Inaugural Address on the occasion of National Consumer Day Function on 23 December 2009 at New Delhi

It gives me great pleasure to be present on the occasion of the National Consumer Day.

Today we are amidst an era of high economic growth, with the changing paradigm of development, not all genre of consumers are equipped to manage such a change. The past two years have been extremely challenging for the entire global community. The impact of financial crisis and its effect on banking system in the developed economies last year impacted the entire world. Fortunately, India was in a position to check its repercussions due to strong regulatory regimen.

The important learning from this experience of the past two years of global turmoil is the need for emergence of a class of ‘responsible consumer’ who understands the nitty-gritty of financial management and is able to protect himself from the sudden ups and downs in the financial world. It is, therefore, very appropriate that Department has chosen the theme of ‘financial literacy’ for this year’s National Consumer Day. Financial literacy encompasses the whole gamut of personal banking, dealing with investment, insurance and the capital markets. New emerging fields of commodities and foreign exchange market all of which could be very new and un-chartered territory for a normal consumer also falls within its ambit. Department of Consumer Affairs has been undertaking joint publicity with other Departments and organizations. A joint publicity campaign with Reserve Bank of India was taken up recently. This was done to spread the information about fake notes and mobile banking among consumers. Such efforts will go long way in nurturing a class of well informed and financially literate consumers.

Here consumer awareness and education programmes have a very important role to play. These should specifically focus on area and category specific needs of consumers, to achieve this all of us; Government, Private Sector and NGOs, Civil Society have to contribute and this should be a collaborative effort. The consumers living in far-flung, remote rural areas are at a disadvantage, since the electronic and print channels have a limited reach in these areas. Nevertheless, we should use person to person contact modality for reaching out to such areas.

For reaching out to rural and remote areas Panchayati Raj institutions could be utilized. Awareness campaign could use simple techniques like street drama, musical drama, folk dances etc. in regional language through the Gram Sabha in every village so as to reach out to this segment. To address these concerns Consumer Protection Act has been amended three times, which has been primarily to address the dynamics of changing market, provide speedy justice and protect the rights of consumers.

The Consumer Protection Act’s impact is also perceptible in the operations of providers of goods and services. In the Government and Public Sector we now see several Regulators, Ombudsman and grievance Redressal mechanism in place, we can also discern the operation of consumer grievances redressal system in Private Sector. This to our view is due to the proactive approach adopted in the Consumer Protection Act, by bringing the consumer right in the forefront.

Government is of the view that financial inclusion by taking banking sector to the nook and corner of the county is the need of the hour. For such an initiative to succeed the awareness campaign of the Department to spread knowledge about banking sector, insurance and capital markets could go a long way in bringing a whole new set of consumers into the fold of organized banking. This will also ensure that consumers in rural and remote areas are able to avail off credit available through the banking sector.

While regulators in different fields such as telecom, banking, insurance, electricity etc. would play a pivotal role in addressing the concerns of the consumers in these areas, there is an equally strong need for having strong mechanism of alternative dispute Redressal system.

My Ministry has attempted to address these concerns by initiating Pilot Projects. We are supporting a ‘National Consumer Helpline’, which is being operated through the University of Delhi, which allows consumers anywhere in the country to get advice on what course of action to take with regard to their problem, as also general information on various issues concerning consumers On the pattern of National Consumer Helpline ‘State Consumer Helplines’ are being set up.

Today it is widely acknowledged that the level of consumer awareness and protection is a true indicator of development of the country and progressiveness of civil society. I am happy to note that the multi media publicity campaign of the Department ‘Jago Grahak Jago’ has today become a household name. Our preliminary assessment of the campaign has revealed that consumer issues have got more visibility and greater stress is being laid especially by the trade and industry to address the concerns of the consumers. Consumers are becoming aware of their rights and have now become more demanding for getting the right goods and services which in the long run augurs very well of the competitiveness of our economy. An aware consumer not only protects his own interests but he induces a level of efficiency and accountability in the entire manufacturing and services sector which will enable this nation to become globally competitive.

On this important day, let us rededicate ourselves to work for the welfare of the consumers. Let us all resolve to make them aware of their rights and responsibilities as consumers. Let us all ensure that the goods and services are available free from hazards and are safe. The effective functioning of consumer dispute redressal machinery for rendering quick justice is a critical component for Consumer Protection. The Consumer Dispute Redressal machinery has yielded good results so far which can be seen in the fact that around 30 lakh cases of 32 lakh registered cases filed in Consumer Forums since inception have been settled. I am confident that it will continue to deliver excellent service to the consumers in the future also.

JAI HIND.

Speech at the 81st Annual General Meeting of the ICAR Society on 23 December 2009 at New Delhi

Shri Sharad Pawar Ji, Union Minister of Agriculture, Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution, Dr. Mangala Rai, Secretary, DARE and Director-General, ICAR, Shri Rajiv Mehrishi, Additional Secretary, DARE and Secretary, ICAR, esteemed members of the ICAR Society, special invitees, friends from media, ladies and gentlemen.

I wish to place the following thoughts with you in the 81st AGM of the ICAR Society.

In the past, the ICAR’s efforts stood between famine, civil unrest and instability in India. Guiding the Country’s agricultural research led production, later popularly called Green revolution, the ICAR, turned scarcity and external food support into a surplus system. In leading this effort, ICAR’s bold innovations and collaborations with scientists of the league of Borlaug was the main stay of Indian self-reliance in staples. I compliment the eminent scientists and technologists associated with this initial vital surge.

Having said that, I wish to outline some core areas which we will need to work with, if our efforts need to sustain into 2050 when we have to nourish the largest national population in the world. This has to be done without amplifying the negative fall outs, which are often attributed to the interventions in Green revolution and by remaining vigilant to emerging challenges in global agriculture.

As India enters the phase of a stabilized population by 2050, with a huge young and sizable moderately affluent population, the demand for protein foods is going to grow exponentially. Already production pressure and urban affluence is pushing prices up. If production of vegetables, pulses, milk, meat and staples do not catch up with the needs of a young and successful population, prices will hurt the poor and the low income groups. With increasing numbers of rural population leaving sustenance agriculture, more has to be provided with less. Therefore, high degree of economy has to be ushered in the input regime and higher yields have to be sourced from static or decreasing catchments.

While demand spurts for proteins from a selective young population the lesser economically endowed will face further pressure from higher prices and if the public distribution system fails to take the extra pressure, it is very possible that the access to grains would become an issue and therefore malnutrition would go up. Already the malnutrition rates in India are at unacceptable levels, essentially amongst the generation which has to lead us in the 2050’s.

It is clear that our efforts at increased and efficient yields has to cater to protein and carbohydrate nutrition security at the lowest possible costs.

Key challenges ICAR has to tackle while attempting to do so is to indigenize and evolve crop specific strategies by using GM technology, input optimizing technologies like micro irrigation and investing in agriculture higher education heavily.

Strengthening the research and dissemination network is key in achieving most goals a globalized research scenario offers. I reviewed the Indian higher education and research sector in Agriculture and found the ICAR’s laudable efforts requiring a substantial increase of investment in the next plan. I have shared the specifics of such thoughts with the Hon’ble AM also and requested the ICAR to come forth with serious plans at attaining at least a three fold increase in higher education and research support.

