Commercializing Agriculture in Eastern India: Some Pertinent Issues

Abstract

Indian agriculture is getting increasingly commercialized and monetized and the volume and proportion of output that enters into market is on the rise. This shows, that along with optimization of production, producers have to achieve optimization of sale to realize best returns to their efforts and investments. This would require knowledge about market demand, prices, timing of sale, relationship between commodity attributes and prices, methods of sale, consumer preference for physical and quality characteristics etc. the idea is to get best prices for what has been produced. Thus, with the increased orientation of production for market, we are landed with an added responsibility of informing and educating producers about prices, marketing skills, emerging demand, temporal price pattern and many such things. From purely commercial perspective, Eastern region is generating less income for its farmers per unit of available land and water. This low water and soil productivity can be overcome by adopting proven modern technologies for soil restoration and water conservation. Thus far farmers and scientists have focused on raising productivity through the application of macronutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, while largely ignoring the crucial role of micronutrients in bringing forth the full genetic potential of plant materials. Application of water saving technologies can raise the productivity of water in agriculture by two, three or four times its present level, resulting in higher yields, greater production, higher incomes and more jobs. While commercializing agriculture focus should be on advising on product planning, marketing information, securing markets for farmers and finding alternate marketing channels. In addition to market support, training needs of the farmers are also to be addressed effectively if they are to get benefits of market reforms. Eastern India has the potential to become a national leader in agriculture. Floriculture projects, fruit production and processing, vegetable production and packaging, production and value addition of medicinal and aromatic plants, organic food productions are some of the areas in which the state can excel in the country. Fresh water prawn culture, milk production fresh water fish production, medicinal and aromatic plants cultivation also have vast potential. Processing can multiply the export value of farm produce by 50 to 500 times and open up vast international markets.