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BRIEF PROFILES

Prof. Ramprasad Sengupta

Prof. Ramprasad Sengupta is presently an Emeritus Professor of Economics at the School of Social

Sciences of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi where he was a Professor of Economics

for almost three decades, and held the Sukhamoy Chakravarty Chair of Planning and Development of the

University . He was also a Professor at the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (1999 -2001). He has

also been a Visiting Professor/ Scholar in a number of Universities in Germany, Japan, USA, UK, Canada

and the Netherlands. Besides his teaching stints, he has also been Advisor, Planning Commission,

Government of India and part time Independent Director on the Board of Steel Authority of India as an

economist nominated by the Government of India. Prof. Sengupta's area of interest and specialization

are Development economics and planning; Energy, resource and the environmental

economics, Ecological issues of sustainable development; Quantitative policy modelling of

infrastructural sectors (including power, energy, transport and steel) He has authored several books,

monographs and research papers in refereed journals. The latest book authored by him is Ecological

limits and Economic Development: Creating Space, Oxford University Press. New Delhi.

Prof. Sarmila Banerjee

Sarmila Banerjee is at present the Rajiv Gandhi Chair Professor of Eco-systems and Sustainable

Development in the University of Calcutta. She is in the faculty of Economics of the same institution for

more than three decades. She obtained her Ph.D. degree in Economics from the University of Florida,

Gainesville, USA and carried out her post-doctoral research on Environmental Economics in the

University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. Her teaching interest is around Econometrics and

Environmental Economics. Her research interest is mostly on Quantitative aspects of Social Sector

Development. She is the coordinator of UGC-SAP program in her Department and Convener of Ph.D.

Program in Economics of the University of Calcutta. She is connected with different academic institutions

and research networks in India and abroad through her active involvement in capacity building and

curriculum development.

Prof. Joyashree Roy

Joyashree Roy is currently the ICSSR national fellow and Professor of Economics at Jadavpur University.

She initiated and coordinates the Global Change Programme and also directs Ryoichi Sasakawa Young

Leaders Fellowship Fund (SYLFF) Project at Jadavpur University. She is in IPCC-2007 Nobel Peace

Prize winning panel, has been a chapter author of Global Energy Assessment, in winning team of Prince

Sultan Bin Aziz award for water. She is interested in multidisciplinary approaches to understanding

development challenges. Her research interests are: Economics of Climate Change, Modeling energy

demand, Economy-wide modeling exercises for deriving policy implications, Water quality demand

modeling, Water pricing, Sustainable development indicator development and estimation, Natural

resource accounting, Valuing environmental services, and Developmental and environmental issues

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relevant for informal sectors, Coastal Ecosystem service evaluation. She has more than 80 publications in

peer reviewed journals and books.

Prof. Raghu Ram

Dr. Raghu Ram is a faculty member in the Strategic management Area at XLRI Jamshedpur. He has been

in academics for 16 years with Wildlife Institute of India- Dehra Dun, Indira Gandhi Institute of

Development Research-Mumbai and IIM Calcutta. He was a Fulbright Environment Leadership Fellow at

Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA. His work explores the environmental

governance, policy, development, and environment interface. Raghu Ram has a master's degree in

limnology and PhD in biodiversity impact assessment. He teaches environment and natural resource

management. He is co-editor of Reconciling Environment and Economics (IGIDR, Mumbai 2003) and

editor of Uttar Pradesh Environment Monitor-2003 (World Bank, New Delhi 2004). He was the Member

Secretary and Project Coordinator of Environmental Economics Research Committee that sponsored 61

field research projects aimed to build environmental economics research capacity in India (2000-2003).

He was National Project Coordinator of Protected Area Network Cell at the Wildlife Institute of India

(1994-1995). His publications cover habitat evaluation models, biodiversity impact assessment, water and

air quality governance and environmental policy. He is now a consultant to the Ministry of Environment

and Forests, Government of India to evaluate community forestry institutions.

Dr. Nilanjan Ghosh

Dr. Nilanjan Ghosh is Senior Fellow (Professor) at Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Kolkata

Chapter. He is also Senior Advisor - Environmental Economics at World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature,

New Delhi, India. He was Chief Economist and Senior Vice President at Multi Commodity Exchange of

India Limited, Mumbai, prior to joining ORF. Prior to being associated with MCX, Dr. Ghosh was a

faculty member at TERI University, and senior research professional at TERI, New Delhi. Dr. Ghosh has

been a Visiting Fellow at School of Social Sciences, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden in 2008, and in

2015.

A natural resource economist and econometrician by training, Dr. Ghosh obtained his Doctorate from

Indian Institute of Management Calcutta. He has been working in the domains of ecological economics,

developmental issues, water resources, and financial markets, and conducts his research by combining

frameworks of neoclassical economics and institutions. At various points in time, Dr. Ghosh has advised/

conducted research projects for UNCTAD, The Swedish Research Council, FORMAS-Swedish Research

Council, UNEP (Nairobi), WWF-UK, IUCN, and many other illustrious multilaterals and donor agencies.

He was Lead Author of UNEP’s flagship publication, Global Environmental Outlook 4. His publications

so far include 6 books (3 authored +3 edited), and 35-odd peer-reviewed research papers in journals

like Water Policy, Conservation and Society, Journal of Industrial Ecology, Journal of Index Investing,

EPW, etc and also book chapters. His recent co-authored book, Sustainability Science (published by IGI-

Global, Pennsylvania, US) argues that sustainable development is not merely a subject for academics,

policy makers, and journalists to mull over, but a set of daily practices and changes. In his forthcoming

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edited book, Nature, Economy, and Society: Understanding the Linkages, (published by Springer India)

he, along with others, attempts to delineate the evolution and scope of the inter-disciplinary framework of

Ecological Economics.