The ongoing efforts of ICAR in crop genetics with 131 successful varieties already released and two varities of potatoes, Kufri Nilima and Kufri Frysona which have been released for Tamil Nadu and Gangetic Plains, Swarna Sub-I for water logged areas of UP and Orissa and drought resistant Sahbhagi Dhan for Jharkhand and Orissa are recent achievements. This is apart from new developments in animal breeding. The dissemination networks with ICAR’s and SAU/ State Government department need a quantum jump in terms of programming and monitoring. The projects under various Human Resources Ministry initiatives like community colleges could be used for this.

Overall, ICAR’s mandate and potential is up for a tough challenge. I wish the ICAR all the very best in its endeavors and hope that it will take all efforts to deliver in the magnitude and speed we expect from it. I wish the AGM a good meeting and hope to learn from the discussions to take place later today.

I note that Dr. Mangala Rai is demitting office as Secretary to Government and Director General after a successful stint. I join the AGM in thanking him for his leadership in a crucial phase and hope that his services will be available in some capacity to Government in future also. I wish him all the very best.

Thank you.

JAI HIND

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Speech on presentation of Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Awards 2008 held on 17 December 2009 at New Delhi

Chairman, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, Shri L. Mansingh; Shri Rajiv Agarwal, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs; Shri Sharad Gupta, Director General, BIS; Distinguished awardees, guests, ladies & gentlemen.

I am indeed happy to be present here on this important occasion of the presentation ceremony of Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Awards for the year, 2008.

These prestigious Awards, instituted by the Bureau of Indian Standards in 1991, have already established themselves as the premier National Awards in the fields of standardization and quality and the recipients are recognized as the champions of quality movement in the country and I sincerely wish that the awards continue to motivate the industry for sustained efforts for improving quality.

Today, no business entity can exist or function in isolation. Operating in free market economy has meant that all business processes are interdependent competing across national boundaries and the only operating criterion is the quality of products and services at competitive price.

Thus, in such a scenario, where survival of any business entity hinges on sustenance of quality at competitive costs, one can ill afford to relax. Poor quality will not only mean loss of business, but cause serious dent to the national image in the international market, thereby, affecting future business prospects as well.

Quality does not come by chance. It also is not achieved in a day. It is a result of constant efforts which need to be maintained throughout and always. To achieve excellence in quality in any walks of life, you have to have the goal of being the best. You have to approach this step by step using short term goals. When one goal is met you set another goal which is achievable, of course by hard work. Each success leads to the next one. Each time you visualize where you want to be, what you want to be, you approach it with the end target in mind and you focus on getting there. As you reach those goals, as you achieve those targets, you gain confidence and you concentrate on the next step. It is all a game of mental attitude.

It is, therefore, imperative that the Indian industry focuses on continually improving quality by coming up with economical inputs, better designs, improved manufacturing skills, entering into technological collaborations and through capacity building in skilled human resource. Reliance on stricter conformity assessment procedures will continue to be the corner stone for ensuring consistency in quality. The outcome of these efforts will be a satisfied customer, which, to my mind, is the ultimate yardstick for quality. I would, therefore, call upon the Indian industry to rededicate its efforts in ensuring satisfaction of their customers, both internal as well as international. This is the only key to success.

On this important occasion, it would be appropriate to reiterate our commitment to Quality in all walks of life. India has made tremendous industrial progress during last few decades in wide ranging products including those in high-tech areas. In quantitative terms, we are now grouped amongst top few industrialized nations in the world. However, on quality front, we have to hasten our pace to gain from the benefits of globalization and provide better consumer protection.

It has now been realized that poor quality manifests as an additional cost in the form of avoidable rejections and re-work, which gets added in the cost of production, thereby affecting competitiveness and profitability. Further, today the work has shrunk considerably and is coming to terms with the concept of interdependence of nations, resulting in rapid growth in international trade. In this context the quality of products assumes added importance. Poor quality, besides resulting in loss of national image in the international market, acts as a serious impediment in the way of efforts for increasing exports. This starves the industry of its internal inputs required for modernization and growth. The handicaps created by the poor quality of products and services are now being increasingly felt and this has become a matter of serious concern to the industry and consumer at large. Fortunately, the scenario is changing and there is now a greater awareness about Quality.

Quality has a value, which can be expressed in the monetary terms. Inspection or audits can not build quality into products. Quality has to be designed and manufactured into the product at all stages right from initial identification to final satisfaction of customers’ requirements and expectations. The various stages which have bearing on quality, relate to marketing and market research, designing of the products, procurement of materials, process planning, production, inspection, packaging and storage, sales and distribution, installation, and after sales service. Each stage has to get some input from the previous one, carry out the process and give the output to the next process. Therefore, each stage is a customer as well as supplier. The supplier at each stage, therefore, should fully understand what is the expectation of his immediate customer, and try to fulfill it.

Further, Customer satisfaction is the ultimate measure of the quality of a product or service. Customer reaction may be immediate or delayed. Customers seldom volunteer their assessment of quality to the organization. Dissatisfied customers often cease to use or purchase products or services without giving notice that would permit corrective action to be taken.

The organizations should, therefore, institute an ongoing assessment and measurement of customer satisfaction. These assessments should seek positive as well as negative reactions and their likely effect on future business. These assessments can form vital tools for perceiving and improving the quality of the products.

I feel that one of the effective ways of inculcating quality culture and strengthening international competitiveness of various organizations, is the institution and operation of national quality awards. These Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Awards give special recognition to those manufacturing and service sector organizations that are considered to be the leaders of the quality movement in India.

I take this opportunity to laud the efforts of the Bureau of Indian Standards, the National Standards Body of India, for the role it has been playing in safeguarding the interests of the industry, the consumers and the society and remaining at the vanguard of quality movement, both within and outside the country.

On its part, BIS has diversified into many new areas in the past few years and its efforts have met with considerable success whether it is Management System Certification, Hallmarking of Gold and Silver Jewellery and Artefacts or Foreign Manufacturers’ Certification Scheme. Here, I will specially like to mention the efforts being put in by the Bureau in promoting awareness about Hallmarking in the country. BIS is also the National Enquiry Point for WTO-TBT inquiries for India and is disseminating information on standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures from all over the world, to the Indian industry.

I assure the Bureau of Indian Standards that it will continue to receive all support and encouragement it deserves from the Government to further augment its efforts.

I take this opportunity to extend my heartiest congratulations to the award winners and recipients of commendation certificates for their efforts in demonstrating that quality can be achieved without compromising on profitability and yet contributing to the well being of their employees, society and environment. I am confident that the awardees will continue their pursuit for achieving excellence in quality and staying abreast with the latest technological advancements.

Finally, I also congratulate the Bureau for its untiring efforts in promoting quality consciousness in the country. I sincerely hope that it will redouble its efforts and impart renewed impetus to the cause of standardization and thereby, achieve excellence in all its operations.

