M.Lakshmanan's Blog On Agriculture

Agriclinics and Agribusiness Centers – Evolving Trends of Agricultural Extension Services in India

2009-02-05T18:36:00.008+05:30

Time and again the conceptualizations and perspectives on the issue of food security across the globe invoke reviews and introspection and so is the agricultural extension service system, which plays a pivotal role, amongst the other stakeholders of food production. In nineties, when I was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, I started my firm for delivering consultancy services. A senior executive from IDBI (Industrial Development Bank Of India) lamented to me as the agricultural extension professionals are not considered analogous with similar professionals like Doctors, architects, chartered accountants, industrial clinics run by engineers, and the like, in issuing soft loan facilities & margin money assistance. I wish to document this concern to mark the hard core reality before a decade and a half. The pluralistic development of demands in the delivery system of agricultural advisory services had the inspirations among agricultural graduates to promote a business line in the service sector. Yet, the lack of institutional support subdued our progress and spirits.

In 1995, World Bank took a moment to review the Training & Visit (T&V) program worldwide, implying that the system had been less pluralistic to the emerging trends of globalization, privatization & decentralization, and needs to be overhauled. When the conventional Training & Visit program is on the reconsideration by the World Bank and other decision making bodies - and pushed to serve the tail end - the employment opportunities of graduates of agriculture and allied sciences shrank immensely to render the levels of unemployment and underemployment to unprecedented higher degrees. MANAGE observes in India over 11,900 graduates in the field of Agriculture and allied sectors pass out from agricultural Universities every year. However, only 2000 are able to find employment in the Government and Private sectors. Thus every year around 9,900 graduates are available for supporting the agricultural production, if viable business/employment opportunities are afforded to them and yet they are left with no tangible options.

History elucidates that agricultural extension is centuries old and the state is endowed with responsibilities of directing and implementing the food production of the country. A strong extension force along with broad community of farmers is envisaged as an active stake holder in the process of planning and the implementation of food production. It is a proven consideration that a nation like India, having a strong qualified extension work force and keeping their potential untapped – where Agriculture contributes a significant share of GDP and provides employment to more than 50% of the work force – would not be affordable to the precious national exchequer.

In late nineties, in the draft guide to the policy makers of the developing countries, FAO observed that the time is ripe for policy-making bodies in developing countries to redefine the discipline of extension within a global context, so as to let the extension function, to be performed with excellence in line with the global challenges. Global emphasis on sustainable development, including rural and agricultural advancement, as well as the developments such as globalization, market liberalization, decentralization, privatization and democratization, are creating new requirements for the extension services in developing countries. For the farming community, the need for knowledge and its application keeps on evolving into new dimensions.

Neuchâtel Initiative (NI) in 1999 considered calling for a demand driven extension services to address the pluralistic requirements of the farming community worldwide. In the common framework of Pro-poor and Market oriented agricultural advisory services (MOASS) of Neuchâtel Group describes the clientele, as a predominant role player - rather than just a farmer - in the entire agricultural value chain. Early in this decade, Government of India adopted the agenda for the demand driven extension system in its Policy framework for agricultural extension. The multi-agency dispensation of extension service is regarded as more pragmatic than the conventional state and public sector controlled extension services. And come, Agriclinics & Agribusiness centers (AC&ABC) scheme – Over a paradigm shift in the global and national policy perspective – to provide the demand driven agricultural advisory services. Eventually, Agriclinics & Agribusiness centers shall have to be conceived as the component output of overhauling and transformation in the global approach towards agricultural extension and the concurrent national extension policy to meet the emerging challenges of globalization, rather than mere deployment of efforts to address a common unemployment issue. As a matter of fact, the unemployment/underemployment is a factorial indicator of the tail end deficiencies of the earlier non plural system of agricultural extension.