He is a regular columnist in The Hindu Business Line, a popular “pink paper”, and has also written

for The Economic Times, Financial Express, etc. At different points in time, Dr. Ghosh edited two

journals: Journal of Resources, Energy and Development (READ, an academic peer-reviewed journal

published by TERI Press), and Commodity Vision (a semi-academic non-peer reviewed journal by

Takshashila Academia Economic Research). Dr. Ghosh was Vice President of Indian Society for

Ecological Economics (INSEE), and delivered the Presidential Address at the Seventh Biennial

Conference of INSEE.

Prof. Runa Sarkar

Runa Sarkar is a faculty member of the Economics Group at IIM Calcutta. She has taught at IIT Kanpur

prior to joining IIM Calcutta. She is chemical engineer from BITS Pilani, and has a Master’s degree in

environmental engineering from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. She did her doctoral

work at IIM Calcutta. She teaches courses on micro-economics, green manufacturing and corporate

sustainability strategies. She has been closely involved in European Union and World Bank projects on

the application of social informatics in agriculture and is currently on the board of two companies of the

BASIX group. She has a number of publications in the area of agriculture and social capital. She has co-

authored a book titled Another Development: Participation, Empowerment and Well-being in Rural India

published by Rouledge 2014.

Prof. Rajesh Bhattacharya

Rajesh Bhattacharya is a faculty member of the Public Policy and Management Group at Indian Institute

of Management Calcutta. He studied economics at Presidency College, University of Calcutta and

University of Massachusetts, Amherst and obtained his PhD from the last institution. He teaches Indian

economic history, history of economic thought and political economy. Besides IIMC, he has also taught

at South Asian University, University of Calcutta and Presidency University, His current research is

focused on areas like informal economy, financialization of capital, history of planning in India and

political economy of land in India.

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LIST OF ABSTRACTS

INTEGRATING FARM WITH BIO-BASE PRACTICES FOR FOOD SECURITY AND

SUSTAINABILITY

S. N Das, Senior Lecturer, Faculty member (E mail:sourenks@gmail.com),

D. Giri, Instructor, Faculty member,

M. Ghosh Principal and Director,

Agricultural Training Centre / State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute,

Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur, Kolkata – 700 103, West Bengal, India.

ABSTRACT

‘Agriculture is the major economic and social activity in the globe. Dramatic changes in land use

have taken place in larger part of India, as a result of economic growth and increasing demand

for production. Forest lands are converted into agricultural land and are intensified for food

production’.(Boomiraj et.al 2010) .

To meet the demand of quantity and status of food of the growing population pressure, the

agricultural system of the country has been adopting different ways, most of which are not

beneficial in long run. In spite of supporting the growing food bowl, the chemical agriculture is

highly criticized from different angles.

Agricultural Training Centre (ATC), Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur, has been

giving its efforts for decades in tackling the problem through its trials and experimentations, in

collaboration with the farmers in the villages. Bio-intensive farming is revealed as one of the

options to keep the agricultural production system friendly with overall natural system as well as

sustainable production of the farm household. As a pilot project, the ATC implemented the

concept in 50 households of Ruppur GP of Birbhum district, West Bengal, where chemical

agriculture was highly preferred in spite of decreasing net return per unit area. The impact of the

project shows considerable reduction of chemical, mainly highly hazardous pesticide, emphasis

on conservation of natural resources, generates self employment, as well as sustainable income

of the farm house holds.

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AN ECONOMIC APPROACH OF FINANCING CLIMATIC DISASTERS FOR

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Dr.Padmavathi.V,

Department of Economics, IBS, Hyderabad, India

ABSTRACT

India has a peculiar geographical setting, wherein there are floods in some parts and droughts in

other parts and they co-exist. Natural disasters affect the developed, developing and

underdeveloped world similarly. However, the developed countries are relatively well equipped

in disaster mitigation systems, preparedness and response mechanisms, than their counterparts.

In the developed countries, the dependency on ex-post funding and consequent disruption of

planned activity is less. But the relevant policy documents show that the financing of post-

disaster relief and rehabilitation expenditures has had the major chunk in the resources allocated

by the Government of India, especially to rural India. This comes only as temporary relief and at

a high cost, amounting to over Rs.32bn ($575.5m) in 2000–2010, and over Rs.77bn ($1.39bn)

for 2010–2015. One angle is that the relief, with this cost usually is not adequate to restore those

most affected to their original economic status. The State Governments face many hurdles in

providing immediate relief to the victims. The amount of assistance given by the Centre was far

short of what the State Governments actually needed. Another angle is that the government, as

the insurer of the last resort should have a smaller exposure in case of major catastrophes. But

the Indian government is spending billions of rupees in disaster relief and social insurance. There

is a need of the hour to find out the alternative approaches to transfer these risks, which could

relieve Government burden and to divert those funds to developmental expenditures. So far, the

disaster risk management is seen as a cost rather than an investment by reprioritizing planned

budgets, increasing tax and borrowings. The World Bank (2003) suggested the ex-ante

mechanisms for financial liquidity in the aftermath of a natural disaster. The Economic Survey

(2009–10) also has suggested introduction of Catastrophic (Cat) bonds in India. With this back

ground this paper is attempting to develop a holistic approach for managing the agricultural

production risks due to disasters.

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FOODGRAIN DEFICIENCY IN INDIA: A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP

Paramita Bhattacharya, Doctoral Scholar, Department of Economics, Jadavpur University,

Kolkata-700032

Siddhartha Mitra Professor, Department of Economics, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032

ABSTRACT

This paper analyses the possible causes of foodgrain deficiency in India and across states. The

analysis has been done for two time periods: 1999-2000 and 2009-2010, using National Sample

Survey’s unit level data. The study analyses the impact of Public Distribution System (PDS),

share of home production in consumption of foodgrains and food diversification on foodgrain

deficiency by using simple regression analysis. Foodgrain deficiency has been captured at the all

India level and across states using Greer, Foster and Thorbecke’s (1984) measure of income

poverty. Effectiveness of PDS is captured by using effective subsidy provided through PDS, and

role of food diversification in explaining foodgrain deficiency is captured through food diversity

index. The results indicate that foodgrain deficiency has increased but the increase is more

significant in the higher expenditure class which is mainly attributable to food diversification.

