India 9th Biggest Grape Producer in World

With an industry less than 20 year old, India has not yet made a mark in the wine industry in the world but it is already the ninth biggest producer of grapes including the eating grapes with an estimated crop of 18.8 million quintals of grapes in 2010, according to Federico Castellucci, Director General of OIV, while releasing the World Statistics on grapes and wine at the 34th World Congress of Vine and Wine, reports Subhash Arora from Porto. Out of the 16 top producers led by Italy at 75 million quintals, only six nations – China, Turkey, Chile, India, Egypt and Brazil have demonstrated an increase while the rest have shown a decrease.

According to the statistics collected mostly from the member states, world wine production in 2010 fell to 1998 levels with only Argentina, China, South Africa and Chile seeing the production increase during 2005-10. The consumption showed a slight increase at .4% to 238 Million hL, thanks to the US, Germany, Australia, Canada and China which increased their consumption substantially with China becoming the 5th largest consumer.

India's sugar output to be 32 MT per year till 2020

Sugar production in India, the world's second biggest producer and largest consumer, is expected to be on an average 32 million tonnes (MT) per year for the next 10 years, says a latest report.

According to the Agriculture Outlook prepared jointly by Paris-based OECD and UN body FAO, global output of sugar is expected to soar to 209 MT in 2020-21 as against 158 MT in 2010-2011.

"India is expected to boost production substantially to 32 MT of sugar per year, on average, in the coming decade, or some 50% higher than 2008-10, when the production fell sharply," according to the report.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is a 34-member grouping of mostly developed nations, including the US and Germany.

According to the latest outlook, annual sugar output of India will continue to depend on periodic large swings in the production cycle, where two-three years of surplus is followed by two-three years of deficit, it said.

After a jump to 30.1 MT in 2006-07, the country's sugar output declined to 15.2 MT in 2008-09 and is currently estimated at 28 MT ( in raw value) for 2010-11, it added.

As per the report, the sugar demand in India has been growing steadily at about four per cent per year over the past 10 years. Therefore, the domestic production and consumption balance moves from periods of surpluses and deficits, leading to often significant changes in the trade position.

On global front, the OECD-FAO report said the world's sugar output is likely to increase by 50 MT to reach over 209 MT in 2020-21 in response to the rising demand of sugar and its by-products and relatively high market prices.

The bulk of the additional sugar output will come from the developing countries and the main burden of growth will continue to fall on Brazil, the world's biggest sugar producer, it said.

"The potential for expanding sugar production in India exists and can be fully exploited if adjustments were introduced to ensure a market driven relationship between sugar and sugarcane prices," it added.

Suggesting India to relax some of the existing measures such as the monthly releases, the report said, "This could provide sugar factories some cash flow flexibility".

Regarding decontrol of the Indian sugar sector, the report said: "The liberalisation of the sugar industry can only be undertaken within the context of broader domestic reforms, because of the linkages on both demand and supply sides that prevail in agricultural commodity markets".

On sugar prices, the report pointed out that "major uncertainies remain in the international sugar market".

In the light of the relatively tight world market situation at present, any major production disruptions in the main producing countries of Brazil and India, could radically change the market outlook in the near term, igniting further bouts of high volatility, it said. re � p r � ( �Q' wth in 2008-09.
"Food and agri sector has a strong base in the state and there is plenty of scope for setting up agro-based industries like food processing, sugar and sunflower. The state must promote small-scale, tiny, artisan units to reduce poverty and unemployment through low-capital investment," said Modi.

ASSOCHAM has set a benchmark of 6 per cent annual growth rate in agri sector's contribution to the GSDP crossing Rs 1 lakh crore mark by the end of this decade from levels of around Rs 60,000 crore as in 2008-09. This will require investment worth Rs 1.8 lakh crore until 2020.

The Chamber said that the state government needed to make significant changes to its agriculture policy considering the state was lagging behind its competing states in terms of technological advancement in agri sector. There is dearth of reliable and timely information procedure, lack of information on current prices, trends in various national and international markets, disturbance in demand-supply patterns, scientific forecasting, says the body.

CII for enhanced farm mechanization in India

The Confederation of Indian Industry, a premier Industry body has recommended intensification of agricultural activity through increased farm mechanization, given limited availability of land and imperative for food security in India.

“Identification of farm mechanization needs and development of need based farm implements are of prime importance” stated Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Chairman, CII National Council on Agriculture.

According to the CII press release, it is time to move the policy from ‘Rupees per Kilo’ to ‘Rupees per Acre’. The policy framework should encourage farmers to move towards greater use of farm equipment which will lead to higher agricultural productivity and thus higher farm incomes and crop yields.

CII proposes an action agenda covering policy framework, availability of farming machinery and equipment, and financial measures for promoting farm mechanization. To begin with, CII recommends that a joint government and private sector working group be established to suggest a roadmap. A National Mission on Farm Mechanization should undertake activities in an intensive manner, suggests CII.

