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1
BRIEF PROFILES
Prof. Ramprasad Sengupta
Prof. Ramprasad Sengupta is presently an Emeritus Professor of Economics at the School of Social
Sciences of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi where he was a Professor of Economics
for almost three decades, and held the Sukhamoy Chakravarty Chair of Planning and Development of the
University . He was also a Professor at the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (1999 -2001). He has
also been a Visiting Professor/ Scholar in a number of Universities in Germany, Japan, USA, UK, Canada
and the Netherlands. Besides his teaching stints, he has also been Advisor, Planning Commission,
Government of India and part time Independent Director on the Board of Steel Authority of India as an
economist nominated by the Government of India. Prof. Sengupta's area of interest and specialization
are Development economics and planning; Energy, resource and the environmental
economics, Ecological issues of sustainable development; Quantitative policy modelling of
infrastructural sectors (including power, energy, transport and steel) He has authored several books,
monographs and research papers in refereed journals. The latest book authored by him is Ecological
limits and Economic Development: Creating Space, Oxford University Press. New Delhi.
Prof. Sarmila Banerjee
Sarmila Banerjee is at present the Rajiv Gandhi Chair Professor of Eco-systems and Sustainable
Development in the University of Calcutta. She is in the faculty of Economics of the same institution for
more than three decades. She obtained her Ph.D. degree in Economics from the University of Florida,
Gainesville, USA and carried out her post-doctoral research on Environmental Economics in the
University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. Her teaching interest is around Econometrics and
Environmental Economics. Her research interest is mostly on Quantitative aspects of Social Sector
Development. She is the coordinator of UGC-SAP program in her Department and Convener of Ph.D.
Program in Economics of the University of Calcutta. She is connected with different academic institutions
and research networks in India and abroad through her active involvement in capacity building and
curriculum development.
Prof. Joyashree Roy
Joyashree Roy is currently the ICSSR national fellow and Professor of Economics at Jadavpur University.
She initiated and coordinates the Global Change Programme and also directs Ryoichi Sasakawa Young
Leaders Fellowship Fund (SYLFF) Project at Jadavpur University. She is in IPCC-2007 Nobel Peace
Prize winning panel, has been a chapter author of Global Energy Assessment, in winning team of Prince
Sultan Bin Aziz award for water. She is interested in multidisciplinary approaches to understanding
development challenges. Her research interests are: Economics of Climate Change, Modeling energy
demand, Economy-wide modeling exercises for deriving policy implications, Water quality demand
modeling, Water pricing, Sustainable development indicator development and estimation, Natural
resource accounting, Valuing environmental services, and Developmental and environmental issues
2
relevant for informal sectors, Coastal Ecosystem service evaluation. She has more than 80 publications in
peer reviewed journals and books.
Prof. Raghu Ram
Dr. Raghu Ram is a faculty member in the Strategic management Area at XLRI Jamshedpur. He has been
in academics for 16 years with Wildlife Institute of India- Dehra Dun, Indira Gandhi Institute of
Development Research-Mumbai and IIM Calcutta. He was a Fulbright Environment Leadership Fellow at
Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA. His work explores the environmental
governance, policy, development, and environment interface. Raghu Ram has a master's degree in
limnology and PhD in biodiversity impact assessment. He teaches environment and natural resource
management. He is co-editor of Reconciling Environment and Economics (IGIDR, Mumbai 2003) and
editor of Uttar Pradesh Environment Monitor-2003 (World Bank, New Delhi 2004). He was the Member
Secretary and Project Coordinator of Environmental Economics Research Committee that sponsored 61
field research projects aimed to build environmental economics research capacity in India (2000-2003).
He was National Project Coordinator of Protected Area Network Cell at the Wildlife Institute of India
(1994-1995). His publications cover habitat evaluation models, biodiversity impact assessment, water and
air quality governance and environmental policy. He is now a consultant to the Ministry of Environment
and Forests, Government of India to evaluate community forestry institutions.
Dr. Nilanjan Ghosh
Dr. Nilanjan Ghosh is Senior Fellow (Professor) at Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Kolkata
Chapter. He is also Senior Advisor - Environmental Economics at World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature,
New Delhi, India. He was Chief Economist and Senior Vice President at Multi Commodity Exchange of
India Limited, Mumbai, prior to joining ORF. Prior to being associated with MCX, Dr. Ghosh was a
faculty member at TERI University, and senior research professional at TERI, New Delhi. Dr. Ghosh has
been a Visiting Fellow at School of Social Sciences, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden in 2008, and in
2015.
A natural resource economist and econometrician by training, Dr. Ghosh obtained his Doctorate from
Indian Institute of Management Calcutta. He has been working in the domains of ecological economics,
developmental issues, water resources, and financial markets, and conducts his research by combining
frameworks of neoclassical economics and institutions. At various points in time, Dr. Ghosh has advised/
conducted research projects for UNCTAD, The Swedish Research Council, FORMAS-Swedish Research
Council, UNEP (Nairobi), WWF-UK, IUCN, and many other illustrious multilaterals and donor agencies.
He was Lead Author of UNEP’s flagship publication, Global Environmental Outlook 4. His publications
so far include 6 books (3 authored +3 edited), and 35-odd peer-reviewed research papers in journals
like Water Policy, Conservation and Society, Journal of Industrial Ecology, Journal of Index Investing,
EPW, etc and also book chapters. His recent co-authored book, Sustainability Science (published by IGI-
Global, Pennsylvania, US) argues that sustainable development is not merely a subject for academics,
policy makers, and journalists to mull over, but a set of daily practices and changes. In his forthcoming
3
edited book, Nature, Economy, and Society: Understanding the Linkages, (published by Springer India)
he, along with others, attempts to delineate the evolution and scope of the inter-disciplinary framework of
Ecological Economics.