The study further finds that foodgrain deficiency among the below poverty line class is not that

significant and is well within manageable limits. Results suggest that PDS more specifically,

targeted PDS has acted as a catalyst in combating foodgrain deficiency especially among the

income poor. Share of consumption of foodgrains from home production also has a significant

influence on foodgrain deficiency in rural areas. These three indicators, therefore, have a

considerable influence over foodgrain deficiency across both ‘all classes’ and the ‘BPL class’.

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STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

FOR ENHANCING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN COASTAL ENVIRONMENT

IN SUNDARBAN, INDIA

Subhasis Mandal, D. Burman, U. K. Mandal, S. K. Sarangi, B. Maji, K K Mahanta, B K

Bandyopadhyay and D. K. Sharma

ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Canning Town

ABSTRACT

The coastal agro-ecosystem of the country occupies an area of about 10.8 million ha and are

spread over the 8129 km long coastline along the Bay of Bengal in the East coast and Arabian

sea in the West coast. The area is distributed among 9 States, 2 Union Territories and 2 group of

Islands. The land and water resources of the coastal zone in India are rich, valuable and under-

utilised. Enhancing agricultural production can improve the food security and contribute to

poverty reduction. Current productivity of the farming systems including agriculture and

aquaculture are far below the inherent potential of the region. Agriculture under this marginal

environment of coastal salinity are typically charcterised with multi-faceted problems such as

waterlogged condition (during kharif season) or high salinity building up (during rabi season).

Farming operation often becomes risky due to natural calamities, which increases the risk of

farming or restricted the farm operation and ultimately increases the instability of farm income.

The strategies for improving the farming conditions in costal salt affected areas have been

focused primarily on two ways first developing salt tolerant crop varieties and second rainwater

harvesting through different land shaping models. Rice is the major crops grown in both seasons

(kharif and rabi) and therefore, high focus has been given on developing and dissemination of

salt tolerant rice varieties by research institutes under Indian Council of Agricultural Research

(ICAR). Several rice varieties have been evolved and continuous efforts are being made for

larger adoption. It has been generally observed that farmers are more keen to change their rice

varieties during rabi season as compared to kharif season. Preference of rice varieties during rabi

(short, salt tolerant, short duration, high yielding and better quality) and and kharif (tall, long

duration, non-lodging) seasons are distinctly different.

Besides developing improved rice varieties, several land shaping techniques have been quite

successful in enhancing farm production in the region. Land shaping techniques are changing the

configuration of land through soil excavation and making suitable for water harvesting, option

for multiple cropping and also reducing the soil and water salinity. These land shaping

techniques, particularly the farm pond and paddy-cum-fish models, are unique technology for

addressing the key challenges like land degradation (salinity), drainage congestion and scarcity

of fresh water for irrigation and in turn have the potential to enhancing production, productivity,

income and employment. These techniques particularly farm pond and paddy-cum-fish are

financially viable and attractive proposition for the coastal region. Some of the key impediments

for large-scale implementation of such interventions were marginal land holdings that too

divided into several parcels, high initial investment, and presence of acid sulphate soils near

surface or at shallow depth at places. For larger adoption of these technologies need to address

some key issues like socio-economic constraints, some of which can be addressed by research

level (land configuration, soil quality) some other at policy level (incentives). Community based

rainwater harvesting as well as common pool wasteland may be encouraged in this direction.

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ECONOMICS OF HILL FARMING SYSTEM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO

FEASIBILITY AND CONSTRAINTS IN PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC

COMMODITIES IN MEGHALAYA, INDIA

Suchitra Mohanty, Subhasis Mandal and Kazi. M. B. Rahim

Research Faculty, Amity Research Center, Amity Kolkata, E-mail:

suchitramohanty2007@gmail.com

Senior Scientist (Agricultural Economics), Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI),

Regional Research Station, Canning Town (WB) – 743 329

Professor (Agricultural Economics), Palli Siksha Bhava, Visva Bharati, Shantiniketan - 731235

Abstract

Meghalaya is one of the most promising states within NEH Region as far as the organic farming

potential is concerned. To transform the organic potential to reality, there is a need to conduct

systematic study on the financial viability of growing these crops. Estimation of comparative

economics between organic vs inorganic is essential to take rational policy decision to carry

forward the organic farming movement in the hilly region of the state. Present study has been

undertaken with the following objectives in Meghalaya; first, to examine the socio-economic

characteristics of farmers practicing organic agriculture in Meghalaya, second, to examine and

compare (organic vs inorganic) the economics of high value commodities that have potential to

be grown organically; third,; identification of the factors that are influencing farmers to practice

organic agriculture and finally, to examine the constraints of organic farming in the region.

Results analysed in the present paper indicated that several crops has the right potential to be

grown as organic as far as their financial viability is concerned. However, the practice of organic

agriculture in Meghalaya is not demand-driven rather it is their compulsion or natural way of

farming considering the difficult terrain in the hilly tract and very weak market linkages.

Therefore, organic by default would not be sufficient to transform present farming system to

organic farming system as desired. Organic food production should be promoted only for

specific crop (turmeric, ginger, pineapple, khasi mandarin and cashew) in specific areas having

favourable economics. The most important step required is to establishment of market linkages

(which is the pre-condition for its success) with the farmers. Pricing policy of the organic

product along with extending support of remunerative price and promotion of contract farming is

essential either through public or public-private partnership.