According to CII, availability of farm implements and machinery would hinge on maintaining a stock of such equipment at state agro corporations or agri universities for deployment on farms when needed. This could be done on a hire-purchase or lease basis so that small and medium farmers as well as large farms could access them as required. CII suggests a range of measures such as accelerated depreciation, tax exemptions, zero duties, etc to incentivize purchase of machinery.

Access to technology would also be a point to consider, says the CII press release. Technology transfer from foreign firms could be promoted through joint ventures. R&D facilities could also be established, recommends CII, while learning for farmers could be carried out through tailored distance programs leveraging IT and telecom.

CII also suggests a complete finance mechanism for facilitating leasing of farm machinery by small, medium and large farmers. Loans should be offered on agricultural interest rates and lending norms should be liberal, flexible and transparent.

The participation of private industry in farm mechanization would be critical, feels CII. Dedicated extension programs in public-private partnership mode would be needed. Suitable solutions taking into account crop types, seasons, and soil types must be developed which would be facilitated through industry.

Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, said, “While selective mechanization in our country has improved agricultural conditions in certain parts of the country, it is still a bottom of the pyramid story and it will remain so unless concrete measures are taken to propel farmers towards adoption of efficient farm mechanization practices. Setting up of a farm mechanization mission is thus the need of the hour.”

Despite significant improvements in crop productivity during the Green Revolution, yields in India have nearly stagnated for two decades and are around 35-50% below international averages. Yield differences are also apparent across states, pointed out the CII press release.

Experts estimate that by 2025, agriculture productivity should increase by 100% to sustain the projected population of 1.363 billion. According to CII, this can only be achieved through intensifying agriculture which is aided by mechanization inputs.

However, huge gaps exist in the levels of mechanization in India in comparison to the world. For example, in Argentina, a food exporting nation, 9.4% of the population is engaged in agriculture and the level of mechanization is 75%, while in China the respective proportions are 64.9 and 38. In India, 52% of the population works in agriculture, but the level of mechanization is just 30%.

CII believes that apart from increasing productivity, the use of farm mechanization enlarges employment opportunities in farm and non-farm sectors through increase in area under plough, multiple cropping, development of agro-industries and related services. Further, the drudgery of human labour is reduced and unhygienic operations such as handling of farm yard manure can be done with machinery. Farm mechanization is also increasingly important because of workers moving away from farming activity, as well as increase in the cost of upkeep of animals.

Assocham releases study on 2nd green revolution; sees better growth for AP
India's population was estimated to touch 1.4 billion by 2020 and hence the agricultural sector must grow by 4 per cent each year to support this huge number, according to a study on Second Green Revolution: Role in Transforming Indian Agriculture released by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) at a Global Summit on Green Revolution II: Growth Engine for Transformation in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

"Indian agricultural sector needs to be revamped to meet future demand and nutritional security of this huge population. Next green revolution with a focus on holistic development of agri sector is imperative to support small, marginal farmers in sustaining their livelihood," said Dilip Modi, president, Assocham, at the summit.

"Provision for end-to-end services, solutions to problems faced by farmers and providing a linkage to market is significant to facilitate access to better technology and other resources," added Modi.

Innovations in technology, investments in R&D and revamping of the PDS (Public Distribution System) are some of the suggestions made in the Assocham study.

Introduction to new technologies was required to realise the business potential and employment opportunities in agri sector to boost income from agri sector together with growth and development of the sector, said the study.

The study suggested that investments, particularly in research and development (R&D), would enhance agricultural growth by a great extent and provide over 50 per cent return in research and extension process. Only 0.5 per cent of India's agricultural GDP was invested in R&D.

Investments in agricultural research and development process can be increased through the public-private partnership (PPP) model. A cost-sharing strategy can help minimise the financial woes of R&D in agri sector and encourage various stakeholders like local government, private sector to conduct agricultural research programmes to inform and educate small-marginal, poor farmers about good production, the study suggested.

Such a mechanism would result in enhancing production of goods, services and technologies which could be produced alone by either of the sectors. The PPP would effectively utilise global resources for development of sustainable agri system across India and good researchers for solving agriculture-related problems.

Focussing on the persistent problem of PDS (Public Distribution System), the study said that failed distribution system together with crippled post-harvest infrastructure led to rotting of food grains.

Thus, the next green revolution should focus on ensuring food and nutritional security to the masses especially, people living below poverty line constituting almost 30 per cent of India's aggregate population.

"An inclusive market-oriented approach can revolutionise India's agricultural sector, lure youngsters to take it as a business venture and shun conventional career options and come up with better agricultural practices to improve productivity and quality," said D S Rawat, secretary-general, Assocham.

"Suitable technological advancements is the need of the hour to achieve new breakthroughs in agriculture. Besides, improving farmers' skills will help diversify the sector and minimise risks involved and foster an ecosystem for innovations from within the agri community," added Rawat.

The cropping pattern also needed to undergo transformation and to ensure nutritionally- oriented cropping pattern and production technologies. The government should collaborate with nutrition and agricultural scientists, suggests the ASSOCHAM-ICRISAT study.

