SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SHRIMATI PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL AT THE MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF GOVERNORS ON FARMER-INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP

Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, 15th December 2011

I welcome all of you to the meeting. I am happy to see the Governors who bring with them much experience, and can with their depth of understanding and breadth of vision, make positive contributions to the country's progress. I am also glad to see Members of the Planning Commission and Secretaries to the Government of India, and who will be speaking on a range of issues relating to agriculture. I also look forward to hearing the views of NGO representatives, Farmers' Associations and Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Agriculture occupies a fundamentally important position in our economy. For a growing nation like India, our work requires a constant review and a constant renewal of commitments. For agriculture, it is time for another great leap forward. This will be possible with a clear recognition of the many existing inter-linkages and a clear roadmap. I am happy that this meeting of the Committee of Governors, will examine and recommend measures to enhance productivity, profitability, sustainability and competitiveness of the agriculture sector in India, with special reference to rainfed area farming, which is very important for our country in many ways - food security, agro-processing industries, great employability capacity, greenery and environment and many others.

The importance of dryland farming is evident from the data as is brought out in the circulated background note. About 60 percent of the cultivated area in India is rainfed. It provides 44 percent of food production in the country, that includes 85 to 95 percent of coarse cereals, 89 percent pulses, 80 percent oil seeds 65 percent cotton and 45 percent rice. It supports about 40 percent of the population, mostly belonging to the poorer sections of society. It also supports nearly 60 percent of the livestock population. Therefore, urgent attention to dryland farming is important. The National Rainfed Area Authority has done a considerable amount of work. The important point now is to identify, in a comprehensive manner, what is doable, workable and implementable, so that the necessary thrust can be given to the holistic development of rainfed farming.

How to engage the farmer is another question? Our approach will have to change from one where the farmer is viewed as a "tiller", to one where we look at the farmer as an agri-preneur who is eager to look at new forms of engagement with other stakeholders, to enhance productivity and profitability from agriculture. Much like the industrial entrepreneur, the farmer takes risks, sows seeds and puts in tremendous effort in manning it. The farmer today requires inputs of knowledge and scientific research, access to markets, credit support and insurance coverage and management techniques for effective utilization of various resources. These are very much the inputs for running a successful business operation! So linking industry and the farmer is very much a viable option.

I have been calling for the development of some basic "models" to bring farmers into partnership arrangements with SME's and the corporate world. The farmer - industry partnership can include crop specific and region specific models by making farmers associations, shareholders or co-operatives or organizing farmers into primary producer bodies, or any other desirable and viable model between farmers and industries. Also, these agreements should, on one hand, safeguard the ownership of land of the farmer and, on the other hand, ensure tenure security during the agreement period for the industrial establishment. This would create a conducive environment for the establishment of a viable industry - farmer partnership. I am sure that all of you present here today, will give new ideas on how to make this a reality, and think about factors that have to be taken into consideration in building up this industry-farmer relationship, so that it is a "farmer-centric, industry -driven and knowledge-based partnership".

Agreements of farmers with industrial establishments could cover production, processing, value addition, storage and marketing, all of which contribute to better price realization. In fact, in a broader term, the integration of agriculture with other sectors of the economy is important for sustainable development. India is one of the largest producers of foodgrains, fruits and vegetables in the world. But yet, food processing is only 10 percent. Storage facilities like building silos, warehousing or cold storage facilities; and promoting value addition of food products so that their shelf-life increases, will bring better returns to farmers. The Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act and such other matters, also need to be reviewed for making agriculture remunerative. I am sure the Committee will give due consideration to these aspects.

