COVID-19 and Agriculture: The way out of hunger

The COVID-19 pandemic, which is wreaking havoc worldwide, has adversely impacted agrarian production globally. In this piece, Indra Shekhar Singh lists out both short term and long term measures the government can take to ensure that the food supply chain is not disrupted, and also make sure that India is better prepared to face the next pandemic.

Hyderabad: "When shall we three meet again?" In Pandemic, Chaos, and Famine. The three witches often besiege a country together. The global pandemic - coronavirus crisis, has already made our world descend into chaos. UN, WHO, WTO already have warned us against a "looming global food crisis" if the corona is not managed properly. The prices of the world's two staples: wheat and rice have also risen sharply. There is also reports of hoarding, black marketing, et al which are destabilising the markets.

Agrarian production is falling not just in China but has been heavily impacted all over the world. In India too, our government has been taking precautions and proactively working to ensure that harvests and farm inputs supply chain are not disrupted, but the ground reality is: the agriculture system has fractured.

From pineapple to tea, and other sub-sectors like seeds, farm inputs, etc. are in deep shock. To ameliorate this situation, the government should immediately approach it with short term and long term reliefs, so India can be better prepared to face the next pandemic too.

Short term:

• Stop harassment and violence by authorities: Despite notifications, the police are forcing farm input shops - seeds, fertilisers, etc. to remain shut. A strict notification should be immediately issued to the police, especially in rural areas. It's about time PM Modi makes a statement in support of farmers and cautions the police.
• COVID Agricultural Helpline:We need to convert agriculture ministry's Kisan call centre 1800 180 1551 into a 'COVID-19' resource centre. Scientists from ICAR and State Agricultural universities should be attached to this helpline, for the time being, to assist and inform farmers about social distancing and ICAR guidelines.
• Social Media awareness:A special video and social media - including WhatsApp videos need to be put out by ICAR on social distancing and farm hygiene. Registered farmers should be contacted through SMS.
• Railway:Railways have a big role to play. First, they should actively start transporting farm inputs - including seeds, etc. from seed hubs to all states and grain and fresh produce from the hinterland to the cities. The passenger coaches - AC and non-AC should be used to transport smaller quantities and possibly even perishables. This will bring additional revenue for the railways and also help tackle food security concerns. Farm machinery can also be transported by the railways. Recognised freight agents of the railways should be exempted and take an active part in this process and help with loading/unloading at railway yards.The Railway chairman can also consider concessional rates for smaller and medium seed companies and agri-input companies for a certain time.
• Seed Stimulus package: Stimulus package for seed industry - especially small and medium companies should be rolled out. Interest-free loans or low-interest loans can be included in this package.
• Agri-allied sector rejuvenation: The agri-input ecosystem is frozen right now, so the government should allow all sub-trades and manufacturing units associated with agri-inputs to kickstart again. For example, the seed industry also depends on packaging and paper units, they should be allowed to function. Special insurance for the workers should be the borne by the employers and all safety regulation should also be looked after. If possible, a special allowance should also be given to employees.
• Reopen Mandi-Market: All markets and Mandis should be made functional, if possible with minimal staff. e-NAM can play a vital role at this time.
• Galvanise Transportation:Transportation services are critical for agricultural produces and inputs to move back and forth from farmers' fields, hence all DMs should consult with truck and transport companies and immediately start intra and interstate operations.
• Village infrastructure for grain storage:Village schools and block-level building to be used to store grains and other produce where necessary. The should be used as makeshift granaries for small and marginal farmers.

Read:COVID-19: A requiem for S&M seed companies

Long term:

"Every village has to be self-sustained and capable of managing its affairs even to the extent of defending itself against the whole world," MK Gandhi,Harijan 28-7-1946

• Decentralised agricultural production - Swadeshi 2.0: "Centralisation cannot be sustained and defended without adequate force," remarked MK Gandhi. This applies to our current agricultural scenario. Without an active transportation system, famine awaits our nation. So its time we reorient our agricultural policy towards decentralisation of agriculture. Instead of clusters and 'one district one crop schemes', we need to follow a European or swadeshi design of agriculture and opt for multi-cropping especially around major urban centres. We need to form sub-clusters within the districts, where possible, that can support the district’s staple needs - rice, wheat, oilseeds, lentil, vegetables, etc. Each district or groups of districts under 100 km should have adequate warehousing and cold storage facilities. This should be even done at village and block level. Imagine the district urban centre as a circle, surrounded by many other zones that together can sustain food and farm supplies for at least a buffer of five months, even with no or minimal transport services. We have to take forward Gandhi's ideas of village swaraj and help build it using modern means.
• Seed hubs and zones.:Each district should have seed production and blocks should have NSC seed warehouses to hold adequate seeds. This can also be done with PPP model. If not in every district, each sub-zones within the state should have ample seed production zones. This can be done through seed-producing FPOs.
• Green zones: All major cities by law should have a green zone around them, where farmers can practice sustainable agriculture and agro-forestry. Farmers should be compensated for their eco-system services and also their produce should be transported quickly to the cities whenever the need arises.
• Food sufficient cities:We need to create self-sufficient food ecosystems around and within cities, so in times of crisis, or lack of transport, food can still reach the cities. In peacetime, the farmers around the cities will be able to self produce to the cities and thus increase their incomes. India should have an urban food garden policy or urban food gardens in cities. RWAs can play a big role in it. Similar models are proven to be successful in Germany, Europe, Singapore, etc. This will drastically reduce 'food miles' and also help carbon sequestration within the cities. Horticulture departments within the cities should have ready plans to convert public parks into vegetable gardens, if necessary. They should hold reserve seed supply and in conserving the city parks, stress on soil fertility, composting, etc.
• Agro-ecological farming:The government should even give more emphasis on organic farming and seed saving in the rural and rain-fed areas. Villages should be encouraged to grow a diversity of crops including millets and should work with adopting evolutionary participatory breeding with the help of state agricultural universities and decrease reliance on the market. There can be a special brand created by the government to market produce from these areas.
• Develop Food ecosystems:All states of India should pay close attention to developing the entire food production eco-system, which will include seed production zones, complimented by warehouses, markets, and agricultural universities, etc. This should also have a decentralised system of distribution along the lines of Mother Dairy or Safal, with a deep penetration so food supplies can reach citizens, easily and reasonably. Hence, in case another pandemic arises, the states can function as an autonomous body, who can help itself and others in times of need.

(The author, Indra Shekhar Singh, is the Director – Policy and Outreach, National Seed Association of India)