Corona Times 2020- 21. The broader picture. We should be able to feed ourselves!
I was seeking to understand how India would cope, if the Covid continued for a longer time as it may. I was worried whether we could feed ourselves, 139 crores of us. It appears with a bit of planning and a lot of co-operation, India could feed itself and be faster on its way to recovery. Our foremost need is to get our agriculture sector working well!
The slogan 'life before livelihood' seems possible! I am unable at this moment to say how the economy will fare. But hopefully people will not go hungry.
http://www.walkthroughindia.com/offbeat/10-largest-agricultural-producing-states-of-india/
It was an eyeopener. I feel like a Rip Van Winkle. Please read on!
To summarize, India is the world’s second largest producer of the agricultural products such as wheat, rice, sugarcane, several dry fruits and largest producer of many fresh fruits like papaya, banana, mango, guava and vegetables (Eggplant, Potato, Pumpkin, squash and gourd).
West Bengal is the largest producer of rice in India, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab.
Uttar Pradesh is the largest Wheat producing state of India, followed by Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.
Gujarat state of India is the largest producer of Cotton, followed by Maharashtra, Telangana and Karnataka, The state is also is the largest producer of groundnut in India. ( Oh Yes! We can clothe ourselves as well!)
Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of Sugarcane in India, followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamilnadu. Sugarcane is a Kharif crops or monsoon crops harvested in India during the rainy season.
West Bengal is the largest producer of fresh Vegetables in India, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
India is among the largest producer and exported of ginger, okra and second of potatoes, onions, cauliflowers, brinjal and Cabbages.
West Bengal is the largest producer of Jute in India, followed by Bihar, Assam and Andhra Pradesh. Jute is second most important natural fibers after cotton and also the most affordable natural fibers in the world. ( So who needs plastic?)
Assam is the largest producer of Tea in India, followed by West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh and other states of North India. Most popular tea types in India are Assam tea, Nilgiri tea, Darjeeling tea and Kangra tea.
Karnataka is the largest producer of Coffee in India, followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Karnataka is also produce Maize, tea and sunflower in large quantities.
Madhya Pradesh is India’s largest pulse producing state, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. The state of Madhya Pradesh is also the largest producing state of Soyabean and garlic.
Kerala is the largest producer of Rubber in India, followed by Tamil Nadu, North East state of Tripura and Karnataka. The state of Kerala is also largest producer of black pepper, small cardamom and good amount of cloves and other Indian spices as well as exotic fruits.
Agricultural Facts –
- India is the largest producer of Millet in the world and second largest producer of Wheat and Rice/Paddy.
- India is the largest producer of Chickpea and Pulses in the world.
- India is the largest producer of Ginger and Okra in the world and second for Dry Bean, Onion, Cabbage and other brassicas.
- India is third largest producer of Cauliflowers and Broccoli and Lettuce and chicory.
- India is the largest producer of Wood fuel and forest products.
- India is the largest producer of Buffalo Milk and Cow Milk in the world.
- Andhra Pradesh is the largest producer of Tobacco in India, followed by Assam, Bihar and Chhattisgarh.
- Maharashtra is the largest producer of Sugar in India as well as Cashew Nuts, grapes and onion.
- Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of cassava in India as well as largest producer of bananas, followed by Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Follow the link to know more about top 5 salt and fish producing states of India.
It is not my intention to whitewash any event. It is all there for everyone to see! I am glad as I began typing this blog, a report from bloomberg on by ET popped up on the screen of my laptop. It is very gloomy, "World’s biggest lockdown to push 12 million into extreme poverty". Well it was expected that a lockdown would have repercussions. It indeed is unprecedented. Eminent historians, I am sure, will give their verdict soon enough on what went wrong and who are responsible for what?
'History tells that wars have been fought simultaneously with an epidemic as well as with an enemy.
(Plague of Athens (429-426 BCE)....Athens had been engaged in the Second Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE) against Sparta, and the general and statesman Pericles had recently ordered a retreat behind Athens’ walls........................................The plague killed many of the most prominent citizens, Pericles among them, and affected the outcome of the war. With so many dead, and the city significantly weakened, Athens struggled to maintain the war effort and eventually lost to Sparta. )
The 'war of words' between the decision makers and the critics being waged at every given opportunity is nothing new. The great warriors of Mahabharata were experts at this verbal warfare. Warriors would go to any lengths to demoralize their opponents before they went for the kill. In democracy, luckily so far, it stops at trying kill their opponent's chances of getting back to power. No holds are barred! It is sickening, but it is a part of our kind of democracy! Well, it is said that even Yudhisthira uttered lies.
Comments
Yes we will not starve as present indications go. We have had a bumper harvest this season and are expecting a good monsoon.Despite odds procurement of food grains has been good.
However, while there is no dearth of food it has to be distributed equitably. As pointed by Bloomberg the lock down has impoverished many (quoted in blog)impacting on purchasing power. So you may see malnutrition despite adequate food supply.
As regards opposition politics it is worthwhile remembering about the crab baskets (only the Indian basket did not need a lid). Criticism is good if constructive but not if done for ulterior motives.
Your concerns are extremely relevant. I was equally worried that with all this infighting and external threats that we could lose focus and let the poor fend for itself.That could be a disaster!
It is not the first time we have let go of opportunities in India.
Looks like the US is also becoming another India in this respect, with each state doing its own thing, the "United States" does not seem to be relevant anymore.
1. I recall my school days (1950s, soon after India's 'Independence') when we were often told that "India is a rich country inhabited by the poor" and "the fatalistic attitude of Indian psyche which passively accepts a situation as KARMA and inhibits efforts to bring about the much needed transformation" I wonder whether these epithets still hold good after nearly 75 years of democratic self-government and remarkable strides in economic progress. The hiatus between rich and poor continues to grow. A vast majority stay mute spectators unwilling to take proactive actions. So the abundant natural resources and potential for equitable sharing of benefits prosperity remains dormant. It looks to me that the issue is not whether ee can feed ourselves in all adversities, natural and man-made, but how and what people will do to ensure that result. More so, whether there is a will determination to exercise that will.
2. Whether one is fighting with humans or nature, the ultimate objective is to win over and/or vanquish the opponent. In the olden days antoganists used all the four strategies of SAAMA, DAANA, BHEDA and DANDA according to their assessment of the situation. But nowadays people have become more intolerant and resort to the latter two before considering the former two - and more civil - options to silence critics and subjugate opponents.
That alas is present day politics.
Thank you again for the thought-provoking "ramble"������
I really liked reading this edition. Mostly positive aspects. Good to have gone past all dirty Covid stats!
A highly industrialised country like Germany has a forest belt around every city within a stone's throw.
Even if water is available in borewells ,only three hours of power is provided and as the transformers are overloaded, beyond their capacities, with pumpsets , the voltage drops drastically and pumpset has to be turned off to protect the motor.
Farmers have been getting only lip service since independence.
Can't grow crops properly for want of good power supply.
It is good you have highlighted food production & self dependency regarding the same.
It is high time our government should/must promote scientific way in Agriculture, help the farmers with insurance & MSP.
Nice data regarding the food production & other details.
Kudos to you Sirššš
It will happen with this government because this present setup is proactive & pro agriculture.
They have three main issues to resolve:-
1) Migrant Labour Registration & Control
2) Agriculture Reforms such as-
Direct transfer ( done)
Insurance
MSP
Elimination of Agents
Food Parks for direct
purchase from Farmers
3) Cold storage, packing
& Distribution