Need for resilient agriculture to tackle the uncertainties of the future

New Delhi

We need to promote integrated waste management systems, green chemistry, bio solutions, and pesticides, which will help produce safe food. The government will start with certifications and multi-level safety standards that will ensure safe food production and consumption. It recommends farmers to choose high-yield crops like oilseeds, pulses, millets etc said Dr Suresh Kumar Malhotra, Agriculture Comssioner, Government of India, in a webinar organized by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) on “Risk Management in Indian Agriculture — Ensuring Secure Livelihood for Farmers”,

Dr Malhotra apprised the audience that the Government of India had submitted a proposal to the United Nations that the International Year of Millets be observed in the year 2023. This shows how we choose our crop, where to have the best combinations with minimum resources and more output. Several rural resources are being affected due to unforeseen circumstances and some mechanism needs to be developed and implemented to ensure that the agriculture cycle doesn’t get hampered. We need to make agriculture resilient to the uncertainties of the future. 

The government is keen to increase water use efficiency to increase agriculture efficiency, Dr Malhotra mentioned. More crops are being promoted so that we can invest utilization of water; sprinklers and micro-irrigation have been installed for the same. We have a production and national agriculture system which is evolving. Farmers are also given weather warning systems so that they are aware of any climate crisis beforehand. 

The webinar was followed by a panel discussion on “Mitigating Risk in Indian Agriculture” moderated by G Chandrashekhar, agribusiness specialist and policy commentator. The discussion witnessed the industry inputs of the deliberations of Kapil Dev, Chief Business Officer, NCDEX; SK Sethi, Director, Ria Insurance Brokers P Ltd; Nixon Joseph, former President & COO, SBI Foundation; and Rohit Dhanda, AVP, Capital Markets & Strategic Initiatives, Samunnati. It explored the efficient ways to strategize risk management in the agriculture sector as well as to touch upon the best strategies for better price discoveries to the farmers. 

Sanjay Aggarwal, President, PHDCCI, in his presidential address discussed the noble work done by PHDCCI in constructing check dams in various parts of the nation and lauded the efforts made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare for seamless working. He deliberated about the need for risk management, which will help farmers control the various unforeseen risks factors and at the same time grow and prosper. He mentioned that there was a need for better education options for the farmers. 

Nand Kishore Aggarwal, Chairman-Agriculture Committee, PHDCCI, while discussing the need for stringent policies for controlling food risk management, mentioned that there was a need to involve the industry and insurance for development in the sector. 

Saurabh Sanyal, Secretary-General, PHDCCI, giving an overview of the importance of the agriculture sector in contributing towards the economy and livelihood, discussed the challenges faced and opportunities garnered by the sector amidst the pandemic and the need for inclusion of technology to mitigate quality risks. 

The webinar was moderated by Saurabh Sanyal, Secretary-General, along with Dr Yogesh Srivastav, Assistant Secretary-General, PHDCCI. It was attended by many industry stalwarts across the nation. It was sponsored by NCDEX and Ria Insurance Brokers and was supported by DLF India, Multani Pharmaceuticals, UFLEX, JK Tyre & Industries, Marble City, Paramount Cables, SMC Investments and Advisors, Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic, Comtech Interio, DCM Shriram Industries, Radico Khaitan, RE Rogers India Pvt Ltd, Ajit Industries, Synergy Environics, Timberworkz, Jindal Stainless, PS Bedi & Co and IFFCO.