He is a regular columnist in The Hindu Business Line, a popular “pink paper”, and has also written
for The Economic Times, Financial Express, etc. At different points in time, Dr. Ghosh edited two
journals: Journal of Resources, Energy and Development (READ, an academic peer-reviewed journal
published by TERI Press), and Commodity Vision (a semi-academic non-peer reviewed journal by
Takshashila Academia Economic Research). Dr. Ghosh was Vice President of Indian Society for
Ecological Economics (INSEE), and delivered the Presidential Address at the Seventh Biennial
Conference of INSEE.
Prof. Runa Sarkar
Runa Sarkar is a faculty member of the Economics Group at IIM Calcutta. She has taught at IIT Kanpur
prior to joining IIM Calcutta. She is chemical engineer from BITS Pilani, and has a Master’s degree in
environmental engineering from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. She did her doctoral
work at IIM Calcutta. She teaches courses on micro-economics, green manufacturing and corporate
sustainability strategies. She has been closely involved in European Union and World Bank projects on
the application of social informatics in agriculture and is currently on the board of two companies of the
BASIX group. She has a number of publications in the area of agriculture and social capital. She has co-
authored a book titled Another Development: Participation, Empowerment and Well-being in Rural India
published by Rouledge 2014.
Prof. Rajesh Bhattacharya
Rajesh Bhattacharya is a faculty member of the Public Policy and Management Group at Indian Institute
of Management Calcutta. He studied economics at Presidency College, University of Calcutta and
University of Massachusetts, Amherst and obtained his PhD from the last institution. He teaches Indian
economic history, history of economic thought and political economy. Besides IIMC, he has also taught
at South Asian University, University of Calcutta and Presidency University, His current research is
focused on areas like informal economy, financialization of capital, history of planning in India and
political economy of land in India.
4
LIST OF ABSTRACTS
INTEGRATING FARM WITH BIO-BASE PRACTICES FOR FOOD SECURITY AND
SUSTAINABILITY
S. N Das, Senior Lecturer, Faculty member (E mail:[email protected]),
D. Giri, Instructor, Faculty member,
M. Ghosh Principal and Director,
Agricultural Training Centre / State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute,
Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur, Kolkata – 700 103, West Bengal, India.
ABSTRACT
‘Agriculture is the major economic and social activity in the globe. Dramatic changes in land use
have taken place in larger part of India, as a result of economic growth and increasing demand
for production. Forest lands are converted into agricultural land and are intensified for food
production’.(Boomiraj et.al 2010) .
To meet the demand of quantity and status of food of the growing population pressure, the
agricultural system of the country has been adopting different ways, most of which are not
beneficial in long run. In spite of supporting the growing food bowl, the chemical agriculture is
highly criticized from different angles.
Agricultural Training Centre (ATC), Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur, has been
giving its efforts for decades in tackling the problem through its trials and experimentations, in
collaboration with the farmers in the villages. Bio-intensive farming is revealed as one of the
options to keep the agricultural production system friendly with overall natural system as well as
sustainable production of the farm household. As a pilot project, the ATC implemented the
concept in 50 households of Ruppur GP of Birbhum district, West Bengal, where chemical
agriculture was highly preferred in spite of decreasing net return per unit area. The impact of the
project shows considerable reduction of chemical, mainly highly hazardous pesticide, emphasis
on conservation of natural resources, generates self employment, as well as sustainable income
of the farm house holds.
5
AN ECONOMIC APPROACH OF FINANCING CLIMATIC DISASTERS FOR
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Dr.Padmavathi.V,
Department of Economics, IBS, Hyderabad, India
ABSTRACT
India has a peculiar geographical setting, wherein there are floods in some parts and droughts in
other parts and they co-exist. Natural disasters affect the developed, developing and
underdeveloped world similarly. However, the developed countries are relatively well equipped
in disaster mitigation systems, preparedness and response mechanisms, than their counterparts.
In the developed countries, the dependency on ex-post funding and consequent disruption of
planned activity is less. But the relevant policy documents show that the financing of post-
disaster relief and rehabilitation expenditures has had the major chunk in the resources allocated
by the Government of India, especially to rural India. This comes only as temporary relief and at
a high cost, amounting to over Rs.32bn ($575.5m) in 2000–2010, and over Rs.77bn ($1.39bn)
for 2010–2015. One angle is that the relief, with this cost usually is not adequate to restore those
most affected to their original economic status. The State Governments face many hurdles in
providing immediate relief to the victims. The amount of assistance given by the Centre was far
short of what the State Governments actually needed. Another angle is that the government, as
the insurer of the last resort should have a smaller exposure in case of major catastrophes. But
the Indian government is spending billions of rupees in disaster relief and social insurance. There
is a need of the hour to find out the alternative approaches to transfer these risks, which could
relieve Government burden and to divert those funds to developmental expenditures. So far, the
disaster risk management is seen as a cost rather than an investment by reprioritizing planned
budgets, increasing tax and borrowings. The World Bank (2003) suggested the ex-ante
mechanisms for financial liquidity in the aftermath of a natural disaster. The Economic Survey
(2009–10) also has suggested introduction of Catastrophic (Cat) bonds in India. With this back
ground this paper is attempting to develop a holistic approach for managing the agricultural
production risks due to disasters.
6
FOODGRAIN DEFICIENCY IN INDIA: A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP
Paramita Bhattacharya, Doctoral Scholar, Department of Economics, Jadavpur University,
Kolkata-700032
Siddhartha Mitra Professor, Department of Economics, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032
ABSTRACT
This paper analyses the possible causes of foodgrain deficiency in India and across states. The
analysis has been done for two time periods: 1999-2000 and 2009-2010, using National Sample
Survey’s unit level data. The study analyses the impact of Public Distribution System (PDS),
share of home production in consumption of foodgrains and food diversification on foodgrain
deficiency by using simple regression analysis. Foodgrain deficiency has been captured at the all
India level and across states using Greer, Foster and Thorbecke’s (1984) measure of income
poverty. Effectiveness of PDS is captured by using effective subsidy provided through PDS, and
role of food diversification in explaining foodgrain deficiency is captured through food diversity
index. The results indicate that foodgrain deficiency has increased but the increase is more
significant in the higher expenditure class which is mainly attributable to food diversification.
