Holistic approach to farming can mitigate agrarian

crisis: M S Swaminathan
2 Comments
Author(s): Jitendra

@jitendrachoube1

Date:Apr 16, 2015

Scientist highlights the failure of agricultural universities in India

Farmers inspect crops damaged

by hailstorm (Photo: Lokesh Tiwari)

M S Swaminathan, well-known agricultural scientist, has flagged the issue of absence of integrated
advice for farmers trapped in agrarian crisis. To address the growing dichotomy between farmers
needs and the response of government and farm universities, the scientist has suggested some
measures.
Known as the father of green revolution in India, Swaminathan believes the agricultural universities
which were meant to provide integrated advice are now fragmented and running in silos, thus
deepening the existing crisis.
Through a press note, the scientist has called for more attention from the government on
fundamental issues that surround farmers and urged for more holistic approach to farming in order to
address the scenario.
The suggestions came in the backdrop of the prevailing agrarian crisis across north and central India
due to unseasonal rains and hailstorm.

Swaminathan also urged that it was time to look at the fundamental problems faced by farmers. The
press release states that 150 years ago, the US started Land Grant colleges, based on the Morrill
Act of 1862 and 1890. We adopted this model of looking at farming in a holistic way, i.e. crop,
livestock, fish, agro-forestry and agro-processing as the mandate for our agricultural universities
which number 62 now, the says.
He further adds, Unfortunately, both in the organisation of agricultural universities and departments,
responsibilities are getting fragmented. The agriculture university which was to serve farmers on a
farming system basis has now been split into veterinary, animal sciences, fisheries and horticulture
universities.
The note also mentions, Thus neither from the research, nor from the extension and development
sides, farmers now get integrated advice covering conservation of natural resources, cultivation on
the evergreen revolution pattern, consumption and commerce. There is thus a growing dichotomy
between farmers needs and the response of government and farm universities.
Swaminathan emphasised on the integration of fragmented institutions which would end the existing
dichotomy in need and response to the agriculture.
Among the problems faced by farming families, the absence of a system of integrated advice and
help is a serious one. Time has come to restore the original concept of farm universities viz to
carryout research, education and extension on a farming system basis, since this will help in
providing both farm and non-farm incomes, thereby saving farmers from total income collapse.

The Centre is planning to amend suitably the Consumer Protection Act (COPRA) 1986 to insulate the
consumers from deceitful exploitation and fleecing for commercial gains, Union Minister for Food,
Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan, said here on Friday.
Indicating the Centres determination to ensure a fair deal to consumers, Mr. Paswan told the media
that intense consultations were under way to revisit the schedules of the Act and it was possible the
amendments could be introduced in the next session of Parliament itself. In that connection, his
Ministry had called for a meet of the National Consumer Council, State consumer forums, related
officials, and agencies in New Delhi on May 29 to discuss the requirements and gaps among other
consumer-related issues that needed to be filled in the Act.
Stating that he was not happy with the functioning of the consumer courts, Mr. Paswan said they
would be toned up by adopting appropriate measures soon..
Reiterating the Centres zero tolerance to adulteration, especially in consumables, Mr. Paswan said
that adulterers would not be spared and would be taken to task.

Analog X-ray

Digital X-ray
Medical

insufficient expert staff to interpret images

teleradiology and computer aided diagnosis

possible
slot scan and new flat panel detectors allow low
dose

ordinary X-ray machines use high dose

constant quality as Automatic Exposure Control

at times need to repeat X-ray due to low quality of images s/w eliminates need to repeat X-ray almost
completely
only one local hard copy

easy availability for quality control and research

Technical / Quality

cost between 2.50 - 3.50 per image

cost: 0.30 - 1.50 per image (depending on daily

throughput and including depreciation and
maintenance)

poor image or viewer quality

consistent high quality image

poor film development causes useless images

no developing needed

delay between X-ray exposure and image availability

image immediately available (also via mobile

phone network / internet)

image archiving labour intensive, at times inaccurate

easy storage and instant access to archived

images, automatic backup possibility

chemical waste causes environmental damage

clean technology, no film developing / no chemicals

needed

Green revolution-II possible only with market reforms

2 & 3 BHK in Kandivali - Book 2&3 BHK by Paying Just 10% Now Luxury Residences in Kandivali
Eastlovealpine.com/New-Launch
Ads by Google

GARGI PARSAI
PRINT T

inShare
At a meeting of Agriculture Ministers at Hubballi on Thursday, Union Agriculture Minister Radha
Mohan Singh observed that the second green revolution can only take off with a market reforms.
We are looking at a best practice introduced by a State and designed for sharing with other States. It
demonstrates our spirit of cooperative federalism, Mr. Radha Mohan Singh said.
As the Union government moves towards setting up a seamless and unified national agriculture
market, the Minister observed that the Karnataka model will be scaled up in a year. A common eplatform will be set up to which, initially, 585 APMCs will be linked. The Union government will
provide free software to States. In addition, a grant of up to Rs. 30 lakh per mandi will be given as a
one-time measure for equipment and infrastructure, he said.
The market reforms encourage a transparent price-discovery system with a choice to farmers to pick
a market that gives the best price for their produce. This will also help cut wastages due to inefficient
and antiquated marketing practices=