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VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS FOR GOBINDOBHOG RICE IN BURDWAN DISTRICT OF

WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Priyanka Majumdar, M. Sc Agriculture and Rural Development 20E, Bakultala LaneKasba,

Kolkata700042 Email id: priyankassc.90@gmail.com

Debabrata Basu, Ph.D, Professor, Agriculturall Extension, Department Agricultural Extension,

Bidhan Chandra Krishi viswavidyalaya Email: drdbasu@gmail.com

Subhasis Mandal, Ph.D, Senior Scientist (Agril. Economics) CSSRI, RRS, Canning Town Email:

subhasis2006@gmail.com Vivekananda University, IRDM faculty, Narendrapur during 2014)

Abstract

Rice is the most important crop and staple food for majority of people in India. Farmers grow a

large number of rice varieties depending on soil, climate, test, preferences, market demand and

socio-economic conditions of farmers across the country. Rising income of consumers across the

globe have increased the demand for quality rice particularly the basmati or other scented rice.

Gobindobhog rice is one among the promising non-basmati but scented rice produced by farmers

in some areas of West Bengal and usually traded through traditional marketing channel. Value

chain analysis on this rice variety is likely to explore the under-utilised market potential and

thereby facilitating better dividends to the growers.

This paper applies the knowledge of value chain analysis of Gobindobhog variety, which if

handled properly could create a huge position in the international market. The study was made

intra state study for Gobindabhog in the villages Raina 1 block, Burdwan district of West

Bengal. The study of value chain was focused to improve the loopholes that are related to chain

so as to bring about a development at various levels of stakeholders’ participation in the entire

value chain. The dominant marketing channel was studied for the variety. This was a qualitative

study mainly done through purposive sampling at different stakeholders level in the entire

market value chain of the gobindobhog variety. The area was purposively chosen as it it is major

gobindobhog producing area in India. Information sharing among the actors was found very

limited and the means of market information was personal interview for respondent farmers and

telephone call for traders.

From the study we found that farmers were facing several constraints of productions and

marketing. The major production constraints were lack of irrigation facility, diseases, insect, and

lack of technical knowledge, high price of input, lack of credit facility. Likewise, in marketing

constraints faced by farmers were lack of market information, unorganized marketing, high

transportation cost, low price offered by traders and lack of storage facilities. The paper shows

that gobindabhog cultivation is a profitable and has potential business opportunities in the study

area. There is an immense need of facilitators (NGOs and other agencies) to increase

productivity, improve the quality production system and marketing through cooperative society

for efficient marketing. Also encouraging the participation of corporate traders in marketing of

this scented rice could be a boon for the growers to fetch better price.

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EXAMINING THE POTENTIAL FOR GREENER POWER GENERATION AT SITES

WITH INEFFICIENT EXISTING CAPACITY

Upasona Choudhury, MBA-Infrastructure, TERI University, 09810756796,

uchoudhury20@gmail.com

Vasundhara Gaur, M.Sc. Economics, TERI University, 09582744292,

vasundharagaur@gmail.com

Ritu Mathur, Professor, TERI University; Senior Fellow, Green Growth and Resource

Efficiency, TERI; 09873006653, ritum@teri.res.in

ABSTRACT

India’s initial thermal generation units were installed with producing capacities of 10 - 15 MW,

with Obra in Uttar Pradesh being the first 200 MW unit commissioned in 1977 and the first 500

MW unit being set up in 1984 at Trombay in Bombay. At present, 200/210/250/500 MW thermal

power producing units contribute to about 60% of total power generation in the country. A large

number of plants with power generation capacity of 200/210 MW units are nearing retirement or

have even completed their economic life-times. Currently, around 67% of India’s generation

capacity is coal-based, with nearly 49% of this capacity functioning with a plant load factor

(PLF) of less than 20%, and working at rather inefficient levels of operation due to ageing.

The cost of land, evacuation facilities for power generated at the plants are significant

components when it comes to the cost of setting up new or Greenfield generation capacities.

Existing locations of old inefficient power plants can therefore be used to set up new generation

facilities that are cleaner and efficient both for the local and global environment. Through this

study, we would therefore, like to explore the potential that cleaner and more efficient alternative

options offer, to use the existing sites where current capacities can be scrapped.

The objective of the study is to examine whether shift to renewable based capacity is attractive at

locations where thermal power plants were earlier located and to analyse the technical and

economic viability of putting renewable projects at those existing location, where infrastructure,

land and manpower already exist.

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SOCIAL EQUITY IMPACTS OF OPTIMAL WATER ALLOCATION FOR

IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT: DRIVERS AND IMPLICATIONS

Satyendra Tripathi*,1

, A. Vasan*

*Center of Excellence in Water Resources Management,

Department of Civil Engineering,

Birla Institute of Technology & Science Pilani, Hyderabad campus

Jawahar Nagar Shameerpet Mandal, Hyderabad 500078 1

Deendayal Centre for Rural Sustainability, Lucknow

satyendratripathee@gmail.com, vasan@hyderabad.bits-pilani.ac.in

Abstract

Irrigation projects are developed not merely for family farming purposes to benefit households

and feeding to community but also play a significant role to reduce rural poverty in region by

generating employment and improving livelihood. Policy makers often argue that reservoir

projects meant for irrigation will have a positive impact on the rural development and

community empowerment gradually. But, in many of the projects, it has been observed that the

income inequality is on the rise at the grass root level which largely affects the socio-economics

status of the beneficiaries. This paper unpacks some of the assumptions of the impacts of

irrigation by taking a closer look at the beneficiaries of large irrigation investments. In addition,

it also studies on, how the optimal water and land allocation can ensure the maximization of crop

productivity. The basic premise of this research is that the population within command areas is

not homogenous. By differentiating the population on the basis of landholding and social strata, a

wide variety of outcomes can be observed. These irrigation-related impacts are often shaped by

existing inequities within populations in terms of access to information, capital, land and the

existing social stratification. Assorted water allocation policies are generated through an

optimization model by varying the level of irrigation based on the proportion of area of each

field plot to be irrigated. Accordingly, a multiobjective mathematical model is formulated and

employed to evaluate the consequences with respect to efficiency and equity measures. Finally a

multi-objective analysis is carried out to select a compromise solution. This methodology is

applied to select a water allocation policy for irrigating in a case study project. This study looks

at the Nagarjuna Sagar Project for an insight into the different factors that shape long-term

poverty and the equity impacts of irrigation on command areas.