Andhra Pradesh Vision 2020

Meanwhile, a Vision 2020 document brought out by ASSOCHAM shows that Andhra Pradesh has the potential to grow at an annual rate of 9 per cent as against the rate of around 5.45 per cent for 2009-10.

Although, agri sector contributes over 25 per cent to Andhra Pradesh's GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) and 70 per cent of its population is engaged in and dependent on agriculture and allied activities, the sector registered a meagre 1.2 per cent growth in 2008-09.
"Food and agri sector has a strong base in the state and there is plenty of scope for setting up agro-based industries like food processing, sugar and sunflower. The state must promote small-scale, tiny, artisan units to reduce poverty and unemployment through low-capital investment," said Modi.

ASSOCHAM has set a benchmark of 6 per cent annual growth rate in agri sector's contribution to the GSDP crossing Rs 1 lakh crore mark by the end of this decade from levels of around Rs 60,000 crore as in 2008-09. This will require investment worth Rs 1.8 lakh crore until 2020.

The Chamber said that the state government needed to make significant changes to its agriculture policy considering the state was lagging behind its competing states in terms of technological advancement in agri sector. There is dearth of reliable and timely information procedure, lack of information on current prices, trends in various national and international markets, disturbance in demand-supply patterns, scientific forecasting, says the body.

US raises India's sugar import quota

In a bid to ease a supply shortage of sugar amid surging retail prices, the US has boosted its import quota for raw sugar by 120,000 tonnes including 1,421 tonnes from India.

With the addition of 120,000 tonnes to the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for the 2011 fiscal year ending Sep 30, the quota now totals 1.676 million tonnes, the US Department of Agriculture said Wednesday.

Sugar is the only major agricultural commodity produced in the US that is subject to import quotas. The limits were established to benefit domestic growers. Mexico became exempt from the quota in 2008 under the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Announcing country-specific allocations of additional in-quota quantity of the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for imported raw cane sugar, the US Trade Representative (USTR) said TRQs allow countries to export specified quantities of a product to the US at a relatively low tariff, but subject all imports of the product above a pre-determined threshold to a higher tariff.

One of the major responsibilities of Dr Bakshi has been in designing the Organisational and Business Restructuring of NABARD and spearheading initiatives in Cooperative portfolios, Core Banking Solutions for Cooperative Banks, rural infrastructure and direct financing. He has also headed the Kerala and Tamil Nadu Regional Offices of NABARD. Dr Bakshi was member of the Team that designed and replicated the ‘Self Help Groups (SHGs) – Bank Linkage Programme’ which is today the largest and fastest growing microFinance Programme of the World. He was also associated with the Committee on Cooperative Credit Structuring set up by the Centre. under Prof. Vaidyanathan and has negotiated with the GoI, ADB, World Bank and KfW for funding the legal and institutional reforms for rural cooperatives, the release said.

Bakshi takes charge as Nabard chairman

Dr Prakash Bakshi has assumed charge as chairman of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

A PhD in Economics, Dr Bakshi started his career as a lecturer at Ravishankar University, Raipur before joining the Reserve Bank of India in 1979. Dr Bakshi was executive director of NABARD and has been in charge of various departments such as Cooperative Revival and Reforms, Institutional Development, Farm Sector, Non-Farm Sector, micro Credit Innovations and Financial Inclusion initiatives, said a press release.

One of the major responsibilities of Dr Bakshi has been in designing the Organisational and Business Restructuring of NABARD and spearheading initiatives in Cooperative portfolios, Core Banking Solutions for Cooperative Banks, rural infrastructure and direct financing. He has also headed the Kerala and Tamil Nadu Regional Offices of NABARD. Dr Bakshi was member of the Team that designed and replicated the ‘Self Help Groups (SHGs) – Bank Linkage Programme’ which is today the largest and fastest growing microFinance Programme of the World. He was also associated with the Committee on Cooperative Credit Structuring set up by the Centre. under Prof. Vaidyanathan and has negotiated with the GoI, ADB, World Bank and KfW for funding the legal and institutional reforms for rural cooperatives, the release said.

G B Pant Agriculture University confers doctorate to YES BANK CEO

Mr. Rana Kapoor, Founder, Managing Director & CEO, YES BANK has been conferred a “Doctorate in Science (Honoris Causa)” at the 27th Convocation of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology that was held on May 20, 2011 at Pant Nagar.

The degree was awarded by H.E. Governor of Uttarakhand Smt. Margaret Alva. The Guest of Honour was Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary DARE, Government of India and Director General Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR).

G.B. Pant University is one of the foremost institutions in the country for agricultural education and research, and Mr. Rana Kapoor was bestowed upon this honour for his significant contribution to the Food & Agribusiness sector in India, through innovative banking for farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs through a Knowledge driven approach. He has been instrumental in promoting agri-eco tourism (including forestry tourism in Uttarakhand) in collaboration with European countries with technical assistance from scientists of the GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar.

Other noteworthy personalities who have been conferred with this Doctorate include Dr. Manmohan Singh, Honorable Prime Minister of India, Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Group, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder, Chairman and Group CEO of Bharti Enterprises, KP Singh, Chairman & CEO, DLF Ltd, Late Norman Borlaug, Nobel Laureate and ‘Father of Green Revolution’, Islam A Siddiqui, Chief Agricultural Negotiator of USA and Dr. Robert S Zeigler, Director General of IRRI, Manila, Philippines among others.

