Skip to main content

Protect and promote the native crop diversity in India


By Sudhansu R Das
Construction of National Highways for the movement of goods and services, agro processing industries, storage, godowns, super markets, commercial farming and advanced agriculture technologies etc are unable to check the rising food price in the country. The food price in the country has skyrocketed adding to hunger, malnutrition and stunted growth; it gives pain to people during the pandemic when people have lost income sources. One drumstick costs Rs 12 in Mumbai, Rs 15 in Pune and Rs 14 in Hyderabad when drumstick trees grow abundantly in the Indian climate. The tomato is sold at Rs 80 per kg in Hyderabad in winter season, brinjal at Rs 75 per kg in Mumbai. Besides vegetables, the cost of food grains and edible oil has become very costly due to various reasons. Fuel price rise, high transportation cost, increase in the cost of cultivation, growing demand from agro processors, growth of hotel chains, sourcing of food crops by super markets, shrinking of fertile agriculture land, mono crop practices, hoarding of food by traders and disappearance of native crops etc have contributed to the rise of food price. How to reduce the cost of food is the biggest challenge before the country.
First, the governments, farmers, NGOs, voluntary organizations, conscious citizens, agriculture scientists, media and the youth should converge to protect and promote the locally grown food grains, vegetables, fruits and oilseeds so that those foods will be easily available for the local people at a far lower cost. Locally grown foods are part of India’s rich crop diversity. The native food crops grow on the roadside, on the bank of the ponds, on the periphery of agricultural land, in forest, on hills and in the backyard etc. Those herbs, shrubs, trees and creepers grow in small houses and on small land holdings naturally without much expenditure.
Over decades, aggressive mono crop practices in some states, introduction of hybrid crops and mindless unscientific farm mechanization have eroded a large variety of native crops which abundantly grow amid the natural environment. Though the native crops cannot build wealth, these crops have potential to mitigate hunger and malnutrition. France, German and European Union countries have almost erased native crop diversity and are now facing serious farm yard crisis which compel a large number of farmers to commit suicide. Large farm sizes, modern agriculture technologies and rapid transportation systems are unable to sustain farming activities in those countries which offer huge subsidies of $ 100 billion every year to farmers in order to sustain farming. They give relief after destroying the means of survival of their farm economy. Every two day, three farmers from France reportedly commit suicide due to indebtedness, farm failure and frustration; those nations have completely ruined their agriculture diversity in pursuit of wealth which in fact creates a crisis of unprecedented proportion. Now those countries want to invest more in agriculture in developing countries to meet their food demand which will cause the same damage to other countries without any risk because they can shift their investment to other countries after spoiling the agriculture diversity in one country. They have been doing this exercise for decades in small countries across the world. They are doing some unnatural things to agriculture in the name of modernization and innovation which will let the entire world plunge into a serious food crisis. If they want to survive they should restore crop and animal diversity in their own country instead of causing harm to others.
India has the clear advantage of having a large number of native crops which have survived the onslaughts of gene corruption, mono crop activities and unscientific methods of farming. Many of those native crops have a very good domestic market and a few crops have good demand in foreign food bazaars. Unfortunately, India has not yet realized the full potential of the native crop market. For example, pointed gourds and drumsticks grow abundantly in Odisha. Every village household has a drumstick tree in their backyard. Both drumsticks and pointed gourds have a very good market in Indian cities. Unfortunately the state has not given proper guidance and support to the villagers to sell pointed gourds and drumsticks in other Indian states. Exclusive local varieties of basmati rice, Jamun, mangoes, coconut, arecanut, small cashew, the famous variety of champa and patkapura banana etc also grow in Odisha which have a ready market in all Indian cities.
Second, India has to document each and every native crop grown in different districts and villages across the country. The country has a treasure trove of naturally grown native crops whose medicinal and nutritional value is known to the developed nations who have engaged their representatives in India to import those crops at a far lower price. Without much knowledge about the quality of our native crops India allows export of tons of those precious wealth to foreign countries at a throw away price. Apricot from Kashmir goes to Germany for omega 3 extraction; Tulsi goes to USA and to many European nations and drumstick seeds are exported for its high medicinal value. Nobody knows how many crops go to foreign countries at a lower price. Developed nations outsource hundreds of native food crops and animal products at a far lower price causing immense food and revenue loss to India. Let India have the knowledge and strength to maximize benefit for the farm producers without creating shortage and price rise in the country.
Third, Indian celebrities instead of running madly after the advertisement money should show a bit of patriotism by popularizing native Indian crops through advertisement. If Amitabh Bachhan, Deepika Padukone, Akshay Kumar or Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma etc show a bit of sympathy to our Arna Data and tell people to protect native food crops and fertile agricultural land, millions of people will benefit from this little action. India can avoid a looming food crisis and improve its position in the global hunger index. The government should come out with a strong law to protect and preserve the native food crop diversity of the country. If popular political leaders tell people to protect and cultivate native food crops while addressing people, it would create a mass movement. Punjab was once the granary of India and the farmers of Punjab and Haryana are hard working; they can make agriculture a profitable venture with proper guidance and support. Fourth, there is a need for dedicated research on the nutrition value of native crops. Agriculture universities across the country should be given a deadline to complete research on the native crops grown in their respective states. Media should popularize the native crops through different channels so that all the efforts will converge on building a booming agriculture economy in the country. The loss of crop diversity in the rich countries will make India as the chief food supplier on our own terms. There is no dearth of genuine farmers, agriculture researchers and volunteers in the country who can rescue agriculture from any crisis.