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FOOD, MEDICINE AND HUMAN SURVIVAL: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

STRATEGY OF SMALL SCALE COMMUNITY

Rudrajit Sarkar, Ph.D. Scholar, School of Agriculture and Rural development, Ramakrishna

Mission Vivekananda University, Ranchi Campus. Email ID- amirudras@gmail.com

Dipankar Chatterjee, Assistant Professor, School of Agriculture and Rural development,

Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Ranchi Campus. Email ID-

dipcha123@gmail.com

The traditional food systems of tribal populace touch the full spectrum of life in ways that

modern food systems miss the mark. Their food systems contain treasures of knowledge from

long-evolved cultures and patterns of living in local ecosystems. The dimensions of nature and

culture that define a food system of an indigenous culture contributes to the whole health picture

of the individual and the community – not only physical health but also the emotional, mental

and spiritual aspects of health, healing and protection from disease. But it is too a true fact that,

these systems are becoming increasingly more affected by the forces of globalization. In spite of

that some tribal communities have been effectively managing their natural resources and

maintaining ecological balance using a wide range of traditional practices and self-imposed rules

evolved over a period. Some of them have the practice of eating raw leaves, young

inflorescences, tender stalks and other plants’ part as medicine/nutrient supplement in their diet

since time immemorial. Those diets from both collected and cultivated source are taken both in

raw and cooked state. These contain food grains, vegetables, leafy vegetables, fruits, mushroom,

animal flesh, fish, egg, honey and more wider variety of food items. Moreover, these tribes have

developed a resilient medical system which is totally based on their plant and animal resources.

In fact, their nourishment and medicine system is interweaved through their food culture. This

paper is an endeavour to define and describe the diversity contained in circumstances

surrounding the Sauria Paharia food and medicine system and the wealth of knowledge of their

local environment. Sauria Paharia is one of the nine primitive tribal groups of Jharkhand. This

hill tribe still practice shifting cultivation and have a definite system of knowledge transmission

pattern of resource utilization over the generations. The present research is an outcome of an in-

depth study carried out in a purposively selected uni-ethnic village of Pakur district of

Jharkhand. The village is inhabited by only 22 household of Sauria Paharia comprising of 108

souls. Despite their insignificant numerical strength, the community has evolved a very

comprehensive system of food management that not only help in sustaining their nutritional

requirements but also ensure their medicinal necessities. The data was mainly collected with the

help of structured schedule followed by interview in a group and individually as well. Participant

observation becomes handy during trail walk through the forest accompanied by few ‘expert’

villagers in identifying critical resources that are used by the villagers during the distress period

like drought or during crop failure. The villagers identified that resource as an ‘emergency’ food.

With regard to the medicinal plant knowledge key informant interview was conducted to

understand and document the folk medicine system. Local medicine-man (Guru), who mainly

prepare medicine from different parts of plants, administer the treatment in their traditional way

was interviewed. The data on dietary intake pattern, food availability, pattern of harvest, key

food preparation have been categorized and described in the paper. Finally the article argues the

importance of sustaining the knowledge of such small scale community to ensure the

conservation of critical resources for the benefit of mankind.

13

SEEDS OF DISCONTENT: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN POTATO RESEARCH

AND POTATO FARMING

Navneet Ranjan, Social Entrepreneur Email: navnitranjan@gmail.com

Biswatosh Saha , Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta Email: biswatosh@iimcal.ac.in

Sankalp Pratap (Corresponding author) Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta Email:

sankalpp10@iimcal.ac.in

Arqum Mateen, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, Email: arqumm@iimk.ac.in

Agam Gupta , Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta Email: agamg10@email.iimcal.ac.in

Malosree Sengupta, Kolkata

Abstract

Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L) is one of the most important food crops after wheat, maize and

rice, contributing to food and nutritional security in the world. It is an annual, herbaceous,

dicotyledonous and vegetatively propagated plant, which can also be propagated through

botanical seed. A staple food served daily from kitchens across the world, its annual production

quantity next to none as far as vegetables are concerned. Producing more than 10% of the global

potato crop, India is second only to China. For their source of food and nutritional security,

India’s populace depends heavily on this cheap vegetable which defines the floor of vegetable

price in the country.

The potato crop in Indian plains is sown in October/November and harvested in February/March,

the new crop (naya aloo) being available for consumption from the month of April. During this

season the price of the crop remains low, showing a general increasing trend till the next year’s

crop is harvested. Potato can be stored at room temperature for seven days, after which it starts to

rot. Potato cold storages maintaining temperature of 40C are employed to store the produce for

8-9 months, keeping its nutritional value intact. The potato seed is the vegetable itself, cut in

pieces. The farmer sells majority portion of the produce in the market and stores some of it to be

used as seed in the next season.

There are a range of fungal, bacterial and viral diseases which affect the potato farmer but none

is as implicit and ongoing as the quality and availability of good quality potato seed. While the

farmers store part of their produce to be used as seed in the subsequent season, the effectiveness

of potato seed, even when derived form the best quality seed, starts diminishing after three years

of the crop. We find that in states like Bihar and West Bengal, farmers continue to use and

struggle with low yield seeds, jeopardising their crops and incomes. For a crop of such

importance, Potato yield in the country is significantly short of international standards, with

India ranked beyond the top 50 countries.