The study further finds that foodgrain deficiency among the below poverty line class is not that
significant and is well within manageable limits. Results suggest that PDS more specifically,
targeted PDS has acted as a catalyst in combating foodgrain deficiency especially among the
income poor. Share of consumption of foodgrains from home production also has a significant
influence on foodgrain deficiency in rural areas. These three indicators, therefore, have a
considerable influence over foodgrain deficiency across both ‘all classes’ and the ‘BPL class’.
7
STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
FOR ENHANCING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN COASTAL ENVIRONMENT
IN SUNDARBAN, INDIA
Subhasis Mandal, D. Burman, U. K. Mandal, S. K. Sarangi, B. Maji, K K Mahanta, B K
Bandyopadhyay and D. K. Sharma
ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Canning Town
ABSTRACT
The coastal agro-ecosystem of the country occupies an area of about 10.8 million ha and are
spread over the 8129 km long coastline along the Bay of Bengal in the East coast and Arabian
sea in the West coast. The area is distributed among 9 States, 2 Union Territories and 2 group of
Islands. The land and water resources of the coastal zone in India are rich, valuable and under-
utilised. Enhancing agricultural production can improve the food security and contribute to
poverty reduction. Current productivity of the farming systems including agriculture and
aquaculture are far below the inherent potential of the region. Agriculture under this marginal
environment of coastal salinity are typically charcterised with multi-faceted problems such as
waterlogged condition (during kharif season) or high salinity building up (during rabi season).
Farming operation often becomes risky due to natural calamities, which increases the risk of
farming or restricted the farm operation and ultimately increases the instability of farm income.
The strategies for improving the farming conditions in costal salt affected areas have been
focused primarily on two ways first developing salt tolerant crop varieties and second rainwater
harvesting through different land shaping models. Rice is the major crops grown in both seasons
(kharif and rabi) and therefore, high focus has been given on developing and dissemination of
salt tolerant rice varieties by research institutes under Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR). Several rice varieties have been evolved and continuous efforts are being made for
larger adoption. It has been generally observed that farmers are more keen to change their rice
varieties during rabi season as compared to kharif season. Preference of rice varieties during rabi
(short, salt tolerant, short duration, high yielding and better quality) and and kharif (tall, long
duration, non-lodging) seasons are distinctly different.
Besides developing improved rice varieties, several land shaping techniques have been quite
successful in enhancing farm production in the region. Land shaping techniques are changing the
configuration of land through soil excavation and making suitable for water harvesting, option
for multiple cropping and also reducing the soil and water salinity. These land shaping
techniques, particularly the farm pond and paddy-cum-fish models, are unique technology for
addressing the key challenges like land degradation (salinity), drainage congestion and scarcity
of fresh water for irrigation and in turn have the potential to enhancing production, productivity,
income and employment. These techniques particularly farm pond and paddy-cum-fish are
financially viable and attractive proposition for the coastal region. Some of the key impediments
for large-scale implementation of such interventions were marginal land holdings that too
divided into several parcels, high initial investment, and presence of acid sulphate soils near
surface or at shallow depth at places. For larger adoption of these technologies need to address
some key issues like socio-economic constraints, some of which can be addressed by research
level (land configuration, soil quality) some other at policy level (incentives). Community based
rainwater harvesting as well as common pool wasteland may be encouraged in this direction.
8
ECONOMICS OF HILL FARMING SYSTEM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO
FEASIBILITY AND CONSTRAINTS IN PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC
COMMODITIES IN MEGHALAYA, INDIA
Suchitra Mohanty, Subhasis Mandal and Kazi. M. B. Rahim
Research Faculty, Amity Research Center, Amity Kolkata, E-mail:
Senior Scientist (Agricultural Economics), Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI),
Regional Research Station, Canning Town (WB) – 743 329
Professor (Agricultural Economics), Palli Siksha Bhava, Visva Bharati, Shantiniketan - 731235
Abstract
Meghalaya is one of the most promising states within NEH Region as far as the organic farming
potential is concerned. To transform the organic potential to reality, there is a need to conduct
systematic study on the financial viability of growing these crops. Estimation of comparative
economics between organic vs inorganic is essential to take rational policy decision to carry
forward the organic farming movement in the hilly region of the state. Present study has been
undertaken with the following objectives in Meghalaya; first, to examine the socio-economic
characteristics of farmers practicing organic agriculture in Meghalaya, second, to examine and
compare (organic vs inorganic) the economics of high value commodities that have potential to
be grown organically; third,; identification of the factors that are influencing farmers to practice
organic agriculture and finally, to examine the constraints of organic farming in the region.
Results analysed in the present paper indicated that several crops has the right potential to be
grown as organic as far as their financial viability is concerned. However, the practice of organic
agriculture in Meghalaya is not demand-driven rather it is their compulsion or natural way of
farming considering the difficult terrain in the hilly tract and very weak market linkages.
Therefore, organic by default would not be sufficient to transform present farming system to
organic farming system as desired. Organic food production should be promoted only for
specific crop (turmeric, ginger, pineapple, khasi mandarin and cashew) in specific areas having
favourable economics. The most important step required is to establishment of market linkages
(which is the pre-condition for its success) with the farmers. Pricing policy of the organic
product along with extending support of remunerative price and promotion of contract farming is
essential either through public or public-private partnership.
