Food security: Can India learn from Brazil?
Brazil, in this context, stands closer in comparison with India. Unlike China, Brazil and India are multi-party democracies. The main difference is that India has a population pressure more than Brazil. India is characterized by a number of small and marginal farmers. Brazil has large farmers and also small farms. It has tried to manage its dual system of agriculture through two separate ministries Ministry for Commercial Agriculture and Ministry for Family Farms. These two ministries have well defined policies. Some argue that small holdings are not productive and hence this is primarily the reason for farmers suicides in India. But this is not true. The needs of food security and exports are met by small and marginal farmers. Small farms in China and Japan are also productive. The cause for suicides is the mismatch between the expenditure and income of Indian farmers. The government needs to take proactive measures to…
New Delhi: Brazil, in this context, stands closer in comparison with India. Unlike China, Brazil and India are multi-party democracies. The main difference is that India has a population pressure more than Brazil. India is characterized by a number of small and marginal farmers. Brazil has large farmers and also small farms. It has tried to manage its dual system of agriculture through two separate ministries Ministry for Commercial Agriculture and Ministry for Family Farms. These two ministries have well defined policies. Some argue that small holdings are not productive and hence this is primarily the reason for farmers suicides in India. But this is not true. The needs of food security and exports are met by small and marginal farmers. Small farms in China and Japan are also productive. The cause for suicides is the mismatch between the expenditure and income of Indian farmers. The government needs to take proactive measures to…