Speaking on this momentous occasion, Mr. Rana Kapoor, Founder, Managing Director & CEO, YES BANK said, “It’s an honour to receive this prestigious Doctorate from such a reputed INDIAN university for my ongoing contribution to the Indian Agriculture sector. I firmly believe that these pioneering developmental initiatives will play a catalytic role in the Inclusive Growth and Development of a TRANSFORMATIONAL INDIA. It is essential to address the gaps between the policy formulators, the investors, banking community and the farmers, as we aspire to truly evolve as the Food Basket & Food factory for the domestic and Global economies, and strengthen Food Security in our country.”

Under the leadership of Mr. Rana Kapoor, YES BANK has also been driving efforts for development of Agri-Infrastructure on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. YES BANK has been actively associating as Knowledge Partners with various industry forums, trade bodies, summits and Chambers of Commerce such as CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM and ICC, over the past several years. The Bank has been instrumental in planning and implementing Agro Food Parks, which is a unique transition of Indian Agriculture and Food Processing Industry to an organized, high-tech and safe, demand-led, and high-value orientation with considerable employment generation.

YES BANK has also been a pioneer in conceptualizing Modern Terminal Markets (MTM) in association with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Government of India, which is a path breaking initiative envisaged a shortening the supply chain of perishables, and enhancing their efficiency resulting in increased income to the farmers.

Earlier, in March 2011, Mr. Rana Kapoor received the ‘Entrepreneurial Banker of the Decade 2001 - 2010’ award from Bombay Management Association (BMA). Mr. Kapoor was recently appointed as the Chairman of the FICCI Maharashtra State Council. He is a Member of the Government of India’s Board of Trade. Mr. Kapoor is also a Member of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), established by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.

Agri ministry for 3-5 mt rice exports

The ministry of agriculture has recommended allowing export of three-five million tonnes (mt) of rice, following a bumper crop this year. This is based on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) in its report on minimum support price (MSP) for kharif crops.

“The buffer stock of foodgrain is around 65 mt as against a desired level of 30-35 mt,” official sources said. The country banned shipments of wheat in early 2007 and non-basmati rice in April 2008 to bolster domestic supplies. The central pool collected a total foodgrain stock (wheat and rice) of 65.6 mt in June this year, almost triple the quantity collected five years ago, according to the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

The agriculture ministry increased MSP of common variety of raw rice to an all-time high of Rs 1,080 a quintal and an additional bonus of Rs 80 a quintal. Due to high inflationary condition, MSP for paddy was also fixed at Rs 1,080 per quintal, up from Rs 1,000 a quintal last year. The ministry has decided to declare bonus only if prices fall in the domestic market due to surplus existing stock and the government will not allow non-basmati rice exports, officials said.

The food and consumer affairs ministry on the other hand, has opposed the recommendation for export due to food security and high inflation. The government needs 70 mt of rice and wheat to meet demands of the proposed Food Security Act, under which the Centre plans to give legal rights on subsidised food to about 70 per cent of the country’s population.

In February, expecting a record rice production and surplus stocks with FCI, the government partially rolled back the ban on non-basmati rice exports. It allowed export of up to 150,000 tonnes of three varieties of non-basmati rice. These varieties are ponni, rosematta and sona masuri, grown in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Before the rice export ban in 2008, the country used to export around Rs 8,000 crore worth of non-basmati rice annually.

A study on aromatic short grain rice prepared by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority has identified varieties such as kalanamak, tilakchandan and jeerabati (UP), kala jeera (Orissa), katrani ( Bihar), ambemohar (Maharashtra), govindbhog and badshahbhog (West Bengal), dubraj, badshahbhog and jawaphool (Chhattisgarh) and kala joha (Assam) which could be harnessed and developed for their export potential.

India, China to conduct study on climate change

Controversy over the dam over Brahmaputra notwithstanding, India and China would soon start a joint study of Brahmaputra-Salween and the Kangchenjunga landscapes to find out the impact of climate change on the local habitation, as desired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The environment ministry has sought the external affairs ministry’s approval to spend US $ one million for these studies to be conducted, under the aegis of the Kathmandu based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), a specialized body on Himalayan bio-diversity.

The initiative is part of a government bid to have a collaborative effort to study the Himalayan ecosystem spread over India, China, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.

The Brahmaputra-Salween landscape is an important component of the eastern Himalayan ecosystem, which is recognized as a focal point of plant biodiversity and is the last intact natural forest biosphere, which is relatively undisturbed.

The background note for the study, however, identifies shifting agriculture and illegal wildlife trade as major challenge for the Brahmaputra Salween landscape. While China has done lot of research, India and Myanmar lacks enough documents on threats to its north-eastern bio-diversity.

In addition, ICIMOD has identified climate change as a major threat and stressed on the need for having a strategy to deal with these challenges. Dehradun based G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development will represent India in the multi-lateral research project.