Agriclinics & Agribusiness centers are categorized under Small and Medium enterprises and the assistance mode is classified as priority sector - direct lending, and thus overriding my apprehensions of 1990s, for the consideration of soft loans and margin money assistance on par with other general practitioners. Passed is a decade and a half, since the need for demand driven advisory services have been felt by me as a service provider, It is high time the private players have been supported to identify their niche in the agricultural value chain.

This article shall accomplish its desired objectives by documenting the insights and a few of the well considered essentials to support and strengthen the functioning of the larger lot of agripreneurs and make them result oriented. There are many and a few are the following;

Allocation of extension programmes, from the national extension agenda, to be handled by the agriclinics and agribusiness centres on a regular basis to ensure level playing grounds.
Consideration to enhance the spread of nodal organizations for the benefit of agricultural graduates all over the nation.
Consideration to enhance the funding and training capabilities of the nodal organizations for a more effective and result oriented functioning.
Consideration for upgrading the nodal organizations with impressive track record of performances to a level of “knowledge centers” with adequate funding and support, to provide a extended hand holding facility to the agripreneurs without any time bar.
Consideration to enhance the upper limit of the term loan & credit assistance, with a increased subsidy and the relaxation of the ceiling for mandatory collateral security, so as to overcome the vagaries of inflation, and the demand & supply forces in the agricultural and rural credit system.
Considerations to increase the public investment and earmark funding on a regular basis to assist the agripreneurs on the course fees & travel expenses for seminars, workshops and exposure visits and purchase of online data, subscriptions and reference materials for upgrading their skill sets and improving the quality of services. Such assistance would help to reduce the cost of advisory services at the receiving end.
Initiative to form a national level professional network to represent agriclinics and agribusiness centers and deploy institutional and statutory requisites to form the long dreamt “Agricultural council” analogous in the status and dispensation of Bar council of India, Indian Medical council and the like.

This post is the modified version of my article published in “Agripreneur Info”- A Newsletter published by VAPS, a Agriclinics & Agribusiness training center

Agriclinics & Agribusiness Centres (AC&ABC)

2008-07-26T12:50:00.012+05:30

The cause of this post arises from the inquiries on Agriclinics & Agribusiness centers (AC&ABC) Scheme.The contents of the post are previously posted by me in Orkut communities.Persistent inquires from the broad community qualified agricultural professionals into this made me to publish this post with the info down here.

Agriclinics & Agribusiness centres (AC&ABC)
The Scheme is jointly sponsored by NABARD, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt of India, SFAC(Small farmers Agribusiness consortium) and MANAGE(National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management)
Objectives of the scheme
To provide extension and other services to farmers on payment basis:
To support agriculture development and entrepreneurship:
To promote self-employment for graduates and allied seiences
Concept/Definition
Agri-Clinics are envisaged to provide expert advice and services to farmers on technology, cropping practices, protection from pests and diseases, market trends, prices of various crops in the markets and also clinical services for animal health, etc. which would enhance productivity of crops/animals and increased income to farmers.
Agri- Business centers are envisaged to provide farm equipments on hire, sale of inputs and other services.
Eligibility
The scheme is open to agriculture graduates /graduates in subjects allied to agriculture like horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Forestry, Dairy, Veterinary, Poultry farming and fisheries.
Features of the scheme
The ceiling of project cost for individual projects will be Rs. 10.00 lakhs. The ceiling of project cost for group projects would be 10.00 lakhs per trained graduates, subject to an overall ceiling of Rs. 50.00 lakhs. In case of groups having five persons, of which one is non-agriculture graduate (management professionals, normally MBAs considered), the ceiling of such group projects would also be Rs.50.00 lakhs.In the case of loans up to Rs. 5.00 Lakhs, no margin money is required as per present norms. However, loans above this limit, the margin money to be contributed by the entrepreneur will be as per the prevailing norms. Credit linked capital subsidy @ 25% of the capital cost of the project funded through bank loan would be eligible. This subsidy would be 33.33% in respect of candidates belonging to SC, ST, Women and other disadvantaged sections and those from North-Eastern and Hill States.

