M.S. Swaminathan

You have said we could learn from the French in agriculture. How?

French Agriculture is highly specialized and concentrates on high value cropslike grapes for making wine. France also cultivates rice, wheat and other foodcrops. The cost of production is high and therefore the government givesadequate support to farmers to ensure their economic survival. However, Francehas only about four percent of its population engaged in agriculture. Incontrast we have nearly two thirds of our population depending on agriculturefor their livelihood.

We should also learn how to ensure the economic viability of farming.Unfortunately today most small farmers are unable to earn enough income. This iswhy the NCF in its Draft National Policy for Farmers has suggested a major ruralnon-farm livelihood initiative. The economic viability and survival of farmersand farming constitute the bottom line of the agricultural policies of France.We should emulate this example.

What do you think of the PM's package for the Vidarbha farmers?

The PM’s package is designed to provide opportunities for resource-poorfarmers to restart their farming operations. It is however not adequate to solvethe basic maladies of the agriculture of Vidharbha. NCF has made severalrecommendations on how to safeguard both the livelihood security of the widowsand the education of the children who are victims of the agrarian crisis. Themost urgent is assured and remunerative marketing of cotton. The problems ofVidharbha – social, economic, meteorological and marketing-- should be studiedin a holistic manner.

Is it possible for the government to implement all of the NCF recommendations?

The NCF recommendations are both actionable and affordable. In fact, we havebeen keen not to make recommendations that aren’t implementable. It is notonly the affluent countries like USA and France who provide life-saving supportto their farmers but countries like China too ensure that farming remains anattractive and viable profession.

Many suggest that food security is an outdated concept and we should focuson products where we have competitive advantages. Your reaction?

In another 40 years our population will be nearly 150 crores. Thediversification of livelihood opportunities in rural India is taking place at avery slow pace. Food is the first among the hierarchical needs of a human being.Therefore, nutrition security, which implies the economic, physical and socialaccess to balanced diet and safe drinking water to every child, woman and man,should be a fundamental responsibility of government. While we should certainlygrow crops where we have both a domestic need and export possibility, we shouldnot neglect food crops that will provide the energy to farmers to grow the othercrops. We certainly have a comparative advantage in wheat, rice, pulses, milletsand many other food crops. But it will be a criminal act to neglect foodsecurity and concentrate on increasing the income of a few well to do sectionsof the rural society. Also, food can be an important political weapon and wewill be sacrificing national sovereignty if we neglect food security.

The production of coarse cereals and pulses has fallen sharply and isunable to meet their demand. How can we revive them?

The production of coarse cereals and pulses has gone down because there is noarrangement for assured and remunerative marketing. If marketing opportunitiesare provided, the production can be doubled very quickly. It will also be wrongto call nutritious millets like ragi, bajra, jowar etc coarse cereals.Such a "caste system" among cereals should be abolished as soon aspossible. It is only then a green revolution will take place in dry-farmingareas. We are importing pulses from countries where the genetic material incrops like pigeon pea (arhar) went from India. We should ask ourselves whypulses, which are native to India, are unhappy in their homeland, and are happyin adopted homes in foreign countries.

How do you react to the recent moves in water--privatisation in cities andcharging full price for water from farmers in the villages?

In my view, privatization of both food and water security are beset withgrave dangers. Already, we have the largest number of malnourished women,children and men in the world. As mentioned earlier, nutrition security alsoinvolves access to clean drinking water. Sustainable water security is a basicneed. Instead of privatizing water sources, we should promote Jal Swaraj basedon community water harvesting and management systems. The million wells schemerecommended our first report of December 2004 needs to be implemented withoutfurther delay.

Do you think the absence of land reform and clear land titles even 60years after independence is the main reason why most farmers are losing out?

Land reform has been implemented with seriousness in West Bengal and Kerala.The other states also should complete the process of redistributing the ceilingsurplus land to the landless poor. We also need aquarian reform which will helpthe poor to take to aquaculture in inland ponds and reservoirs. Since land islimited our approach has to be one of asset reform dealingcomprehensively with land, water, livestock, fish pond, forestry and non-farmlivelihoods, so that every individual has an opportunity for earning the minimumamount needed for a healthy and productive life.

Many outdated laws are restricting Indian farmers from taking fulladvantage of the market. Do you agree?

The NCF has dealt with in a comprehensive manner the question of movingtowards an Indian single market. We have also recommended an Indian TradeOrganisation to ensure the work and income security of our rural population. Ifthese are implemented our farmers will be able to take full advantage of themarket in a fair manner. At the moment only traders and importers are happy,since they can make a lot of money without even seeing an agricultural field.

Why are the state governments and the Centre reluctant to reformagriculture or think of the interests of the smallholders who are themajority?

China started its economic reform with reforms in the farm sector. They alsostarted concurrent programmes for on-farm and non-farm employment. Unfortunatelywe have been silent spectators to the poverty and misery experienced by morethan 50 percent of our population. Many Committees and Commissions have madenumerous recommendations in the area of agricultural reform, but unfortunatelythere has been no integrated and holistic attention or action. If thesuggestions made in the Farmers’ Policy are implemented, we can see thebeginning of a new chapter non only in our agricultural history but also in ournation’s economic progress.

In the post-WTO era, we have to clean up the path from the plough to theplate. How can we do that?

We can achieve progress in linking conservation, cultivation, consumption andcommerce in an effective manner provided agriculture becomes a professionaldepartment in state and central governments and provided the political systemwill not allow ‘turf wars’ among Ministries and Departments.

A shorter, edited version of this appears in print.