Date:03/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/03/stories/2007110353620400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Lessons from the Green Revolution not learnt’

Staff Reporter

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Novel idea: Instead of lighting the lamp, dignitaries were asked to water seedlings at a seminar on food sovereignty in Bangalore on Friday.

BANGALORE: The real reason for the deepening hunger crisis in India is the Government’s decision to turn back on the lessons from the Green Revolution, and the liberalisation of the economy which began in the nineties, Utsa Patnaik, Professor of Economics, said here on Friday.

Delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of a seminar on “Food sovereignty: can we make it a reality for India?” organised by SVARAJ and Green Foundation, Prof. Patnaik said the primary reason for the agrarian crisis that had left farmers starved of food and nutrition apart from livelihood, was the public policy post-1991 which opened up the sector for international trade.

“This means all restrictions were removed, and the farm sector opened up to meet the demand of the rich nations and a miniscule population of the elite in India, and the producer (farmer) became the first casualty of being unable to afford the food that he grows,” Prof. Patnaik said.

She said foreign financial institutions had set the agenda for Government policy. From the 4 per cent allocation in the Eighth Plan (1985-90) for research and development, it had come down to 1.9 per cent in 2000. In 1990s, foodgrain output came down drastically — for the first time in 30 years.

Today, a reduction of Rs. 100 spent on agriculture by the State means Rs. 500 less income for the farmer. This implies increase in rural unemployment and loss of purchasing power, while exports are increasing, she said.

The 61st round of the National Sample Survey on expenditure shows that urban hunger was on the rise now, and the distress had touched the urban poor. Institutional credit was too expensive, and procurement prices had been frozen in accordance with the agenda set by international financial institutions.

H. Sudarshan, former Vigilance Director, Karnataka Lokayukta, said food sovereignty included food availability, purchasing power, food safety and nutrition value. “I can say that though we have had schemes such as the ICDS, the midday meal scheme, we have failed in addressing the hunger and nutrition issue effectively,” he said