Rajiv Tevtiya, the chief executive and co-founder of RML Agtech, which offers technology solutions to farmers designed to improve profitability, talks to The National about what needs to be done to address the issues in the sector.
What factors are fuelling the problems in the agricultural sector?
There is lack of awareness among farmers on how to sow crops. They continue to grow what their parents have been growing without any thoughts about why they are growing [these crops]. If proper information is provided, like what and why to grow, it can help in managing the demand-supply mismatch. In addition, there is lack of information on weather conditions and price information. Today, almost one-third of crop output is wasted due to lack of agri-related infrastructure, which begins from poor storage, power, and transportation.
What does India need to do to improve the situation?
To achieve this, we need to educate farmers, particularly our youth farmers, who have much greater access to mobile technology. Therefore information and communication technology [ICT] and digitisation of advisory services holds greater promise in revolutionising the agriculture and helps farmers to make better decisions on their farm by leveraging advancement in data sciences around the world. ICT-based services need to be expedited to ensure effective extension system so as to reach millions of farmers especially small landholding ones, which is not possible with the current system.
Are there any other possible solutions?
Most of the farmers in India have small land holdings ranging between two to five acres. Even with such smallholdings, operating cost, which includes tilling, agri inputs, seeds and so on is high. In such situations land pooling is another solution. Land pooling, a concept where a farmer or group of farmers mutually agree to share their piece of land with each other to cultivate crops that are most suitable and profit making. This is a method which can help cost minimisation and profit maximisation.
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What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
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if you go
The flights
Air France offer flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Cayenne, connecting in Paris from Dh7,300.
The tour
Cox & Kings (coxandkings.com) has a 14-night Hidden Guianas tour of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It includes accommodation, domestic flights, transfers, a local tour manager and guided sightseeing. Contact for price.