The bio-diversity management of Kangchenjuna landscape spread over western Bhutan, Sikkim, Darjeeling and eastern Nepal, is equally important. In the last few decades the landscape has undergone huge deterioration and through this project the government aims at transboundary improvement.

“We took the first step in case of Mount Kailash. Now, we have sought approval of MEA for two more transboundary conservation projects,” environment minister Jairam Ramesh told HT.

PM Singh had asked the ministry to initiate regional programmes on glaciology for better understanding of their intricate behaviour. In all there are 33,000 glaciers in Himalayas, of which 10,000 to 12,000 are in India. Although satellite mapping of most glaciers has been done, the on ground study of glaciers has been minimal.

To improve understanding of glaciers, the government has decided to give US $ one million as a one time grant to the ICIMOD Foundation and increase its yearly contribution. The government will be giving US $ one million for a period of three years starting from 2012 as compared to less than half a million US dollars to ICIMOD between 2007 and 2001.

India requires a Ministry for Climate Change: Prasada Rao

When Gondi Sri Lakshmi Hari Vara Prasada Rao submitted his Ph.D. thesis in 1970’s, there were references to climate change in it. “At that time, I was laughing with in me...climate change...Nobody had heard of it, let alone referred to it.”

Now after four decades, GSLHV Prasada Rao Ph.D is the Special Officer, Academy of Climate Change Education and Research (ACCER) one of the bright spots in the fight against climate change. ACCER is run by the Kerala Agriculture University in South India.

In a chat with Rakesh Neelakandan of Commodity Online, Rao expressed the view that India requires a Ministry for Climate Change. He spoke about how climate variability and not climate change is affecting crops, how climate change effects can be mitigated by small but concrete steps in crop management among many other things. Excerpts:

CO: Can the terms climate change and global warming used interchangeably?

PR: First of all, it is global warming and climate change and not climate change and global warming. Because of global warming there is likely to be changes in weather systems. Once it is there for a long-term, it is climate change.

CO: How climate change affects crops and crop prices?

PR: Climate change is having indirect effect on crops. It is not the climate change that affects crops. It is climate variability. Climate variability is short-term while climate change is long term. Climate change is referred to as any significant change in climatic parameters like temperature and rain fall in any given period with reference to long period averages: the thirty years between 1961 and 1990(which is fixed by the IPCC).

But, climate variability is a short-term change; may be seasonal, may be annual. It can prove to be more dangerous to crops.

We may conclude that climate change is fuelling climate variability affecting the crops which in turn affect the prices.

CO: So what keep the scientists occupied...?

PR: Global warming is likely to impact the atmospheric process. That keeps the scientists worried. Whether the one degree Celsius rise is likely to change the atmospheric process in terms of monsoon uncertainties, heavy cyclones, floods, droughts, heat waves, cold waves, cloud bursts...scientists are worried about them.

Additionally, the frequency of the ravages is likely to increase according to climate model outputs.

CO: How modelling is employed in climate change studies?

PR: Impact analysis of climate change on crops is done through modelling. The parameters in the form of increase in temperature, increase in carbon-di-oxide etc. are provided as inputs into the models. It is a simulation exercise.

When there is increase in temperature, increase in CO2 levels beyond certain optimum levels, they are likely to have adverse effects. This is generally projected as decline in yields. This is irrespective of temperate or tropical regions.

But, because of climate change, if one speaks of crops, that is a question mark. After all, it is modelling only.

CO: How can we mitigate the effects of climate change?

PR: In 2004, due to hydrological drought, black pepper vines in Wayanad were wiped out. There was no water in the rivers, so the farmers could not irrigate. Temperature was high.

But if the combination of black pepper and coffee were employed, it could have withstood the adverse effects of climate change; as coffee would have. It is a traditional practise. Not something new.

If there are proper water outlet systems in paddy fields, it could, in one way save the paddy fields as unexpected rains arrive. These are some simple measures, but can bring huge changes. For instance, managing the timely availability of machines employed in harvesting...

In kharif season, the temperature cannot go beyond 30 degree Celsius. That being the case, paddy can tolerate 34 or even 40 degree Celsius of temperature rise. But the fields have to be irrigated properly. Technology is to be employed.

CO: Is climate change something new? How humans affect climate change?

PR: No. Climate change is a cyclical activity. It is something natural. But it happens once in a while, once in 0.1 million years or so; of which we cannot predict. But after 1998, the planet was spotted warming continuously, the rate of which is unprecedented. So, global warming is deemed human induced.

CO: Is climate change a hoax?

PR: That is not correct, not at all correct. There are more than 2500 scientists across the world. And climate change’s effects are studied throughout the world. When it comes to the definition of climate change, there is unanimity. So, climate change is well defined...global warming is real...polar ice is melting. The IPCC has said this.

CO: What the governments can do about climate change?

PR: Climate change affects a whole gamut of sectors. Climate change affects human health, it affects, animals, it affects agriculture. So, there should be a ministry for it: a ministry of climate change. There should also be more studies carried out in the topic.