JAI HIND
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Inaugural Speech of Agri Marketing Summit “Enhancing Competitiveness of Indian Agriculture” on 16th December, 2009 at New Delhi

Shri T. Nand Kumar, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Shri Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Chairman, CII National Council on Agriculture, Shri Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, Confederation of Indian Industries, Shri Gokul Patnaik, Chairman, CII National Task force on Agri Marketing, leaders and representatives from Trade and Industries and officials from Government of India, State Governments and distinguished invitees ladies and gentlemen,

I am extremely happy to be here with all of you to inaugurate the Agri Marketing Summit on a subject that is of vital concern to all of us and is very timely. India has emerged as leading producers of rice, wheat and pulses. India has the largest livestock in the world while being the largest producer of milk, second largest producer of fruits and vegetables and third largest producer of food grains. We have several competitive advantages in agriculture comparable to those of any other country in the world. First, it has regions, which are climatically favorable for cultivation of variety of crops. Second, the country already possesses the largest acreage of irrigated land in the world with a sizable potential still to be tapped. Third, the country has an abundance of available skilled, educated, technical and scientific manpower. India has thus, the potential to become a global leader in agriculture.

Agriculture marketing is a State subject, therefore, the wholesale trading of agricultural commodity is regulated through State Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Acts in the respective States. In India, more than 620 billion tonnes of farm output is traded through a network of more than 27,357 wholesale and Primary Rural Markets and about 7139 Regulated Markets scattered across the States. However, many of the regulated markets lack proper infrastructure and facilities in tune with changing times and increased levels of production in the absence of competition. This has been further accentuated by weak backward linkages to the production centres. The supply chain remained fragmented for agri commodities perpetuating a high percentage of loss making it unprofitable and unviable.

My Ministry is committed to bring about major reforms in the agriculture sector in consultation with State Governments. The aim is to build on the successes of the modern technology in agriculture to create higher levels of surplus for processing and export and take our farmers higher up the value chain to increase their income and make them globally competitive. Towards this direction, several reforms have already been initiated in laws dealing with agriculture namely, the APMC Act., the Essential Commodities Act., and the Forward Contracts Act. Integrated Food law and law dealing with Negotiable warehousing receipt system have been amended keeping in view the changing needs of farmers, consumers, trade and industries. The focus of reforms in State APMC Act. includes provision for creation of an enabling environment to attract Private Sector investment to market infrastructure, for enabling direct marketing of produce by farmers and contract farming while protecting interests of farmers.

Development of agricultural marketing infrastructure in the country is necessary to provide higher value to farmers’ crops, quality raw material for agro-industries and food to consumers at reasonable price. The investment from private sector will play dominant role in different parts of food value chain. The government has taken a number of reform initiatives viz launching of NHM for development of need based infrastructure with end to end approach and enhancing horticultural production and productivity. A reform linked Central Sector Scheme of Development/Strengthening marketing infrastructure Grading and Standardization is being implemented in those States which have amended their APMC Acts. to provide for market reforms.

The Government have recently revised the guidelines for setting up state of the art Modern Terminal Markets Complex for perishable like fruits and vegetables in Public Private Partnership mode with subsidy provision under National Horticulture Mission. We have already provided in-principle approval for setting up of Terminal Market Complex at four places i.e. at Babangaon in Thane District near Mumbai in Maharashtra, at Perundurai in Erode District in Tamil Nadu, in Patna in Bihar and in Sambalpur in Orissa. Already bids are underway in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Bihar.

This Summit has been organized to identify and discuss the issues affecting the efficiency of agri markets and competitiveness of Indian agriculture and the measures to be taken to enhance efficiency and productivity. I am looking forward to your specific suggestions in strengthening the agri market systems, identifying commodities that have the potential to compete in Global markets, the policy measures needed to support integration of domestic farm production with emerging global markets including food parks and agri export zone and the role of Public Private Partnership in the development of agri infrastructure to enable the farmers to improve their income.

Thank you.

Inaugural Speech on “Cold Chain Summit 2009” on 9th December, 2009 at Hotel Imperial, New Delhi

Shri Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, Shri Rakesh Bharati Mittal, Chairman CII Agriculture Council, Shri Nanda Kumar, Secretary (Agriculture & Cooperation), Shri Daljit Mirchandani and Senior Representatives from Trade and Industry, distinguished invitees, ladies and gentlemen.

It gives me great pleasure to be here inaugurating at the Cold Chain Summit, 2009. In recent years, cold chain development has assumed considerable significance. A rapid and all-round growth of economy and increasing globalization has galvanized the demand for perishables including fruits and vegetables as well as processed food. This has necessitated establishment of efficient end-to-end standardized cold chain network that will ensure preservation of fresh produce from the post-harvest stage till the final retail in domestic as well as overseas market involving large number of stake-holders. The Task Force on Development of Cold Chain in India which was set up in 2007 has made several recommendations in its report in this regard which are path breaking and my Ministry is considering the same in consultation with stake holders. This Cold Chain summit is being organized jointly by CII, my Ministry and Ministry of Food processing Industries at a very appropriate time and I am sure it will help accelerate creation and strengthening of cold chain infrastructure.

India is stated to be one of the largest and lowest cost producers of high value agricultural commodities producing nearly 11% of all vegetables and 15% of all fruits in the world. With the objective of agricultural diversification to boost horticulture productivity and production, National Horticulture Mission has been launched. This will also ensure an end to end approach having backward and forward linkages covering research, production, post-harvest management processing and marketing, under one umbrella in an integrated manner.

Reform in agricultural marketing is another important area to which the Government is attaching a lot of significance. We have taken steps to persuade State Governments to amend Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees Acts to facilitate development of alternative marketing channel in the agricultural commodities. This would give a major boost to investment in Post-harvest marketing infrastructure, including grading, packaging, transportation and storage, needs to be created at a large scale. My Ministry has launched a reformed linked Scheme of Development/Strengthening of Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Grading and Standardization to attract public and private investment in agriculture. Complimenting this many of the private players have set up supply chain, distribution and retailing facilities linking producers to consumers effectively. The development of direct marketing will go a long way in providing better pricing to the farmers while ensuring better availability and quality of produce to the consumers.

Responding to the needs of the industry, we have recently revised the guidelines for setting up state of the art Modern Terminal Markets Complex for perishable like fruits and vegetables in Public Private Partnership mode with subsidy provision under National Horticulture Mission. We have already provided in-principle approval for setting up of Terminal Market Complex at four places I.e. at Babangaon in Thane District near Mumbai in Maharashtra, at Perundurai in Erode District in Tamil Nadu, in Patna, in Bihar, in Sambalpur in Orissa. Already bids are underway in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Bihar. Similarly, expansion of warehousing services in rural areas and facilitating credit to farmers against their stored produce has been identified as other important areas to help farmer avoid distress sale. The necessary Rules to implement the Warehousing Development and Regulation Act are being finalized in consultation with all the stakeholders.

