India On WTO Draft + GM Crops & Food Security + Indian Monsoon & Climate Change

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NEWS Bulletin from Indian Society For Sustainable Agriculture And Rural Development ************************************* ON WTO--- 1. India guarded over fresh WTO draft On GM Crops & Farmers---- 2. ‘Conventional seeds, hybrids to ensure food security’ --- Not GM Crops 3. Consider farmers as research collaborators: JNU chancellor 4. Advance estimate paints a rosy picture for agriculture output Indian Monsoon & Climate Change----- 5. MONSOON BREAK : Low rainfall in July may hit standing crop 6. GoM’s

dilemma: Finmin refuses to hike relief to SUGAR industry 7. Mayawati almost doubles wages of unskilled agriculture labour India guarded over fresh WTO draft http://www.financialexpress.com/news/India-guarded-over-fresh-WTO-draft/205959/ ASHOK B SHARMA(Economy Bureau)Posted online: Saturday , July 21, 2007 at 0441 hrs IST New Delhi, Jul 20 The fresh WTO proposals for industrial tariffs and agricultural subsidies drew guarded response from India on Friday. While terming the revised blueprints for a final deal—circulated by the chairs of agriculture and non-agricultural market access—“not one of

convergence”, it expressed concerns on the proposals on industrial tariffs. However, the government said the draft provided for a good basis for the negotiations to resume in September. Commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath said the revised draft modalities was “not a text of convergence” and added he had informed WTO director-general Pascal Lamy about his views. “Of course, we have concerns on industrial tariffs. But talks are also about the entire package on agriculture and services. When negotiations start by September, we hope that the mandate of development of poor countries is addressed in the Doha Round. The text is a good basis for starting talks,” he added. The minister said there were concerns of newly acceded members like China. “China has contributed a lot (towards trade liberalisation) as concession to be a WTO member. Whatever these countries have offered should be taken into account by the

developed nations and must be respected,” he said. China had raised objections to the proposals saying it was given just a two-year grace time period—instead of the 10-year grace period that was demanded—before it would have to cut industrial tariffs. The talks were stalled in July 2006 but was revived in this February, but ended in a deadlock again last month as the group of four—the US, the EU, India and Brazil—failed to reach a consensus on the amount of cuts in tariffs and subsidies on farm and industrial products. India and other developing nations pitched for the US and EU to reduce their farm subsidies, while the developed countries wanted the developing nations to reduce import tariffs and open markets for their farm and industrial goods. After the negotiations broke down at Potsdam in Germany, the mediators handling the talks on agriculture and industrial tariffs proposed the new formula, which asked

the US to cut its farm subsidies to $13 billion-$16.4 billion. As a quid pro quo, developing countries like India, Brazil and China were to make increased cuts in industrial tariffs to help complete the Doha Round talks. The new draft, however, didn’t insist on new demands for opening up agricultural markets in the EU.--------- ‘Conventional seeds, hybrids to ensure food security’ --- Not GM Crops http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Conventional-seeds-hybrids-to-ensure-food-security/206265/ ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Sunday , July 22, 2007 at 2330 hrs IST New Delhi, Jul 22 Scientists have said that immediate concerns over ensuring food security through

increased yields can be easily met through use of available conventional seeds and hybrids. Attempts should be made to bridge the gap between the demonstrated yields of various crops and the actual yields in the farmers’ fields, they said. Increase in rice production can ensure food security to the growing population as a large section of India’s population consumes it. Production in 2006-07 has been 92.76 million tonne, an increase of about one million tonne over the previous year. “We need to have a target for increasing rice production by 10 million tonne from the present level,” said the noted rice breeder, EA Siddiq. Siddiq , honorary chair professor in biotechnology in Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University, Hyderabad said, “We can mange with our conventional varieties and hybrids to ensure food security. Transgenic crops developed so far do not increase the potential yield.” The national average yield