9
VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS FOR GOBINDOBHOG RICE IN BURDWAN DISTRICT OF
WEST BENGAL, INDIA
Priyanka Majumdar, M. Sc Agriculture and Rural Development 20E, Bakultala LaneKasba,
Kolkata700042 Email id: [email protected]
Debabrata Basu, Ph.D, Professor, Agriculturall Extension, Department Agricultural Extension,
Bidhan Chandra Krishi viswavidyalaya Email: [email protected]
Subhasis Mandal, Ph.D, Senior Scientist (Agril. Economics) CSSRI, RRS, Canning Town Email:
[email protected] Vivekananda University, IRDM faculty, Narendrapur during 2014)
Abstract
Rice is the most important crop and staple food for majority of people in India. Farmers grow a
large number of rice varieties depending on soil, climate, test, preferences, market demand and
socio-economic conditions of farmers across the country. Rising income of consumers across the
globe have increased the demand for quality rice particularly the basmati or other scented rice.
Gobindobhog rice is one among the promising non-basmati but scented rice produced by farmers
in some areas of West Bengal and usually traded through traditional marketing channel. Value
chain analysis on this rice variety is likely to explore the under-utilised market potential and
thereby facilitating better dividends to the growers.
This paper applies the knowledge of value chain analysis of Gobindobhog variety, which if
handled properly could create a huge position in the international market. The study was made
intra state study for Gobindabhog in the villages Raina 1 block, Burdwan district of West
Bengal. The study of value chain was focused to improve the loopholes that are related to chain
so as to bring about a development at various levels of stakeholders’ participation in the entire
value chain. The dominant marketing channel was studied for the variety. This was a qualitative
study mainly done through purposive sampling at different stakeholders level in the entire
market value chain of the gobindobhog variety. The area was purposively chosen as it it is major
gobindobhog producing area in India. Information sharing among the actors was found very
limited and the means of market information was personal interview for respondent farmers and
telephone call for traders.
From the study we found that farmers were facing several constraints of productions and
marketing. The major production constraints were lack of irrigation facility, diseases, insect, and
lack of technical knowledge, high price of input, lack of credit facility. Likewise, in marketing
constraints faced by farmers were lack of market information, unorganized marketing, high
transportation cost, low price offered by traders and lack of storage facilities. The paper shows
that gobindabhog cultivation is a profitable and has potential business opportunities in the study
area. There is an immense need of facilitators (NGOs and other agencies) to increase
productivity, improve the quality production system and marketing through cooperative society
for efficient marketing. Also encouraging the participation of corporate traders in marketing of
this scented rice could be a boon for the growers to fetch better price.
10
EXAMINING THE POTENTIAL FOR GREENER POWER GENERATION AT SITES
WITH INEFFICIENT EXISTING CAPACITY
Upasona Choudhury, MBA-Infrastructure, TERI University, 09810756796,
Vasundhara Gaur, M.Sc. Economics, TERI University, 09582744292,
Ritu Mathur, Professor, TERI University; Senior Fellow, Green Growth and Resource
Efficiency, TERI; 09873006653, [email protected]
ABSTRACT
India’s initial thermal generation units were installed with producing capacities of 10 - 15 MW,
with Obra in Uttar Pradesh being the first 200 MW unit commissioned in 1977 and the first 500
MW unit being set up in 1984 at Trombay in Bombay. At present, 200/210/250/500 MW thermal
power producing units contribute to about 60% of total power generation in the country. A large
number of plants with power generation capacity of 200/210 MW units are nearing retirement or
have even completed their economic life-times. Currently, around 67% of India’s generation
capacity is coal-based, with nearly 49% of this capacity functioning with a plant load factor
(PLF) of less than 20%, and working at rather inefficient levels of operation due to ageing.
The cost of land, evacuation facilities for power generated at the plants are significant
components when it comes to the cost of setting up new or Greenfield generation capacities.
Existing locations of old inefficient power plants can therefore be used to set up new generation
facilities that are cleaner and efficient both for the local and global environment. Through this
study, we would therefore, like to explore the potential that cleaner and more efficient alternative
options offer, to use the existing sites where current capacities can be scrapped.
The objective of the study is to examine whether shift to renewable based capacity is attractive at
locations where thermal power plants were earlier located and to analyse the technical and
economic viability of putting renewable projects at those existing location, where infrastructure,
land and manpower already exist.
11
SOCIAL EQUITY IMPACTS OF OPTIMAL WATER ALLOCATION FOR
IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT: DRIVERS AND IMPLICATIONS
Satyendra Tripathi*,1
, A. Vasan*
*Center of Excellence in Water Resources Management,
Department of Civil Engineering,
Birla Institute of Technology & Science Pilani, Hyderabad campus
Jawahar Nagar Shameerpet Mandal, Hyderabad 500078 1
Deendayal Centre for Rural Sustainability, Lucknow
[email protected], [email protected]
Abstract
Irrigation projects are developed not merely for family farming purposes to benefit households
and feeding to community but also play a significant role to reduce rural poverty in region by
generating employment and improving livelihood. Policy makers often argue that reservoir
projects meant for irrigation will have a positive impact on the rural development and
community empowerment gradually. But, in many of the projects, it has been observed that the
income inequality is on the rise at the grass root level which largely affects the socio-economics
status of the beneficiaries. This paper unpacks some of the assumptions of the impacts of
irrigation by taking a closer look at the beneficiaries of large irrigation investments. In addition,
it also studies on, how the optimal water and land allocation can ensure the maximization of crop
productivity. The basic premise of this research is that the population within command areas is
not homogenous. By differentiating the population on the basis of landholding and social strata, a
wide variety of outcomes can be observed. These irrigation-related impacts are often shaped by
existing inequities within populations in terms of access to information, capital, land and the
existing social stratification. Assorted water allocation policies are generated through an
optimization model by varying the level of irrigation based on the proportion of area of each
field plot to be irrigated. Accordingly, a multiobjective mathematical model is formulated and
employed to evaluate the consequences with respect to efficiency and equity measures. Finally a
multi-objective analysis is carried out to select a compromise solution. This methodology is
applied to select a water allocation policy for irrigating in a case study project. This study looks
at the Nagarjuna Sagar Project for an insight into the different factors that shape long-term
poverty and the equity impacts of irrigation on command areas.