In addition, full interest subsidy would be eligible for the first two years of the project.Delivery of Extension services shall be the main component of ACABC projects for availing of the benefit of subsidy under the scheme. Commercial activities in agriculture and allied sectors may, on a case-by-case basis, considered as eligible component of ACABC projects with a view to improve their viability

Projects under the scheme may be treated as priority sector, direct financing to agriculture. Interest would be chargeable on borrower’s accounts as per procedure laid down by RBI for direct agricultural advances under priority sector guidelines.

States are encouraged to provide information on all government policies, programs, schemes, etc. to agriprenurs(trained graduates on Agriculture and allied sciences) and also use their services in implementation of extension activities funded by the Government.

Resources:
http://www.agriclinics.net/
http://www.manage.gov.in/

Privatization in Agricultural Extension: A Paradigm Shift in the Policy Perspectives

2008-05-08T12:38:00.006+05:30

Private Agricultural extension is gaining prominence in the recent times. This context in agricultural production is getting thrust because of the emerging trends of globalization. The implications of the WTO poise to set the focus on product quality, techno economically feasible cost of production, post harvest value addition, market led extension and cyber applications. These parameters promote the paradigm shift in the policy perspectives. To meet the demands of the emerging global scenario of the food security, the production trends need to be harmonized. The broad global macro economic scenario depicts that higher the expense on food is lesser the prosperity or increased poverty.

The need for the harmonious production pushes the extension service providers as the predominant economic stake holders in food and agricultural production.

Governments across the world have their policies for a sustainable production. As MANAGE puts it, Inability of the Public Extension to reach the farmers effectively makes space for private participation in agricultural extension. The following info from MANAGE draws keen interest.

The extension worker: farmer ratio is very wide in India (1: 1000). The ratio further widens due to

1. At least, 25 percent of extension workers are administrations /

Supervisors and they are not directly in touch with farmers.

2. With remaining extension workers, at least 50 percent of the time is spent in administrative work, official correspondence, reports and Traveling

3. Excluding the leave period, holidays, an extension worker in government sector need attends office for about 250 days in a year.

When we stand on the fact that agricultural extension professionals are the effective stake holders in food and agricultural production, the info above is disturbing. The widening gap between the farmer and agricultural extension services from the governmental organizations provides niche for the role of private or self employed agricultural extension practitioners.

Ref: MANAGE Resources

Herbal Farming in India: Endeavor a niche in global Market

2007-01-09T12:10:00.002+05:30

India has a rich population of medicinal plant species and is estimated as 2500 species available in this region. Of these, 2000 to 2300 species are used in traditional medicines while at least 150 species are used commercially - on a fairly large scale. India and Brazil are the largest exporters of medicinal plants. Medicinal plants in India are estimated to be worth Rs. 550 crore, ayurvedic ethical formulations contribute the remaining sum. Cosmetic industry as well as aroma therapy are the two important areas where Indian medicinal plants and their extracts, essential oil can contribute globally. Medicinal and aromatic plants have a promising market potential with the world demand of herbal products growing at the rate of 7 percent per annum. The WHO has listed 21,000 plants that have reported medicinal uses around the world. World Scenario at present - according to World Health Organisation (WHO) – more than I billion people rely on herbal medicines for their medical and therapeutic needs.

With the opening up of the global market for herbal and traditional medicinal plant extracts, and the subsequent increase in demand for the same, India is beginning to realise the potential for playing its own card in a sector that it has traditionally been strong at. It has resulted in many state governments propagating the cultivation of herbal and medicinal plants (setting up committees/boards in the process) on a larger commercial scale than before, to reach the international markets. As regards the Indian knowledge systems, there are apparently seven lakh registered practitioners of Indian systems of medicine (including Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Tibetan medicines) in the country. India is known to have 15,000 medicinal plants, which include 7000 used for Ayurveda, 700 in Unani and 600 in Siddha medicine, apart from other, perhaps non documented systems. The Asian countries together account for 16 per cent of the global market share (of the total US $62 billion) and the Chinese medicine has taken a large share of the export market, leaving India way behind. At present India exports 70 per cent in the form of crude drugs (unprocessed plants and extracts) and 30 per cent finished product which is not sufficient to become the world leader.

