The working group on risk management in
Setting up Centre for Risk Management in Agriculture (CRMA)
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| 9. Setting up Centre for Risk Management in Agriculture (CRMA) Gradual transformation of Indian agriculture in the recent decades impelled by technological advances and farmers aspirations to better standard of life entailed adoption of high value input based intensive farming systems. The uncertainties inherent with faming activities such as weather , incidence of pest and diseases, market, price etc. have further exacerbated the vulnerability of high input intensive farming. The high risk agriculture without buffering mechanisms against weather aberrations, market fluctuations and other uncertainties have rendered farming activity as an economically unviable venture leading to drastic manifestations such as farmers suicides. The farm families in India today are facing multiple risks threatening their livelihood and income security. The uncertainties associated with climate, market, price, incidence of pest and diseases also undermine the socioeconomic development in rural areas. These abnormalities are already causing widespread damage to assets and loss to the crops and agricultural produce. The farm families are deterred from adopting modern practices as part of their effort to maximize their profits. Economic motivation among the farmers as a result of green revolution encourages the farmers to invest more in high intensive farming systems. Changing socioeconomic and environmental scenarios lead to magnified uncertainties and risks. For instance, farmers forward sell their produce to the moneylenders in order to get money for their financial requirement and input costs. Farmers also borrow funds from the big landowners and moneylenders to invest in their high intensive agricultural systems. As the intensive agriculture is vulnerable to widespread damage from various risks, the farmers are unable to repay their borrowings. Further, enhanced economic activities in the urban centres attract the potential farm workforce and young farmers to migrate, leaving the vulnerable populations like women and elders to farm. Insufficient storage facilities and post harvest processes also add to further loss of produce. There are frequent instances the harvested produce being damaged due to natural disasters. Download 0.68 Mb. Share with your friends:
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