Coarse cereals need govt support
By Suraj Bhan Dahiya
INDIA produces about 31 million tonnes of coarse cereals annually and the major coarse cereal crops are maize, jowar, bajra and millets. The average production of these cereals have remained almost stagnant during the last many years. Sadly to note that as per Krishi Bhavan estimates the production of coarse cereals has declined by 5 per cent during 1998-99 as compared to 1997-98.

Conservation of rain water
By Sanjeev Sandal and Ashok Thakur
IN Himachal Pradesh and the adjoining hilly areas, field crops are generally being grown under rainfed conditions. The uneven and erratic distribution of rainfall, with around 75 per cent of rain occurring during the rainy season only, delays sowing and sub-optimal seed germination, and poor early crop stand results in poor yields and sometimes complete crop failure. The small and scattered land holdings coupled with poor socio-economic conditions of hilly farmers do not encourage them to adopt the technology as recommended to them and as practised by farmers of the plains.

IARI’s new variety of basmati rice
THE Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, has developed an improved variety of basmati rice that has better aroma and size.

Punjab’s farm policies and crisis
By P.P.S. Gill

NUTRITION finds a mention in the speech of the Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, who presented the Budget for 1999-2000 to the Vidhan Sabha on March 24.

This reference is in the context of a paradox — on the one hand there is talk of surplus foodgrain in states like Punjab where storage is a matter of concern. On the other hand, a large section of the population within and outside Punjab suffers from malnutrition.

As such, the coexistence of artificial surpluses of foodgrain and lack of purchasing power of millions makes a mockery of the farm policies and food programmes. Capt Kanwaljit Singh has done the right thing to suggest that “It is imperative to evolve a national policy of nutrition that ensures food entitlement to every citizen. It will be a major investment in human resource development”.

Looking in the neighbourhood, India’s track record in respect of percentage of children below five years, who are undernourished, is dismal. These children constitute 66 per cent against 16 in China, 23 in Malaysia, 38 in Sri Lanka, 40 in Pakistan and 68 in Bangladesh.

The paragraphs devoted to agriculture in the Budget do not contain anything new. Tucked between such rhetoric is a forlorn ray of hope that Capt Kanwaljit Singh has tried to rekindle. One only hopes the flame of hope will not flicker for want of either political will or money needed to bring about envisaged changes.

Punjab, the Finance Minister has candidly admitted, has been a witness to a “virtual stagnation” in agricultural production over the past seven years. Since 1992 the foodgrain output has hovered around 22 million tonnes. With low generation of jobs in other sectors of the economy the agricultural labour force has risen manifold. A “grave situation” persists in Punjab, which is already saddled by indebtedness, suicides (reported), storage problems, crop failures due to vagaries of weather, waterlogging and diminishing returns from farms.

The Budget again harps on the beaten subject of “diversification” of agriculture for remunerative returns to the tillers. It also mentions that national policies have not helped to ameliorate the condition of agriculturists and the vital sector of the economy has failed to get the desired and due investment.

Therefore, when the Budget refers to the existing malnutrition, seeks a national policy on nutrition and making available food grains at affordable price to teeming millions, the interest of the state is being watched. Unless all this happens, Punjab agriculture will remain at the crossroads with neither farmers being benefited nor those suffering from hunger and malnutrition being fed.

The Finance Minister sees some hope in the “bus” journey which the Prime Minister took from New Delhi to Lahore via Wagah border. The presence of Punjab Chief Minister as a co-passenger to the neighbouring country makes the Finance Minister hope that “trade relations” will improve and the two Punjabs will share their agricultural technology and food.

Couched in a different language but with the same syntax, the speech lists the following six points which will be under focus in Punjab: Research on new plant varieties with market potential — introducing new genetic material to increase yield in animal husbandry.

Promoting agro-industry and processing with financial backing. Providing mechanical handling facilities at Kandla port for farm produce exports — setting up of a Punjab commodities and future exchange with online nationwide facilities. Developing Amritsar international airport to handle farm exports, particularly horticultural produce.

The contemplated measures to give impetus to farming and farmers include providing insurance cover to farmers creating a provident fund for farmers for non-crop related requirements, crop insurance, direct payment of cooperative loans and fixing of limits on cooperative loans.

The speech talks of a “risk fund” for farmers marketing horticultural produce. There is a proposal for a “venture capital fund” as well for facilitating setting up of food processing units. Through the Punjab Agro-Industries Corporation and the Expert Corporation an “action plan” is to be implemented for research and development in vegetables and in grapes.

The government wants Punjab Agricultural University to operate on commercial lines through the sale of agricultural technology, seed and planting material, etc. PAU is expected to lessen its dependence on the government. The Budget has a provision of Rs 10.54 crore for PAU.

Thus, how far the farmer-friendly Akali government really works its way through what it says remains to be seen.

