Globally 30 percent of the food produced never reaches to a human stomach (FAO, 2021). Tackling food loss and waste benefits the climate, food security, and sustainability of agri-food systems. India suffers
Chhattisgarh, which became a separate state in November 2001, has the richest reserves of minerals in India. It is for the same reason that it is attracting a lot of investors, says the state's Chief Minister Raman Singh. In conversation with Yeshi Seli, the chief minister points out that steel and power projects would be attracting major investments in the years to come. The Tatas had evinced a keen interest in setting up a steel plant in Chhattisgarh but that ran into rough weather. What is the latest on that front? Substantial progress has been made ii the project that the Tatas would be setting up. The land acquisition proceedings have already been completed. And contrary to what some people may want to believe, majority of the farmers have accepted the compensation package. In fact, we are certain that onsite work on the project would begin by the end of February or the beginning of March this year. As far as the farmers are concerned, we have provided a modern and pro-people 'rehabilitation package' to them, which includes alternate agricultural land for those who want to continue with agriculture, instead of accepting an employment in the plant. As you may be aware, Chhattisgarh is rich in minerals and our government has formulated a specific policy of value, addition of our natural resources within the state. Our good quality iron ore, bauxite and lime stone have attracted a number of iron & steel, aluminium and cement industries to invest in our state. We are number one state in attracting investment proposals and have received offers worth around Rs, 10,000 crore. Installation of various industries is in different stages of completion and more than Rsl5,000 crore have already been invested in these sectors within the last four years. There were reports suggesting that L.N. Mittal wanted to set up a greenfield steel plant in your state... There are many Indian and foreign companies that are interested in setting up steel plants in our state. However, till something conclusive is arrived at, it would not be prudent on our part to divulge details for the same. Would your state prefer investment by domestic companies like the Tatas to international majors like Mittal? Projects which are in the interest of the state, be it by Indian or foreign companies, would be offered a level playing field in Chhattisgarh. However, we would look forward to proposals/investments in new technology sectors like it. It is also understood that Chhattisgarh has huge reserves of diamonds and international majors like De Beers were allowed to mine in the state. What were the results of the same? Yes, there are diamond reserves in our state. Regarding De Beers, some of its projects have been recommended by our government to the Centre for granting it prospecting licence. With new projects coming up, there would be additional requirement of power. Is your state equipped with adequate power? During the past two decades, not one new power project was established in our state. However, things have improved now, as thermal power projects with a collective capacity of 500 megawatt (mw) Tiave been established here recently. Also, an action plan has been prepared to make our state the power hub of the country. Accordingly, MoUs have been executed to set up power plants with 30,000 mw capacity, which would be worth about Rsl,35,000 crore. On 1 January 2008, Chhattisgarh became a 'no power-cut state'. Now, we are supplying power for 24 hours in our rural as well as urban areas without any interruption. We have also invested around Rs20,000 crore to improve our transmission and distribution network for quality power supply. How do you ensure law and order for those coming to invest, as there is a huge Naxalite problem in Chhattisgarh? The long-standing problem of Naxalites is not limited to Chhattisgarh alone. This problem will have to be tackled in close co-ordination with the Union government and other affected state governments. I think the efforts taken in this direction are yielding positive results. The worst phase, I feel, is over. People in the affected districts are now fed up with this menace and are voicing their resistance towards Naxalites, which is creating panic within the Naxalites. The state government is in control of the situation and I don't think it will affect the flow of investments in the state.
Even as the Union government is struggling to boost the country's agriculture extension system, pesticide and crop chemical manufacturers have joined hands with rural ngos to promote safe and judicious usage of pesticides among the farmers.
For a decade Europe has rebuffed efforts by biotechnology firms such as America's Monsanto to promote genetically modified crops. Despite scientific assurances that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are safe for human consumption, and a ruling by the World Trade Organisation against national import bans in the European Union, many Europeans have yet to touch or taste them.
