Part 7 (2/2)
Incidentally, Prof Sinha, who led the study and was helping with vision 2020, developed serious eye problems in the course of his work. But he is a man with real vision and will. He went through the ordeals of an operation and medication and finished the report. He is now busy with organizing action packages.
In the course of finalizing action plans to realize the agriculture vision for India, we met interesting groups of persons in rural areas, in agricultural inst.i.tutions and even in industry. We met an engineerindustrialist from eastern India who has made a lifetime commitment to providing appropriate Indiamade machines to rice farmers. He travels by road to talk to people himself to access their needs. He has been successful in making a pouching machine which can be operated by a kerosene engine of approximately three horsepower it can also partly run on biogas. The pouching machine
73.
weighs only about 100kg. It has to be light not only because it has to be physically lifted, but also duo to the high moisture content of our soils during the rains when rice is grown.
Costwise it can replace a pair of bullocks with their maintenance requirements. It has a water pump attached to it to mitigate drought, as well as addon facilities for transplanting and thres.h.i.+ng. The industrialist, Ajit Mahapatra, has made it a mission to introduce these machines into farming. His slogans: 'The farmers and machines should grow together'. India has many such able people. There are many dedicated youths and NGOs. Let us build on their strengths.
Postharvest technologies and agrofood processing The authors are confident that India can excel and usher in a new era in agriculture. India can emerge as a global power in terms of agricultural produce , not as a diffident exporter but as one capable of meeting global standards. Above all, we should be able to grow plenty of food for our people. This agricultural prosperity will also largely help eliminate rural poverty.
But it is not enough or perhaps even possible to stop at agriculture alone if benefits from it are to accrue to the people and the country. We need to give much greater attention to postharvest technologies. Today, losses in the food sector are large.
Estimates of storage losses in food grains can be as high as 10 percent by weight. In the fruit and vegetable sector the losses are estimated to be as high as 25 percent. Losses in milk may be about 5 percent.
Modernization of storage and processing facilities will not only reduce losses but also help in more efficient use of byproducts.
We address four major items: cereals, milk, vegetables and fruits. These are critical for the food security of our country, and can also help establish us as an economic power. We are already first in milk and fruit production.
Only vision in agrofood processing can be categorized into three broad time periods: short term where the results can be seen soon medium and long term where results can be seen only after seven or eight years or more. But our thinking and action should begin now!
74.
Some glimpses of such a vision for India can be tabulated as under: Issues & vision Action required immediately Shortterm Action: CEAREALS High cost multicrop harvesters Develop harvesters capable of not ideal for Indian conditions. It functioning on soil with high Is possible to change the situation. moisture content and in standing water.
Make design changes to adapt Harvesters to harvest grain at high moisture levels.
Increase use of manually operated Provide government funding mechanical devices for harvesting. for development of lowcost manually operated mechanical devices.
Review and revitalize extension services to educate formers about a.s.sociated benefits.
Food, Agriculture and processing Issues & Vision Action required immediately Reduce glut in mantis during Install automatic cleaners and procurement. Reduce graders at the mantis.
packaging and transportation Initiate use of plasticlined jute losses. gunnies. Machinest.i.tch all gunnies.
Install 100 percent weightiest at all points of loading and unloading.
Modernization of mills and Urge rice mills to modernize improved profitability is and upgrade operations such crucial for the valueaddition as: chain. It is possible to do so using parboiling technologies with simple technologies. that require less water and generate less effluent.
subst.i.tuting rubber rollers with HDPEreinforced rubber rollers.
Facilitate formation of consortia of modern rice mills to fund
75.
research in order to: develop continuous parboiling technologies to further reduce energy consumption and effluent generation.
develop valueadded secondary and tertiary rice products.
Improving secondary Government to fund development processing of rice as cottage lowcost technology based on industry is also possible and locally available fuel and non has to be stimulated.
conventional energy sources.
Issues & Vision Action required immediately Lack of initiatives to develop Initiate closer interaction between new secondary products wet maize millers and secondary from maize can be tackled with product(specially modified much more valueaddition from starches)users for development, maize. trails and commercialization.
Mediumterm Action: CEREALS Packaging and transportation Facilitate formation of a losses can be brought to consortium comprising modern very low levels. rice mills to find research in order to: improve energy efficiency of mills.
extract protein from rice bran.
Longterm Action: CEREALS Shortage of bulk storage Explore the possible use of facilities to be made a controlled atmosphere and thing of a past.
Vacuum storage systems.
Shortterm Action: MILK Poor cattle hygiene and health Improve availability of trained care practices lead to unhealthy manpower for veterinary cattle with low productivity. extension services and cross Learning to treat animals as breeding.
important for our own health Establishment of s.e.m.e.n banks at and also for economic the state / regional level.
benefits is an urgent necessity. Development of crossbreeds
76.
<script>