[Answered] Highlight the ways and need for transformation from the siloed approach of ‘agriculture’ serving ‘food security’ to a science-society-policy interface, in India?

However, Indian Agricultural sector is facing several concerns that need transformation from the siloed approach of ‘Agriculture’. India’s Green Revolution in the 1960s, enabling food security and addressing widespread hunger and poverty. It also made India self-sufficient in food grains production in the macro sense.

• Food and nutritional insecurity: India ranked 101 out of 116 countries in the Global Hunger Index, 2021. In India 18.7% of women and 16.2% of men could not fulfill basic nutritional needs, and over 32% of children below five years are underweight. (NFHS-5).
• Unsustainability of Agriculture practices: The country is facing dual challenge of achieving nutrition security, as well as addressing declining land productivity, land degradation and loss of ecological services with change in land use.
• Groundwater stress: Indiscriminate use of ground water for irrigation purposes especially for crops not suited for agro-climatic regions has created water stress in the country.
• Chemical based Agriculture: Excessive use of agrochemicals and its residual presence in foods and environment have caused concerns for humans as well as environment.
• Disparity in agriculture: The current approach to agriculture has created an income gap between large, marginal and small farmers, and the gap between irrigated and rain-fed areas.
• Importance of Agricultural sector: The livelihood of more than half of India’s working population is linked to agriculture and allied activities; The sector has a direct influence on the health and nutrition status of dependent communities.

How siloed approach to Indian agriculture can be transformed to a science-society-policy interface:

• Learning from green revolution: India’s Green Revolution in the 1960s, was achieved through the development of improved high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat but also through policy measures and development of institutional structure. The Training & Visit (T&V) system introduced in the 1970s established a cadre of agriculture extension specialists at the local level in society.
• Agro-climatic approach to agricultural development: Agro-climatic zones-based agriculture could make smallholders farming a profitable business. It will enhance agricultural efficiency and socio- economic development, as well as sustainability.
• Strengthening food systems: Strengthening and shortening food supply chains, reinforcing regional food systems, food processing, agricultural resilience and sustainability in a climate changing world by prioritizing research and investments along these lines.
• Supporting stakeholders in value chain: Infrastructure and institutions supporting producers, agri-preneurs and agri micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in their production value chain are imperative to the transition.
• Align agricultural policies with other policies: For example, aligning agricultural policies with The National Resource Efficiency Policy of 2019 of the MoEFCC would encourage a resource efficient and circular economy for production, processing and storage of food products through renewable energy solutions, reduction of supply chains and inputs.

To reform Indian agricultural system and address its negative implications there is a need for Policy, science and society to function in tandem.