Jairam Ramesh for minimum support price for minor forest produce

In an effort to wean away tribals from the Maoists, the Environment Ministry is pushing for a minimum support price for minor forest produce like bamboo and tendu patta. Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh is taking up the matter with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee .

A minimum support price (MSP) for minor forest produce (MFP) would help increase the earnings of the tribal population. At present, the more valuable items of minor forest produce, which includes bamboo and tendu patta can only be sold to state government bodies. While tribals can collect and utilise these minor forest products, the aggregation, processing, value addition and marketing of MFP is in the hands of local contractors, forest official . and forest produce marketing federations. The forest produce is procured from the tribals at very low prices fixed randomly by contractors. The local forest administration is seen to be complicit in this exploitation of the forest dwellers and tribals. A MSP would put an end to the widespread exploitation of tribals. Ramesh is of the view that since these areas fall within the purview Schedule V of the Constitution, the Centre has the power to step in and introduce MSP for minor forest produce.

Experts have pointed out that in the Dandakaranya forests stretching across eastern Maharashtra and south Chhattisgarh, one of the "confidence building" measures undertaken by the Maoists was negotiating "higher" price for the tribals with private contractors. Except the "higher" price was nowhere near the states' minimum wages. But the slight improvement in the earnings ensured that the tribals felt "indebted" to the Maoists. Delhi University's Nirmalangshu Mukherjee argues that the Maoists use the opportunity to work out a deal with the contractors, thereby securing a revenue stream for themselves. While MSP for the produce could help dent this steady revenue stream, it would be required to be administered.

Ramesh acknowledges that merely fixing MSP for minor forest produce will not change things. "The MSP for wheat and rice work because there is a FCI. A similar organisation for minor forest produce is required . The TRIFED could be with the requisite changes in the organsation, perform the same function," Ramesh said. A FCI like organisation, alongside the strict implementation of PESA, which would ensure that rights over MFP are assigned to gram sabhas, could do away with the role of middlemen, currently played by contractors, government controlled departments, and corporations. The minister said he would also take up this issue with the finance minister.

Keen to improve the standing of the forest administration with the tribal population, Ramesh is taking steps to refurbish the image of the forest official. A support price for minor forest produce is part of the slew of measures that have been suggested by the ministry. Other measures include such as amending the Indian Forest Act, 1927 to reduce harassment of forest dwellers, designating bamboo-a key subsistence product-as a minor forest produce, making the joint forest management committees subordinate to the gram sabhas or village assemblies. Through these efforts, Ramesh seeks to address the perception that the experience of the tribals with the forest administration, "the first representative of the state", could have contributed to fuelling support for Maoists in the forest-dominated districts.

In order to improve the interface between the state and tribals, the environment ministry has already eased norms for diversion of forest land for social infrastructure. District officials now take the decision to divert 2 hectares of forest land for setting up schools, dispensaries etc. Ramesh will soon take a decision on whether to increase this relaxation to 5 hectares for PMGSY roads to improve access.

The Cabinet has already approved amending the Indian Forest Act, 1927 to increase the limit to which fines for relatively minor offences can be compounded from 50 to 10,000. Aware that increasing the monetary limit to which offences can be compounded could lead harassment of tribals, the proposed amendment makes it mandatory for forest officials to consult and record the views of the gram sabha or village assembly, before deciding that the law had been violated. There has been some concern, that the amendment makes the gram sabha a consultative body. To address this, Ramesh plans to introduce a change in the proposed clause, making it mandatory for forest officials to go by the decision of the gram sabha.

Last month Ramesh wrote to state governments asking them to declare bamboo as a minor forest produce. The move is expected to address livelihood issues of forest dwellers and tribals for whom bamboo is a traditional source of subsistence.

Veg production estimated to rise by 6%

India's vegetables production is estimated to rise by 6 per cent in 2010-11 and recent high prices of onion were mainly on the back of lower and delayed arrivals in markets caused by initial damage to the crop due to unseasonal rain, Parliament was informed today.

Vegetable production in India is estimated to touch 141.3 million tonnes in 2010-11, against 133.5 million tonnes in 2009-10, Minister of State for Agriculture Arun Yadav said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

The minister said the recent high prices of kitchen staple onion were mainly due to lower and delayed arrivals in markets caused by initial damage to kharif crop on account of untimely rains during November and December, 2010 in some parts of major onion growing states Maharashtra. He said cultivation of all the major veggies including onion, tomato, peas, cabbage, beans and carrot, is estimated to see a rise in the current year vis-a-vis 2009-10. Onion, which had moved consumers to tears recently due to spike in prices to the level of Rs 70-85 a kg in retail, is expected to witness a rise by nearly 8 per cent in production in the current year as compared to last year.

The country is estimated to produce 13.1 million tonnes of onions in 2010-11, against 12.1 million tonnes last year, the minister said. Likewise, tomato crop is estimated to see 4 per cent growth in the current year, the minister added. India is likely to produce 12.9 million tonnes of tomato this year as compared to 12.4 million tonnes last year, he added. In reply to an another question, Yadav said post harvest losses due to transportation and due to godowns/warehouse/cold storage range from 0.1-0.2 and 0.2-0.6 per cent, respectively for selected cereals, Yadav said.