And for that, in addition to policy response, we need more Human Resources.

MSc. Integrated Climate Change Adaptation is our response to climate change. An integrated five year programme, it offers electives in agriculture, veterinary and animal sciences, fisheries, forestry, biodiversity, water resources and health. The course is the first-of-its-kind in Asia.

The course is being initiated at the Kerala Agriculture University and would provide students the capability to make recommendations on future adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Global conference on mango in Lucknow from June 21

Lucknow is hosting a global conference on mango and the challenges facing the crop and its growers in backdrop of changing climatic conditions.

India, being the world’s second largest producer of fruits, is endowed with rich genetic diversity of over 1,000 mango varieties. Although India is the leading mango producer, the per hectare yield is much lower compared to several other countries.

The international event ‘Augmenting Production and Utilization of Mango: Biotic and Abiotic Stresses’ is being organised from June 21 by Lucknow-based Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH), a constituent of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The event would witness presentations on the theme and lead speakers from potential mango growing countries namely USA, South Africa, Astralia, Spain, Indonesia, Thailand, etc.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries Harish Rawat will be present for the All India Mango Show. The event will also feature ‘Mango Expo-2011’ to showcase mango varieties from different regions of India, technological innovations and stalls from input supplying firms, agencies and institutions.

CISH Director and Organizing Secretary for the conference H Ravishankar said India topped the list in mango production and acreage at 15.02 million tonnes and 2.51 million hectares respectively.

However, India’s productivity at about 6.80 tonnes per hectare was much behind countries, such as, Brazil (16.8), Indonesia (10.9), Pakistan (10.6), Mexico (10.5), Bangladesh (9.5) and China (8.8).

He said mango provided plenty of opportunities, but posed number of challenges of production, post harvest management, processing into value added products and utilisation of mango wastes.

With the changing climate scenario across the globe, many new biotic and abiotic stresses were emerging as challenges. Besides, new scientific and technological innovations had also been developed leading to better understanding of genes, genomics, physiology, production systems and utilisation, which required to be harmonised to ensure profitability and sustainability in mango production, he noted.

In this background, the conference aims to provide an interactive platform for deliberation on issues confronting the global mango industry and develop a roadmap for sustainable production and utilisation of mango through networking.

The four-day conference will have four workshops on conservation technologies, genes and genomics, production of quality planting materials and eco-friendly technologies.

Acreage rises for cotton, shrinks for paddy

As kharif sowing begin in irrigated belts of India, farmers are changing the sowing pattern depending on the remunerative prices they got in the previous year. Cotton prices, which touched a 140-year high this season, is expected to see an increase in acreage in prime growing states of Gujarat and Maharshtra. Across Punjab and Haryana, where more than 90% of the sowing has been completed, farmers have moved from paddy cultivation to cotton this year owing to better returns this season. In Punjab, the acreage increased by 87,000 hectares, touching 5.70 lakh hectares.

Similarly in Haryana, the cotton acreage is expected to have increased by 20% at 6 lakh hectares. The production is expected to touch 25.44 lakh bales, compared to 17.44 lakh bales during the 2010-11 marketing season. Cotton Association of India president Dhiren N Seth said that cotton acreage in the country was likely to increase by 10% to 15% in 2011-12 season with farmers moving from sowing soyabean, groundnut and rice. In 2010-11 , area under cotton was 11.16 million hectares. In Maharashtra, where sowing is yet to begin, cotton acreage is expected to see a 10% increase to 43.50 lakh hectare with production targeted to increase by 24 5 lakh bales at 95.96 lakh bales (one bale=170 kg). Farmers in Gujarat are likely to move from oil seeds and groundnut to cotton this season . State agriculture officers have targeted to cover over 26 lakh hectares under cotton with a production of over 105 lakh bales this season.

In Rajasthan , the cotton acreage has seen a jump from 3.35 lakh hectares to 3.80 lakh hectares . With the start of the South-West monsoon in June, paddy nursery sowing has started across India. According to the agriculture ministry's third advance estimate, rice production in the kharif 2010-11 season is expected at 80.38 million tonne, while the total output in the 2010-11 season is expected at 94.11 million tonne. Industry watchers feel that the acreage under paddy across India is likely to increase by 10% to 15% this year. Timely onset of monsoon has been a mixed blessing for the paddy cultivators in Kerala.

In low-lying Kuttanad region, almost 500 hectares of freshly sown paddy was totally flooded. But in Palakkad , the timely arrival of rains is expected to benefit the paddy crop. The district has the largest area of about 55,000 hectares in the state where total acreage under paddy is 2.34 lakh hectare. "Sowing of paddy in West Bengal is yet to set in as there has been not much rain in the state till date. However, we arehoping that rains will take off in another 4-5 days after which kharif sowing will begin ," said Palas Das, one of the leading paddy growers in the state. Area under paddy is expected to touch 58.3 lakh hectare in West Bengal .

