USE COVID CRISIS TO PUSH FOOD PROCESSING, THE FORMER AGRICULTURE SECRETARY MOHAN KANDA

USE COVID CRISIS TO PUSH FOOD PROCESSING, THE FORMER AGRICULTURE SECRETARY MOHAN KANDA

BY Vijay Thakur, Special Representative, The Statesman, vijaythakurx@gmail.com

From a government Banker to a top bureaucrat in the Agriculture Ministry, Dr Mohan Kanda (IAS officer of 1968 batch) has served Government of India for over four decades. He was one of the few officers who worked as Chief Secretary in the state in two different political regimes, and later became the Agriculture Secretary in the Union Government. Later he was also appointed as a member of the National Disaster Management Authority where he closely monitored relief and rehabilitation work after the 2004 tsunami in Andaman and Nicobar, the Kosi floods in Bihar in 2008 and the Kurnool and Mahboobnagar floods in Andhra Pradesh in 2009.

Interestingly, Dr Kanda started his career as a child artist in 1962—well 16 years before he joined Civil services. He entered Tollywood (Tamil movies) as a child actor, where he was known as ‘Master Mohan’.

Though he was a doctorate in Mathematics from Osmania University, his area of interest and expertise revolves around Agriculture, the rural sector, and Disaster Management. He has also authored several books including “The Tinctured Canvas” (Concept, Practice and Strategies in Rural Development), “Vasundhara” (An Anthology of Land Resources in India), “Forgiving Earth” (The Dynamics of Policy Support Reforms for the Millennium Farmer in the Asia Pacific Region) and “Not by Others’ Hands” – An Anthology of a Century of Credit Cooperatives in India (A tribute to the Cooperative Movement in the International Year of Cooperation 2012). In an interview with VIJAY THAKUR, Special Representative, The Statesman, Dr Kanda spoke on how to deal with the problems faced by farmers in the wake of Covid-19 crisis. Excerpts:

Question:

Covid-19 crisis has been worsening day by day. We do not know where it would stop. Coming to the agriculture sector, how much you think this sector would be affected?

Answer:

Though no agriculture sector has been left untouched, horticulture and poultry sectors were the worst affected. The vegetables and fruits are highly perishable. Any delay in marketing or selling these perishable products would lead to wastage and loss to farmers. Neither you can put all kind of vegetables and fruits in cold storage nor is it economical to do so. Unfortunately, over the years we have failed to develop the required infrastructure for the processing of vegetables and fruits in our country. This could have a prolonged shelf life of fruits and vegetables.

In the wake of Covid-19 crisis, the Government should take immediate emergency measures to prepare a seamless marketing network for selling highly perishable fruits and vegetables. It is really heartening to see poor helpless farmers abandoning their produce on the road for want of buyers.

Even if the government has to procure perishable vegetables and sell it through retail PDS shops, it may do it in association with the help of various NGOs. Something similar to what Mother Dairy is doing in Delhi and some organizations are doing in South Indian cities.

Question:

What about the poultry industry. The poultry prices have gone down like anything and the poultry farmers have to suffer heavy losses?

Answer:

There was fake propaganda against poultry products and some anti-social elements have spread rumours that poultry products could cause Coronavirus. Government and NECC (National Egg Coordination Committee) must come forward and expose the fake propaganda. People should know there is no danger in eating poultry products. Eggs and chicken are very important to meet the protein requirements of our countrymen. If such false propaganda continues, I am afraid poultry farmers would be forced to shut down their businesses.

Question:

Other than procuring vegetables and fruits and selling it directly through PDS, what immediate solution you offer to help farmers. And what should be the long term strategy of the government to help farmers from such eventualities.

Answer.

We all know that Corona and its effect would continue to hit the agriculture sector for the coming one year at least. And this is the right time for the centre and state governments to prepare a long term strategy to promote our much-ignored food processing industry. Packaging and processing of food items should be given a status of essential services so as farmers could do the processing and value addition to their vegetable and fruits produce.

If possible, dedicated freight corridors should be developed for perishable food items to have its seamless transportation to maintain its freshness. Since the agriculture sector is already a priority sector for the government, I do not think the government would have any problem.

As regards the transportation of farmer’s perishable produce, a system should be made in such a way that a farmer could transport his produce using his aadhar card to avoid any harassment by the authorities by police and other authorities.

Question:

What about Covid-19 impact on the Rabi and Kharif crops, which is the main backbone for the country’s foods security. It would not only have economical loss but would also affect our food security? What, you think the government should do to protect the interest of farmers in wake of COVID-19?

 

Answer:

I must say we are very lucky. We need not worry about our food security; we have ample food grains, sufficient pulses and reasonable oilseeds in our stock and can even export it to earn foreign exchange. Another good news has come from the Indian Meteorological Department, which has forecasted good Monsoon for this year. The availability of fertilizer and its off-take vis-a-vis last year is encouraging.

Having said this there are certain problems which would come up due to Covid-19. First and foremost is the movement of agriculture labourers. The farmers of Punjab, Haryana and in Southern states should have agriculture labourers during harvesting and sowing season. The labourers are mostly from UP and Bihar, It is for the government to ensure that they are available when they are required the most. It must have a detailed plan for the safe movement of labourers during harvesting and sowing. The kind of situation we are seeing is certainly not good. Something immediately should be done to streamline the movement of agriculture labourers and ensure their availability during harvesting and sowing. Otherwise, we might be compromising with our food security of the profitability of farmers. It would also impact our inflation, which presently seems to be under control.

Question:

How do you rate Modi government and state governments at the hour of Covid-19 crisis? And what suggestions you want to give it to the government.

Answer:

I must admit the Centre and State government have been trying to do their best. And those who take decision might commit some mistakes. But this is no time to criticize anyone. I have no doubt and say it confidently that Indian government has done much more better than the government of many prosperous developed nations.

Lastly, states, as well as Centre governments, should take Covid-19 as an opportunity to promote our agriculture sector, stress on exports of agriculture produce and give them all possible incentives and facilities. We can emerge as a global leader in the Agriculture sector provide we make a long term roadmap and strategy to process our agriculture products and market it in the international market.

At the same time, we must admit here that government can only make policies, it is for the officers at the ground level to implement it and look into its nitty-gritty and encourage entrepreneurs in this direction.

Ends.