The Task force on development of Cold Chain in India in its report while recommending augmentation of infrastructure facilities has suggested setting up Special Purpose Vehicle of Cold Logistics as an institutional mechanism to foster the climate controlled transportation of perishable thus facilitating linkage of production centers to distant markets ensuring better price realization for farmers. Similarly it has recommended developing standards and protocols for cold chain infrastructure and services to ensure standardized services in this sector. It has also suggested setting up an autonomous organization in the form of National Centre of Cold Chain Development as a centre of excellence to foster fast-track growth of cold chain in India. We are already carrying out stake holder’s consultation towards implementation of these major recommendations. Similarly, tax incentive for investment in cold chain and warehouses have been provided in the Union Budget 2009, allowing benefit of deduction to the extent of 100% of investment made in these infrastructure facilities.

We are committed to reforms in agriculture, which will facilitate large-scale private investment in every stage of value chain. We believe that both the industry and the State have an important role to play in the agriculture sector. Bringing in the private sector – both as a competitor and as complementary to the public sector adds greater strength and value for money. Both must work complementarily to benefit both the farmers and the consumers. From our side, we have adopted a two-pronged strategy – pushing through the specific enabling reforms in agriculture, and working with State Governments to convince them to implement relevant reforms at the earliest. Several States have been convinced and are well on the path of doing so, while others too will soon follow suit.

I am confident that this summit would bring out recommendations on all relevant issues and further accelerate the process of cold chain development in the country. With these words, I have great pleasure in inaugurating this Cold Chain Summit 2009. I look forward to your positive and fruitful suggestions in forging ahead a stronger public private partnership to qualitatively improve the cold chain infrastructure in the country to mutually benefit the trade and industry as well as people of the country.

I hereby declare summit open and wish it all the success.

Thank you

SPEECH ON INAUGURATION OF THE EIMA AGRIMACH INDIA 2009 NEW DELHI AT IARI, PUSA, NEW DELHI ON 3 DCEMBER, 2009

Dignitaries on the Dias, Respected farmers, Agriculturists, Distinguished guests, Esteemed invitees, delegates and participants from India and abroad, member of the press and friends.

It is indeed a great pleasure for me to inaugurate the “EIMA AGRIMACH INDIA 2009” an International Exhibition and Conference on Agriculture Machinery, Equipments and Agro-processing Industries, being organized at IARI, Pusa, New Delhi from the 3rd to the 5th of December, 2009. The EIMA AGRIMACH INDIA 2009 is going to provide a platform to display the latest technology for Farm Machinery and Technology and Agro Processing Industries. I am confident that the farmers, service providers and industrialist who visit this exhibition and conference, will greatly benefit from this exposure.

Farm mechanization as we all know has a major role to play in the modernization of Indian agriculture. Productivity of the farm depends considerably on the availability of farm power coupled with efficient farm implements and their judicious utilization.

Though there has been considerable progress in the area of mechanization in agriculture, its spread across the length and breadth of our country has been uneven. In the year 2001-02, the availability of farm power in the country stood at 1.231 kW/ha (projected as 1.50 kW/ha in 2005-06). In comparison with developed Country averages of 5-8 kW/ha. India is far behind the developed countries in terms of farm power availability.

It is also pertinent to mention that farm productivity is directly proportional to the mechanization level in different States. The States with higher levels of farm power have higher productivity levels of food grain and vice-versa. Therefore, this calls for an increase in the farm power availability at a faster rate through promotion of appropriate agricultural mechanization to bring it at least 2 kW/ per ha for achieving the desired level of farm productivity in our country. Needless to say, the power use must be most efficiently and wasteless.

In order to promote agricultural mechanization in the country the Government of India is implementing various programmes and schemes. Subsidy and credit are provided to farmers for purchase of equipments, demonstration of technologies and training on various aspects of agricultural mechanization is carried out and there is also a scheme to popularize new equipments developed by ICAR Institution for on farm value addition. However, there is need to do much more for small farm mechanization through custom hire services of agricultural machines/implements. Various states that first hesitated to mechanize are also now moving this direction.

While we continue our efforts to improve the infrastructure in these institutes, the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Govt. of India has set up a Technical Committee to identify those Agricultural Universities and Engineering Colleges in the country which have the capability and minimum infrastructure to augment the facilities for assessment and testing agricultural machines and implement. This is being done to meet the increasing demand for testing facilities.

Central Government has also decided to upgrade the Central Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute, at Budni in Madhya Pradesh to a State of the Art Centre with modern and sophisticated equipments so as to meet the requirements of the tractor industries’ for meeting International Testing Standards. Training is being given a big push with increased volume and financial support.

Finally, I am sure this event will help bring all the Stake holders on a single platform to share information on all important aspects of agriculture mechanization and to develop business tie-ups in a mutually beneficial manner.

My best wishes to organizers and participants for great success of this event.

THANK YOU
JAI HIND

INAUGURAL SPEECH ON THE OCCASION OF THE 7TH PACIFIC RIM CONFERENCE ON THE BIOTECHNOLOGY OF BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON 26TH

Dr. Mangala Rai, Secretary DARE and Director General ICAR; Dr. C.D.Mayee, Chairman, ASRB; renowned biotechnologists, Dr. Hidetaka Hori from Japan, Dr. D. Russel from Australia, Professor A. Zaritsky from Israel, Dr. Sajiv Anand, Director AICBA, Dr. Swapan Datta, DDG (Crop Science) & Convener of this conference, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,

1. Success of green revolution had enabled India attain self-sufficiency in food production. At the same time, enhancement of productivity of crop varieties was imperative in post green revolution era, to meet the requirements of ever-increasing population. Increase in agriculture share to GDP is yet another target for agriculture sector. Therefore, it was indeed challenging as the plateau was seen in post-green revolution period in terms of both, crop productivity potentials and use-efficiency of input-responsive varieties. Land resources were continuously shrinking due to non-agricultural use of arable lands. Degrading soil health and evolving new races of pests and pathogens were among the other critical concerns. Thus, plant scientists and breeders faced the challenge of increasing genetic potential of new crop varieties to attain vertical growth in productivity, and ensure crop resilience under various abiotic and biotic stresses. New innovations and technologies in terms of befitting products and processes became absolute requirements of modern agriculture research.

2. Following on our successes in cracking the chemical code of life, we have gone to greater heights. Since the release of first genetically modified variety of tomato in the year 1994, the acceptance of GMO has grown over time throughout the world. Various traits have been improved in crops through genetic engineering in which most notables are: herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, combination of these two, and virus resistance. Major crops, which are benefited, include soybean, maize, cotton, oilseed Brassica, sugar beet, papaya, etc. In 2008, the global area under biotech crops continued to grow steadily, reaching 125 million hectares. Out of this, pest-resistant crops carrying insecticidal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) occupied 36.8 per cent or 46 million hectares. More than 26 countries, including India, have approved cultivation of GM crops.

3. The first commercialized GM crop in India is Bt-cotton, which has been a spectacular success story. In the year 2008, Bt cotton was cultivated in 8.0 million hectares. India has produced 32 million bales of cotton in 2007-08, replacing USA in second position in global cotton production. The average yield of cotton in India has increased from 308 kg/ha in 2001-02, to 560 kg/ha in 2007-08, which is further projected to increase to 591kg/ha in 2008-09 season. With the boom in cotton production in last seven years, India has become transformed from a net importer to a net exporter of cotton. This has also positively influenced India’s textile industry. The value of Indian textile Industry is projected to increase by more than 102 per cent in five years, from US$ 47 billion in 2005-06 to an estimated value of US$ 95 billion in 2010.