This is particularly puzzling given that formal research on potato including seed varieties began

way back in 1935 and the Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) which is the premier

institution on potato research the country was established right after independence in 1949,

headquartered in Patna. CPRI’s research efforts have helped adapt this temperate climate crop to

the vast range of climes, including the tropical, that India experiences. Notably, CPRI has

introduced multiple indigenous varieties of potato, e.g. Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Ashoka, some of them

forming the bulk of country’s potato crop. Yet, ground reality indicates that the potato growing

eastern states are starved of the fruits of technological progress with Punjab cornering a

14

disproportionately large share of benefits. This works to the detriment of small and medium

farmers of eastern states, leading to conditions of abandonment of this crop. Despite a long

history of successful research by CPRI (refer Table 1), we find that the farmers in Bihar in

general, and specifically in the Begusarai district where we carried out our field-work, suffer

from little or no formal knowledge about potato seed cultivation. These farmers face severe

shortage of potato seeds and are forced to use low yield seeds, to their detriment.

Notwithstanding long, costly and conventionally successful research in terms of output and

patents, the governance mechanism of the national research system in place has weak outcomes

for state level technology diffusion and the associated food chain it supports. It is this paradox of

successful research at central institutions but unsuccessful diffusion of its benefits to the intended

beneficiary, which forms the core of our puzzle and interest in the subject.

15

MANAGING WATER CRISIS THROUGH MINOR IRRIGATION IN BIRBHUM: A

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Asok Kumar Sarkar, Ph. D., Professor, Department of Social Work, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan-

731236,WB, India. Email: asok.sarkar@visva-bharati.ac.in

Abstract:

Water is an integral part of the life forms or ecological systems. The Earth has huge water bodies

and the main sources of it are: surface, underground, oceanic, and atmospheric. But only 2.5

percent of the global water is fresh or usable and the remaining 97.5 percent is saline which is

unsuitable for drinking as well as irrigation. It is assumed that India owns four percent of the

global usable water but she houses 16 percent of the world’s population. With regard to West

Bengal, there is 2.7 percent of the national territory that renders home to eight percent of the

Indian population and shares 7.5 percent of the water resources of the country. Data show West

Bengal constitutes 51.01 bcm surface water, 34.21bcm ground water and 1759.27 bcm trans-

boundary water. In this respect, Birbhum’s share is 1.46 bcm, 1.67 bcm and 4.50 bcm

respectively. Water scarcity is increasing further in Birbhum due to uncontrolled growth of

population, expansion of irrigation network and developmental needs. It is forecasted that this

crisis will lead to deficit of 59% required water by the year 2025. Hence, efforts are being made

to manage water crisis.

In Birbhum district, surface and underground water are the main sources for use. Surface water

which mainly comes through precipitation (annual 1572.9 mm) is available through rivers,

canals, lakes and ponds. But the seven rivers of Birbhum such as Ajoy, Mayurakshi, Brambhani,

Bokrashwar, Kopai, Dwarka and Banslai are getting silted gradually. Ponds those in bad

conditions in many villages are being reformed through 100 days work but there are difficulties

to get peoples’ participation in water detention structure. Regarding ground water, out of 19

blocks of Birbhum districts, Fluoride contamination is found in nine blocks. Use of underground

water is restricted in those blocks. Of the 451120 hector of geographical area of Birbhum,

333210 hector is cultivable area out of which 315930 hector has irrigation facility. In order to

bring remaining 17280 hector land under irrigation, 3880 hector cultivable waste land under use

and 280 hector Barren as well uncultivable land under cultivation, there is a pressing need for

irrigation facility. Hence, World Bank funded minor irrigation programme through PPP model is

being carried out by Government of West Bengal in Birbhum district.

The above cited World Bank funded programme is named as ‘West Bengal Accelerated

Development Minor Irrigation Project’. The state government has officially launched this

programme in 2012 through Community Mobilization (CM) and subsequently with the

formation of Water User Association (WUA). Responsibility for CM and monitoring of WUA is

given to NGO. Under the programme, Light Duty Tube Well, Medium Duty Tube Well, River

Lift Irrigation, Surface Flow Minor Irrigation, Pump Dug Well and Water Detention Structure

are the major provisions of minor irrigation. Two years are over, but till now farmers have not

16

received any water. How programme is being implemented and what is happening in real sense

will be critically discussed here. The authors will bring out the issues of red tapes, intra-group

conflict among the farmers, problems of social mobilization, adverse impact of climate change,

and so on as barriers of programme and will present a debate whether the vision of World Bank

towards ‘War against Poverty’ through this programme is questionable. The paper will also

proceed further for exploring the solutions.

17

STRUCTURAL FACTORS INFLUENCE ON FOOD SECURITY IN INDIA

Dr. Chaya R

Assistant Professor,

Department of Commerce,

Karnataka State Open University,

Mukthagangothri, Mysore, Karnataka.

chayajkmanjunath@gmail.com

Abstract:

This paper examines the link between the structural factors and Food security in India. Food

Security can be created through the provision of basic infrastructure and agricultural productivity

that ultimately ensures food security. Since, Food security is a situation in which all people, at all

times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their

dietary needs. The development of agriculture area is the main issue in the country because the

majority of Indian people are depending on the agriculture that is about 56%. Agriculture is the

vital in ensuring food security for Indian populace. However, the fair agricultural production is

depending on the provision of basic and functional infrastructure. The development of

agriculture infrastructure as the base of increasing agricultural productivity and also it serve as a

basis as mainstay of the nation’s economy. Thus, the paper made an attempt to identify the

influencing structural factors on food security in India. Hence, there is necessary for the increase

of crop diversification and improve allied activities. It may be noted that the slowdown in

agriculture grow could be attributed to structural factors on the supply side, such as public

investment, credit, technology, land and water. Therefore, it is necessary for the country to

concentrate on the structural factors to enhance agricultural productions that will guarantee food

security through enhancing social and economic security in the country. Food security is

inherently interlinked with other current global challenges of economy and climate change.

Hence, the paper attempts to develop a systematic framework of infrastructure to have food

security as a priority in the country to meet the major challenge of food security in India.

