S.K Sharma
As per Food & Agriculture Organisation 60% of the total population of India contributes to Agriculture Factor. India is one of the top ten countries blog in the world that contributes most to agriculture. Other countries are China, USA, Brazil, Russia, France, Japan, Germany and Turkey.
China is the world’s largest producer of many agricultural products including rice, wheat, corn, potatoes, soya beans, cotton and tobacco. Livestock production is also significant component of China’s agricultural sector. China’s agriculture sector has undergone significant modification and transformation because of government policies aims at improving productivity, improving infrastructure and expanding market access which has resulted in agricultural output. The United States is one of the world’s largest producer and exporter of agricultural products and the industry employs the millions of people across the country.
The USA is using modern techniques and farming practices to increase yields and efficiencies. Agriculture is Brazil’s one of the most important industries, accounting for significant portion of country’s economy and employment. Brazil is a major global production and exporter of agriculture commodities.
Agriculture is one of the most important sector of Indian economy accounting for about 17% of India’s GDP and employing worth 50% of country’s workforce. India is the world’s largest producer of food and agricultural products after China.
India is leading in production of milk, pulses and jute. Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan (M.S. Swaminathan), leader of India’s green revolution, agricultural scientist who introduced to end famine in India in 1960. The green revolution within India led to an increase in agricultural production especially in Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh by developing high yielding variety of seeds of wheat. The method of green revolution focused on three basic elements i.e.
- Using seeds with improved genetics (high yielding variety seeds)
- Double cropping in the existing farm land.
- The continuing expansion of farming areas (Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi) approved the umbrella scheme, green revolution – ‘Krishonnati Yojana’ in the agricultural sector for the period of three years (2017-2020) with the central share of Rs 33,269.976 crore.
Schemes under it and other also look to develop agricultural and allied sector in a scientific and holistic manner so is to increase the income of farmers by increasing productivity, production and better returns on produce strengthening production, infrastructure reducing the cost of production and marketing of culture and allied products.
The schemes which are part of the umbrella schemes under the green revolution are:
MIDH, NFSM, NMSA, SMAE, SMSP, SMAM, SMPPQ, ISASES, ISAC,
ISAM AND NeGP.
India has already attained self-sufficiency in food grains however, of late focus is on nutrition. UN had declared 2023 as year of millet. Millets have low GI and high nutritional value and can be produced in warm weather with poor soil.
Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi has launched many schemes for the upliftment of farmers and agricultural sector which has attained a reasonable level.
The above mentioned top countries in Agricultural Production have adopted to agriculture technology to boost its agricultural production which involves the production of food through new ways including vertical farming, agricultural transformation known as Agritech which has assumed exceeding the important role in most countries.
Technological solutions like AI, drone technology, E-commerce in put markets, Robotics, LOT, block chain, GI Software, GPS Agriculture, Set light imagery, Merging Data Sets, Indoor vertical farming, precision agriculture, Automated irrigation systems, Automated milk systems and Animal pest control are poised to address many problems including low productivity, high input cost, volatile prizes, lack of market access and poor infrastructure.
Prominent Companies adopting these techniques are Aero farms, Arcadia Bio Sciences (NASDAQ; RKDA), Origin Agritech ltd., and Agricoll based in the US, China, Germany, France respectively.
India is now moving ahead towards nutritional security after achieving self sufficiency in food production.
However, Dairy Farming Sector has yet to face many more challenges because of ever growing need of milk and its products. Though India is a country with the most number of cattles and leading in milk production yet demand for milk is increasing day by day because of population expression and increasing buying capacity.
According to summary of Animal Husbandry Statistics-2023, milk production in India is 230.58 million tonnes and the same was 165.40 million tonnes in 2016-17. Trends are showing growth in milk production every year. Uttar Pradesh tops in state wise share of milk production with 15.729 whereas Jammu 85 Kashmir (excluding Ladakh) has 1.22% of share in state wise share of milk production.
If per capita availability of milk during 2022-23 is scan Jammu & Kashmir is better placed with 572 gms per day as compared to national average of 459gms per day. Jammu & Kashmir has recorded milk production of 2817.31 (figures in 1000 tonnes) during 2022-23 as compared to 2726.79 production a year before 2022-23. Thus, there is consistent growth of milk production even in Jammu 85 Kashmir. Government of India has launched various beneficing schemes for farmers including dairy farmers yet lot is required to be done at all levels viz:- Government, private partners to boost the milk production Jammu 86 Kashmir in particular. Dairy farming sector has not been made the part of industrial sector so all the benefits which have been extended to industries, dairy farming sector has been denied of that right.
Jammu and Kashmir accounts for 1.04% of India’s total Bovine Animal population. Dairy Farming is termed as backbone of Rural Economy of J&K UT.
As per ISS – 2020, the annual milk production in J&K is 25.94 lakh MT and the average Animal Milk Production as per Cow, in region stands 2380 Lt, which is higher than the National average. The Milk Economy in J&K is valued at 9080 crore which plays a crucial role in UT’s Agri-Economy.
There is a persistent growth in Dairy Farming with a focus on increasing Milk productivity under CSS-RGM and improving the quality of milk, besides upgrading milk collection, processing and marketing infrastructure under CCS-MPDD.
With the increasing demand for Dairy products and per capita availability of milk being lower than many milk potential states. The Dairy Sector is poised for significant growth in the UT, in the times to come. The holistic agriculture development programme is a comprehensive programme which aims to address various challenges being faced by Dairy Farmer also.
The HADP encompasses 29 innovative projects, including a visionary plan for J&K own the next 5 years. Focus is on increase in Milk Productivity through implementation of artificial insemination.
With this process, the aim is to achieve annual Milk Productivity from 2380 litres to 4300 litre by 2027. As on date AI coverage in JK UT is limited to 30% of Breedable and Bovines and in Jammu Division, it is only 17% whereas in developed Nations, it is 100%.
Many Districts have AI even below 10% its expansion is possible through increase of net worth of Govt, run AI Centres with Adequate trained AI technicians.
It is understandable that with the innovative ideas, already in place like
- Integrated Dairy Development Schemes
- Implementation of CCS – Rashtriya Gocal Mission.
- National programme on Dairy Development in Jammu & Kashmir, Milk Producers co-operative Ltd. for upgrading with milk holding capacity of milk cooperative sector from 1.05 LPD to 2.5 LPD.
- Insurance premium of Dairy Animals under CSS – National Live Mission.
Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS) also suffered from many deficiencies as there was no scope or provision for providing land. Special Economic Zone needs to be created which technology driven dairy farming is established so as to make this section more efficient and viable. JK Dairy Farming Association is making all out efforts to act as a bridge between establishment and dairy farmers to uplift this sector. Association has already apprised of Authorities regarding the further steps which if taken will give a boost to this sector. With the keen interest of Government of India and Government of JKUT, all these issues may be redressed.
Recently, Jammu Kashmir Dairy Farmers Associations has organized a Pashu Dhan Mela at Veterinary College, R. S. Pura. Sole aim of this mela was to apprise the Dairy Farmers about the high genetic breed animals, more than thirty stalls of feed, fodder, medicines and equipments were installed which spreaded awareness of quality products amongst the dairy farmers of that area which is considered as hub of dairy farming. This mela was organized with the collaboration of Animal Husbandry Department of JKUT. It was observed that the association was not provided adequate support except for the Department of Animal Husbandry for this valuable mega event.
All the Departments, Associations, politicians and elected representatives along with private players need to join hand for making such event more productive and meaningful. Anyway there is always next time.
(Writer is a Former IRS Officer)