4. Many transgenic crops are currently being developed and tested at various public and private institutions in the country. Such efforts include, among others, development of insect resistant rice at Calcutta University, Kolkata; late blight resistant potato at Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla; pro Vitamin-A enriched rice at IARI, DRR and TNAU; Bt-brinjal & Bt cotton at MAHYCO, Jalna etc. In near future, we may expect many GM crops that have been modified for better availability of vitamins, iron, micronutrients, quality proteins and oils, which would ensure nutritional security to the masses in addition to insect pest resistance.

5. Many Ministries including Agriculture offer huge funding for such efforts. Based on the experience of several successful field evaluations of GM crops, it is evident that gene technology combined with precise plant breeding and efficient crop management has the potential to provide benefits to human society. Utilization of the technology to maximally benefit Indian agriculture demands a greater coordination among the technology owners and innovators, policy makers, agri-industries and farmers. In this endeavor, scientists have to play crucial roles in, innovating to develop more new products and processes; increasing public awareness, and educating the society.

6. I am happy that this conference provides appropriate platform where scientists from across the countries will deliberate on the state, advantages and perspectives of Bt-technology over the next three days, and further learn from each-others’ experiences. I wish the conference a success.

Jai Hind.

Food processing industries Meeting 6/10/2009 1300 Hrs. Vigyan Bhavan.

Respected Chair,other dignitaries on the dais, Ministers, official, media and dear Friends.

I am very honored and pleased to be attending this meeting of State Ministers. The Food processing Ministry has been very dynamic in recent times inspiring all of us to work harder and better. I wish and pray that this phase of dynamism results in tangible gains to the consumers, producers and farmers.
Food processing has to happen with the best technology in the grass root level. While larger concerns may be aggregating technology and bringing in high growth dividends, if must not be lost sight of that the sixty crore farmers at the bottom line of our economy forms our biggest concern.
We have had a set of indigenous food products which still remain dear, with a tinge of nostalgia to all of us. Some of these products have immense commercial potential too. Dairy products and fish pickles are examples. With a burgeoning expatriate population, the demand from Indian ethnic consumers located outside the country itself is a good demand to satisfy. If we could link a decentralized production process, Self Help Groups and women power at the bottom of the pyramid with suitable institutions which function as demand aggregators and forge links with foreign export targets, the market can be captured in India and abroad.

We need suitable investments in the backward states and districts in the sector linked to sites for agricultural and horticultural production. A good example is basing Mango based industries near the intensive Mango production belts in UP or down south. Kerala and Orissa may have huge potential for marine products. Meat products are already a huge export earner.

The agricultural research system needs to factor food processing as a large area needing more attention. Though many institutions are working in the sector, I believe better coordination is called for. States may be well advised to have food processing cells/desks in their Agricultural Ministries operationalized for focusing on the area. Whether our efforts will bear fruit lies what it holds for the farmer –producer. The large number of farmers accommodated in the primary sector with inadequate inputs is at the root of our problems in the farm sector. The micro food processing industry must now absorb many of them, if not a majority and take them out of farm distress in adverse weather etc by realizing market potential.
Employment in the rural sector also needs to be linked with the needs of the food processing enterprises which will both add value to nutrition and give valuable year round employment for the rural poor.
Developing such a micro view of the position of the food processing industries is as vital as promoting larger enterprises and commerce which only a few of us can participate fully now. I hope that the deliberations during the day and later develop on this and address larger issues which this sector is fully capable of tackling now.
I wish your later deliberations and efforts the very best.

Jai Hind.

69th AGM of the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India

Address of Hon’ble Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution at the 69th AGM of the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India on current wheat Scenario on 06.10.2009. at Hotel Le Meridian, New Delhi.

I am very happy to preside over the 69th Annual General Meeting of Roller Flour Millers Federation of India.
The roller flour milling industry is a very important constituent of the food economy and plays a vital role in ensuring availability of wheat products in the country. I am glad to know that there are over 1100 members of the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India who are engaged in processing of wheat and production and marketing of atta, maida, suzi and bran.
Government is committed to ensure food security for the nation and a number of steps have been taken in the recent years to enhance production of foodgrains, especially wheat in the country. Efforts have been made by the Government to balance the interest of the farmers as well as the consumers of foodgrains. In order to provide remunerative prices to the farmers, handsome increases in Minimum Support Price of wheat have been announced by the Government. Further, a National Food Security Mission has been launched by the Government to increase production of wheat by 8 million tones. There has been a record production of 80.58 million tones during 2009-10. Further, record procurement of wheat of 226.9 lakh tones and 253.8 lakh tones has been achieved by Government during RMS 2008-09 and RMS 2009-10 respectively.
The world food economy passed through a difficult phase during 2007-08 and 2008-09 with the international food prices touching all time high. However, due to the policy initiative taken by the Government, we were able to relatively insulate food economy from the fluctuations of the international prices of foodgrains especially wheat.
Due to insufficient rainfall during the current monsoon season, drought like conditions are prevalent in large number of States due to which production of Kharif Crops is likely to be adversely affected. It is estimated that there may be a shortfall in the production of rice in Kharif Season 2009-10. The stocks of wheat and rice in the Central Pool with the Government are quite comfortable and additional allocations are being made to the drought affected States for meeting the situation arising out of the drought.
There is likelihood increased demand for wheat as an alternate grain resource because of reduction in availability of rice. In order to increase availability of wheat in the open market, the Government has formulated a Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) whereby allocations would be made to State Government for sale of wheat to bulk consumers while wheat would be sold to bulk consumers by FCI through tenders. It is proposed to release upto 30 lakh tones of wheat under OMSS during October 2009 – March 2010. In the past wheat under OMSS has been sold by FCI on first-come-first-served basis at a fixed State-wise price. However, it is felt that sale through tenders is a more transparent method of releasing wheat into the open market. Further, in order to check any speculation activities, only bonafide bulk consumers of wheat have been permitted to participate in the tenders under OMSS.
Government has removed restrictions like stock holding limits on wheat to facilitate purchase of wheat by private trade during the harvesting season. It is expected that the roller flour milling industry would source its raw material during the harvesting season. It is felt that the roller flour milling industry should not depend solely on open market sales by the Government for meeting its requirements of raw material. I would expect that roller flour milling industry would rise to the occasion and make all efforts towards ensuring availability of wheat products at affordable prices in the market.
Regarding relaxation in PPQ norms to facilitate import of wheat, it is felt that adequate stocks are available with the Government and, if required, additional quantities can be released under OMSS for meeting the requirements of the milling industry.
Government has allowed export upto 6.5 lakh tones of wheat products during 2009-10. However, keeping in view the likely reduced production of foodgrains in kharif 2009-10, there is a need to conserve stocks of foodgrains with the country. Therefore, it is not found feasible to permit export of wheat at this stage (apart from the export of wheat products) already allowed by the Government.
We have been requesting the State Governments to encourage distribution of atta through PDS. The initiative taken by fortification and distribution of atta under PDS in various States is a welcome step. I am sure that with wide dissemination of the benefits accruing from distribution of fortified atta, more and more State Governments would adopt the system.
The roller flour milling industry needs constantly upgradation so that the highest milling standards followed in the world are also available in India. A formal proposal regarding a scheme for upgradation and modernization of flour mills may be submitted by the Federation so that the issue can be taken up with Ministry of Food Processing Industry.
I thank you once again for having me here and wish you all the very best.

