agriculture K.V. Thomas has been found arguing in favour of genetically modified crops.
Ignoring the havoc that the Bt cotton created in the country ever since it was introduced in 2002, he went on endorsing the crop: “The induction of Bt cotton has taught us that patience and endurance are as important as enthusiasm in biotech-enhanced crops. The superior performance and the disease resistance qualities of GM crops are enormous."
He, however, clarified that that there have been new safeguards proposed for GM crops. "There has been a screening and evaluation system put into position with multi-ministry participation."
“We must never be too much positive or negative. Let us be scientific, let us be practical. In the face of climate change impact, we have to improve the productivity and bring down the cost of production,” he added.
Giving his stamp of approval for controversial Bt Brinjal, Dr. C. Kameswara Rao, founder, Foundation for Biotechnology, Awareness and Education, said: “From the time of initiation till commercial release, a genetically modified crop involves more than 10 years of research by over 150 scientific and technical personnel. Bt Brinjal has been adequately tested and found to be functional and safe. Enhanced public awareness on this body of positive evidence will promote informed decisions and wider acceptance of this technology.”
“We have to clearly establish that if something is to be accepted then we have to see that it is not harmful to human lives and the environment. The area of biotechnology could become an area of promise which can lead to a second Green Revolution. We also have to see that all the resources that we employ in agriculture should be used efficiently,” he added.
With India’s population estimated to reach 1.3 billion by 2017, the Government of India estimates that the country may fall short of 14 million metric tons of food grains. This has created the need to meet rising food needs by improving India’s crop productivity through the use of technology and innovations in agriculture.
Various Indian public and private sector institutions are conducting extensive agriculture and plant research to increase food security and provide nutritionally-enhanced food to meet the nations’ growing food and nutrition.
Advances in plant biotechnology and plant genomics have received mixed responses in India. Some of the achievements have been acclaimed by end-users whereas others have faced criticisms. Therefore careful choice of modern technology as well as realistic assessment of their potential in crop improvement is needed.
Dr Swapan Dutta, deputy-director general, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said: “Climate risks are common in Indian agriculture. It has been well documented that crops attain about 25% of their yield potential because of the detrimental effects of environmental stress. Land resources available to agriculture are shrinking while population continues to grow. Hence it is imperative that innovations in agriculture technology are employed to ensure food security for the country.”
Panellists pointed out that science-based dialogue and transparency are the best approach to convince people about the advantages of biotechnology for crop improvement. They also emphasised that people must not fall prey to “negative activism” and use their rational minds to explore the potential benefits of plant biotechnology.
- K.V. Thomas, India's minister of state for agriculture/ Photo credit: Anna Nath/ OWSA
Ignoring the havoc that the Bt cotton created in the country ever since it was introduced in 2002, he went on endorsing the crop: “The induction of Bt cotton has taught us that patience and endurance are as important as enthusiasm in biotech-enhanced crops. The superior performance and the disease resistance qualities of GM crops are enormous."
He, however, clarified that that there have been new safeguards proposed for GM crops. "There has been a screening and evaluation system put into position with multi-ministry participation."
“We must never be too much positive or negative. Let us be scientific, let us be practical. In the face of climate change impact, we have to improve the productivity and bring down the cost of production,” he added.
Giving his stamp of approval for controversial Bt Brinjal, Dr. C. Kameswara Rao, founder, Foundation for Biotechnology, Awareness and Education, said: “From the time of initiation till commercial release, a genetically modified crop involves more than 10 years of research by over 150 scientific and technical personnel. Bt Brinjal has been adequately tested and found to be functional and safe. Enhanced public awareness on this body of positive evidence will promote informed decisions and wider acceptance of this technology.”
- Dr R.K.Pachauri addressing the gathering/ Photo credit: Anna Nath/ OWSA
“We have to clearly establish that if something is to be accepted then we have to see that it is not harmful to human lives and the environment. The area of biotechnology could become an area of promise which can lead to a second Green Revolution. We also have to see that all the resources that we employ in agriculture should be used efficiently,” he added.
With India’s population estimated to reach 1.3 billion by 2017, the Government of India estimates that the country may fall short of 14 million metric tons of food grains. This has created the need to meet rising food needs by improving India’s crop productivity through the use of technology and innovations in agriculture.
Various Indian public and private sector institutions are conducting extensive agriculture and plant research to increase food security and provide nutritionally-enhanced food to meet the nations’ growing food and nutrition.
Advances in plant biotechnology and plant genomics have received mixed responses in India. Some of the achievements have been acclaimed by end-users whereas others have faced criticisms. Therefore careful choice of modern technology as well as realistic assessment of their potential in crop improvement is needed.
Dr Swapan Dutta, deputy-director general, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said: “Climate risks are common in Indian agriculture. It has been well documented that crops attain about 25% of their yield potential because of the detrimental effects of environmental stress. Land resources available to agriculture are shrinking while population continues to grow. Hence it is imperative that innovations in agriculture technology are employed to ensure food security for the country.”
- Panellists: (Left to right): Ajai Vir Jakhar, Chairman Bharat Krishak Samaj; Dr S.R.Rao, advisor, Department of Biotechnology; K.V.Thomas, minister of state for agriculture; Dr R.K. Pachauri, director-general TERI; Dr Swapan Dutta, DDG (CS), ICAR/ Photo credit: Anna Nath/ OWSA
Panellists pointed out that science-based dialogue and transparency are the best approach to convince people about the advantages of biotechnology for crop improvement. They also emphasised that people must not fall prey to “negative activism” and use their rational minds to explore the potential benefits of plant biotechnology.
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Who cares for conserving our national resources and protect the poor Indian farmers from the patented seed introduced by the Indian agents of foreign companies.Actually India is big market for them.In the name of science we favours massive profits of the companies.