12
FOOD, MEDICINE AND HUMAN SURVIVAL: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
STRATEGY OF SMALL SCALE COMMUNITY
Rudrajit Sarkar, Ph.D. Scholar, School of Agriculture and Rural development, Ramakrishna
Mission Vivekananda University, Ranchi Campus. Email ID- [email protected]
Dipankar Chatterjee, Assistant Professor, School of Agriculture and Rural development,
Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Ranchi Campus. Email ID-
The traditional food systems of tribal populace touch the full spectrum of life in ways that
modern food systems miss the mark. Their food systems contain treasures of knowledge from
long-evolved cultures and patterns of living in local ecosystems. The dimensions of nature and
culture that define a food system of an indigenous culture contributes to the whole health picture
of the individual and the community – not only physical health but also the emotional, mental
and spiritual aspects of health, healing and protection from disease. But it is too a true fact that,
these systems are becoming increasingly more affected by the forces of globalization. In spite of
that some tribal communities have been effectively managing their natural resources and
maintaining ecological balance using a wide range of traditional practices and self-imposed rules
evolved over a period. Some of them have the practice of eating raw leaves, young
inflorescences, tender stalks and other plants’ part as medicine/nutrient supplement in their diet
since time immemorial. Those diets from both collected and cultivated source are taken both in
raw and cooked state. These contain food grains, vegetables, leafy vegetables, fruits, mushroom,
animal flesh, fish, egg, honey and more wider variety of food items. Moreover, these tribes have
developed a resilient medical system which is totally based on their plant and animal resources.
In fact, their nourishment and medicine system is interweaved through their food culture. This
paper is an endeavour to define and describe the diversity contained in circumstances
surrounding the Sauria Paharia food and medicine system and the wealth of knowledge of their
local environment. Sauria Paharia is one of the nine primitive tribal groups of Jharkhand. This
hill tribe still practice shifting cultivation and have a definite system of knowledge transmission
pattern of resource utilization over the generations. The present research is an outcome of an in-
depth study carried out in a purposively selected uni-ethnic village of Pakur district of
Jharkhand. The village is inhabited by only 22 household of Sauria Paharia comprising of 108
souls. Despite their insignificant numerical strength, the community has evolved a very
comprehensive system of food management that not only help in sustaining their nutritional
requirements but also ensure their medicinal necessities. The data was mainly collected with the
help of structured schedule followed by interview in a group and individually as well. Participant
observation becomes handy during trail walk through the forest accompanied by few ‘expert’
villagers in identifying critical resources that are used by the villagers during the distress period
like drought or during crop failure. The villagers identified that resource as an ‘emergency’ food.
With regard to the medicinal plant knowledge key informant interview was conducted to
understand and document the folk medicine system. Local medicine-man (Guru), who mainly
prepare medicine from different parts of plants, administer the treatment in their traditional way
was interviewed. The data on dietary intake pattern, food availability, pattern of harvest, key
food preparation have been categorized and described in the paper. Finally the article argues the
importance of sustaining the knowledge of such small scale community to ensure the
conservation of critical resources for the benefit of mankind.
13
SEEDS OF DISCONTENT: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN POTATO RESEARCH
AND POTATO FARMING
Navneet Ranjan, Social Entrepreneur Email: [email protected]
Biswatosh Saha , Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta Email: [email protected]
Sankalp Pratap (Corresponding author) Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta Email:
Arqum Mateen, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, Email: [email protected]
Agam Gupta , Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta Email: [email protected]
Malosree Sengupta, Kolkata
Abstract
Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L) is one of the most important food crops after wheat, maize and
rice, contributing to food and nutritional security in the world. It is an annual, herbaceous,
dicotyledonous and vegetatively propagated plant, which can also be propagated through
botanical seed. A staple food served daily from kitchens across the world, its annual production
quantity next to none as far as vegetables are concerned. Producing more than 10% of the global
potato crop, India is second only to China. For their source of food and nutritional security,
India’s populace depends heavily on this cheap vegetable which defines the floor of vegetable
price in the country.
The potato crop in Indian plains is sown in October/November and harvested in February/March,
the new crop (naya aloo) being available for consumption from the month of April. During this
season the price of the crop remains low, showing a general increasing trend till the next year’s
crop is harvested. Potato can be stored at room temperature for seven days, after which it starts to
rot. Potato cold storages maintaining temperature of 40C are employed to store the produce for
8-9 months, keeping its nutritional value intact. The potato seed is the vegetable itself, cut in
pieces. The farmer sells majority portion of the produce in the market and stores some of it to be
used as seed in the next season.
There are a range of fungal, bacterial and viral diseases which affect the potato farmer but none
is as implicit and ongoing as the quality and availability of good quality potato seed. While the
farmers store part of their produce to be used as seed in the subsequent season, the effectiveness
of potato seed, even when derived form the best quality seed, starts diminishing after three years
of the crop. We find that in states like Bihar and West Bengal, farmers continue to use and
struggle with low yield seeds, jeopardising their crops and incomes. For a crop of such
importance, Potato yield in the country is significantly short of international standards, with
India ranked beyond the top 50 countries.