Speech By MOS @ National Productivity Awards for Agriculture

Speech of Hon’ble Minister of State for Agriculture , National Productivity Awards for Agriculture on 24th September 2009,
Venue: Scope Auditorium, Scope Complex, New Delhi.

Shri N.C. Vasudevan, Director General, National Productivity Council, Ms Dimple Verma, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, other officials, awardees, Ladies and Gentlemen!

On the occasion of National Productivity Awards Ceremony, I would like to convey my felicitations to all the winners of the coveted award. I am happy to know that the search for the award winners was carried out across the length and breadth of the country. Thus, these Awards are not only a recognition of the excellent work done by the organizations in improving productivity of the sector but also represent their participation in the country’s march ahead. I am sure that this well deserving recognition will enthuse the awardees to contribute more in the coming years. I congratulate all of them.
Agriculture plays an important role in the rural economy of the country. This sector provides gainful employment as well as raw materials for a large number of industries. The rate of growth in agricultural sector which accounts for almost all rural income requires further intensification of our efforts and a proactive approach to meet the challenges of food security and food demand of increasing population.
This rapid growth of Agriculture is essential for achieving the inclusive growth objective, as envisaged in the 11th Five Year Plan. The contribution of Agriculture in the growth of GDP will further improve rural employment conditions by raising real wages and reducing underemployment
One of the major challenges of the 11th Five Year Plan are to reverse the deceleration in Agricultural growth that the economy is experiencing over the last decade and increasing the Agricultural growth rate by at least double the current levels.
It is vital to increase Agricultural incomes, as this sector is the largest employer and provider of livelihood for an overwhelming majority of the country’s population. Also, the threats of persistent climate change and some what reduced monsoon call for sound managerial strategies to avert food shortages.
It is also important to recognize demographic realities particularly, the role of women in Agriculture. Since urban migration and consequent feminization of farm activities are showing an increasing trend, women need to be given well-defined rights to reduce distress and thereby increase Agricultural growth. It is encouraging to note that NPC is propagating productivity as an evolving concept with due emphasis on issues and concerns relating to quality, environment, energy, integrated rural and community development and women workers.
Growth in Agriculture would not only enable us to be self-reliant but also help meet the food and nutritional security of the people. This is also essential for equitable distribution of income and wealth in rural areas, and for reducing poverty and improving the quality of life.
Achieving 4% Agricultural growth along with maintaining prices and profitability requires a corresponding increase in demand for Agricultural output matched with the supply side response, based on productivity improvements.
With the increase in trade and globalisation, Indian Agricultural sector has been opened to new opportunity as well as challenges. To remain competitive in this new economic scenario, it is essential to increase the productivity of the sector by diversification into higher value output, for example Horticulture, Floriculture etc. Besides raising farmers’ income, this would result in better utilization of resources, creation of employment and growth of activities other than growing foodgrains. Allied sectors such as fisheries, dairying, food processing are also being given an impetus to achieve nutrient security, employment and rise in rural incomes.
Government of India has duly recognized the problems faced by the Agricultural sector and is taking all possible steps to increase the productivity of the Agricultural sector. Improved rural connectivity envisaged through the Bharat Nirman Programme is expected to trigger growth by significantly easing existing infrastructure constraints.
Government is also taking effective steps to enable farmers to have easy access to credit at affordable rates. Access to financial resources not only helps them to exploit investment opportunities but also reduces their vulnerability to shocks, and promotes economic growth.
In this era of globalisation and trade liberalization the productivity and competitiveness of the Agricultural sector also depends to a large extent on effective marketing of the Agricultural produce.
In order to facilitate farmer in marketing and storage of their produce, Government is implementing the schemes of Gramin Bhandaran Yojana, construction of cold storage and development/strengthening of the Agricultural marketing infrastructure as well as grading and standardisation. A network of rural godowns and cold storages is also being created throughout India to provide the facility of safe and scientific storage to the farming community thus avoiding produce deterioration and distress sales.
Land and water management also would need to be given highest priority as the productivity growth in Indian Agriculture depends to a large extent on the quality of soil and efficient utilization of water.
In recent years the land use pattern has been changing. Though conversion of Agricultural to non-agricultural land is an unavoidable concomitant of the development process, we need to ensure that this does not put undue pressure on Agriculture or lead to inefficient or suboptimal land-use. It is necessary to offset the loss of Agricultural land by bringing more land under intensive cultivation. There is a large amount of degraded or waste land that can be reclaimed through watershed development. There is also a considerable amount of saline and sodic land, which can be brought back to cultivation with appropriate treatment. For watershed development, the state governments may converge wherever possible, with other Rural Development programmes like National Rural Employment Guarantee Programmme (NREGP).
Water is a scarce but critical input for Agriculture. This calls for more effective utilization of existing irrigation potential, expansion of irrigation, wherever possible, at an economic cost and also better water management in rainfed areas where assured irrigation is not possible. Watershed Management, Rainwater Harvesting, and Ground Water Recharge can help augment water availability in rainfed areas.
The dry-land farming system approach, which leads to improved soil moisture retention; ground water recharging; and facilitates alternate land use by adopting an ‘Agri-Horti-Livestock’ approach, needs to be promoted to enhance productivity and sustainability of dry-land agriculture in rain-fed areas. The National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) has been established to coordinate all Schemes relating to Watershed Development and other aspects of land use. This will address the problems being faced by the farmers in rain-fed areas in a holistic manner.
Sustained long-run growth depends significantly upon technological progress and steps are, therefore, needed to strengthen research in Agriculture. The government is giving priority in agriculture research in terms of increased investment. Research priorities are gradually shifting towards evolving cropping systems suited to various agro-climatic conditions and towards enhancing the yield potential in rain fed areas through development of drought and pest resistant varieties.
The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) has drawn attention to the knowledge deficit that exists at present and explains much of the difference between yields realized in experiments and what farmers actually get. To overcome information gaps and for advice in contingencies such as pest-attacks, it is necessary to revitalize the extension system in a manner that links universities and best practices effectively to farmers. States need to take urgent steps in this area.
It is heartening to note that National Productivity Council is playing a catalytic role in promoting productivity of the Agricultural sector and has taken into account majority of the stakeholders under the 14 categories, who play a critical role in the growth process of the agricultural sector.
Taking Agriculture to a higher trajectory of 4% annual growth can be met only with improvements in the scale as well as quality of Agricultural reforms undertaken by states and various Agencies at the grass root level of operation. On this occasion of National Productivity Awards distribution ceremony I appeal to all the stakeholders to join their hands in enhancing the productivity of the Agricultural sector.
Let me once again express my heartfelt felicitations to the winners of the Awards. I hope that NPC will continue to motivate Indian farmers and Agricultural organizations to strive for ever higher productivity that is so crucial for achieving the targeted growth in Agriculture during the 11th Five Year Plan.

