The ministry’s decisions reflect a mindset that views MMBL as an exploitative monopoly. This perception is flawed and out of sync with ground realities Under CSPCO, the ministry fixed the price of cottonseed sales at an ‘uniform’ level and the maximum trait-fee payable to the technology-provider (TP). Given GM Bt cotton accounts for 98% total cottonseeds used in India, the decision was directed primarily at this segment. On July 6, 2016, Mahyco-Monsanto Biotech India (MMBL) withdrew its application for environment clearances for commercial cultivation of cottonseeds carrying its Bollgard II Roundup Ready Flex (B-II-RRF) technology, which uses genes that not only kill pests but also imparts resistance to the herbicide, Roundup. MMBL has attributed its decision to the “uncertainty in...
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Category: Production of foodgrain
Agri ministry defies govt
While the intent of the government is to give a big push to commercialisation of GM crops, the agriculture ministry is against it. In December 2015, the Union Agriculture Ministry had issued a Cotton Seed Price Control Order under which it fixed the price of cotton seed sales all over the country at a uniform level and max trait fee (royalty) payable to the technology provider (TP). Given that the genetically modified (GM) Bt cotton accounts for 98% total cotton seeds used in India, the decision was directed primarily at this segment. The ministry also ordered a probe by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) – in to alleged ‘monopolistic’ practices by the Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (India) Private Limited (MMBL)...
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LOOKING AFRESH AT FARM SECTOR
The Modi Government has taken a slew of measures to double farmers’ income by 2022. However, for these efforts to succeed, State Governments must cooperate, as the real action can only take place at the ground level Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s objective to double farmers’ income by 2022 is being looked upon with scepticism. Critics argue that this will require an agricultural growth of more than 10 per cent per annum, at a time when growth in agriculture has collapsed to less than half a per cent per annum. Critics also argue that the minimum support price has risen only marginally (around four per cent) under the Modi dispensation. Both arguments are flawed. First, a number of States such as...
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Doubling farmers income – not a mere slogan
Prime Minister Modi’s promise to double farmers income by 2022 [the 75th anniversary of India’s independence] is being looked at with lot of scepticism in opposition quarters as also among some critics who look with a microscope every single opportunity to embarrassment him and his government. What is the basis for such scepticism? First, driven by a pre-meditated mindset, they are unable to see or not wanting to see any action happening on the ground. Second, they cite no increase in minimum support price [MSP] of food under Modi – dispensation to infer as to how then, farmers income could be doubled? Both points require careful scrutiny. To see what happens to MSP alone can be misleading. This is because...
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PM Fasal Bima Yojana – intent laudable, what about execution?
Modi – government has been under persistent attack for its obsession with promoting the manufacturing sector [under its flagship “Make in India”] but neglecting agriculture on which nearly 2/3rd of people depend for their livelihood. Critics have also lambasted it for alleged takeover of their land under the Land Acquisition [Amendment] Act 2015 to promote industrial development at their cost. However, to demonstrate that it cares for the farmers, the government has launched the Pradhan Mantri Phasal Bima Yojna [PMPBY] which it claims will bring about a drastic improvement in their economic conditions. Under PMPBY, the government’s intent is to compensate every farmer for the crop loss [due to a variety of factors such as natural calamities, hailstorms, unseasonal rains...
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India’s food reforms – trapped in ‘twilight’ zone
Pressure is mounting on the government even from within to fix a much higher minimum support price (MSP) for paddy during July – June 2015-16 agriculture crop season than the amount recommended by the Commission on Agriculture Cost and Prices (CACP). The CACP had recommended a modest increase of 4% which translates to about Rs 50 per quintal over existing price of Rs 1360 per quintal for common variety of paddy. On the other hand, some sections within government are gunning for a hike of double this amount or Rs 100 per quintal. Meanwhile, farmers organizations e.g. Bharat Krishak Samaj (BKS) have resurrected demand for bonus over and above MSP that some states viz., Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh etc were giving...
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Scrap the Food Security Act
It’s a colossal dole that will impact production and push up prices without improving the condition of the hungry The Indian electorate has given an overwhelming mandate to the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) hoping it will deliver development and good governance. The Congress-led UPA has been routed. This shows the people have rejected its hollow promises of access to the essentials of life as a matter of right. All through his election campaign, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi made a song and dance about a list of fundamental rights granted to people under the UPA dispensation. Among these, he talked loudest of the right to food to demonstrate that his party was sensitive to the livelihood concerns of the...
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Food Security – need for a paradigm shift
Indian electorate has given an overwhelming mandate to Narendra Modi led NDA to conduct affairs of nation on plank of development and good governance. Congress led UPA has been routed. People have rejected its hollow promises of access to quint-essentials of life as a matter of right. All through his election campaign, Rahul Gandhi (RG) brow beated about a volley of fundamental rights granted to people under UPA dispensation. He talked loudest about right to food to demonstrate that his party was sensitive to livelihood concerns of poor. India has been ruled by Congress for over six decades. Through most of this period, it has consistently proclaimed its commitment to ameliorating lot of poor. It milched ‘Garibi Hatao’ slogan to...
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