of rice in the country is only 1.86 tonne per hectare, one of the lowest among major rice growing countries. Among states having average rice yields more than the national average are - Punjab with 3.89 tonne/ha, Haryana with 2.74 tonne/ha, West Bengal with 2.5 tonne/ha, Tamil Nadu with 2.3 tonne/ha and Kerala with 2.14 tonne/ha. However, the ICAR assistant director general SN Shukla said that frontline demonstration of high yielding rice varieties (HYV) like Shanti showed a higher yield at 8.1 tonne/ha in village Ootalapally in Ranga Reddy district in Andhra Pradesh. Another HYV rice Krishahamsa showed a yield of 6.9 tonne/ha in Murcherla demonstration plot in Andhra Pradesh, while the HYV rice Triguna showed a yield of 5.59 tonne/ha in Andhra Pradesh in Sarloraopally village in Andhra Pradesh. The check variety Tella hamsa also showed a higher yield of 5.9 tonne/ha in village Murcherla. Trials of hybrid rice show yields ranging from 5.3 to

9.26 tonne/ha -- Consider farmers as research collaborators: JNU chancellor http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Consider-farmers-as-research-collaborators-JNU-chancellor/205344/ ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Tuesday , July 17, 2007 at 2340 hrs IST New Delhi, Jul 17 Agriculture scientists and technologists should consider farmers as research collaborators and not just targets of extension services, said noted scientist and chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Yash Pal. Pal was delivering his inaugural address at the foundation day celebration of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

Society in Delhi on Monday. He said, “The scientists and technologists of ICAR can begin to consider millions of farmers in the country as research collaborators and not just targets of extension programmes.” “The whole country can become a laboratory with the world’s largest collection of collaborators and innovators. I suggest that ICAR make sure that the new connectivity is developed and used more for such a collaboration and not for corporate operations using what farmers produce,” he added. He said that he was ready to offer himself as a foot soldier if ICAR initiates the mission. He expressed his concern over the implicit assumption of the elite class and decision-makers in the country that ultimate configuration of agriculture is bound to be the same as in North America. He cautioned that such a measure would lead to agriculture becoming a mega-industry, with only a

few producers and innovators and all the rest only consumers. Farmers would cease to be a part of any inclusive vision, wherein creation and consumption go together, he said. As a way out, Pal suggested that over 600 millions farmers should be made innovators with the help of science and technology. He expressed concern over agriculture growing at mere 2% and said “Why can we not find a way of procuring bulk of the produce of farmers and pay then four times what they now get to encourage growth?” ------ Advance estimate paints a rosy picture for agriculture output http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Advance-estimate-paints-a-rosy-picture-for-agriculture-output/205721/1 ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Thursday , July 19, 2007 at 2319 hrs IST New Delhi, Jul 19 The government on Thursday said the country’s total food grain production could touch a record 216.13 million tonne in 2006-07, with an estimated increase of 5.5 million tonne in wheat output. Releasing the fourth advance estimate of crop production, agriculture secretary PK Mishra said the final estimation would be released in January next

year. While the third estimate pegged the wheat production at 73.7 million tonne, the latest projection has revised the output upwards to 74.89 million tonne for 2006-07, against 69.35 million tonne produced last year. “Unless there is some major change in any crop, the fourth advance estimate gives a clear picture of the country’s agricultural production,” a government official said. The estimate is based on the crop cutting experiment, which was complete 70-75% when data was collected, the secretary said. He said the main reason for the increased wheat output was the rise in its cultivation area, besides an increase in the productivity level. The wheat acreage in 2006-07 went up 6% to 280.35 lakh hectare, compared with 264.83 lakh hectare in the previous year, he said, adding that the productivity level also increased to 2,671 kg per hectare from 2,619 kg per hectare. Rice production would be up