Jai Hind

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF FISHERIES MINISTERS, PONTEVEDRA, SPAIN

Hon’ble Ministers of Fisheries of different countries,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me immense pleasure to be here with all of you for the International Conference of State Fisheries Ministers. I eagerly look forward to discussing the possible strategies to realize the vast potential we have to augment fish production, thereby making it a viable and rewarding economic activity.

India has been playing an important role in global fisheries as the third largest producer of fish in the world and the second largest producer from aquaculture. In the last six decades, marine fish production in India has increased from 0.5 million tonnes to 3.2 million tonnes. The rate of growth has slowed in the nineties as compared to 1960-1990. Though marine fish production in India did not show consistent decline over the time scale, there are several sustainability concerns that demand immediate as well as long-term solutions.

Potential yield estimates indicate that the annual harvestable potential yield from the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is 3.9 million tonnes. As the present production is approaching the potential yield, the country has reached a stage in which further increase in production may have to be viewed with caution. The issues in the sector are excess coastal fishing fleet capacity and overexploitation, unregulated open access fisheries, discards at capture and indiscriminate capture of juveniles, biodiversity loss, pollution and underutilisation of deep sea resources. While natural disasters like cyclones have been a common feature, the tsunami of 2004 added a new dimension to the demands of our preparedness.

Marine fisheries along the 8,000 kilometres coastline of the country including two major island ecosystems provides for direct and indirect livelihood of over 10 million fishers and their families. India is a country with a large number of small scale fishermen harvesting multispecies resources with an array of craft-gear combinations. It is extremely difficult to devise common management strategies that would satisfy the interests of all sections of small scale fishermen as well as sustain fish resources. Fishing closure for 45 to 60 days by mechanized fishing boats is being followed every year all along the coast. In spite of promulgation of Marine Fishing Regulation Act (MFRA) by maritime state governments, licensing of craft, catch declaration, ceiling on number and efficiency of fishing craft, monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing vessels remain as issues. A fisherman in India produces only 3.5 tonnes of fish per year as compared to more than 100 tonnes per year in EU countries. Alternate livelihood in mariculture and sea-related tourism will be able to absorb only a fraction of the fishermen population. Relocating a large number of fishermen with alternate employment is possible only by providing them skills of related kinds, that would be a long-term process.

Conservation and sustainable use of fisheries in the maritime zones of India is being accorded priority. In this direction, apart from emphasising on the implementation of MFRAs, the Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Act, 2009 is being promulgated to regulate fishing activities in the EEZ beyond territorial waters. Several marine species have been listed under endangered species and their fishing prohibited. The programme of diversification and reduction of excess capacity of coastal fishing vessels has been taken up, along with activities of monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) and vessel monitoring system (VMS) in the pipeline. Keeping the open access of the system in view, a comprehensive fishing vessel registration system is being put in place. Sea safety measures are an integral component of these initiatives.

It has been recognized that Ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) is a better option compared to single-species management. Designation of over 26 Marine Protected Areas, sanctuaries and marine parks to the extent of about 3% of Indian coastline has served as areas banned from fishing, that is proposed to be further enhanced. In a country with about 3,200 marine fishing villages, which are littered at a distance of every two kilometers along the coastline, implementing EBFM is a challenge. Hence, programmes for creation of awareness and sensitisation of fishers all along the coastline have been undertaken. Further, in line with the international instruments, the guidelines for deep sea fishing have been reviewed last year to enhance the efforts in this segment.

Intense efforts are being made to reduce bycatches through incorporation of bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) and turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in the fishing gears and selective fishing gears. With the production from capture fisheries already reaching maximum sustainable levels, it is time to look forward for enhancing the biomass through alternative approaches such as Open sea cage farming, use of fish aggregating devices (FADs), artificial reefs, etc. Candidate species such as seabass, shrimps, oysters, crabs, lobsters, sea cucumbers and seaweeds are important in this context. Productivity enhancement has been successfully demonstrated by installation of FADs in many places along the east coast and sea cage farming is being adopted the traditional fishers in the recent times.

Illegal, Unreported and Unrecorded (IUU) fishing is an issue as in several other countries, as the system of reporting catches by fishermen does not exist, except for deep sea foreign vessels that are licensed to operate with Indian flag within the Indian EEZ. There are large industrial vessels of foreign origin licensed to fish (especially tunas) within Indian for EEZ, permitted for mid-sea transshipment of catches and land catches in foreign ports. Indian Coast Guard monitors their movement within Indian EEZ, but there is a possibility of IUU fishing by these vessels seeking to minimize costs and maximize returns. An effective monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) mechanism is needed to curb IUU fishing by the LoP vessels (with Letter of Permit) and also poaching by foreign vessels other than the LoP vessels. Further, fishing in the EEZ of neighbouring countries within the region is often reported. This type of IUU fishing is indulged by fishermen operating medium-size vessels.

Actions that have been taken to curb IUU fishing include: Control of fishing capacity and fishing effort up to sustainable levels; Enforcement of the Maritime Zones of India (Regulation of Fishing by Foreign Vessels) Act, 1981; proposal for installation of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) in fishing boats; MCS to disallow destructive gears; proper monitoring of legal instruments under state level Marine Fishing Regulation Acts; and a proposed Central legislation for regulation of fishing by Indian vessels in the EEZ area under finalization. Regional cooperation is critical for the long-term sustainable protection of fish resources and the marine environment. While India is a signatory to several international conventions such as the United Nations Convention on Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) and Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), a regular dialogue between countries bordering specific waters such as Indian ocean is imperative for ensuring proper management and equity of fisheries in the region.

Climate change has been found to have a significant impact on all spheres of our life including agriculture, livestock, fisheries, forestry and the general health of the people. Stock assessments and management strategies may have to undergo rapid and major revisions, the extent of which is not known for the present. Located in tropical belt with innate high temperatures and in the path of annual cyclones and storm surges, climate change is one of the major concerns for sustaining Indian fisheries. A related aspect is the disaster management strategies, that call for intense regional cooperation.

There are now proposals to certify fish stocks in different regions, as being proposed by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and this could become a norm across the countries in the coming years. Product certification is a welcome step for sustaining the resources. However, considering the multispecies nature of resources and harvest by a number of craft and gear combinations overlapping several species, product certification either for species or habitat is however difficult for tropical fisheries.

Our projections for annual fish production by the year 2012 is of the order of 10 million tonnes. The production from aquaculture in the country has been showing an impressive annual growth rate of over 6% and a cumulative growth of 800%, i.e. from 0.37 million tonnes in 1980 to 3.37 million tonnes in 2008. The segments of freshwater aquaculture, coastal aquaculture and mariculture, apart from a portion coldwater fisheries are expected to contribute in significant measures to the fish basket of the country in the coming years. The issues that are being addressed in this area include water management, leasing policy of waters, species diversification, quality seed, provision of adequate feeds, health management, post-harvest processing and transport, quality assurance and certification for both exports and domestic product. Biodiversity management and possible pollution from aquaculture practices are being duly addressed, with registration of shrimp farms, for example, in the country.

