Prelude Conference on “AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan – Theory, Actions and Way Forward ”

Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) J&K Branch organized a Prelude Conference on “AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan – Theory, Actions and Way Forward” on October 17, 2021. DrAshok Bhan, IPS (Retd) Patron IIPA J&K Regional Branch was preside over the function,ShriRohitKansal, IAS Principal Secretary to Govt. Power Development Department (Addl. Charge of Information Department, M.D. J&K Power Development Corporation Ltd. & Coordination to Coordinate with GOI was the keynote speaker and ShriGirishAivalli Chairman, South Asia AgTech Hub for Innovationwere the other resource person. While speaking during the conference, ShriRohitKansal gave a detailed overview of Back 2 Village initiative undertaken by Government of Jammu & Kashmir. While sharing the contours of the initiative, he emphasized that connecting with the people at the grassroot level is the first step towards making the nation Aatma Bharat. He said that the innovative approach adopted by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir where the objective was to pick up the bottom up approach and see how each village can identify its own strengths, limitations, infrastructure strengths and weakness that can help them to become AatmaNirbhar. While sharing some of the facts about the programme, he informed that as part of the programme every officer visiteda selected panchyatand spendsatleast one night in the village to understand the context. There was learning involved in each phase which was coupled with Web based monitoring. Further the emphasis on Jan Abhiyan with adequate focus on Entrepreneurship and Growth. He further shared that around 19000 loan cases were identified for financing during the programme out of which more that 75% were sanctioned. . This included nearly 4600 women entrepreneurs. Further in order to enhance the service delivery of public services, he shared in phase 3 of the programme mega developmental push at the grass root level was initiated. Over 5 lacscertificates related to Domicile, Death/Birth, category and disability etc. were issued. In addition, Over 70000 ration cards Adhar seeded and about 50000 families covered under Health Insurance schemes. As part of the Block Diwas, all departmental functionaries were made available at Block Headquarters for spot disposal of application, grievances and redressalIn B2V3 the Learning’s from B2V1 and B2V2 were taken into consideration. Further demands of people to be accounted for (a) Works related demand (b) Complaints and grievances (c) Policy Demands (d) Long terms economics potential ShriGirishAivalliin his talk said that the India has emerged as a hub for agri innovation which can lead to AatmaNirbhar Bharat. He said that India’s progress in the agriculture sector can be studied looking at
1. India’s innovative agri-business models
2. India’s emerging agri technologies
3. Agri industry specific technologies
He shared details regarding various possibilities
1. India’s innovative agri-business models : Agri Commodity Exchanges, is a business model where farmers and traders can deposit their stock in accredited warehouses – and such material can then get traded over terminal exchanges. Traders can also take loans against such deposits, by submitting Warehousing Receipts to Banks. This model enhances rural credit and increases liquidity. Integrated AgriWarehousing, integrates fragmented warehouses under a single roof with bundled service packages like quality testing, fumigation, logistics, documentation all under one roof. NABARD and multiple state governments provide soft loans for agri warehouse construction. National Cold Chain Grid comprises of series of cold stores around major population clusters which are connected through refrigerated logistics ( trucks and vans ) and which are monitored through customized software programs. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries ( GOI ) provides a subsidy of uptoRs 10 Cr per cold store. Mega Food Parks are food processing hubs where multiple facilities like collection, sorting, grading, pulping, juicing, processing, packaging, logistics, cold stores, warehousing, administrative offices, staff residences and food are all offered in a singular estate. Each estate can be of 50 to 100 acres. Facilities are opted for, basis the crop mix and volumes. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries ( GOI ) provides a subsidy of uptoRs 50 Cr per Mega Food Park. Integrated Dairy Farms are essentially hubs where cows and buffaloes are housed, with facilities for their grazing, feed management systems, veterinary services, impregnation and calf delivery, milk collection, cooling and transportation, administrative block and logistics are all provided in a singular / continued land area. Custom Hiring of Tractors and Farm Equipments has also taken off in a significant manner in the country. New Start-Ups like EM3 as well as established firms like TAFE have created businesses around this facility. Crop based value chain business models, like that for gherkins in Karnataka, Pineapple in North East and Corn in Bihar have also shaped up well in the past decade. Specific crops have been identified basis their agronomic fitment and export market, grown in large numbers and then exported directly. There are also some new age agri businesses which have come up, prominent among them being that of Vertical Farming ( a system of growing plants vertically, with pots placed one above the other on iron grids ), Polyhouses ( a system of growing plants in poly-tents with temperature monitoring which enhances yield significantly ) and Hydroponics ( a soil less method of growing crops ).
2. India’s Emerging Agri Technologies In the past few years, we have also seen the advent of modern day IT and App based AgrtTech startups. These Start Ups have been able to garner significant investor interest. These modern day AgriTech Start Ups provide : 1. Artificial Intelligence based quality assessment services
2. Digitization of supply chains
3. Traceability solutions
4. Drone based yield estimates
5. Sensor based milk quality assessment
6. Customized small sized, solar based and portable cold stores
7. Weather prediction services
8. Integrated software for business processes
9. E-commerce / home delivery businesses
3. Agri Industry Specific Technologies There are 22 industries in the Indian Agri Sector. Innovations from a few of these sectors are listed below : Seeds – hybridization and development of high yield varieties Agrochemicals – development of eco-friendly formulations and newer molecules Fertilizers – development of specialty and customized fertilizers Farm Implements – miniaturization and development of precise, cheap and new implements Irrigation – development of remote controlled operating and monitoring systems Tractors – development of driverless and electric tractors Aqua, Fisheries, Poultry, Feed – digitization of supply chain and operations India has been at the forefront of development of these innovations in business models and innovations in technologies. Most of these are non-existent in Asia and other markets of the world. Certainly, no single country has all these business models and innovations within the confines of a single political boundary, except India. Inspite of employing such a large workforce all over the world, and mankind’s overall dependence on food, the sector remains a bit neglected in terms of media coverage, which is the reason why many of us won’t even have known of these innovations which I have listed here. These business models, innovations and technologies have been the foundation for making agri self-reliant and self-sustainable – making India fully Aatma Nirbhar in agriculture in its truest sense. Dr Ashok Bhan, IPS (Retd) Patron of IIPA J&K Regional Branch in his Presidential remarkssaid as citizens will have to play a vital role in AatmaNirbhar Bharat. He said that while supply side is critical, the real change will become when we as consumers become aware and play our role in the demand side of AatmaNirbhar Bharat. Sh. K B Jandial, IAS (Retd), Director (Seminars) in his welcome address highlighted the the importance of the subject and how the vision of Prime Minister can be translated into reality by the efforts of various stakeholders in the country. Dr Anil Gupta Joint Secretary conducted the proceedings and Prof Alka Sharma Hony Secretary presented the formal vote of thanks.