1.1 % to 92.76 million tonne, from 91.79 million tonne in 2005-06, according to the fourth estimate. The agriculture ministry has also pegged a higher production for pulses, sugarcane, cotton, jute and coarse cereals like maize, jowar and bajra. Pulses production is estimated to rise 6.3 % to 14.23 million tonne, against 13.39 million tonne last year. The 12.4 % drop in tur output expected in the 2006-07 season would be compensated by a 13.2 % jump in chana production. Cotton production is likely to jump 22.7 % to a record high of 22.7 million bales from 18.5 million bales, as farmers going for cotton instead of oilseed crop in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, the agriculture secretary said. Oilseeds output is expected to decline by a significant 14.7% to 23.88 million tonne, from about 28 million tonne produced in 2005-06. However, soyabean production, estimated to be at an all-time record of 8.86 million tonne,

is the only exception in the oil seed sector. Mishra said mustard production in 2006-07 was also hit in Rajasthan as farmers shifted to wheat and chana (chick pea). The government estimates mustard output in last season at 7.1 million tonne, from 8.13 million tonne in 2005-06 while the groundnut production is pegged at 4.91 million tonne, from 7.99 million tonne - a drop of 38.5 %. The sugarcane production, according to the estimate, is likely to be 345.31 million tonne from 281.17 million tonne. According to the first advance estimate the cane output was fixed at 283.1 million tonne for 2006-07 which went up to 323 million tonne. Replying to a query on the huge difference between first advance estimate and the fourth estimate, the agriculture secretary said sometime it might go wrong as first estimate came at a very early stage of the cultivation process. ------------------------------- MONSOON BREAK : Low rainfall in July may hit standing crop http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Low-rainfall-in-July-may-hit-standing-crop/206276/ ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Sunday , July 22, 2007 at 2351 hrs IST New Delhi, Jul 22 The days of heavy showers in July, the wettest month every year, are numbered. The Indian monsoon has entered a period of temporary crisis since the last week. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the rainfall all over the country in the week-ended July 18 was 25% less, with 13 out of 36 meteorological sub-divisions experiencing deficient rainfall and nine scanty rainfall. The northern, western and central parts of the country and a

part of peninsular India saw low rainfall during the week. IMD director M Rajeevan said, “The monsoon will remain subdued for the remaining days of the month, unless a miracle happens.” There may be scattered rainfall in different places and not heavy rainfall in areas where monsoon system is subdued, he said. July rainfall is crucial for Indian agriculture as it receives the maximum amount of rainfall in the year. Crop scientists are, however, of the view that if the dry spell continues for longer period it may take a toll on standing crops. A short period of dry spell can be manageable as the soil is filled with moisture due to heavy rainfall in the past few weeks and reservoirs have ample water storage. A short dry spell may help the floods to recede at places. Crop cultivation has already suffered due to hiccup in the progress of the monsoon in different parts of the country in June. Major summer crops are lagging behind in area coverage due to late sowing However, global forecasts assure that the spoilsport, El Nino phenomena (warming of Pacific water above the normal) would remain neutral in the monsoon period and there is 55% probability of emergence of La Nina phenomena which results in good rainfall. According to the

US-based agencies like the Climate Prediction Centre, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, National Ocean Atmosphere Administration and National Weather Service cooling effects are being witnessed in the three Nino regions of the Pacific namely, Nino 1+2, Nino 3 and Nino 3.4. Nino 4 region has recorded an increase of 0.1 degree Celsius which is much within the normal range--------- GoM’s dilemma: Finmin refuses to hike relief to sugar industry http://www.financialexpress.com/news/GoMs-dilemma-Finmin-refuses-to-hike-relief-to-sugar-industry/206264/ ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Sunday , July 22, 2007 at 2329 hrs IST New Delhi, Jul 22 The group of ministers (GoM) headed by the external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee is faced with the problem of formulating a new debt restructuring package for sugar mills as the Union finance ministry has refused to increase the interest subvention on loans beyond the estimated Rs 560 crore. The GoM is slated to meet on July 24 to discuss issues relating to relief to sugar industry which includes extension of moratorium for repayment by another three years for cooperative mills, debt restructuring package for private sugar mills, deferment of payment of central excise duty for three years, mandatory 10% blending of petrol with ethanol from October, this year and categorisation of denatured alcohol and ethanol as ‘goods of special importance’. With the sugar