I am happy to state that India has one of the robust and innovative institutional mechanism in different aspects of fisheries with regard to research, development, promotion, financing and regulation. The policy framework in the federal structure of administration is continuously revisited and upgraded in tune with the changing requirements, both national and international. The goal is to achieve the prosperity of the fisher, with sustainable fish production with due attention to the health of the environment.

At this Conference, I look forward to getting a glimpse of different approaches to these aspects from all over the world, for achieving sustained growth of the fisheries sector. I am happy to be amidst my colleagues from different countries and take this opportunity to state that India proposes to host the next International Conference of Fisheries Ministers and invite the Hon’ble Ministers to India for the next Conference.

Thank you.

Ona Sadya @ Kerala House on 10th September 2009

Prof K V Thomas house warming function on 10th September,2009

Mrs Sherly Thomas

2nd Agriculture Leadership Summit 2009

Prof K V Thomas Addressing the 2nd Agriculture Leadership Summit 2009 on monsoon behaviour on our food security system and on implimentation of the proposed Food Security Act,in New Delhi on September 04,2009.

MOS Prof K V Thomas at a Function organized by ASSOCHAM on FOOD AND AGRI EXPORTERS CONCLAVE in Delhi on 9th September,2009

Dear Friends,
May I thank you for inviting me to speak to you today.We are meeting amidst the anxiety expressed by some quarters over the current round of trade negotiations. We are hoping that the trade in agricultural products become fairer after the negotiations and benefit the farmers, boost our food security and result in increased exports to our agricultural produce. We must not be alarmed, we have a record of tiding through even the difficult times of global recession. India remains one of the lesser affected countries in the current crises. Our fundamentals remain strong and set back to growth very manageable.
Today’s conclave gains special importance in the wake of economic slowdown and global recession, which has greatly influenced major economics of the world. Trade relating to agriculture and allied sector products assumes greater significance for a country like India which has a substantial share in the world market because of its largely agriculture based economy.
In value terms, both agricultural exports and imports have registered consistent growth over the past 15 years. The growth rates are, however, widely divergent. While, agricultural exports grew at an annual growth rate of 8.3 per cent, the imports grew at 14.8 per cent per annum. The ratio of agricultural exports to agricultural import has decreased from 6.2 to 3.0. However, value of exports continues to exceed the value of imports by a large margin. This trend clearly shows that the trade policy reforms initiated by the government have greatly accelerated globalization of agricultural sector of India.
The composition of agricultural trade has significantly changed between 1992 and 2007. The share of fruits and vegetables, flowers, cotton, sugar and molasses and livestock products has considerably increased in the agricultural export basket of India. However, the share of traditionally exportable items like tea, coffee and cashew nuts has declined. Foodgrains share in the agricultural exports by and large remained constant, through export of non-basmati rice has witnessed annual growth rate of more than 10 per cent.The global market for agricultural products is also a good indicator for the export potential. It we see the growth of global market for agricultural products between 2000-2007, it has shown a significant upswing from US$553 billion to US$ 1127 billion registering a compound annual growth rate of about 10 per cent. India’s export share in the global market was only 1.4 per cent during 2007 with an export performance of US$16 billion. The share of agricultural exports to national exports was over 10 per cent during 2008-09, which clearly indicates that we have been able to meet domestic food requirement and also could export a whole host of agricultural products and processed food.Export cess, in force from 1940 has been repealed in 2006. The Vishesh Krishi Upaj Yojna has targeted export worthy products and given technical and capacity building support. Duty free imports of export enabling capital goods are possible in the EPCG scheme. Agri-export zones have been developed. Assistance to states for developing export zones is in operation. Capacity building to create competitiveness has been the mantra in the sector. Focus on the demand of organic products abroad has also been tapped.One crucial barrier to further enhancing our trade with the OECD countries is the high level of domestic protection they are offering their farmers. This is clearly distorting the potential to export. There are studies which show that corrections in OECD domestic support will benefit crops like Sugar and Cotton in India because of the comparative advantage while the corrections may be indifferent as far as rice and wheat farmers are concerned. This happens since the production of crops decline once domestic support are withdrawn in OECD and thus the cheaper Indian crops become dearer there. Overall Indian farmers stand to gain, as per our studies to 15-19% increased prices. This, friends, leaves two fronts for us to focus in trade development :
1) Intensive competiveness based development in crops and products of identified potential.
2) Continued efforts to make global trade terms favourable for our exporters and farmers.Our efforts will be in this direction amidst the adverse drought we have this year. I have pleasure in affirming that the Union government will take all efforts to make Indian agricultural trade more earning and taking steps to drought proof the production in the coming session. I wish the function all success and will be pleased to hear more of your deliberations here today.Thank you very much.
Jai Hind.

Mercy Revi Anusmaranam by DMA on 8th September,2009

Prof K V Thomas at Mersy Revi Anusmaranam organised by DMA at Delhi on 8th September 2009.

Music CD release at Kochi.Mamooty.Jayaram and Resul near by.

Haritholsavam-2009

Kerala Cartoon Academy Felicitated RASUL POOKKUTTY

STATE AGRICULTURE MINISTERS’ MEETING-NEW DELHI

The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Agriculture, Shri Sharad Pawar chaired the Meeting of State Agriculture & Horticulture Ministers on Managing Agriculture in the context of deficient rainfall, in New Delhi on August 21, 2009. The Union Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee ,The Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Shri C.P. Joshi and the Minister of State of Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Professor K.V. Thomas are also seen.

‘Haritholsavam’ in Kochi from Aug 28

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/
The Union Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with the Kerala Government is organising a mega agricultural and horticultural exhibition – Haritholsavam 2009 – here from August 28 to 31 at the Agricultural Wholesale Urban Market (EEC Market) at Maradu near here.
The event Web site http://www.haritholsavam.org/ was launched today in Kochi by Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, former Supreme Court judge, at a function presided over by the Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Prof K.V.Thomas.
Timed to coincide with Kerala’s traditional harvest festival of Onam, Haritholsavam has been formatted as a farmer- to-consumer meet and will showcase fruits and vegetables from different parts of the country as well as enable them to sell their produce at remunerative prices.
Prof Thomas said on the occasion that the event aims to encourage farming of fruits and vegetables, and give an impetus to the uplift of the agricultural sector. The event is a concerted effort to put the food processing industry on the spotlight and to enable this sector to arm itself to meet the challenges of the future, he said.
Commodity boards, scientific institutions, fertiliser and seed companies, food processing units and allied segments of the agricultural sector will participate in the four-day event. It will be a perfect opportunity for related segments and organisations in the sector to showcase their products and services.
As a concurrent event, ICAR will organise a national seminar on ‘Enhancing Agricultural Productivity and Profitability on August 29 and 30 at CMFRI here. Eminent scientists and academicians from the agricultural sector including, Mr Mangala Rai, Director General, ICAR, will present papers on various topics.
Around 200 delegates from the agricultural and fisheries sector will participate in the two-day seminar, which will see papers being presented on diverse topics such as profitability and production of quality rice in Kerala; improving productivity and profitability of horticultural crops; fisheries and animal sector; and enhancing water productivity etc.
The event will also feature cultural shows and vegetarian food and dessert festival, vegetable carving and fruit displays.