India is endowed, as no other country, with rich resources of medicinal and aromatic plants. An ‘herbal revolution’ is waiting to happen, but India has not grasped it as yet. This is an area where India could well achieve global leadership by exporting medicinal and aromatic produce and products. India is well qualified to meet the increasing demands of food, pharmaceuticals, perfumery, flavour and cosmetic industry. Consider the facts: it is blessed with 10 bio-geographic zones and 25 biotic provinces. It is one of the rare countries where more than 8000 medicinal plants grow; 2200 of these are known to have therapeutic properties. Ayurvedic medicinal formulations use about 600 herbs of which about 120 are consumed in high quantities. The World Bank estimates that global market for medicinal plants and their products is likely to grow to US$5 billion by 2050 growing at a rate of 14 per cent; with the areas of growth being pharmaceuticals.

Stevia - A Prospective Herbal Crop

2007-01-02T20:20:00.000+05:30

Among traditionally accepted medicinal plants, Stevia has a viable global market .Stevia rebaudiana or Stevia is a native of Paraguay, which provides a whopping Rs.11.05 lakh returns in a cycle of three years as per industry estimates. Member of Compositae family (sunflower), Stevia is a sweet herb and is fast becoming a major source of high-potency bio-sweetener for the rapidly growing market for “natural” foods, replacing chemical sweeteners and even table sugar. Considered to be 300 times sweeter than sugar in its natural state, Stevia is useful in regulating blood sugar, preventing hypertension, treatment of skin disorders, and prevention of tooth decay. Studies show that it is a natural antibacterial and antiviral agent as well. On top of that, it is calorie and carbohydrate free and hence a great sweetener choice for diabetics, and those watching their weight.

Cane production in India is in trouble particularly due to excessive use of irrigation. Stevia, therefore, opens up new avenues for crop diversification and a viable alternative to sugarcane. The sweetness in the leaf is due to the presence of an intensive-sweetening agent called Stevioside. The leaf of Stevia contains 15-20% of Stevioside. There is a potential to use Stevia in soft drinks, confectionery, bakery, etc. instead of sweeteners with known adverse side effects in the long run. Stevia prevents tooth decay with its anti-microbial property. Majority of the supplementary food products for diabetic patients emphasize on the fiber and protein content. The addition of Stevia leaves, dried or in powder form, in such products would not only aid in increasing the natural sweetness but would also help in rejuvenating the pancreatic gland. Apart from this, Stevia is nutrient-rich, containing substantial amount of protein, calcium and phosphorus. Besides, Stevia can also be used as a household sweetener in preparation of most Indian sweetmeats.

Soil Type and Land preparation :Stevia plants grow best in rich, well-drained soils like red and sandy loam soils. The soil should be of fine tilth and a neutral pH level. The land should be initially harrowed and then ploughed to break down the clods. The site should not be susceptible to flooding or pudding. The raised beds should be of 15 cm (height) and 60 cm (width). The distance between two rows should be 40 cm and that between each plant 23 cm. This would give a plant population of around 30,000 per acre.

Irrigation :Micro-sprinklers / drips are the best method of irrigating Stevia plants to avoid damage by excessive levels of moisture. Frequent light watering is recommended during the summer months while once a day during winter months would suffice.

