Agri Future – Hands up agriculture

Posts Tagged ‘AGRICULTURAL’

The total power of China’s agricultural machinery was 525.7 million kW in 2000, 684.0 million kW in 2005, 821.9 million kW in 2008, and 875.0 million kW in 2009. In the meantime, the ownership of large and medium-sized tractors increased from 975,000 sets in 2000 to 5.019 million sets in 2009, while the ownership of combine harvesters rose from 235,000 sets to 847,000 sets, at a CAGR of 20.2% and 15.3% respectively. With the growth in both the subsidy for and the total number of agricultural machinery, China’s agricultural machinery structure has been continuously improved. On the one hand, agricultural machinery power per hectare had increased gradually to 7.2kW in 2009, up 22.0% compared to 5.9kW in 2007. On the other hand, the large-power, high-performance and compound machinery had witnessed rapid growth. In 2007, the general agricultural mechanization level, and the ratio of agricultural labor force to total social employment respectively reached 42.5% and 38%, indicating that China’s agricultural mechanization had entered into the intermediate period. In 2009, the general agricultural mechanization level reached 48.8%, and the mechanization of plowing, sowing and harvesting respectively achieved 64%, 40% and 37%. Meanwhile, China’s three major crops also achieved rapid development in terms of mechanization level. Wheat production has almost achieved complete mechanization, and the production of both rice and corn achieved over 54% of mechanization. In 2009, the general agricultural mechanization level of wheat, rice and corn was respectively 89%, 54.9% and 54.8%. After the launch of agricultural machinery subsidy policy, the total number of China’s agricultural machinery cooperative organizations and large agricultural machinery owners increased to 39 million in 2009 from 30.818 million in 2003, and agricultural mechanization income also rose to RMB380 billion in 2009 from RMB226.96 billion in 2003. Besides worldwide and China’s agricultural machinery development, the report also makes an in-depth analysis of six agricultural machinery products, six key provinces and municipalities, as well as 15 major companies.By product, tractor, harvesting machinery, field machinery and agricultural transport machinery except pump all witnessed rapid growth in output in 2009.

In the past few years the growth of Agricultural Universities have increased from few in  1940 to more than 40 by 2004. The enrolled students number increased from mere half a thousand to nearly 20 thousands between this period. As on today we have 260 colleges in India imparting educational degrees in Agriculture alone. They consist of various disciplines including veterinary, horticulture, sericulture, forestry, floriculture and a number of other sub-disciplines as plantation crops, medicinal herbs, mushroom, seed production, dairy production, agri-management and like. A number of Government department in India employ agricultural and allied graduates. The mode of recruitment is through respective State & Central Govt. public service commissions. Beside professional employment, the agricultural graduates can compete in the national or State administrative or financial and allied services. Similarly many banks, insurance companies, private industries, private concerns and development companies. The NGO do also employ agricultural and allied graduates. The graduates have to go through employment new and other professional Journals through Radio, TV and both central and State Govts. also give advertisements. A vast number of professional, managerial and industry related advanced courses after agri or allied graduation are also advertised. They include business management, financial management or related disciplines in corporate sector. A diploma in mass media, computers or even commerce shall fetch a graduate additional employment chances in Govt. and private sectors. Opportunities in foreign countries for agri-graduates are also there, however this would need diploma  in international agriculture and a driving licence besides a passport. For graduates a number of courses are available for Masters. Even on date we have 1/3rd positions vacant in SAU and ICAR Institutes, for which annually ARS examination is being held by Agriculture Scientists Recruitment Board. The recruitment to scientists and Assistant professors is open to all M.Sc /M.V.Sc or allied post graduates and Ph.D holders. Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with NABARD and other banks have launched Agri-business Agri clinic courses. They are 3 months courses on the  job training  to Agri-graduates free of cost. In fact all the expenses are borne by the Agri-business school.

Higher productivity gains can be achieved through application of technology and production recommendations at farmer’s field. We have 65% small and marginal farmers whose awareness potential is low. The production system prevailing with these farmers is a mixed farming or composite farming. In contrast to USA and European agriculture our necessity is to increase “Crop opportunities” RATHER than COMODITY production gains. A mixed Agriculture University and Education set ups is our necessity. We are at present going astray to our need. Quick and fast measures are needed to unify our educational system, involving all agriculture and allied disciplines, industries, corporate sectors and farmers’ institutions. It is worth mentioning that Indian Agricultural pride years of green revolution post 1968 saw reduction in food gain imports and subsequently white, blue and other revolutions sustained our population pressures and agriculture growth. Our agricultural growth rate needs to be equal if not more to population growth rate. Our AGR target ought to be double the PGR. This is important as consumption rates, purchasing power and employment /income prospects increase. An estimated food grain of 210 million tons at present may need to be doubled in next 10 years. We have to achieve higher targets of productivity by vertical expansion as horizontal land expansion is not possible. our  target of 4 t/h of rice or wheat shall make Jammu and kashmir self sufficient ,a food security base shall need 5t/h.On an average we have 2-3 t/h rice and marginally less wheat production in the state. Combining vegetables ,fruits and other pulses we may be comparatively better off in the future. The per capita food grain consumption is marginally more than rest of the Indian state because of severe cold and more calorie  are needed. The experimental peak yield of 8-10 t /h with some varieties was reported.The  other details have been reported Wani, 2007.and is available on this website too.