For the first time in the country, a four-bed special unit was opened at Japan Bangladesh Friendship Hospital (JBFH) in the city yesterday with a view to providing healthcare service to the poor and marginalised farmers at free of cost. The unit titled 'Jibon Kheya' was opened under the joint initiative of JBFH and Hridoy-e Mati O Manush, a popular agriculture-based documentary programme of Channel i, as part of their joint healthcare programme for the farmers. Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim inaugurated the unit on the second floor of the hospital. Prior to inauguration, a meeting was held at the reception room of JBFH. Speaking at the meting, the adviser said JBFH and Hridoy-e Mati O Manush have taken a noble initiative on a noble day. He said about 1.5 crore farmers of the country through their labour and merit are producing food for 15 crore people but they often do not get deserved price. "If anyone is called a national hero it is our farmers who continue their struggle in an ailing state,' he said, adding, if the farmers get sick while working on the field it will affect food production and food security. CS Karim said a specialised unit for the farmers should be opened in all the hospitals of the country for providing basic healthcare service to them. Shykh Seraj, director of both the programme and Channel i, said, "I am waiting for that day when the four-bed unit will become a 400-bed hospital.' He said they have already completed their farmers' healthcare programme in five districts and during the visit they noticed that most of the farmers are unaware of the primary healthcare service. Seraj said integrated efforts by all a must to build such a specialised hospital for the farmers. He said Hridoy-e Mati O Manush stepped into fifth year yesterday and it has become a voice of the farmers. Dr Junaid Shafiq, chairman of JBFH, said they started their farmers' healthcare programme last year and during this time they realised that primary healthcare service is not enough for them. "Later, we thought to open a unit for the farmers where they would get all the healthcare services including admission, test, medicine and surgery at free of cost,' he added. "Farmers are the main driving forces of the country and we (doctors) are prepared to serve them always,' he said, hopping that the hospital will become a specialised hospital for the farmers. Faridur Reza Sagor, managing director of Channel I, and Dr Sarder A Naim, managing director of JBFH, also spoke on the occasion. Later, the adviser visited the unit and talked to three patients who are now receiving treatment there. Talking to The Daily Star, one of the patients Rafiqul Islam, a farmer from Shibpur of Narshingdi, said he has been receiving treatment at free of cost. Abdul Halim, husband of Shefali Begum who is also receiving treatment there, said, "I never thought that my wife could receive such treatment.'
Shykh Seraj speaks at a press conference at Channel i office in the city yesterday. On his left is Faridur Reza Sagor. About 25 years ago when the people of southern region especially the district of Bagerhat were enduring hardship, only one man's initiative changed the socio-economic scenario of the whole area. Syed Keramat Ali, a shrimp cultivator of Faltita at Mollarhat under Fakirhat upazila of Bagerhat district, brought the changes in people's lives by starting shrimp cultivation in 1978.
Madhya Pradesh government has made a long series of important decisions during the last four years to bring about better change in the lives of farmers. These decisions have inspired the farmers to return to their traditional business. Now green crops are waiving in the fields of Madhya Pradesh everywhere and lot of farmers has improved to a great extent.
To lift Indian agriculture from its present moribund state the agricultural marketing and extension systems must be reformed immediately. Also needed are a policy to prevent fragmentation of land holdings and a farmer-friendly exit policy. There has been, as early as 1929, only one real issue in Indian agriculture. It has been a non-paying vocation. The American Civil War sucked Indian cotton into the world market. Since then, Indian agriculture has become marginalised.
The role of the State in implementing the bio-fertiliser schemes has been lauded by several quarters, including the Central Government. This became evident today at the North East Zonal Conference For Kharif. Joint Secretary, Integrated Nutrient Management of the Union Government Satish Chander expressed the hope while addressing the conference that Assam would be able to lead the NE States in this area. The representatives of the Regional Centre for Organic Fertiliser told the conference that the State has around 4032.9 hectare of certified farmland for organic farming.
Farmers belonging to several villages complained to the district collector against the managements of cement factories being set up on their lands at the praja darbar held in the Collectorate on Monday. In a memorandum submitted to the collector, Mr Eddula Chennaiah, a farmer from Madhavaravam village of Pyapili mandal alleged that cement companies were forcibly occupying their land in the village.
In September 2003, the government of Gujarat introduced the Jyotirgram Yojana to improve rural power supply. Two major changes have since taken place: (a) villages get 24 hour three-phase power supply for domestic use, in schools, hospitals, village industries, all subject to metered tariff; and (b) tubewell owners get eight hours/day of power but of full voltage and on a pre-announced schedule. It has, however, offered a mixed bag to medium and large farmers and hit marginal farmers and the landless. This article offers an assessment of the impact of Jyotirgram, and argues that with some refinements it presents a model that other states can follow with profit. Feb 16-22, 2008