Fertilizer:Stevia plants respond well to fertilizers with lower nitrogen content than fertilizers with phosphoric acid or potash content. Most organic fertilizers would work well since they release nitrogen slowly. Since the feeder roots of Stevia plants tend to be very near to the surface, it is a good idea to add compost for extra nutrients if the soil is sandy. The recommended dose of fertilizer is 110:45:45 NPK/ac. This requires 41/2 bags of urea, 2 bags of DAP and 2 bags of Potash. The entire dose of DAP is applied as the basal dressing. The Nitrogen and Potash fertilizer can be split and applied as ten doses in every month. Nitrogen application is a must for the production of dry mattes.

Weeding & Maintenance :There is no pest and disease incidence in this crop. In case any disease symptom is noticed, spraying of Neem oil diluted in water is the best organic method. Removal of weeds can be done manually. Since the crop is grown in raised beds, inter-cultural operations are easier by manual labour. Flowering of the plant should be avoided. Pinching of the apical bud would enhance busy growth of the plant with side branches.

Harvesting :First harvest can be made after 4-5 months while the subsequent harvests can be made every 3 months for 3 years. The plants are cut just before flowering as the sweetener in the leaf is the maximum at that time. Leaves are harvested by plucking in a small quantity, or the entire plant with the side branches is cut leaving 10 to 15 cm from the base. The expected average yield would be 2700 kgs. of dried leaves per acre which is presently marketed at Rs.400 per kg.; only Rs.200 per kg. is recokned for our calculation.

Post Harvest :The harvested branches are dried in a shade and the dried leaves are stripped off from the branches. The dried leaves are powdered, sieved and the fine powder is stored in containers.

Marketing :Though relatively new to India, its marketing infrastructure is fast taking shape. More companies are expected to enter buy-back scene shortly. Hence, marketing should pose no problem. However, the prospective farmers themselves would be required to negotiate directly with the companies buying back and finalize their commercial and other terms. The total expenditure for the three-year life of the plant in one acre is likely to be Rs.5.15 lakhs as against which, the total income for the same period would be expected to be Rs.16.20 lakhs. This leaves a net profit of Rs.11.05 lakhs which is by far the highest that can be obtained from any crop currently being cultivated in India.Being a medicinal plant coming under horticultural crops, Stevia cultivation entitles one to tax-free returns. Subsidy may also be available from National Medicinal Plants Board. Financial support from Banks should be available for the cultivation of Stevia.
agriculture

Jobs for Agricultural Graduates In Tamilnadu. India

2006-12-16T18:15:00.000+05:30

These are the days of outsourcing in India. Does this alleviate the concerns of the all in the Indian Agricultural sector,where prevailing discontent over the career prospects is obvious ?. Private companies,NGOs beeline to handle the areas,where governmental bodies hitherto dominated.The growing issues of unemployment and underemployment among agricultural graduates would not show well of a nation,that is predominantly a agricultural country,whose resources are competitive globally.Would this outsourcing cut the ice and prevail upon ?..Time and it's tests bear the answer. Outsourcing would be conceived well, if it is meant to promote freelancing in agricultural extension and management services.

In these lines, I like to document certain info - on opportunities for agricultural graduates of Tamilnadu, India - I came across last week.The man behind the mission is Mr.Peter Rex Charlie, a seasoned agricultural professional, who carries out recruitment for certain governmental agencies on part time basis. Agricultural graduates shall try this. Contact : M/S New life Placements ltd. Ph:0431 6451999

Web :
http://www.newlifesplacements.co.in/

Precision Farming - An Advantage Agriculture

2006-11-22T19:57:00.001+05:30

Agriculture embarks in to a era where hitherto obscure skill sets of humankind are setting pace and becoming obvious realities with newfangled areas in space and information technology. In modern days, the information – among others - conjoins as a most valuable resource. This information involves of data on crop characteristics, hybrid responses, soil properties, fertility requirements, weather Predictions, weed and pest populations, plant growth responses, harvest yield, post harvest processing, and marketing projections. Precision agriculture integrates a suite of technologies that retain the benefits of large-scale mechanisation, which is essential to large fields, but recognizes local variation. By using satellite data to determine soil conditions and plant development, these technologies can lower the production cost by fine-tuning seeding, fertilizer, chemical and water use, and potentially increasing production and lowering costs — all benefiting the farmer.

