FOOD SECURITY BILL-A HALF BAKED MEASURE?

The recent debate on proposed food security bill in the Parliament during December last was indeed very illuminating and those who blocked the drat Bill deserves country's gratitude for at least temporarily stopping the madness of the Government in pushing through a legislation considered "half baked". Inappropriately called Food Security Bill, it cannot ensure food safety in the country which is operating a Public Distribution System full of "holes" enabling fraudsters, gangsters, looters of all colors with or without political nexus to siphon off more than 50% of the food grains channeled through this leaky operation. Every one including the promoters of this scheme knows that public money is being wasted under a populist scheme increasing the food subsidy drastically, that too for a country reeling under heavy current account deficit. Here is a critique on this subject which is still being dangled across the nation as a remedy to abolish poverty in the land. 

"Earlier, Chairman of the Commission of Agricultural Costs Ashok Gulati, in his deposition before the panel, had said that the implementation of the Bill would be a massive challenge as nearly two-thirds of the population, 1.2 billion, will have to be covered by it. Similarly, the Union Agriculture Ministry, in its submission,  also expressed its reservations towards the Bill. According to sources, the panel is likely to recommend giving legal right over subsidised food grains to 67 per cent of the country's population, in line with the Food Security Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2011. The panel will also suggest the Centre to give freedom to state governments to identify the number of beneficiaries. However, the consensus is yet to be reached on the quantity of food grain to be supplied to beneficiaries. The proposed Bill aims to supply seven kg of food grain per person each month to priority households and three kg to general households. But some members demanded that entitlement over subsidised grains should be on the basis of each family instead of an individual as this will benefit large families".

It is recognized that subsidized food should be given to those who are impoverished, under nourished and poor but supplying the grains at Rs 1-3 per kg for a majority of the population is silly and ridiculous, amounting to profligacy! Rupee has lost its value very significantly during the last one decade and even beggars do not accept one rupee as alms because of its very low purchasing value. In a country like India where minimum wages are continuously being hiked reaching almost Rs 150 per day, where is the need for distributing food grains at Rs 1-3 per kg as most families can afford to buy the food grains at considerably much higher prices, say Rs 10-15 per kg. Why should the scheme cover families with monthly incomes as high as Rs 5000 and above? It is time that conscious effort is made by the government to fix the criteria for deserving recipients and confine supply of low cost food grains only to such families. Probably such a decisive step may bring down the food subsidy by almost 70-80% of the present outgo. The dynamics of politics should not interfere while evolving such national policies of far reaching importance.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

FOOD FOR FUTURE-OPTIMISM IS THE KEY TO MEET THE CHALLENGE

Future challenges in meeting the demand for food by an ever increasing global population are considered to be daunting and this food insufficiency is already affecting millions of people, more common in the poor countries of Asia, Africa and South America. The problem is further compounded by enormous food wastage that takes place, especially in many developing countries reducing the availability further. Food wastage in wealthy countries has another dimension and this takes place mostly in the super markets, house hold kitchens and dining tables. Against such a situation how can the food insecurity which is expected to assume alarming proportion in a few years from now, can be overcome? Opinions differ among experts regarding the ability of this planet to achieve quantum jump in food production keeping in step with the growing population. Here is a take on this issue which reflects the optimistic view of some experts and opinion makers. 

"Last week at a three-day conference in Lexington, Ky., with food producers from 70 countries, Woroniecki said he learned that the world's population is expected to grow by 3 billion come 2050. He said that would require food-producing countries to produce one-third more food on the acres they currently have, and he believes the need can be met with the help of new methods and technology.  "The technology is there to do it, we just need be better at it," Woroniecki said. "We can better use technology, in regards to genetics of a herd and buying replacement stock suited for the environment. We can also do the best to work with nature and manage the extremes in weather, so there are fewer ups and downs in beef production." Crop production also must be elevated to meet consumption of a growing population, and Jim Bobb, grain division manager for Southwest Grain in Dickinson, said the advancements are out there to make it happen."Technology and equipment like GPS help to increase productivity and increase food supplies," he said. "My feeling, as I see it today, is that we will be able to keep up with the growing demand for food, but there's always the unforeseen, like extended droughts, that could change that."

Mention of GM technology as a possible route to achieve increased food production is however misleading because this particular crop manipulation method has not yet become universally accepted as many unanswered safety questions makes it suspicious in the eyes of the consumer. The most recent episode of cyanide poisoning of cattle in some ranches in the US, supposed to be due to consuming GM grass is a timely reminder about the uncertainties associated with gene tinkering and the consequences there of. But there are many new cropping technology emerging which can increase productivity very significantly and more attention needs to be focused on them. By far the most critical input for crop enhancement is water and world over water scarcity is staring at the farmers due to indiscriminate exploitation of ground water, enormous wastage and neglecting water conservation technologies. Drought resistant crops are being developed at a faster rate than ever and the answer to future food scarcity lies in achieving productivity with use of less and less water. Due to intensive agriculture during the last five decades, especially using mono culture, soil degradation is a very serious problem and reclaiming such lands will be another pre-requisite for increasing food production. Probably considering the many options available, there may be enough grounds for optimism that world will never run out of food in the foreseeable future.   

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com