Coarse cereals need govt support
By Suraj Bhan Dahiya

INDIA produces about 31 million tonnes of coarse cereals annually and the major coarse cereal crops are maize, jowar, bajra and millets. The average production of these cereals have remained almost stagnant during the last many years. Sadly to note that as per Krishi Bhavan estimates the production of coarse cereals has declined by 5 per cent during 1998-99 (29.5 million tonnes) as compared to 1997-98 (31.1 million tonnes). This will greatly add to the miseries of the poor as coarse cereals are largely the poor man’s cake.

Maize, jowar, bajra, ragi and other small millets account for 40 per cent of the area under the kharif crops and are distributed among different rainfall categories. Barley — the other significant coarse crop is sown in rabi. Very less importance is accorded to coarse cereals in Indian agriculture though food security lies in the government extending full support for the development of coarse grains.

After two decades of the revolution in rice and wheat crops, the Nobel Laureate, Dr Norman E. Borlaug, had desired that the next few decades would be known as the maize era i.e. coarse grain revolution. Unfortunately, it couldn’t. Recollect how maize harvest avoided a serious famine situation in Bihar in 1987. To put in a straight way that coarse grains provide essential food for the million of people and they deserve full support from the government. In such efforts alone lie the essence of food security and nutrition security for the millions.

Really there is a sorry state of affairs that all efforts on the food production front have been targeted at food availability to the higher income groups in our country. There has been emphasis on wheat and rice to the detriment of coarse grains, which are not only more nutritious but are consumed by the deprived section of society. The coarse grains production was 15.38 million tonnes in 1950-51, rose to 29.2 million tonnes in 1980-81 and 32.70 million tonnes in 1990-91 and has now stagnated. The prices of these commodities have risen faster than those of other cereal prices.

We are generous in providing massive food subsidies for rice and wheat but too conservative to release similar subsidies for coarse grains. Every government claims that it really cares for the poor but truth is that the poor remains in his squalid status. We live in a country where bottom 60 per cent of the people do not have the capacity to save or borrow and where 30 per cent live in a bondage of debt. The dominant emphasis, therefore, suggests misplaced priorities.

Almost 65 to 70 per cent of agriculture lands are unirrigated and dependent on the rain. The challenge is for assisting the rainfed farmers to improve their economy by the adoption of production system as would not only be economically remunerative compared to the traditional cropping pattern but also environmentally sustainable. Raising the output of wheat and rice by introducing high-yielding varieties, application of large doses of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and the concentration of irrigation investment in the development. The time has now come for some major modifications in the agricultural strategy in favour of dryland farming.

The increasing demand for foodgrain makes it imperative to plan for a rational redistribution of area under coarse cereal crops. Cereals form an important component of dry land, tribal and hill agriculture. In 1996-97 the area under coarse cereals was nearly 32 million hectares. Analysis and contingent crop plans should, therefore, be developed for doubling the yield of coarse cereals from the present level of 1068 kg per hectare in the next couple of years.

Coarse grains are both a food crop and a feed crop. The future of livestock and dairy development largely depends upon the availability of green fodder. Therefore, coarse grains production has multi-dimensional sphere. Special varieties of coarse grains are required to be bred and cultivated now for milling, baking and confectionery as well as for animal feed.

The nutrient composition and technological properties of coarse cereal grains offer a number of opportunities for processing and value addition. So far maize and barley are being successfully exploited. Exploratory studies for the industrial uses of jowar and bajra should also be encouraged. The prefix “coarse” to this group of crops seems a misnomer and a stigma which no longer should stay.

Conservation of rain water
By Sanjeev Sandal and Ashok Thakur

IN Himachal Pradesh and the adjoining hilly areas, field crops are generally being grown under rainfed conditions. The uneven and erratic distribution of rainfall, with around 75 per cent of rain occurring during the rainy season only, delays sowing and sub-optimal seed germination, and poor early crop stand results in poor yields and sometimes complete crop failure. The small and scattered land holdings coupled with poor socio-economic conditions of hilly farmers do not encourage them to adopt the technology as recommended to them and as practised by farmers of the plains. Such technology has been modified depending upon the agro-climatic conditions and suitability to that area for its successful adaptation.

Various experiments conducted in the past indicate that the fields should be deeply ploughed before monsoon (to avoid water stagnation and run-off reduction) for kharif crops and minimum ploughing ought to be undertaken after the recede of monsoon (to avoid evaporation) for rabi crops.

Spreading of waste materials like lantana, ageratum and pinus, etc. as mulch in order to conserve soil moisture in field for timely sowing and for optimum germination has been recommended for small and marginal farmers. These organic materials not only conserve soil moisture but also moderate thermal regime and increase soil productivity under rainfed conditions.

The fields should be kept free from weeds as they compete with main crops for nutrients and water. The use of farmyard manure should be encouraged and its spreading may be done for moisture conservation, especially during delayed sowing.