18

THE ROLE OF CORPORATE TOWARDS FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTIANABILTY:

A STUDY TO UNDERSTAND THE SIGINIFICANCE OF BIOCHEMICAL

KNOWLEDGE IN FORMULATING POLICIES, PRACTICES AND PROFIT FOR THE

FOOD INDUSTRY

Nabajyoti Deka, Lecturer, Department of Management, Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge

& Technologies, Nuzvid, Andhra PradeshContact: nabad@rgukt.in

Dr. A Sai Krishna, Lecturer, Department of Bio-engineering, Rajiv Gandhi University of

Knowledge & Technologies, Nuzvid, Andhra Pradesh

Contact: askkris@rgukt.in

ABSTRACT

India has traditionally been an agrarian society with Agriculture and allied sectors contributing

significantly to the GDP of the nation. Ever-increasing population have always put tremendous

pressure to increase food production as well as improve the supply chain system for food

materials. Wastage during transportation and storage have always been a concern for the various

organizations involved in the business. Preservation of food resources, not only becomes a

criteria for profit, but also an ethical norm for the companies associated with it. Such

organizations need to adopt robust supply chain network that creates value at every level of the

system. Albeit several practices being adopted by the organizations to reduce wastage of food

and minimize monetary loss due to the bottlenecks in the supply chain, the results achieved so

far is unsatisfactory. Inefficiency and lack of effectiveness in storage and distribution of food in

India, leads to but does not restrict to, a very interesting scientific aspect of managing the

business: the complex bio-chemical reactions occurring at the heart the food particles. Presence

of micro-organisms, enzymes, moisture content, air and various other components decides the

complexity and the rate of the bio-chemical reactions. These reactions occurring at the micro

level becomes the key parameters to decide the technique or methodology that may be adopted to

preserve a particular food item. At a greater level, it does influences the life of the food item,

energy consumed for the storage and distribution and the extent of wastage. Whether it is about

the design of the container used for storing a particular food item or about the entire supply chain

system, the business organizations do need to consider the highly crucial bio-chemical aspect of

the business. Companies often trade-off between parameters like energy consumption vs storage

or distribution infrastructure, life of the product vs the quality of preservatives etc., with an

objective of cost minimization. Considering the significance of applied bio-chemistry in the field

of food preservation and energy conservation, it is important to understand its role in designing

the supply chain system for some of the most important food materials of the country. This paper

is an attempt to study the role of corporate to preserve food and related resources by adopting the

better policies and practices to impart sustainability to the industry.

19

AVAILING ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR INDIAN FARMERS AND POLYCULTURE

DEVELOPERS IN AFFORESTATION AND REFORESTATION SECTOR OF CLEAN

DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM

Swagat Kishore Mishra

Faculty, Department of Economics, BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus

sayswagat@gmail.com and swagat@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in

Abstract

India has ratified to Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) since 2005 for

combating climate change adversaries under the aegis of United Nations Framework Convention

on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which asserts that global warming on account of anthropogenic

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is unequivocal. This flexible mechanism aims at achieving

GHG emission reductions or removals which generates green revenue from the sale of the carbon

credits or offsets. Afforestation and Reforestation (A/R) project activities under the CDM chips

in investment subject to preservation of the environment for climate change mitigation by

captivating or bio-sequestering atmospheric carbon into the living and dead biomass in the

ecosystem biodiversity and generic biodiversity. The Marrakesh Accords based timeline 1989 is

demarcated for deforested lands or lands that did not contain forests before Dec 31st, 1989.

Project participants referred from non-Annex I Party offer lands that do not have forests or have

very low stocking of forests to nominate A/R project activities under the CDM aiming at an

increase in forest and land resource productivity and additionally earning revenue for the carbon

sequestered by their forests. This paper examines the Afforestation and reforestation baseline and

monitoring methodology outlined by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

(UNFCCC) under AR-AM0011 relevant for Afforestation and reforestation of land subject to

poly-culture farming including perennial tree crops and/or fallow periods with woody re-growth.

Organic soils and grasslands (also wetlands) are exempted from application of this methodology.

Emissions sources included in the project boundary come from burning of woody biomass which

in turn results from forest management practices. The study seeks to inquire about economic

justice availed by Indian farmers and Polyculture developers who own registered projects in

Afforestation and Reforestation sector of the Clean Development Mechanism. Today more than

7,500 CDM emission reduction projects are spread across 95 developing countries and over 1.4

billion CERs have been issued. However the A/R sector of CDM inspite of its grass-root level

development capabilities (like strengthening the resilience of local communities, and capitalizing

on synergies propagated at Rio Conventions) witnesses slow registration. Since the first A/R

CDM baseline and monitoring methodology approved in 2005 only 52 have been registered in

India today. National Clean Development Mechanism Authority (NCDMA) of India updates

about 9 approved projects on A/R CDM amounting to 1,036,740 CERs annually and 108,299

CERs by 2012. This work keys out three categories of economic co-benefits associated with A/R

CDM project activities. First, measuring the potential of A/R sector of CDM enabled

opportunities for employment generation and poverty reduction among farmers in the lower

income communities. Second, estimating CDM contribution to the transfer of technology and

diffusion of knowledge on land made available for Afforestation and Reforestation and creation

of carbon pools. And third, calculating total carbon credits earned by A/R sector of CDM in

India and forecasting its growth scenario for 2020 (end of the third phase of Kyoto Protocol)

through GARCH modeling for measuring volatility in returns to CER Prices.