The Uttar Pradesh agriculture director Mukesh Gautam said that they have targetted sowing of paddy on 59.60 lakh hectares and a production of 135 lakh tonne this year. Last year, the state produced 119.40 lakh tonne rice and it is estimated to increase by 16 lakh tonne on favourable weather conditions. However, in Punjab and Haryana , where water availability is a major concern, the paddy acreage is expected to reduce this year. The Punjab agriculture department has projected that the area under paddy may drop to 27.50 lakh hectares from 28.31 lakh hectares in 2010-11 . Similarly in Haryana, area under paddy is expected to be 12 lakh hectares from 12.45 lakh hectares last year. According to the Indian Maize Development Association president Sain Dass, maize, which is largely cultivated in the raid-fed areas, is waiting for a good monsoon . "Since good rainfall has been predicted, the production should be higher than the previous year's . In the last few years, about 1 million hectares have been added ," he said.

The production touched 20 million tonne last year. In Karnataka, maize will be sown on 12.7 lakh hectares, in Andhra Pradesh on 6.8 lakh hectares and in Tamil Nadu on 2.5 lakh hectares. In Uttar Pradesh, maize acreage is aimed at 8.14 lakh hectares and the production is expected to hit 14.55 lakh tonne. In Maharashtra, area is expected to increase by 5% at 7.65 lakh hectares and a production of 22.57 lakh tonne is expected. Soyabean acreage is expected to decline by over 4% at 25.30 lakh hectare in 2011-12 with production seeing a mere 2% fall at 39.22 lakh tonne. "Soyabean acreage will go up by 50,000 hectare in Madhya Pradesh, though acreage may decline in Maharashtra. We expect the acreage to increase in south India," said Rajesh Agarwal , spokesperson of the Soyabean Processors Association of India. Also, acreage of guar is expected to shrunk from 30.01 lakh hectares to 27 lakh hectares in Rajasthan .

The production is estimated at 10.8 lakh tonne – down by around 5 lakh tonne from the last year's actual production. The targeted acreage for bajra in Rajasthan is likely to be 50 lakh hectares as against 54.89 lakh hectares last year. Last year, there was a bumper production of bajra with a total output of 60 lakh tonne as against the average production of 32.39 lakh tonne. This year, the targetted production is kept at 45 lakh tonne. Similarly, bajra acreage in Uttar Pradesh is targetted to be at 9.50 lakh hectares and the production is aimed at 16.80 lakh tonne. Gautam said that total kharif sowing in Uttar Pradesh would be on about 87.62 lakh hectares compared to 83 lakh hectares last year.

A similar trend is also to be seen in Maharashtra where jowar and bajra acreage is expected to fall by 10% at 18.66 lkah hectares and the prodcution by 5.3% at 23.78 lakh tonne. The targetted area under cultivation for oilseeds in Rajasthan is expected to decline. As against last year's acreage of 29.05 lakh hectares, this year's target has been set at 26 lakh hectare.

Admin orders vigilance in black marketing of seeds, fertilizer

AMRAVATI: Taking cognisance of complaints from farmers about non-availability of seeds and fertilizers in some parts of the division, divisional commissioner Praveen Singh Pardeshi has directed agriculture departmentofficials to ensure sufficient seeds and fertilizers supply immediately. Pardeshi took stock of availability of seed and fertilizers in the region at a meeting held on Tuesday.

Addressing the meeting, Pardeshi directed officials to lodge FIR against shopkeepers indulging in malpractices and black marketing of seeds and fertilizers. He also directed arrest of shopkeepers who extort money from farmers.

Pardeshi further said agriculture officials should ensure sufficient supply of seeds and fertilizers in the region. He also said that distribution of seeds and fertilizers should be held under the vigilance of police. The administration has received complaints from farmers of Warud tehsil of Amravati district and some villages in Melghat about insufficient stock of seeds and fertilizers.

Speaking about crop loans, Pardeshi said State Bank of India, lead bank and DCC bank should convene a meeting to plan crop loans for farmers. He also instructed officials to complete the procedure of distribution of crop loans by July 15, 2011.

He also said that 7/12 documents provided to farmers through Setu offices should be held valid to provide loans to farmers. The administration has also formed 16 flying squads to check black marketing of seeds and fertilizers, with eight more squads in Akola, 14 squads in Buldhana, 7 squads in Washim and 17 in Yavatmal.

Special IG Mohan Rathod, who was present at the meeting, assured that the police department will provide complete cooperation to the agriculture department.

BS Dhillon is new VC of PAU

Eminent agricultural scientist Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon was appointed Vice Chancellor of Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) today. His name was cleared by the university’s Board of Management at a meeting in Chandigarh.

Dr Dhillon is known the world over for his scientific breakthroughs in maize breeding. A former Assistant Director-General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, he was chosen from among more than 12 top scientists for the post lying vacant after the tenure of Dr MS Kang came to an end on April 30.

Dr Dhillon will take up his new assignment by next week-end. An alumnus of PAU, it will be a homecoming for Dr Dhillon, who served his alma mater as Director of Research from 2005 to 2007. At present, he is working with the University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany, on maize biotechnology. Talking to The Tribune over the phone from Germany, Dr Dhillon said the biggest challenge before him was to bring agricultural research back on track. ‘‘I am confident that I will be able to organise funds for research.