The same is 0.1-0.2 percentage for pulses and 0.4-3.1 and 0.3-2.2 percentage, respectively in selected vegetables, the minister said quoting a study carried out by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) from 2005 to 2007.

On mechanism to check prices of horticulture products, Yadav said the government has taken a number of short and medium term measures to keep their prices under control.

As short-term measures, Minimum Export Price (MEP) of onion was raised initially to $600 per tonne, which has now been brought down to $350 per tonne, he said, adding medium-term measures is to establish good post harvest management infrastructure in the country.

Centre consulting states for finalising National Dairy Plan

Central government in consultation with state governments is progressing towards finalising the National Dairy Plan (NDP), which aims to achieve 180 million tonnes of milk production by 2021—22.

“Consulation with state government is in progress for finalisation of NDP-Phase 1,” the Minister of state for Agriculture and Food Processing Arun Yadav said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The NDP phase-1, prepared by National Dairy Development Board, is a multi-state initiative to increase productivity of milch animals and thereby increase milk production to meet the growing demand, he said.

The minister said the government envisages increasing the share of organised sector in milk from the current 30 per cent to about 65 per cent of total marketable surplus of milk by year 2021-22.

The International Development Association (IDA) may provide grant-in-aid for implementation of NDP, he added.

India being the world’s largest milk producer is resorted to import of milk powder this year to meet the rising domestic demand and contain prices, which have increased 30 per cent in retail markets in the last one year.

India has inked 20 MoUs in the agriculture field in past 3 years

India has inked 20 MoUs in the field of agriculture with U.S., Russia, Italy and others in the last three years for cooperation in R&D and capacity building. Besides fostering bilateral partnership, India also entered into agreement in the farm sector in multilateral format. Broad based and inclusive multilateral cooperation is pursued through international organisations such as Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) etc, Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said in a written reply to Lok Sabha. Pawar said most recently the country signed MoUs with Indonesia and Afghanistan in January and February 2011 respectively. He said eight MoUs were signed in 2010 with Malawi, Botswana, Norway, USA, South Africa, Argentina, Austria and Tajikistan.

Rest 10 MoUs were inked in 2008 and 2009 with Russia, Canada, Italy, Spain, Brazil and Canada among others, he added.

Pawar said the areas for cooperation identified in these MOUs/agreements broadly include cooperation in research and development, capacity building, germplasm exchange, post harvest management and plant protection.

About benefits likely to accrue to the agri sector from such agreements, the minister said besides enhancing productivity at farmers’ field by developing appropriate technology, such cooperation also facilitates creation of opportunities for trade in agricultural commodities.

Dhanuka plans to buy seed firm

Agro-chemicals major Dhanuka Agritech plans to acquire a seed firm and expand its Sanand facility in Gujarat to double its production capacity by the end of next fiscal.

As the demand for better seeds and pesticides is rising and so the company wants to tap the opportunity. “We are planning to acquire a seed company for around Rs 50-crore within a year," informed Dhanuka Agritech's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), V K Bansal.

The money has been tied up with a PE firm, he said, without disclosing any further details. Dhanuka Agritech is engaged in the manufacturing of a range of pesticides and fertilisers and has four pesticides manufacturing units located at Gurgaon and Sohna (Haryana), Sanand (Gujarat) and Udhampur (J&K). The company's gross turnover touched Rs 500-crore in the 2010-11 financial year.

Panel recommends fixing of MSP for forest produce

A high-level committee appointed to examine introduction of minimum support price (MSP) for non-timber forest produce has recommended that a central agency be constituted to fix MSP for the produce collected by tribals and the price be fixed keeping in mind wages paid under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), transportation cost, value addition to the produce and local market prices.

The committee, which was appointed in August last year under Dr T Haque, has submitted an interim report and recommended that the Centre should begin with fixing of minimum support price (MSP) of common forest produces like tamarind , mahua, sal seeds and gum kariah . The panel has recommended constitution of a central agency to fix MSP.

A source said, "In the beginning Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) could be roped in to fix MSP for minor forest produces. But a long-term solution is only in the formation of a central agency for this purpose." The main recommendation of the panel is on the procedure to fix the MSP. The report observes that there is widespread exploitation of tribals because the state corporations acquire forest produce from tribals at very low prices which are fixed randomly by contractors.

The committee has recommended that the MSP be linked to minimum daily wage rates specified for NREGA, transportation cost, value addition cost and prevalent prices in the open market. A committee member told ET, "Linking MSP with wage rates under NREGA would help in keeping tribals interested in collection , regeneration and marketing of forest produce. They would have an option.

Right now collection of forest produce is not a lucrative option for the tribals and they are gradually moving towards NREGS temporary works like building roads." The committee has said that in the long run if the system takes off, the central agency could consider making good the losses incurred by state corporations if the market price falls under MSP.