Snickometer
A Snickometer, commonly known as Snicko, is used in televising cricket to graphically analyse
sound and video, and show whether a fine noise, or snick, occurs as ball passes bat.
The Snickometer is often used in a slow motion television replay by the third umpire to determine if
the cricket ball touched the cricket bat on the way through to the wicketkeeper. The commentators
will listen and view the shape of the recorded soundwave. If there is a sound of leather on willow,
which is usually a short sharp sound in synchrony with the ball passing the bat, then the ball has
touched the bat. Other sounds such as the ball hitting the batsman's pads, or the bat hitting the
pitch, and so on, tend to have a fatter shape on the sound waveform.

Tagores vision was one of equality

Rabindranaths vision of India was not one marked by exclusion. The India Rabindranath dreamt of
was one of equality and development, one which could seamlessly integrate all civilisations and lead
to the pursuit of truth, Prof. Amrit Sen, Professor English at Viswa Bharati University, Santiniketan,
has said.

He was delivering the keynote address on The Man of My Heart: Rabindranath and the Idea of
Jevandevata after inaugurating the National Conference on Rabindranath Tagores Mystic Vision
here on Saturday. Anjuman-e-Islams Nehru College and P.G. Centre have organised the two-day
conference on the poet laureate.
At the inaugural ceremony that began with recitation of verses from Bhagavad Gita, Holy Koran and
Holy Bible, Prof. Amrit Sen said: According to Rabindranth Tagores mystical vision of India, it is
tirtha Bharattirtha a confluence of all cultures where each can seamlessly coexist with the other
in mutual harmony. He said amid fierce protests against colonial exploitation and a desire to
nurture ones identity, Tagores mystic vision was however linked to the spiritual realisation of visvabodh or world consciousness.
Tagore saw human bond across cultures that was part of an infinite network, he said.
Prof. Sen said the force of Rabindranaths mystical consciousness was not merely in its perception,
but in his efforts to articulate it.
Tagores pedagogic experiments attempted to realise his vision. The intense love for his fellow
citizens, especially the deprived rustic population, can be seen in his experiments at Sriniketan where
he sought to bring modern scientific knowledge to the cause of eradicating malaria and creating a
model of rural reconstruction.
It was in his school at Santiniketan that he sought to express his mystical vision through the
children, he said.
His pedagogic experiments attempted to realise his vision
Read =

Swaminathan panel report

What attracts tribal youth to join the Naxals?

Its the uniforms and weapons of Maoists which attract the tribal youths more to join the outlawed
movement, rather than their ideology about the fight for land, a study on Naxalism has interestingly
has said.
The study revealed that 92 per cent of rebels had joined the movement because of their attraction
towards the Army-like green uniform, guns, Maoist influence among villagers, besides obsession for
dance, sloganeering and other activities of Chetna Natya Manch (a cultural outfit of Maoists),
research scholar Dr Varnika Sharma said.
However, poverty, unemployment, personal/ ancestral enmity are also the reasons highlighted by
rebels for joining the movement, she said.

However she claimed that none of them were influenced by the Maoist ideology to enter into
guerrilla warfare.

Mission 2022 launched

Indian diaspora in the US plans greater commitment towards the countrys
transformation
The three million strong Indian diaspora in the U.S. has launched Mission 2022 in partnership
with the Confederation of Indian Industries to make U.S.-India partnership a defining one of the 21st
century.
We have set a goal called Mission 2022, which is to have a series of dialogues with the diaspora over
the next seven years as India turns 75, entrepreneur M.R. Rangaswami said during a reception
hosted by CII and Indian diaspora, which among others was attended by U.S. Commerce Secretary
Penny Pritzker and Indias Union Minister of Commerce Nirmala Sitharaman.
These dialogues would be held every six months.
Highlighting the significant positive change taking place within India, CII president Sumit Sumter
invited the diaspora to invest in Indias transformation, avail the immense opportunities available
today and be part of the mutual growth story.
Together the two leaders highlighted the substantial steps taken by the two governments in the
direction of boosting trade and investments.
Amidst the ongoing wave of optimism and promising developments surrounding U.S.-India Strategic
and Commercial Dialogue as well as Modis anticipated second visit to the US major stakeholders
joined in the reception to celebrate the flourishing Indian diaspora and to place them front and
centre within the context of the overall bilateral partnership.
Stressing the positively evolving commercial relationship between the countries, both Sitharaman
and Pritzker invited the business community to help shape and deepen the economic relationship
still further.
The growing Indian-American diaspora is heavily invested in the American system and can not only
rise to be the backbone of this critical partnership but can help fuel US & Indias mutual growth
story.