20

CONSERVATION OF CRITICAL RESOURCES, PATTERN OF LIVELIHOOD

DEPENDENCE AND RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTION: A CASE STUDY OF THE EAST

KOLKATA WETLANDS

Debanjana Dey, Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Economics, University of Calcutta, email:

debanjanadey96@gmail.com

Sarmila Banerjee, Rajiv Gandhi Chair Professor , Department of Economics, University of

Calcutta, email: sbeco@caluniv.ac.in

Abstract

In this paper an attempt has been made to establish the case of the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW)

as an instance of a critical resource in terms of its unique ecological balance, provision of natural

sewage treatment facilities to the city of Kolkata and livelihood support to nearly 200,000

population through sewage-fed fishery, paddy cultivation, garbage farming and floriculture,

whose sheer existence is getting threatened directly because of aggressive east-bound urban

growth of the city of Kolkata and tacitly due to the induced impact of this development on the

pattern of vocational choice of the local people. As a consequence of this urban development

opportunity for different modern vocations has been opened up and the relatively young and

educated residents of the wetland area are expressing keen interest in switching vocation. The

danger of this transition is analyzed in detail and the efforts of the civil society and the regulatory

institutions to resist this change have also been assessed critically. Finally, the level of awareness

of the local residents regarding the uniqueness of this eco-system and their perception related to

its present state of vulnerability is discussed in terms of information collected during field

survey. The impression that we have gathered from the foregoing analysis is that EKW is about

to lose its ecological integrity due to coordination failure, as each stakeholder is contemplating

corrective moves from his/ her own perspective and in the process the retarding influences on

others nodes are passing unnoticed.

21

ENIGMATIC FARM HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY IN INDIA: EVIDENCES AND

APPROACHES

Dr. Shiv Raj Singh, Assistant Professor, Shri G.N. Patel Dairy Science & Food Technology

College, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, S. K. Nagar-385506, Gujarat.

Dr. K.K. Datta, Professor, Dairy Economics, Statistics and Management Division, National

Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001, Haryana.

*For correspondence. (e-mail: shivagritech2007@gmail.com)

Abstract

There is a long-standing debate on whether food self-sufficiency is a useful strategy to achieve

food security. Supporters of this proposition argue that relaying on market to meet food needs is

a risky strategy because of volatility in food prices and possible interruption in supplies. The

opposing view is that it is costly for a household to focus on self-sufficiency rather than

producing according to its comparative advantage and purchasing some of its food requirements

from the market. Farmers are engaged in agricultural activities for dual objectives namely for

food self-sufficiency and income generation. Therefore it is very important to know whether

farmers are meeting these to two objectives in current agriculture situation or they are in distress

situation. The analysis of National Sample Survey data provides an understanding of food

insecurity in terms of region, time and the reasons for food insecurity. It is found that nearly 52%

of households were food insecure nationally. As much as different periods of the year is

concerned, the analysis suggests that around 27-40% households could not produce enough food

for their self-sufficiency, while about 12-25% of the rural who could produce enough food but

lacked in calorie intakes. Spatially, proportional food insecurity was higher in North-Eastern

region followed by Southern, Western and Eastern region. However, in absolute terms food

insecurity was higher in Central region followed by Eastern, Southern and Western region. The

food accessibility and food availability at the household level differs across the regions and even

within the states in a given region. The study established that availability of food at household

level did not sufficient indicator to ensure the accessibility of food. Accessibility of food at

household level very closely related with available resources (land) and households income.

However, higher household income always did not ensure the food accessibility, its mainly

depending upon the nature (daily, monthly, and annual) of return from income sources. This is

more relevant in Rajasthan where regular income especially from livestock ensures the food

security at household level. Decomposition analysis suggested that income from livestock

activities and, wages and salaries is more inclusive and it’s ensuring the food security at

household level because, income from these activities is a continuous and regular. This is also

probed through binary logit estimates. The binary logit estimates shed light on determinant of

food security and it’s indicated that household food security is positively related with the

household characteristics (self employed in agriculture), farm assets (dairy animals, farm size),

modern agricultural practices (use of fertilizer and improve seeds) and livelihood activities

(dairying, non-farm business and, wages and salaries).

22

INDIAN AGRICULTURE SECTOR AND WTO AGREEMENT ON AGRICULTURE:

WAY FORWARD TO MEET THE FOOD SECURITY NEEDS

Vandana, FP, PPM , IIM Calcutta

Abstract

India has been struggling to ensure food security and meet the requirements of the WTO

Agreement on Agriculture (AoA). As a nation with 85% of the farmers having small and

medium size farms1 an understanding of Indian agriculture vis-à-vis the commitments given

under AoA is fundamental. The Doha Development Round of WTO negotiations were centred

on the need for elimination of trade distorting domestic subsidies by developed nations (Tutwiler

and Straub, 2005). Research finding by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

and World Bank indicate the economic gains brought to developing nations on complete

elimination of subsidies. Even after nearly 20 years of implementation of the WTO agreements

the developed nations can continue to significantly enhance input subsidies and price support for

their agriculture sector. This is possible because countries like Canada, US and Japan have

notified high levels of domestic support for the baseline period which allows them a lot of

cushion to protect their produce (Chand and Phillip, 2001). There is no parity among the

agriculture sector in the developed and developing countries. Given this background, a reversal

of stand regarding the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which is the sole binding outcome of

“Bali Package”, was taken by India in July 2014. This was done under the apprehension that

upon implementation of the TFA the developed nation’s commitment towards food security in

large parts of the world would dwindle. Also, the “peace clause” offered in the “Bali Package” is

anyways not a permanent solution to the peculiar condition of Indian agriculture. Though the

subsidy level provided to the farmers is well below the permissible 10% level as per the AoA, it

is the procurement of food grains by the government at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) which

is considered as trade distorting (Narayanan, 2014). The government has taken a firm standpoint

with regard to MSP as a mechanism to meet the needs of its small farmers based on the argument

that a guaranteed price during price fall in harvest season would significantly contribute to their

food security. But is the current food management system involving MSP really a mechanism

that is protecting the interests of the farmers? Is it functioning efficiently? There are numerous

other channels provided within the AoA which are non-trade distorting like cash transfers

through which the farmers can be supported. In this paper the subsidy structure in the Indian

Agriculture sector would be understood. Ways to revamp the food management sector would be

suggested to achieve the goal of food security and make it more transparent.

1 http://agcensus.dacnet.nic.in/stateholdingsizeclass.aspx