For timely sowing, optimum germination and emergence and better early crop stand of wheat, the sowing of wheat can be done with pre-soaked wheat seed (in water for 18-24 hours) with the onset of the winter rains.

Selection of proper crop and variety is an important aspect for rainfed conditions. The crops with deep-rooting systems have low water requirement and take less time to mature. Such crops should be selected for cultivation. The cereal crops can be grown on productive soils, whereas oilseed and pulses can be grown on less productive and stony soil. For slopy areas, the cultivation should be done along contour so as to avoid erosion.

Construction of poly-lined water harvesting tanks nowadays is the latest aspect of rain water storage during the monsoon period and its utilisation after that. This technology has been found successful for small and marginal farmers. The tank is constructed at the top of terrace and the water is applied through gravity using garden pipe to low-lying fields. The vegetable and horticultural nursery established at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hamirpur (Bara), using stored water in poly-lined tank has shown significant results in generating revolving funds. The running water in small perennial streams prominent in hilly areas can be stored in such type of tanks and the stored water may be used as sprinkler or drip irrigation.

IARI’s new variety of basmati rice

THE Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) , New Delhi, has developed an improved variety of basmati rice that has better aroma and size.

The new hybrid variety has better aroma, grain size, lustre and “elongation after cooking”. “Also the yield goes up by at least 15 to 20 per cent,” according to Prof R.B. Singh, Director of the IARI.

The new variety, Pusa Hybrid-10, has already undergone two years of trials and it is expected to available to the farmers soon, Professor Singh says.

The IARI Director says that this hybrid rice will be released for general cultivation in the basmati growing tracts of North India. “It is expected to saturate in the main growing tract in the next five years.”

The new basmati rice marks an improvement on all parameters of the earlier developed high-yielding variety, Pusa Basmati-1.

Professor Singh says that the Commerce Ministry has recently agreed to certify the basmati rice varieties developed by the IARI as “authentic basmati” for export. This decision was taken after the Mysore-based Central Food Technological Research Institute endorsed that the basmati rice improved by the IARI conformed to all parameter.

The IARI has kept under focus the needs for export and varieties of basmati and superfine non-basmati rice, duram wheat, large- seeded chickpea, lentil and cotton varieties with superior fibre quality developed by it are particularly suited for export, he says.

Dr Subhash Chandra, Joint Director (Extension), says the IARI is going to establish an agricultural technology information and commercialisation centre (ATICC) to provide a single-window delivery system for the benefit of farmers and entrepreneurs. — TNS

Ornamentals:

— If the seeds of summer annuals have not been sown in the nursery, the same may be sown at the earliest.

— Winter season flowering annuals should be selected for seed collection. Plants should be carefully examined and true to type may be labelled. The less perfect in bloom/colour should be eradicated.

— Some of the winter season flowers, which are still in good conditions, should be given proper irrigation to prolong their flowering time, their faded flower should also be removed simultaneously.

Chrysanthemum: Suckers of chrysanthemum which were planted in the raised beds in January or February can now be transplanted in 10 cm pots (that of large flowered varieties). Few suckers of the same type can be planted in beds for getting cuttings in July. The developed suckers of small flowered varieties may be transplanted in the well manured beds.

Permanent plants: During this month, all types of permanent ornamental plants, including trees, shrubs and creepers, can be planted. For their proper growth and development proper size and properly filled up trees pits should be prepared. The selected saplings should be healthy and disease-free. The size of full-grown plants should be kept in mind while planning and planting of permanent trees, shrubs and creepers, their plant-to-plant distance should be adjusted accordingly. Hedges which are grown from seed can also be sown now.

Lawns: The lawns can be developed in this month. The grass roots/suckers of some selected varieties e.g. “Calcutta” grass (Cynodon dactylon) or “Korean” grass can be dibbled in the well-prepared soil. After dibbling the grass roots/suckers, it is advisable to press the area with some roller. In the initial stages (and if possible thereafter also) irrigation of the lawns through sprinklers is the best.

Pot plants: It is the best time for the propagation and manuring of shade loving and other pot plants like dracaena, pedilanthus, alocasia, chlorophythum, ferns, rhoeo discolour, sansevieria, etc. The plants which had been growing in a particular pot for more than three-four years should be taken out from the pot if required and divided/multiplied into two or more than two parts of the each (depending upon their present size and health) and then replanted in pots by using fresh and rich pot mixture.

Bulbous plants: If the summer flowering bulbs could not be planted so far the same can be planted now in the well-prepared soil or in the pots.

Roses: To have healthy and good-sized flowers from roses, their irrigation should be quite timely as with the onset of summer season, they required more frequent watering. Other cultural practices should also be carried out regularly, only then we can prolong the flowering period of roses.
(Progressive Farming, PAU)