‘South Asian Farmers Forum’ in place

Responding as if to the clarion call ‘Don’t fight wars, fight hunger’, farmers from eight countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC), decided recently to set up the ‘South Asian Farmers Forum’ after a three-day conference in New Delhi, marked by spirit of bonhomie, and desire to co-operate with each other, on matters pertaining to agriculture.

Suresh Prabhu, former Union Minister of Energy and Environment who was the Chairman of the Conference Committee, will be the convener of the Forum, till a formal executive committee, is elected. The first meeting will focus on initiatives needed to bring back agriculture, at the centre stage of development activities, of the region.

The call for ‘fighting hunger’ was given by Dr. US Awasthi, Managing Director of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Co-operative Limited (IFFCO). He is also heading the IFFCO foundation, a non-profit organization, set up in 2003. Apart from these two organisations, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, besides the Ministry of Agriculture, had come together to organise the conference. For almost half the day on March 7, prior to the concluding session, the floor was thrown open to delegates from all the eight countries, most of them, speaking about the conditions of agriculture, in their countries, in their mother tongues.

This was a welcome departure from the English-only language of the conference. You could hear from farmers of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, speaking out their minds, in their languages. Translations into English was, of course, provided. The following are the recommendations of the three-day conclave held at the National Agricultural Science Complex, near the Pusa Institute. in West Delhi. 1. A common and permanent cell will be created in the first instance, and it shall comprise of such members, as the current conference determines.

2. The requirements are for efficient and efficacious functional commitment, in the areas of water for irrigation, and the removal of issues, pertaining to the, conceptualisation of such issues. Since, water is a cross cutting requirement, for the entire sector and sub sectors of agriculture, it shall be one of the constituent sectors, for policy developments. Considering the water crisis faced by South Asian countries, an integrated management program to increase conservation [involving endogenous practices],efficiency of, on farm water use and equitable distribution of available water, and integration of underground and surface water use are some of the areas that will be looked into.

The Conference recognised that, while poverty and hunger are essentially a rural phenomenon, the concentration of the deprived people, is much higher in rain-fed and other non-congenial areas, and recommended enhanced investment in such areas.

3. With the increasing threat of the trans-boundary diseases, pests, weeds of crops, livestock and fish, measures for management from this risk, should be put in place on a priority basis, which will also facilitate the regional and international trades.

4. There are violent price changes and trade distortions adversely impacting food security and incomes, particularly of the majority small farmers and poor consumers. In low income food importing countries, it is advisable to maintain a comfortable level of food self-sufficiency, particularly in cereal and staple foods.

5. Strategic linkage by strengthening value change, to increase the advantages of the producers and the consumers, need to be assured.

6. Recognising that the on-going climate change has resulted, in decline, in productivity and increased uncertainty of production, besides causing serious degradation of natural resources, need to be factored in our development strategy, to increase the balance input-risk-return.

7. We also recognise that, there is technology fatigue syndrome, which has failed us to bridge the long-standing yield gaps. We also recognise that, most countries in the region are not fully equipped, to harness the new emerging technologies, such as bio-technology, nanotechnology, space technology, etc. due to; paucity of infrastructure, trained human resources and lack of appropriate regulatory measures such as SPS, IPR, TRIPS etc.

8. The conference recognises the rich bio-diversity, of SAARC countries, which is eroding fast, should be judiciously conserved, saved and utilized, as per international norms and regulations. Necessary enabling mechanisms, such as harmonisation of food and bio-safety standards, should be put in place to facilitate this. The paradox of coexistence, of natural and cultural richness, with stubbornly high poverty and hunger must be resolved.

9.This requires an intervention to the mutual satisfaction, of the farmers of the member-countries, to ordain for themselves, the required policies for the agriculture, and its various sub-section like horticulture, livestock, fisheries, both marine and aquaculture, not to mention forestry.

10. In order to increase knowledge synergy and to avoid duplication of efforts, measures sharing information, and proven technological and policy interventions.

11. To facilitate training visits, and to learn from each other, proves experience, and the process of travel, should be made more facilitative.

12. Recognising the need for substantive increase in investment, required, public sector investment in agriculture, and rural development, and recognising the increasing interest of the private sector, to support these sectors, public-private sector linkages must be promoted not only for increasing the total investment, but also to mutually synergise the outcome of investment, which is, primarily due to poor economic access.

13. Although the contribution of, GDP agriculture, to the overall GDP is declining, the dependence on agriculture, is still very high. Therefore, investment in agriculture and rural infrastructure, must be enhanced to increase the livelihood security of rural masses.

It impressed upon off-farm and on-farm integrated employment security, particularly by promotion of mass production ,by masses and linking them, through appropriate mechanisms, with the markets. Each graduate should be entrepreneur, should not be a job seeker, but a job creator. Appropriate changes in university curricula are called for. The conference recognised that, under the SAARC system, several programs on agriculture and other related sectors are operational, and are in the process of being designed and developed.

It also recognises that, several of these programs require supplemental and complementary support, should be provided to address these issues. The conference recognised the need for an institutional arrangement, at the country and regional level, to facilitate and enhance support, in achieving the set goals. National forum and regional forum of SAARC, which should include all stakeholders ,namely, farmers, private, public sectors, civil society, professional organisations and academia, should be allowed to make their own arrangements for financial viability. The three-day conference made a request that, the concern shown by it, should be placed before the SAARC meeting ,of the Heads of States/countries for appropriate action. Well known agricultural scientists addressed the Conference. Among them were: Dr. R. B. Singh, Mr .Zafar Altaf (Pakistan), Dr. J.C Katyal, Dr.S.L.Mehta, S Ayyappan, Dr.S.L.Patil, Kamal Shideed, A.Mazid,and M.A.Ahmed (Information centre FOR Agricultural Research IN Dry Areas (ICARDA, Syria) , Dr.P.L.Gautam, Sushil Kumar, Pratap Birthal, P.K.Joshi, Devesh Roy and Amil Thorat, Tushar Shah, M.Vijaya Gupta, Som Nath Poudel (Nepal), Pervaiz Amirt (Pakistan), Pro. M.P.Yadava and R.K.Singh, Mruthyunjaya, Y.S.Ramakrishnan and M.Osman, Pratap Narain, Anwar Alam,Ramesh Chand, Nawab Ali, C.D. Mayee and a few other scientists.

Arabinda Ghose, -NPA