Agricultural Ethics

Alok 10755Mahesh 10777 Kirti 10790 Jayanta 10803Chandra 10806

Division of Agricultural Extension, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi

Ethics in agriculture Vs Agricultural ethics

• The 1st one follows traditional moral theory and apply well reasoned norms to the field of agriculture

• morally relevant issues justice, sustainability, responsibility etc.

• 2nd one focus on subject first to frame the debate with object of investigation in agriculture

• society’s increasing complexity, problem’s specific characteristics and its given normative implications into consideration.

• Hunger results from neglect of the universal right to food.

• What moral obligations have people who are well-off to people of less well off ?

The Value of Food

• Failure to do so is deemed injustice and unethical

Its not matter of food unavailability ….Matter of will to distribute it equitably

Pressure on natural resources

Exploitation of forests• In the search for more farmland: deforestation • Poorer nation overwhelmed with desperation; whereas

producers and consumer in wealthy nations are disincentives for conservation practices.

Exploitation of water source• for agricultural, industrial and domestic uses • causes lowering groundwater levels, even

permanently depleting aquifers.

Effective means of catching fish i.e : use of huge vessels with canneries on board compete with fishers using simple nets or lines.

Exploitation of marine resource

Animal husbandry ethics

• Will animal scientist genetically put “happiness” gene in these animals ….so that they remain happy in their lives as their ancestors do.

Concentration of economic power

• Is fairness of conditions of international trade in agriculture exists between richer & poorer ?

• Certain nation continues to ignore WTO rules to their own advantage

• Less Developed countries became tools in the hands of those powers economically & politically.

• Monopolising on natural resource • Eg. Neem, Basumati rice….etc

Effect on environment

Pesticide banned in some countries still used in our countries Cancer train in Punjab Endosulfan in mother milk in Kerala

Genetic Engineering

• focus on agenda that is profitable to private sector – eg : herbicide tolerance and insect resistance

• new risks to the environment and human health

• Super weed, food allergy,• bioterrorism

Agricultural market ethics

• Do farmers get a proper market to sale their produce in a proper rate ?

• Do farmers get proper rate of return ?• Is there any middle man exploit the most

benefit out of farming?• Is farmer face hurdles in getting input ?• Is there any exploitation by others?

Farmers Right….

• Is farmer’s indigenous knowledge safe? Or prone to exploitation……• So IPR issue….• Doe our science value their traditional

knowledge which has scientific significance?• Is there any policy to promote farmer’s

innovation?

Agricultural research & policy ethics

•Control over the research agenda and role of self-interested actors (i.e. corporations) in supporting Public sector scientific research.

• Need of public confidence + trust of the actors

• Bipolar farm structure

• Biasness in choosing beneficiaries

• 80 % small & marginal farmers addressable?

• Widening socio-economic gap

• Gender biased • Obesity Vs

Malnutrition

Rich become more rich , poor become more poorer

Where is the Gap…….?

Ethical food and agriculture system

• Ethical-based food and agriculture system would work towards the reduction and eventual elimination of poverty

• Production efficiency must be balanced with distribution efficiency.

• Effectiveness is measured in terms of fairness and justice

• An ethical food and agriculture system must move from free trade to an ethics-based trading system

Still there is “?”

• Why Agriculture is away from youth now in India?• Why so farm labour crisis?• Why agriculture profession made down….?• Why farmers portrayed …poor Bichaara ?• Is there development of farmers by outsiders only?• What next ethics for future agriculture …….• Development=sustainable

Thank u

Thank you