Marginal farmers going through vicious circle.

CHENNAI: Marginal farmers who contribute close to 85 per cent of the total agricultural produce are going through a vicious circle and it is important to halt the trend, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya M Scindia said here on Wednesday.

Delivering his keynote address at a seminar on Promoting agro exports organised by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) and the TN Agricultural University, Scindia said the country had registered a positive growth during the last fiscal in agriculture exports by touching $18 billion, out of the total export merchandise of $169.7 billion, which was about 11.5 per cent of the total exports. This was despite restrictions and a ban on export of rice, wheat and pulses.

The current fiscal also was positive in spite of a deficient rainfall across the country as basmati and the processed food sector were not hampered by the monsoon.

Describing India as a land bestowed with unique advantages like a ‘50 per cent number average’ of arable land, 15 major climatic zones, and 40 major soil types, Scindia said the country should ideally be a leading agro export country. But, India is number 20 on the list taking a share of just 1.5 per cent of the $800 billion world agricultural market.

Saying that there was a huge untapped potential, the minister said India could emerge as the food hub of the world. But a major problem was the food supply chain that was very complex.

“Infusion of innovation and new technology is the need of the hour besides developing specialised logistics solutions as we are de­aling with perishable commodities that are sensitive to temperature,” he said.

All the best practices followed in developed nations should be adapted to Indian conditions besides taking up vigorous crop diversification.

The new Foreign Trade Policy gives due importance to the agricultural exports and major initiatives like the Visesh Krishi scheme that have been devised to facilitate quick growth. Besides focusing on export of agro products and spices, tea and rubber it was also equally important to take special care of the marginal farming community, which contributes close to 85 per cent of the total agro produce.

“They are going through a vicious cycle today and it is important to change that into a virtuous cycle and to make it possible we should give them marketable surplus and take them up the value chain.” Efficient marketing strategies, adaptive food supply chain in processes along with robust logistic support would help.