THE FARMERS OF CO-OPERATIVE DAIRIES OR DAIRY FARMERS WOULD NEVER DITCH AGRICULTURE FARMERS’ INTEREST

THE FARMERS OF CO-OPERATIVE DAIRIES
OR DAIRY FARMERS WOULD NEVER DITCH
AGRICULTURE FARMERS’ INTEREST

I am a bit surprised, that repeatedly, articles and statements are being published in the internet in the name of a sitting Chief Executive of one of the Largest Co-operative Dairy Federations of India, that are quite  inconsistent with the interest of the Farmers of India, whether they may be Agriculture Farmers or any other fields allied to Agriculture. His views may be personal for targeting any interest he may have, however, I am sure his views are never representing the Dairy Co-operatives or Dairy Farmers of India.

Categorically in an article published in the internet, he states that there is no MSP(Minimum Support Price) in Dairy (Milk), Fisheries and Poultry by giving a cryptic and satiric look to the  MSP prevalent for Agricultural Crops to assist the farmers growing food crops for the 1300 million population India has to feed right now. Further he says as mentioned in that article, that the Milk, Fisheries and Poultry have grown by 14% in last decade whereas the Growth in Agriculture is only 3%. What a great idea he has to convey to the Nation and its honourable Farmers? This is just a misleading statement to fetch any favour any where or some where. I am surprised that such people are not aware of the ground realities of a Farmer working in Agriculture and a farmer working in Dairy, Fisheries or Poultry and the vagaries all of them have to go through in different ways.

As far as the 14% growth in Dairy, Fisheries or Poultry being said, is concerned, it must be understood and if it is not known to anyone, people should understand the basic mathematics and statistical presentation in %; that on a low(small) base compared to actual production, there may be a higher % of growth, where as on a large base, compared to actual growth, the % growth may be lower, however in actual and absolute volumes the growth should be much larger. This is exactly the situation when compared among Agriculture and Dairy, Fisheries and Poultry and I am surprised that such irresponsible statements are being made out of ignorance or for any other reason to hurt the interest of the Farmers.  

Further in that Article the statement made in his name says that from Dairy they are competing with Multinational and Private Sector, yes it is true for now in contemporary times. It has been really forgotten that a Protected environment for the Co-operative Dairy Sector was not only created, but also was nurtured and maintained with fierce resistance to private sector and MNC entry;  through National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and towering professional leaderships of Dr.V. Kurien, Co-operative Leaders and Political Leaderships starting from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Lal Bahadur Sashtri and also supports of all governments at the Centre and States that came to be installed post-independence for almost 50years through, whereby the Co-operative Dairies were protected and also encouraged in the market to gather and consolidate capital formation (creation of wealth in the hands of Co-operative Dairies) and to create adequate and large processing and distribution infrastructure. That has allowed the Co-operative Dairies to compete with the Private Sector and Multinationals after a long period of time not less than 50years. Only during last 2-decades, the Private Sector or Multinationals are visible in the Dairy Sector, it has been forgotten conveniently. The Fisheries and Poultry are smaller allied sectors, comparing those with Dairy is not exactly appropriate and on the other hand comparing with Agriculture Farmers is not comparable and squarely in-appropriate.

The Dairy, Fisheries and Poultry Farming are complimentary to Agriculture Farming that the said sitting Chief Executive of the Large Co-operative Dairy Federation is forgetting conveniently or for any other reasons. The Dairy needs Feed and Fodder and the Poultry needs Feed as well as the Modern Fisheries needs its feed for faster growth from the Agriculture Farmers as main grains or grain by-products that is out of the understanding of the said Chief Executive in his article and statements surprisingly. There are huge cattle feed facilities within the Dairy Federation(s) that feed the Dairy cattle to survive and yield milk, and those Cattle Feeds come from Agriculture System; without the feed and fodder from the Agriculture System the Dairy System will crash and not survive who can deny that ?

The Co-operative Dairy Farmers or Dairy Farmers elsewhere,  are in most of the cases are also Agricultural Farmers, though in many cases the Dairy Farmers may be exclusively dependent on Dairy Farming. The Dairy Farmers who have land holdings (irrespective of their size) are definitely Agricultural Farmers. Similarly in large number of cases in India, the Agricultural Farmers are also Fisheries Farmers and Poultry Farmers. The Agricultural Farmers create a Pond in their land to use its water for irrigation safety and grow there fish inside as Fish Farming. Similarly, many Agricultural Farmers have also created Poultry Farms inside their land holding besides Agricultural Farming and they by that right,  they are also Poultry Farmers. Large and Exclusive Fisheries or Poultry projects are a separate case for that matter. Over a period of time; Agriculture and, Dairy, Fisheries and Poultry ( Animal Husbandry ) are getting integrated for various seasonal, complimentary, symbiotic and economic reasons. Therefore, writing such articles or making statements to disintegrate the Agriculture Farmers from Dairy, Fisheries and Poultry farmers is totally inappropriate, uncalled for and out of context.