It just requires the right perspective to convince the government on this. Motivating scientists is another major task that I will take up during my tenure,’’ he said. Dr Dhillon said that addressing the concerns of the farming community and educating them on conservation of resources and the judicious use of pesticides was the need of the hour.

Born in Amritsar in 1947, Dr Dhillon did his doctorate from Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi.

Expressing satisfaction over the appointment, former PAU VC Dr GS Kalkat said:“Dr Dhillon is a competent person and a good human being. He will take the university to greater heights".

''Early to say impact of below normal rains on agriculture''

New Delhi, June 21 (PTI) It is early to say if the projected below normal rains in the June-September period will affect farm yields of summer-sown crops, as it will depend on distribution of rainfall, former Science and Technology Minister Y K Alagh said today.The India Meteorological Department today said in its second forecast that south-west monsoon would be just below normal at 95 per cent of the long-term average, down from its earlier forecast of 98 per cent and just short of the 96-104 per cent range which is considered as normal monsoon."It is still too early to predict the impact of the monsoon on agriculture as it all depends on the possible break-up in the remaining three months," Alagh told PTI.At present, there has been less rain in Gujarat and the below normal monsoon could affect sowing of cotton in Gujarat and Maharashtra, the main cotton growing states, he said.Alagh, who is also an agro-economist, said that the government should educate farmers to go for drought resistant seeds in case the situation worsens.Meanwhile, Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) Director T K Adhya said that there was nothing to worry about the IMD forecast of below normal monsoon rains."The forecast is alright. There is nothing to worry. Even if monsoon is less but the rainfall is well distributed, it will help crops like paddy and others," he said.It is just the beginning of the monsoon season and paddy sowing will not be affected if rains are well distributed in rice growing states, he said, adding that planting of paddy is underway in Orissa, West Bengal and parts of Assam.The government has kept a rice production target of 102 million tonnes in the 2011-12 crop year. Last year, the country had harvested 94.11 million tonnes.The monsoon rains are crucial for summer-sown crops as about 60 per cent of the country''s agriculture is dependent on rains. Due to drought in 2009-10 and some parts of the country in 2010-11, the paddy production had suffered.

As on June 17, farmers have sown paddy in 10.35 lakh hectare, cotton in 21.65 lakh hectare, sugarcane in 50.94 lakh hectare, pulses in 2.86 lakh hectare, oilseeds in 3.47 lakh hectare and jute/mesta in 8.47 lakh hectare.

Rains below normal, but no fear of drought

this means there is less probability of a drought,” Tyagi said.A below-normal monsoon does not straightaway put India at risk of a drought, meteorological department chief Ajit Tyagi has said. However, patchy rains — not entirely ruled out — could disrupt a farm economy currently firing on all cylinders. “Our prediction model puts the chances of a drought at

Even so, the Centre is banking on the rains to be uniformly spread, which is the key for farm output.

A senior official said the Centre was ‘very alive’ to the situation. “Key ministries, such as the railways, agriculture and oil, will have to provide a co-ordinated and timely response in the unlikely event of a drought,” an official said

The Met department, revising its initial forecast on June 21, said the monsoon would be 95% — down from its April forecast of 98%. Falls between 96-104% are considered normal.

“In our annual kharif plan (for summer-sown crops), we have factored in all scenarios — from excess to less rainfall. But depending on rainfall distribution, we may have re-allocate resources,” a farm ministry official said.

The rains are crucial as two-thirds of Indians depend on farm income and 60% of crops do not have assured irrigation.

Poor rains affect rural incomes, increase government spending, as farmers may need to be given additional funds, and curtail welfare schemes. Though agriculture accounts for 14% of the GDP, rural incomes drive demand for manufactured goods, which keeps the economy going. According to a Citibank research, nearly half of all motorcycles are sold in rural India.

Though the government’s granaries are full up, India will need to procure 10 million tonne of additional grains if the food security bill is implemented this year.

The Met issues two monsoon forecasts. Though forecasting techniques have vastly improved, the Met has only managed to forecast the monsoon outcome correctly five times since 1994.

July rains crucial for Indian agriculture

Surplus rains in June nothwithstanding, downpours in July would be crucial for the Indian agriculture sector, investment bank Nomura has said.

"The Indian monsoon season (June-September) has started on a positive note. For the week ending 1st June, all-India rains were 12 per cent above normal," Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities Private Limited said in a statement.

However, it is July, not the June rains that matter for the agriculture sector, Nomura said in its Asia chart alert.

"Sowing of a number of crops starts in June and good July rains determine the soil moisture and ensure proper development of the crops planted in June," it said, adding it was too early to conclude the crop prospects for this year.

Monsoon rains, which account for 70 per cent of India's rainfall, is vital for kharif crops such as paddy, sugarcane, oilseeds and pulses.

Although it is too early to predict crop yields, Nomura noted, since the strong La Nina conditions are ending and weather conditions are neutral, it is a positive sign for the monsoons in the country.

The La Nina effect has been responsible for the massive flooding in Australia, it added.