Another issue is the convergence of schemes at the local level. We are reaching out to the farmer through various institutions, under different ministries to make available agricultural inputs like credits, seeds and fertilizers. Knowledge inputs like weather parameters and weather forecasts, market situations must be made available to farmers. Also farmers need information on water management and modern irrigation technologies, particularly drip and sprinkle irrigation, new user friendly technologies for many agricultural operations, new scientific methods of crop planning, warehousing and food processing technologies as well. It is nearly impossible for a farmer to engage with a multitude of agencies. How can all this coordinate? You may please ponder over this. I think that this co-ordination should be done by involving Panchayati Raj Institutions. Gram Sabhas must move "centre stage" to play a leading role in this. In the three tier Panchayati Raj System also, a block is generally taken as a unit for all developmental activities. Agricultural operations especially crop planning, expenditure planning, and also planning all-round livestock development with supporting activities of veterinary doctors and fodder etc., may be carried out with a block as a unit, taking into account local conditions and requirements. Each block can be a nucleus of a "food and fodder bank" where food and fodder, is stored as per requirements to ensure food guarantee for its people and livestock. Local storage of grains with easy availability in any season, would reduce the cost of distribution under the PDS system, and at the same time, it would be a low cost option that also cuts on wastage during transportation. To co-ordinate these activities and to ensure farmers' participation, Block Level Committees can be thought of. Infrastructure like warehouses, food processing units like dal mills and oil mills etc., could be set up at the Block level. This will facilitate the creation of local jobs and occupation opportunities for the youth. Individuals and SHGs can benefit out of it. However, how can all this be systematically done and made a reality? We have to find the answer.

In respect of dissemination of agriculture knowledge, we have in existence the Krishi Vigyan Kendras. These hold great potential. Speaking a year ago at the 5th National Conference on Krishi Vigyan Kendras, I had asked whether it is possible to enroll an army of trained "Kisan Bandhus" attached to Krishi Vigyan Kendras across the country, who could help farmers through extension activities. Knowledge and knowledge management have to be leveraged effectively for the benefit of the farming community. Results from agricultural research are sometimes too academic to guide intermediary organizations and extension agencies. If that is the case, farmers do not gain anything, as knowledge is not being transferred to them in an understandable and doable form. Therefore, there is a need to start programmes that create or reinforce partnerships between intermediary organizations and research institutes, to produce accessible content in local languages and, at the appropriate technical level. Apart from this top down approach, there also is a need to look for small-small innovations made by local people in farming communities. Over the past few years I have seen many grassroots innovations, some such exhibitions were put up at Rashtrapati Bhavan also. It is important that these innovations can be refined and made marketable, by developing knowledge partnerships. How this can be done should be discussed. The role of Agricultural Universities and Research Institutions, both at the Central and State levels, need to be looked into, as also the involvement of agriculture related Public Sector Undertakings.

Government schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act have had a major impact in rural India. It has opened up many opportunities for work and employment which is very important. Its further utilization for agriculture needs to be looked at, in a deeper way, to see how to maximize the potential of this scheme, for rural development and agricultural operations, in the context of the emerging scenario of farm labour shortages and food security.

I have been discussing these issues with some of our experts in agriculture, including those working in agriculture in rainfed areas. I had held a colloquium on "Approach to sustainable farming in rainfed areas" about a year ago in August 2010, and a Brain Storming Session on "Prospects of rainfed farming with special reference to engaging the corporate sector" in Bangalore in August 2011 this year. I have always emphasized that we must not lose sight of the important indicators of agriculture in our country. There are about 145 million rural households in over 6 lakh villages. 82 percent of total land owners are small and marginal farmers. Can we afford to neglect them? Agriculture remains the largest employer of our national workforce, providing livelihood to about 60 percent of our people, with 65 percent of farm work undertaken by women.

I am positive that this meeting of the Committee of Governors with the help of all of you, and those related with the profession, will provide valuable guidance and inputs for agricultural development in the country. I say this from previous experience. Following the Governor's Conference in 2008, I had appointed a Committee of Governors for speedy socio-economic development and empowerment of women. Their report resulted in the setting up of a National Mission for Socio-economic Empowerment of Women, which was launched by me on 8th March 2010. I am sure that in the next ten years it will show some positive results. It looks at implementation of women-centric programmes in a mission mode, and for better co-ordination and synergy amongst participating stakeholders. I am sure that this Committee of Governors too, will make recommendations to bring convergence and greater coherence between various agencies and schemes, to address agricultural productivity and farmers' concerns.

Thank you.

Jai Hind!