This is particularly puzzling given that formal research on potato including seed varieties began
way back in 1935 and the Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) which is the premier
institution on potato research the country was established right after independence in 1949,
headquartered in Patna. CPRI’s research efforts have helped adapt this temperate climate crop to
the vast range of climes, including the tropical, that India experiences. Notably, CPRI has
introduced multiple indigenous varieties of potato, e.g. Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Ashoka, some of them
forming the bulk of country’s potato crop. Yet, ground reality indicates that the potato growing
eastern states are starved of the fruits of technological progress with Punjab cornering a
14
disproportionately large share of benefits. This works to the detriment of small and medium
farmers of eastern states, leading to conditions of abandonment of this crop. Despite a long
history of successful research by CPRI (refer Table 1), we find that the farmers in Bihar in
general, and specifically in the Begusarai district where we carried out our field-work, suffer
from little or no formal knowledge about potato seed cultivation. These farmers face severe
shortage of potato seeds and are forced to use low yield seeds, to their detriment.
Notwithstanding long, costly and conventionally successful research in terms of output and
patents, the governance mechanism of the national research system in place has weak outcomes
for state level technology diffusion and the associated food chain it supports. It is this paradox of
successful research at central institutions but unsuccessful diffusion of its benefits to the intended
beneficiary, which forms the core of our puzzle and interest in the subject.
15
MANAGING WATER CRISIS THROUGH MINOR IRRIGATION IN BIRBHUM: A
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Asok Kumar Sarkar, Ph. D., Professor, Department of Social Work, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan-
731236,WB, India. Email: [email protected]
Abstract:
Water is an integral part of the life forms or ecological systems. The Earth has huge water bodies
and the main sources of it are: surface, underground, oceanic, and atmospheric. But only 2.5
percent of the global water is fresh or usable and the remaining 97.5 percent is saline which is
unsuitable for drinking as well as irrigation. It is assumed that India owns four percent of the
global usable water but she houses 16 percent of the world’s population. With regard to West
Bengal, there is 2.7 percent of the national territory that renders home to eight percent of the
Indian population and shares 7.5 percent of the water resources of the country. Data show West
Bengal constitutes 51.01 bcm surface water, 34.21bcm ground water and 1759.27 bcm trans-
boundary water. In this respect, Birbhum’s share is 1.46 bcm, 1.67 bcm and 4.50 bcm
respectively. Water scarcity is increasing further in Birbhum due to uncontrolled growth of
population, expansion of irrigation network and developmental needs. It is forecasted that this
crisis will lead to deficit of 59% required water by the year 2025. Hence, efforts are being made
to manage water crisis.
In Birbhum district, surface and underground water are the main sources for use. Surface water
which mainly comes through precipitation (annual 1572.9 mm) is available through rivers,
canals, lakes and ponds. But the seven rivers of Birbhum such as Ajoy, Mayurakshi, Brambhani,
Bokrashwar, Kopai, Dwarka and Banslai are getting silted gradually. Ponds those in bad
conditions in many villages are being reformed through 100 days work but there are difficulties
to get peoples’ participation in water detention structure. Regarding ground water, out of 19
blocks of Birbhum districts, Fluoride contamination is found in nine blocks. Use of underground
water is restricted in those blocks. Of the 451120 hector of geographical area of Birbhum,
333210 hector is cultivable area out of which 315930 hector has irrigation facility. In order to
bring remaining 17280 hector land under irrigation, 3880 hector cultivable waste land under use
and 280 hector Barren as well uncultivable land under cultivation, there is a pressing need for
irrigation facility. Hence, World Bank funded minor irrigation programme through PPP model is
being carried out by Government of West Bengal in Birbhum district.
The above cited World Bank funded programme is named as ‘West Bengal Accelerated
Development Minor Irrigation Project’. The state government has officially launched this
programme in 2012 through Community Mobilization (CM) and subsequently with the
formation of Water User Association (WUA). Responsibility for CM and monitoring of WUA is
given to NGO. Under the programme, Light Duty Tube Well, Medium Duty Tube Well, River
Lift Irrigation, Surface Flow Minor Irrigation, Pump Dug Well and Water Detention Structure
are the major provisions of minor irrigation. Two years are over, but till now farmers have not
16
received any water. How programme is being implemented and what is happening in real sense
will be critically discussed here. The authors will bring out the issues of red tapes, intra-group
conflict among the farmers, problems of social mobilization, adverse impact of climate change,
and so on as barriers of programme and will present a debate whether the vision of World Bank
towards ‘War against Poverty’ through this programme is questionable. The paper will also
proceed further for exploring the solutions.
17
STRUCTURAL FACTORS INFLUENCE ON FOOD SECURITY IN INDIA
Dr. Chaya R
Assistant Professor,
Department of Commerce,
Karnataka State Open University,
Mukthagangothri, Mysore, Karnataka.
Abstract:
This paper examines the link between the structural factors and Food security in India. Food
Security can be created through the provision of basic infrastructure and agricultural productivity
that ultimately ensures food security. Since, Food security is a situation in which all people, at all
times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their
dietary needs. The development of agriculture area is the main issue in the country because the
majority of Indian people are depending on the agriculture that is about 56%. Agriculture is the
vital in ensuring food security for Indian populace. However, the fair agricultural production is
depending on the provision of basic and functional infrastructure. The development of
agriculture infrastructure as the base of increasing agricultural productivity and also it serve as a
basis as mainstay of the nation’s economy. Thus, the paper made an attempt to identify the
influencing structural factors on food security in India. Hence, there is necessary for the increase
of crop diversification and improve allied activities. It may be noted that the slowdown in
agriculture grow could be attributed to structural factors on the supply side, such as public
investment, credit, technology, land and water. Therefore, it is necessary for the country to
concentrate on the structural factors to enhance agricultural productions that will guarantee food
security through enhancing social and economic security in the country. Food security is
inherently interlinked with other current global challenges of economy and climate change.
Hence, the paper attempts to develop a systematic framework of infrastructure to have food
security as a priority in the country to meet the major challenge of food security in India.