Comments

TRENDING

Still not dead and buried: A rural Punjab move to keep alive the spirit of Naxalbari

By Harsh Thakor  There was a well attended and most lively meeting in memory of Thana Singh of around 2000 persons in Thana Singh’s village of Bhallai Ana in community hall in Muktsar on September 17th, with most encouraging participation of youth. It was a testimony that the spirit of Naxalbari is still not dead and buried with the audience literally reverberating the message of Naxalbari. In spite of every effort of the state to crush the naxalbari movement, it is not dead and buried, as we witnessed here. I was privileged to participate in the event.

Dev Anand ably acted as westernised, urban educated, modern hero, as also anti-hero

By Harsh Thakor  On September 26th we celebrated the birth centenary of legendary actor Dev Anand. Dev Saab carved out a new epoch or made a path breaking contribution in portraying romanticism and action in Bollywood cinema, giving his style or mannerisms a new colour. Arguably no Bollywood star manifested glamour in such a dignified or serene manner or struck the core of an audience’s soul in romantic melodies. Possibly we missed this evergreen star being cast in a Hollywood film. Dev Anand is like an inextinguishable soul of Bollywood. Although not as artistic or intense as Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor or Ashok Kumar ,Dev Anand surpassed them all for liveliness or flamboyance, with his performances radiating g energy on the screen, in realms rarely transcended. In his own right, Dev Saab, was a craftsman, like his classical contemporaries, with a characteristic composure. Perhaps never was a Bollywood star so suave, bubbling or charming as Dev Anand, who often looked like an Indian versi

Ludicrous how Gandhi is ritually remembered by our leaders with broom in their hands

By Firoz Bakht Ahmed  On every Gandhi Jayanti day, ludicrous scenes of multi-hued political parties’ leaders with brooms in their hands are seen doing rounds on television commemorating Mahatma Gandhi regarding “swachhta” (cleanliness). This won’t do unless there’s cleansing of heart followed by the cleanliness of the poor voters’ stinking areas. Tragedy with Mahatma Gandhi is that he is just ritually remembered by us on the occasion of his anniversaries but he is worth remembering each day owing to his sagacious words that contain wisdom for all ages and in all times.

Abrogation of Art 370: Increasing alienation, relentless repression, simmering conflict

One year after the abrogation by the Central Government of Art. 370 in Kashmir, what is the situation in the Valley. Have the promises of peace, normalcy and development been realised? What is the current status in the Valley? Here is a detailed note by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties , “Jammu & Kashmir: One Year after Abrogation of Art. 370: Increasing Alienation, Relentless Repression, Simmering Conflict”:

Why Govt of India, Sangh Parivar want to stop the use of ‘India’? What's in a name?

By Ram Puniyani  Coincidentally after the opposition parties came together to form INDIA (Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance), the ruling BJP is desisting from the use of word India in official communiqués and its parent organizations RSS has issued a fatwa that only word Bharat should be used for our country. While inviting the representative’s participants of G 20, the President issued the invitation in the name of ‘Rashtrapati of Bharat’. Since then BJP is on the track of avoiding the use of the word India in all its pronouncements, saying this word smacks of colonial legacy since this word was given to the country by British colonial rulers. Mr. Hemant Biswa Sarma of BJP said that word India is part of the colonial legacy and should be removed. RSS chief and other functionaries have intensified this message. Speaking at a function at Guwahati Mr. Bhagwat, stated “We must stop using the word India and start using Bharat. At times we use India to make those who speak Eng

Pot calling the kettle black: EAM Jaishankar accusing Global North of double standards

By Chandra Vikash*  While addressing a Ministerial Session on Saturday 23 September 2023 in New York on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly session titled ‘South Rising: Partnerships, Institutions and Ideas’, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that economically dominant countries are leveraging production capabilities and those who have institutional influence have weaponized these capabilities. He also cited an example of Covid-19 and stressed that it is still a world of double standards."

Why originality of Gandhi's thoughts, example of his life still inspire people world over

By Moin Qazi*  Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary reopens a familiar debate around his legacy every year. How could a frail man use his moral strength to galvanize 400 million Indians in their struggle for independence from the mighty British Empire? How did Gandhi inspire ordinary people to turn fear into fearlessness and anger into love? What were his tools for fighting colonialism? How could he inspire the world to embrace his philosophy of nonviolence? What can we learn from him today? And is he still relevant?

In today’s India aggressive violence has become weapon of choice for buying peace

By Harasankar Adhikari  Mahatma (the great soul) Gandhi's vision stands for "ahimsa" (non-violence) and ‘Satyagraha’ (holding of the truth). It is absolutely the beacon of his spirituality. His searches for peace and bliss are within the realm of ahimsa and satyagraha. Although his works are confined to the political movement for India's freedom as the political leader, his lifelong practise is enshrined as the political saint of India( according to Swami Yogananda Paramhans). His devotion and self-sacrifice for the universe are the revelation of his sainthood. 

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das*  India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on.

Regretful: Kapil Dev retired not leaving Indian cricket with integrity he upheld

By Harsh Thakor  Kapil Dev scaled heights as an entertainer and a player upholding the spirit of the game almost unparalleled in his era. In his time he was cricket’s ultimate mascot of sportsmanship On his day Kapil could dazzle in all departments to turn the tempo of game in the manner of a Tsunami breaking in. He radiated r energy, at a level rarely scaled in his era on a cricket field. Few ever blended aggression with artistry so comprehenisively. Although fast medium, he could be as daunting with the ball as the very best, with his crafty outswinger, offcutter, slower ball and ball that kicked from a good length. Inspite of bowling on docile tracks on the subcontinent, Kapil had 434 scalps, with virtually no assistance. I can never forget how he obtained pace and movement on flat pancakes, trapping the great Vivian Richards in Front or getting Geoff Boycott or Zaheer Abbas caught behind. No paceman carried the workload of his team’s bowling attack on his shoulders in his eras muc