Exploring science in agriculture
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The document discusses the ongoing agricultural crisis in India, highlighting the challenges faced by farmers and the failures of agricultural science to address these issues effectively. It critiques the business-oriented research approaches, the neglect of local practices, and the reliance on Western agricultural models. The document calls for a re-evaluation of agricultural practices, encouraging local engagement and introspection to improve outcomes.
Exploring science in agriculture
- 1. Exploring Science in Agriculture Dr. D. Narasimha Reddy
- 2. Suicides are an indicator. Indicating what? Farmer’s crisis?Farmer’s crisis? Farming crisis?
- 4. “Blame the Farmer” Bureaucrat Farmer Scientist Banker Processor
- 6. Pesticide conundrum 4 extremely hazardous 15 highly hazardous 90 moderately hazardous 31 slightly hazardous 249 registered pesticides
- 7. Global spending • Total global public spending on agricultural R&D in 2008 was $31.7 billion • Global public spending on agricultural R&D increased by $5.6 billion (+22%) fromR&D increased by $5.6 billion (+22%) from 2000 to 2008. China (+ $2.1 billion) and India (+ $0.6 billion) were the main drivers of growth • In 2008, 49% of global public spending in agricultural R&D came from low and middle income countries
- 8. Research Establishment 49 ICAR institutes, 17 national research centers, 6 bureaux, 25 project directorates,25 project directorates, 79 All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) and AINPs 607 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) 52 State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), 1 Central Agricultural University, 4 Central Universities having faculty of Agriculture
- 10. Consideration for science • Decrease in productive land • Growing number of pests • Pest resistance • Seed varieties – build on the present• Seed varieties – build on the present • Limits to yield • Soil health – loss of top layer, mineral loss
- 11. Flaws in Agricultural Science • Business-oriented research • Patent as a objective - IPRs • No contextual research • Very minimal problem definition –• Very minimal problem definition – conceptual clarity • ‘Outlandish’ solutions • Controlling ‘questions’ – conditioned thinking • Pursuing ‘Western’ model
- 12. Flaws in Agricultural Science • Ignoring agro-climatic zones • Neglecting existing practices • No follow-up research on ‘field’ releases of knowledge or technologyknowledge or technology • Serious problems with agricultural science, scientists and establishment • Wrong direction • No output-oriented work • No experimentation and observation
- 13. Commandments for ‘good’ science • ‘Local’ agricultural field as a destination, and not a conference • ‘Fruit’ or ‘harvest’ as an outcome, than a article in a journalarticle in a journal • ‘Service orientation’ than job prescription • ‘project’ as a vehicle, than a goal • Insect-centric research, than ‘pest’ linked pursuit
- 14. In summary • Serious introspection, at individual and institutional level • More consideration for Indian ethos, and centuries old practicescenturies old practices • Shunning ‘Western’ models, and critically reviewing ‘recommendations’ • Questioning oneself, and also establishment