Fortifying India's Agriculture: Navigating Climate Challenges with Innovation by Siraj Hussain

Welcome to Globoil Post, your leading source for in-depth insights into the edible oil industry and the broader agri-trade ecosystem. Today, we present a compelling analysis by Siraj Hussain, a luminary in the realm of Indian agriculture and food security. As the Former Agriculture Secretary of the Government of India, Siraj Hussain brings unparalleled expertise and a wealth of experience to the discussion on the critical issues facing Indian agriculture today.

In his article, "Fortifying India's Agriculture: Navigating Climate Challenges with Innovation," Siraj Hussain delves into the complexities of ensuring food security in India amidst the unpredictable challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation. Drawing on his extensive career in both the public and private sectors of agriculture and food processing, Hussain offers a visionary perspective on the integrated strategies and policy interventions necessary to bolster the resilience and sustainability of India's agricultural sector. Join us as we explore these urgent themes, guided by one of the most respected voices in Indian agriculture.

Considering the increasing importance of food security in India, particularly in the wake of recent global challenges, what policy measures do you believe are critical for enhancing the resilience and sustainability of India's agricultural sector? Could you share your insights on the role of technology and innovation in achieving these goals?

The biggest challenge facing Indian agriculture is unpredictability of monsoon rains and the impact of climate change. Since February 2022, we had erratic weather which affected the wheat crop. Then due to erratic monsoon in several states, paddy, sugarcane and other crops were affected.

So, India has to develop a strategy to address this challenge. Several regions are growing crops which are ecologically unsuitable for that geography. This is already having very adverse impact. Our policy should address this issue on priority. 

Solution to these challenges will come from research, innovation and development of new seeds and other technologies.

Climate change poses a significant risk to agricultural productivity and food security globally, with India being particularly vulnerable. Based on your experience, what integrated strategies should India prioritize to protect its agricultural sector from the adverse impacts of climate variability and ensure a stable food supply chain?

As mentioned above, research to develop climate resilient technologies and practices has to be adequately funded. Private sector also needs to be incentivised to invest in research. We already have the National Innovation on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project with ICAR but it needs to be adequately funded and staffed. 

Success of hybrid seeds for vegetables shows that private sector can play an important role in increasing productivity. After white revolution through cooperatives, in poultry and fisheries sectors, it is the private sector which has brought transformation of both production and supply chain.

Another way to deal with threat of climate change is to reduce food loss and wastage. This is not difficult as the technologies already exist for reducing losses in supply chain. More investment is needed to provide better storage and connectivity infrastructure between producing and consuming regions of India.

The wastage at consumer end has not really been studied in detail. The Government must get it studied though a professional agency and mount a campaign to reduce food wastage. UK has been quite successful in this through its “Love Food Hate Waste” campaign launched by WRAP, a climate NGO.

Agricultural policies play a pivotal role in shaping the economic well-being of millions of farmers in India, as well as ensuring food security for the nation. From your perspective, what are the key policy interventions needed to promote sustainable agricultural practices that are both economically viable for farmers and beneficial for the environment? How can India leverage its agricultural policy framework to support these objectives?

The number of people dependent on agriculture has to go down. This will be possible when manufacturing picks up and its contribution to the GDP goes up. Several other countries in South-East Asia and our neighbour Bangladesh have been able to attract investment in manufacturing. We somehow have not succeeded in attracting enough capital in that. 

There are three pillars of sustainable agriculture: water use efficiency, optimum nutrient management and livelihood diversification. The Governments, both at the centre and in the states, have to agree to a set of policies which will meet these objectives.

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