It also recommended a three-tier mechanism wherein a special agency at the Centre will be appointed to fix MSP, corporations or cooperatives at the state level will acquire forest produce and NGOs would be involved in training and spreading awareness amongst tribals. The committee has not recommended any particular type of set-up at the states. While some states have cooperatives , others have corporations to acquire minor forest produce.

It observed that the existent set-up should continue at the state-level . The panel has found that acquisition of minor forest produce is centred around main townships. Tribals living in the interiors of forests are at a disadvantage. It has recommended that NGOs should be roped in to train tribals on treating the produce and adding value to the product to fetch better prices.

The committee is not in favour of only depending on this governmentcontrolled mechanism. It wants to encourage competition so that exploitation of tribals is reduced. The committee is planning to recommend encouraging private companies to step in and provide better prices to the tribals for their collection.

This would mean that tribals could organise themselves in cooperatives and then have a choice of selling the produce either to a private company or to the government. However, there are sharp differences within the committee over dealing with bamboo and tendu leaves.

Manipulating Media

10 Easy Tips

By Santosh Desai for City City Bang Bang

The stronger media gets, the easier it becomes to manipulate it. For all the screechy aggression, we see particularly on television, it works on some rudimentary principles. Here are some easy ways to use television to your advantage.

1. Use strong language and splutter frequently with contrived rage. This makes for intense television, and gives the audience a vicarious sense of power. Sock it to 'em, vierwers intone with glazed eyes as a panelist rubbishes another. Intemperate language is a must if you want to be on TV. Ask Varun Gandhi. When was he on our screens before or after?

2. Don't worry about the content of what you say, just speak very loudly and be sure to interrupt the moderator. Remember, his or her primary role is to interrupt the other panelist loudly and frequently and this is war. Nobody will remember what you say in any case, they will only remember how noisy you were. If you do not let others be heard, you win. Of course, the moderator will always win.

3. Use twitter. The same thing said on twitter needs fewer words, little knowledge of grammar, no justification and is for some reason, very cool and new age. You will attract many followers and in the event of the mournful demise of your career because of a twitchy twitter finger, you will be hailed as a new age politician or sports administrator. If you are a celebrity, make sure that the twitter-twatter of your messages includes other celebrities. If you do this, media gets two celebrities for the price of one in a headline.

4. Give television channels something to show. Filling up hours of time is not easy and there are only so many film star spats to cover in slow motion. It helps of course if you are attractive, or a celebrity, but if you are not hang out with those who are. In the worst case, do something that can be shot. Break some windows, if no other ideas spring to mind. Conversely, if you are the subject of a controversy, make sure you give channels nothing interesting to show. Dry up visuals and the story will sooner or later, die.

5. Get outraged easily and publicly. Call yourself an organization, give it a righteous sounding name and launch attacks on cricketers, film stars and any new film. You have to do very little to be on all national channels- maybe rough up a few completely innocent people, file a case in an obscure court thirsting to issue warrants to Sania Mirza, Mandira Bedi or Khushboo or announce a boycott, if you cannot rustle up a fatwa. Don't waste your time getting outraged about things that actually matter- nobody wants to cover thousands protesting against lack of drinking water, but four people talking about the insult to bhangra make for better television.

6. Say nothing deep on television. In particular, do not appear as if you are thinking about you are going to say. Blurt out the first thing that comes to your head and make sure to speak continuously without any pauses. Thinking is dangerous and has extremely limited visual appeal. Besides, it takes up too much time.

7. Always blame someone. Focus on people not issues. Television is about people, not things. And it is about blame, not understanding. Who is responsible, the moderator will thunder. Thunder back. When someone attacks you for something wrong you have done, do not attempt to respond. Instead attack them for whatever wrong they have done. If they bring up Gujarat, it is foolish to try and reply. Bring up Delhi 1984 instead. The fun thing about this game is that is can go on endlessly. After all, both sides are hardly likely to run out of ammunition.

8. Deny wrongdoing stoutly. It doesn't matter if you are caught accepting a bribe on camera, or have slapped a junior officer in public, or have described the minority community in inappropriate terms on national television, dismiss it as a conspiracy. Thanks to the rumours about the progress made by digital technology, we no longer believe our eyes or ears. It can all be attributed to technological manipulation. If for some reason, you have to apologise, remember you can get away by saying anything as long as you use the word 'sorry' in the sentence."I am sorry about the way my remarks were misconstrued and I regret the offence caused by any misunderstanding that might have occurred", for instance is a great way of seemingly apologizing while calling everyone else idiots for not understanding what you said.

9. When attacked, do not defend yourself on the substance of the attack. Seek refuge instead in an emotionally resonant collective identity. This is a good time to remember that you are a dalit, a woman in a man's world or a Malayali proud of his heritage. An attack on you is an attack on your collective. It works even better if you can use some local word like manoos or asmita.

10. If everything fails, wait. The media gets bored easily. Either offer them tedious explanations or just lie low. You will be forgotten, and even better be remembered only for being once famous. The more brazen you are, the more you will be respected. In this country everybody gets a second chance. You can be captain of your cricket team, fix matches and still get to be fielded successfully as a candidate for the Parliament. Who could I be talking about? Can't remember.