18
THE ROLE OF CORPORATE TOWARDS FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTIANABILTY:
A STUDY TO UNDERSTAND THE SIGINIFICANCE OF BIOCHEMICAL
KNOWLEDGE IN FORMULATING POLICIES, PRACTICES AND PROFIT FOR THE
FOOD INDUSTRY
Nabajyoti Deka, Lecturer, Department of Management, Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge
& Technologies, Nuzvid, Andhra PradeshContact: [email protected]
Dr. A Sai Krishna, Lecturer, Department of Bio-engineering, Rajiv Gandhi University of
Knowledge & Technologies, Nuzvid, Andhra Pradesh
Contact: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
India has traditionally been an agrarian society with Agriculture and allied sectors contributing
significantly to the GDP of the nation. Ever-increasing population have always put tremendous
pressure to increase food production as well as improve the supply chain system for food
materials. Wastage during transportation and storage have always been a concern for the various
organizations involved in the business. Preservation of food resources, not only becomes a
criteria for profit, but also an ethical norm for the companies associated with it. Such
organizations need to adopt robust supply chain network that creates value at every level of the
system. Albeit several practices being adopted by the organizations to reduce wastage of food
and minimize monetary loss due to the bottlenecks in the supply chain, the results achieved so
far is unsatisfactory. Inefficiency and lack of effectiveness in storage and distribution of food in
India, leads to but does not restrict to, a very interesting scientific aspect of managing the
business: the complex bio-chemical reactions occurring at the heart the food particles. Presence
of micro-organisms, enzymes, moisture content, air and various other components decides the
complexity and the rate of the bio-chemical reactions. These reactions occurring at the micro
level becomes the key parameters to decide the technique or methodology that may be adopted to
preserve a particular food item. At a greater level, it does influences the life of the food item,
energy consumed for the storage and distribution and the extent of wastage. Whether it is about
the design of the container used for storing a particular food item or about the entire supply chain
system, the business organizations do need to consider the highly crucial bio-chemical aspect of
the business. Companies often trade-off between parameters like energy consumption vs storage
or distribution infrastructure, life of the product vs the quality of preservatives etc., with an
objective of cost minimization. Considering the significance of applied bio-chemistry in the field
of food preservation and energy conservation, it is important to understand its role in designing
the supply chain system for some of the most important food materials of the country. This paper
is an attempt to study the role of corporate to preserve food and related resources by adopting the
better policies and practices to impart sustainability to the industry.
19
AVAILING ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR INDIAN FARMERS AND POLYCULTURE
DEVELOPERS IN AFFORESTATION AND REFORESTATION SECTOR OF CLEAN
DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM
Swagat Kishore Mishra
Faculty, Department of Economics, BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus
[email protected] and [email protected]
Abstract
India has ratified to Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) since 2005 for
combating climate change adversaries under the aegis of United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which asserts that global warming on account of anthropogenic
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is unequivocal. This flexible mechanism aims at achieving
GHG emission reductions or removals which generates green revenue from the sale of the carbon
credits or offsets. Afforestation and Reforestation (A/R) project activities under the CDM chips
in investment subject to preservation of the environment for climate change mitigation by
captivating or bio-sequestering atmospheric carbon into the living and dead biomass in the
ecosystem biodiversity and generic biodiversity. The Marrakesh Accords based timeline 1989 is
demarcated for deforested lands or lands that did not contain forests before Dec 31st, 1989.
Project participants referred from non-Annex I Party offer lands that do not have forests or have
very low stocking of forests to nominate A/R project activities under the CDM aiming at an
increase in forest and land resource productivity and additionally earning revenue for the carbon
sequestered by their forests. This paper examines the Afforestation and reforestation baseline and
monitoring methodology outlined by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) under AR-AM0011 relevant for Afforestation and reforestation of land subject to
poly-culture farming including perennial tree crops and/or fallow periods with woody re-growth.
Organic soils and grasslands (also wetlands) are exempted from application of this methodology.
Emissions sources included in the project boundary come from burning of woody biomass which
in turn results from forest management practices. The study seeks to inquire about economic
justice availed by Indian farmers and Polyculture developers who own registered projects in
Afforestation and Reforestation sector of the Clean Development Mechanism. Today more than
7,500 CDM emission reduction projects are spread across 95 developing countries and over 1.4
billion CERs have been issued. However the A/R sector of CDM inspite of its grass-root level
development capabilities (like strengthening the resilience of local communities, and capitalizing
on synergies propagated at Rio Conventions) witnesses slow registration. Since the first A/R
CDM baseline and monitoring methodology approved in 2005 only 52 have been registered in
India today. National Clean Development Mechanism Authority (NCDMA) of India updates
about 9 approved projects on A/R CDM amounting to 1,036,740 CERs annually and 108,299
CERs by 2012. This work keys out three categories of economic co-benefits associated with A/R
CDM project activities. First, measuring the potential of A/R sector of CDM enabled
opportunities for employment generation and poverty reduction among farmers in the lower
income communities. Second, estimating CDM contribution to the transfer of technology and
diffusion of knowledge on land made available for Afforestation and Reforestation and creation
of carbon pools. And third, calculating total carbon credits earned by A/R sector of CDM in
India and forecasting its growth scenario for 2020 (end of the third phase of Kyoto Protocol)
through GARCH modeling for measuring volatility in returns to CER Prices.