industry reeling under financial stress since 2001 due to two successive droughts, the government announced a Nabard package for cooperative mills in September 2005 rescheduling of term loans up to 15 years with two year moratorium and reduction in interest rate to 10% per annum. The estimated interest subvention of Rs 525 crore would be borned by the Union government. So far only 103 cooperative sugar mills could avail of the Nabard package which involved a total interest subvention amount of Rs 317 crore. The Union food ministry has pleaded that due to falling sugar prices on account of surplus production, the sugar mills are not in a position to service their restructured loans and hence moratorium period for repayment which expired on April 1, 2007 should be extended by another 3 years. This will also help other deserving cooperative sugar mills to avail benefits under the scheme. The ministry has pleaded

that similar benefits should be extended to private sugar mills. It said that even though the private sugar mills can get their debts restructed through corporate debt restructuring (CDR) scheme, few of them could get the benefit when the industry was in crisis a few years back as is the case now----- Mayawati almost doubles wages of unskilled agriculture labour http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Mayawati-almost-doubles-wages-of-unskilled-agriculture-labour/206305/1 ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Monday , July 23, 2007 at 0021 hrs IST New Delhi The newly elected Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh, last week, raised the minimum daily wage

of unskilled agriculture labourers from Rs 58 to Rs 100, effecting an increase of 172.4%. Now, the daily minimum wage of unskilled farm workers is the highest in north India, with the exception of Delhi. Going a step further, the UP chief minister said she would work for the development of agriculture and would target an overall economic growth of 10% in the 11th Plan period and work towards bringing down the poverty ratio by 50%. She has asked for a package of Rs 87,972.66 crore from the Centre for overall development of the state, particularly the Bundelkhand and the eastern region. Out of the total package, Mayawati has asked for Rs 25,404.08 crore for agriculture and allied activities. Scrapping the sugar policy of the erstwhile Mulayam Singh government, the chief minister also announced that she would soon formulate a rational sugar policy which ‘‘would cater to the needy and not the greedy.’’ In the

national capital territory of Delhi, which does not have much of cropped area, the minimum daily wage of unskilled farm labourers is Rs 117.10, that of skilled farm labour is Rs 133.40 and that of semi-skilled farm labour is Rs 123.50. Fixation of minimum daily wages of workers is mandatory under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and state governments are empowered to do so. Among the leading agrarian states in the country, the south Indian states have a better record. Andhra Pradesh has fixed the minimum daily wage for farm workers at Rs 102, while in the wage in Kerala for unskilled farm workers is Rs 120. Tamil Nadu has fixed its daily minimum wages in the range of Rs 54.44 to Rs 150. In Karnataka, the daily minimum wages for farm workers is in the range of Rs 60.73 to Rs 72.17. The Green Revolution states of Punjab and Haryana, however, have given added emphasis on the wages of

skilled and semi-skilled farm workers. In fact, Haryana has devised a special category ‘‘highly skilled farm workers’’ and fixed their daily minimum wage at Rs 117.09, while for skilled one it has fixed at Rs 105.65 and that for semi-skilled ones at Rs 99.78. In Punjab, the daily minimum wages for workers are in the range of Rs 90.44 to Rs 94.24. Rajasthan has fixed Rs 81 for skilled farm workers, Rs 77 for semi-skilled farm workers and Rs 73 for unskilled ones. The Left Front-ruled West Bengal, however, has a different way for fixation of daily minimum wages. The daily minimum wage for farmer workers without meals is fixed at Rs 67.42, while for those workers given two square meals is fixed at Rs 64.22. ------

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