CORPORATISATION OF AGRICULTURE

A STUDY OF THE INDIAN CONTEXT

Key Words • Deregulation: The removal of government control

from an industry or sector, to allow for a free and efficient market place.

Private Initiatives: Initiatives taken up by the private firms.

Global Market: Marketing on a worldwide scale, taking advantage of the global economic scenario.

Sustainable Development: It is a pattern of economic growth in which resource use aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come

Demanufacturing and Remanufacturing: Recycling of raw materials and conservation of energy.

Introduction Importance of Deregulation, private initiatives

and global marketing Corporate Social Responsibility or Corporate

Citizenship - It is a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns into their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders (employees, customers, shareholders, investors, local communities, government), on a voluntary basis.

Sustainable Development Governmental Support Good Leadership Skills

Avoidance of Pollution and Waste

Limiting Pollution and Cleaning up wastes and advancing towards corporate citizenship which is more effective and competitive.

Demanufacturing and Remanufacturing in an eco friendly way, which is both technically possible and profitable.

Achieving Eco efficiency: Technological advancements alone can’t bring eco efficiency. A breakthrough of the conventional mentality and aiming new goals and achieving them.

Lack Of Political Will Land is a fixed asset and for the tribal people,

their land is their identity. Good agricultural land is being used for

industrialization. No proper decision regarding exploitation of

arable land and freshwater resources are taken.

Urgent need for scientific land and water management is needed.

No legislative action regarding optimum and sustainable use of aquifer (An underground bed or layer of permeable rock, sediment, or soil that yields water.)

The Rio Meet A detailed set of Action Points have been set in the Rio

Meet, they are: Atmosphere protection Planning & management of land resources: an

integrated approach Combating deforestation Combating desertification ( the gradual

transformation of habitable land into desert) & drought

Sustainable mountain development Promoting sustainable agriculture & rural

development Conservation of biological diversity Environmentally sound management of biotechnology Protection of oceans and seas

The Rio Meet…Cont.

Protection of the quantity & quality of freshwater resources

Sound management of toxic chemicals & hazardous wastes

Prevention of illegal international traffic of hazardous & toxic products

Sound management of solid wastes & sewage related issues

BiotechnologyAgricultural biotechnology aims in a major way to

replace chemical pesticides with those that are derived from plants or animals. In a general sense, the term agriculture could be applied to the rearing and use of both animals and plants and their products.

INDIA:  Use of biotechnology in agricultural products,

except in case of bio fertilizers & biogas generation, is in its infancy stage

Many of the biotechnological investigation under intrinsic investigations and being pursued vigorously in various institutes have yielded encouraging results on laboratory scale. These have, however, to be tested at the field level.

Pro Poor Bias, Focal Point

National demonstration program of wheat and rice, 1964

First step was to improve the traditional methods

Accessing resources to the poor farmers who need to adopt the principle, “Harvesting is believing.”

Avoid social exclusion of the poor farmers who can barely earn their livelihood.

Sustainable use of water, land, proper irrigation system and afforestation.

The advent of big corporate houses will bring about these changes, provide land and good quality seeds to the farmers.

Steps To Improve The Agricultural System

Promote non-farm entrepreneurship among farmers. 

Improve public education.  Reconsider distortionary subsidies

and other policies.  Improve agricultural productivity.   Increase farmer’s access to

markets. 

What Can the Corportaes do?

The corporate houses must balance both new and old technologies together.

As they are renowned for representation of business, they can slowly industrialize agriculture as well which is the major source of livelihood in India.

Decentralization of water and pest management resources should be looked into.

Eye opening ex. : Amul started as a small dairy in Gujarat and now it is one of the largest dairies in India.

They have huge amount of resources and can provide education to the farmers, teaching them the usage of fertilizers, pesticides, technologies, etc.

Negative Impact of Corporatization of Agriculture

squeeze on farmers' incomes, and the threat to the viability of cultivation, which has come about because of rising input costs and falling output prices

negative impacts on the environment and public health

the problem of water and land pollution

Politicizing Agriculture

Conclusion

Agriculture should be industrialized. India being an agrarian country must boost up it’s agricultural system.

Pollution must be controlled Farm lands should not be seized Rights of the Farmers must be

protected. Farmers must be educated Over all development of the Nation

should be looked into.

Presented By:Raka Chatterjee