20
CONSERVATION OF CRITICAL RESOURCES, PATTERN OF LIVELIHOOD
DEPENDENCE AND RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTION: A CASE STUDY OF THE EAST
KOLKATA WETLANDS
Debanjana Dey, Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Economics, University of Calcutta, email:
Sarmila Banerjee, Rajiv Gandhi Chair Professor , Department of Economics, University of
Calcutta, email: [email protected]
Abstract
In this paper an attempt has been made to establish the case of the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW)
as an instance of a critical resource in terms of its unique ecological balance, provision of natural
sewage treatment facilities to the city of Kolkata and livelihood support to nearly 200,000
population through sewage-fed fishery, paddy cultivation, garbage farming and floriculture,
whose sheer existence is getting threatened directly because of aggressive east-bound urban
growth of the city of Kolkata and tacitly due to the induced impact of this development on the
pattern of vocational choice of the local people. As a consequence of this urban development
opportunity for different modern vocations has been opened up and the relatively young and
educated residents of the wetland area are expressing keen interest in switching vocation. The
danger of this transition is analyzed in detail and the efforts of the civil society and the regulatory
institutions to resist this change have also been assessed critically. Finally, the level of awareness
of the local residents regarding the uniqueness of this eco-system and their perception related to
its present state of vulnerability is discussed in terms of information collected during field
survey. The impression that we have gathered from the foregoing analysis is that EKW is about
to lose its ecological integrity due to coordination failure, as each stakeholder is contemplating
corrective moves from his/ her own perspective and in the process the retarding influences on
others nodes are passing unnoticed.
21
ENIGMATIC FARM HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY IN INDIA: EVIDENCES AND
APPROACHES
Dr. Shiv Raj Singh, Assistant Professor, Shri G.N. Patel Dairy Science & Food Technology
College, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, S. K. Nagar-385506, Gujarat.
Dr. K.K. Datta, Professor, Dairy Economics, Statistics and Management Division, National
Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001, Haryana.
*For correspondence. (e-mail: [email protected])
Abstract
There is a long-standing debate on whether food self-sufficiency is a useful strategy to achieve
food security. Supporters of this proposition argue that relaying on market to meet food needs is
a risky strategy because of volatility in food prices and possible interruption in supplies. The
opposing view is that it is costly for a household to focus on self-sufficiency rather than
producing according to its comparative advantage and purchasing some of its food requirements
from the market. Farmers are engaged in agricultural activities for dual objectives namely for
food self-sufficiency and income generation. Therefore it is very important to know whether
farmers are meeting these to two objectives in current agriculture situation or they are in distress
situation. The analysis of National Sample Survey data provides an understanding of food
insecurity in terms of region, time and the reasons for food insecurity. It is found that nearly 52%
of households were food insecure nationally. As much as different periods of the year is
concerned, the analysis suggests that around 27-40% households could not produce enough food
for their self-sufficiency, while about 12-25% of the rural who could produce enough food but
lacked in calorie intakes. Spatially, proportional food insecurity was higher in North-Eastern
region followed by Southern, Western and Eastern region. However, in absolute terms food
insecurity was higher in Central region followed by Eastern, Southern and Western region. The
food accessibility and food availability at the household level differs across the regions and even
within the states in a given region. The study established that availability of food at household
level did not sufficient indicator to ensure the accessibility of food. Accessibility of food at
household level very closely related with available resources (land) and households income.
However, higher household income always did not ensure the food accessibility, its mainly
depending upon the nature (daily, monthly, and annual) of return from income sources. This is
more relevant in Rajasthan where regular income especially from livestock ensures the food
security at household level. Decomposition analysis suggested that income from livestock
activities and, wages and salaries is more inclusive and it’s ensuring the food security at
household level because, income from these activities is a continuous and regular. This is also
probed through binary logit estimates. The binary logit estimates shed light on determinant of
food security and it’s indicated that household food security is positively related with the
household characteristics (self employed in agriculture), farm assets (dairy animals, farm size),
modern agricultural practices (use of fertilizer and improve seeds) and livelihood activities
(dairying, non-farm business and, wages and salaries).
22
INDIAN AGRICULTURE SECTOR AND WTO AGREEMENT ON AGRICULTURE:
WAY FORWARD TO MEET THE FOOD SECURITY NEEDS
Vandana, FP, PPM , IIM Calcutta
Abstract
India has been struggling to ensure food security and meet the requirements of the WTO
Agreement on Agriculture (AoA). As a nation with 85% of the farmers having small and
medium size farms1 an understanding of Indian agriculture vis-à-vis the commitments given
under AoA is fundamental. The Doha Development Round of WTO negotiations were centred
on the need for elimination of trade distorting domestic subsidies by developed nations (Tutwiler
and Straub, 2005). Research finding by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
and World Bank indicate the economic gains brought to developing nations on complete
elimination of subsidies. Even after nearly 20 years of implementation of the WTO agreements
the developed nations can continue to significantly enhance input subsidies and price support for
their agriculture sector. This is possible because countries like Canada, US and Japan have
notified high levels of domestic support for the baseline period which allows them a lot of
cushion to protect their produce (Chand and Phillip, 2001). There is no parity among the
agriculture sector in the developed and developing countries. Given this background, a reversal
of stand regarding the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which is the sole binding outcome of
“Bali Package”, was taken by India in July 2014. This was done under the apprehension that
upon implementation of the TFA the developed nation’s commitment towards food security in
large parts of the world would dwindle. Also, the “peace clause” offered in the “Bali Package” is
anyways not a permanent solution to the peculiar condition of Indian agriculture. Though the
subsidy level provided to the farmers is well below the permissible 10% level as per the AoA, it
is the procurement of food grains by the government at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) which
is considered as trade distorting (Narayanan, 2014). The government has taken a firm standpoint
with regard to MSP as a mechanism to meet the needs of its small farmers based on the argument
that a guaranteed price during price fall in harvest season would significantly contribute to their
food security. But is the current food management system involving MSP really a mechanism
that is protecting the interests of the farmers? Is it functioning efficiently? There are numerous
other channels provided within the AoA which are non-trade distorting like cash transfers
through which the farmers can be supported. In this paper the subsidy structure in the Indian
Agriculture sector would be understood. Ways to revamp the food management sector would be
suggested to achieve the goal of food security and make it more transparent.
1 http://agcensus.dacnet.nic.in/stateholdingsizeclass.aspx