Precision farming is sometimes called prescription farming, site specific farming or variable rate technology. It focuses on the use of three technologies – remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS). Remote sensing has had agricultural applications from the earliest days. The feedback has helped drive the design of major remote-sensing instruments. For example, the spectral bands, spatial resolution and orbital elements of the original Multi-Spectral Scanner on the Earth Resources Technology Satellite, launched in 1972, by USA were influenced by field size, field spectrometer data on crop leaf and soil reflectance, and crop life cycles. The technology has now been developed so that the field information (such as yield and application rates) can be controlled and monitored at smaller intervals in the field at a reasonable cost to the farmer. Pesticides can be applied in areas of pest infestation, at ETL (Economic Threshold Level) reducing the amount of pesticide which may potentially impact the environment. Fertilizers and soil amendments can be applied only where needed. Crop yield can also be monitored to create maps that show the high and low production areas of a field for improved management decisions. As the cost of this technology comes down, the cost effectiveness of production will improve.

This scene depicts a personal computer with a GIS application software program can effectively organize, analyze, and manage data. Record keeping is easy on a computer and information from past years can be easily accessed. The computer software including spreadsheets, databases, Geographic information system and other types of application software are readily available and most are easy to use. The software provides data storage, retrieval, and transformation of spatial (field) data. GIS software for precision farming management will store data, such as soil type, nutrient levels, etc, in layers and assign that information to the particular field location. A fully functional GIS can be used to analyze characteristics between layers to develop application maps or other management options. The field location is usually stored by the latitude and longitude of that position, which is typically found using a Global Positioning System (GPS). Several maps can be created showing the variability of nutrient levels, soil type, topography, pest incidence and yield. A global positioning system receiver requires at least four satellites to determine its position on earth.The primary need for a system like global positioning system is the ability to return to a particular location, on a regular basis. As a result, numerous observations and measurements can be taken at a specific position. Global information systems (GIS) can be used to create field maps based on Global Positioning System data to record and assess the impact of farm management decisions.

2006-11-16T18:42:00.000+05:30

Indian Agriculture and Milestones in National Growth

Time and again, the policy makers in India have been observing - as it is pivotal - the growth rate in agricultural sector should be at least 3-4 percent annually to sustain an 8-10 percent growth in GDP.It should be noted – as our policy makers lament - since 1997, agriculture has grown at a trend rate of 2.5 percent only with wide fluctuations year to year, mainly due to lack of reforms, declining public investment and poor pre-modern infrastructure.Unlike other areas, agriculture provides basic food and livelihood for the masses. It prepares the work force – the major and principle component of the tools of Industrial production – fit and ready for their factories and offices. Industrial nations – whose ratings of food production potential and self sufficiency are high – start spurning the notions of earlier days, and present a positive and objective observations over the developing countries and acknowledge the requisite of level playing grounds with them. Amongst Brazil and China, India is a clear global choice. Since, India being the signatory of World Trade organisation, balanced perspectives on this issue is apprehensive of unfair trade tariffs, unrestricted imports and unequivocal distribution of subsidies, which would impart immense setbacks in the development, and poverty alleviation strategies of the country. It should be noted surplus production in the conventional field crops like rice and wheat could not be exported in the International Market profitably as the ruling prices are far below the cost of procurement. Subsequently, with the mounting stocks the prices of commodities in the domestic market have crashed below cost of production. Fortunately, developing countries including India realised the seriousness of the drawbacks and rose up to the occasion and the keyword now is commercial agriculture / horticulture.The phenomenon holds the descriptive concepts of attainable milestones in economic growth in India.