Rice production
Dasgupta's proposed solution for ending our rice crisis (May: 15) is rather an informative essay on global rice situation covering its production, sale and inventory levels. Tucked away in the concluding paragraphs, he proposes support for the farmers directly to increase their acreage under rice planting. The banning of rice export, by the major rice exporting countries, is their way to ensure their own rice inventories. May be it is a shrewd policy for increasing rice export prices by curbing supplies which will naturally boost up prices!
However, the proposal for encouraging rice production is a pragmatic approach for us. Not just by increasing the acreage under rice cultivation, but also productivity (yield/acre) needs to be addressed. Acreage may be increased through direct cash subsidy to farmers, so that they prefer planting rice as against the options of other cash crops. But productivity increase is a collaborative effort of researchers, agriculturists and field level technical support officials. Incentive for this needs a rather long-term approach and the authorities' attention and commitment.
Although incentives for such experimental work are difficult to quantify, the task is not impossible. This has to remain our continual long term perspective.
Alongside this, diet diversity cannot be ignored. For this, the direction is through mass awareness and all round publicity. The government should take it up in right earnest by encouraging the habit of eating potatoes and mushrooms.
The latter has remained an ignored subject and needs to be popularised from growing up to putting it on the table. The farming of mushrooms, planting, reaping and marketing have to be widely popularised through the government's all round media endeavours, like wheat was encouraged way back in the 1950s. The potatoes and mushrooms will ease the pressure on demand for rice.
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