As I mentioned above, it can not be denied or it can’t be disputed that the Co-operative Dairies were provided almost a Protected Environment for exceeding about 50years in India where in all the Supports were provided also from Government side and National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) led by Dr. V. Kurien fiercely fought, lobbied and gate closed and almost the Private Dairies were not allowed to raise head in India for such 50years. That protection for some 50years or so, post independence since 1950s, gave strength to the Dairy Co-operatives to consolidate Capital and Infrastructure to compete with the present day’s Private Sector and Multinationals operating in Dairy Sector in India. Nobody will be right to say that it is not true. Therefore, if the Chief Executive of the Dairy Federation will say that they are competing with the Multinationals and Large Private Sector should in corollary mean that the Agricultural Farmers should compete with the Large Private Sector and Multinationals, it is just too much and a childish statement.

May be the Agriculture Farmers would need some or more period of Protection if they feel more protected in their present conditions, as they have not enjoyed the kind of protected environment the Dairy Sector enjoyed for some 50years post-independence.  Even the Dairy Farmers through the Co-operative Dairies would also need some more protection, that can be safely argued, because left it to total free market in Dairy Sector, even the Chief Executive of the Dairy Federation writing and or stating so and if let it be allowed to continue so, can not withstand its comfortable existence over a longer time horizon. Again coming back to the Agriculture Farmers, they have not been provided a protected market environment in India in any designed manner, they have been left to fend themselves in whatever way or market way as it existed in the country whatever informal, crude, traditional or non-modern way anyone can say, except the limited domain of regulated market by APMC Act or Mandis prevailing for Agriculture sector, however the agricultural farmers have felt comfort and independence in their profession as they have expressed from their present exhibited stand, they may need additional incentives but not bound by intricate legal bindings that is coming to the fore in clarity before they accept voluntarily to go through any further legal binding mechanism. Also it is evident , the Nation of India has come in a long way, the production has increased manifold, we are able to boast our self sufficiency and food security in Food Grains (especially in Rice and Wheat) and in many agricultural crops. We have some deficit in some crops like pulses and oil seeds that can be ironed out over a period of time. Whether we are in a fire fighting situation to crush all unwillingness of the farmers towards a legal binding situation for them to work through, is a consideration that has to be made with pragmatism and prudence in the larger interest of the Nation right now.

Certain legal frame work was recommended by some may be by too much of theoretical back ground without empirical evidences and enactments of it has happened in the Agriculture sector. If the Agricultural Farmer Community is not finding comfort in such enactment of the laws, that they feel will take away whatever protection they have right now for their profession of farming, it has to be looked at constructively and not saying blindly that such enactment of the laws are to be thrown and dumped on the Agricultural Farmers by act of force or power as if it is the only good that can be done to them and while, there are many ways good can be done to them alternatively that can make them happy. It is not denied the fact, that an elected Government having majority number in the Parliament of a Democracy can enact laws and it can enact laws, however, it has to be also acceptable by the targeted beneficiaries (the constituent citizens or targeted beneficiaries of the Democracy). Otherwise, such enactments or laws would create disruptions and turbulence in the democracy and no good effect or perceived detrimental effects can be gauged either way. If the laws have not been acceptable to the targeted beneficiaries, even if there are volumes of Articles published in media and discourse in public forums or legislative forums that the laws are good for the beneficiaries, little purpose of it, can be served.

Therefore, in the larger interest, it is necessary to take the targeted beneficiaries into confidence and make them realize voluntarily that the enactments are good for their future provided they accept that is really good for their future. There are ways and means to make the targeted beneficiaries realize voluntarily that the enactment of laws are good for them if at all in reality those are good for them in any way, that need to be cultivated and not using the other means of forcing it on the targeted beneficiaries, in this case the beneficiaries are the Farmers. If there could be flaws and the enactments are not conducive and largely not accepted by the targeted beneficiaries, there are alternative ways to end the stalemate when worked constructively without throwing mud into the air. If it amounted to bowing down in the interest of the Nation, that is also the way and the gracious way. If a defective Currency Note or a defective Coin Currency even if brought to circulation as legal tender, is it not being taken back and replaced with a New and Non-defective one? Aren’t the large and World Famous Car Companies recalling millions of Cars from the market and replacing a defective Car Part if it is found defective? There are replacement mechanisms also put into action when needed to satisfy the targeted beneficiary; it happens recurring around the Globe in very large scale and there is no big deal in replacing something which is not acceptable to the targeted beneficiaries and taking it so  much to the heart and creating so much of heart burns among lot of people.   

I tried to write this article to convey the message that a Farmer is a Farmer in whichever part of the Country he/she lives in. There should be no effort made to create confusion and divide among the Agriculture, Dairy, Fisheries and Poultry or similar Farmers of any other Farming Profession by making Statements and Writing Articles in Media as I mentioned above. Let all Farmers of the Country irrespective of the area where they have their Profession of Farming be respected well in leveled and undivided grounds and they be allowed to operate in environments as would be convenient for that farming profession to grow, flourish and prosper.  

As the concluding lines consistent to my views, the Farmers of the Dairy Co-operatives or Generally the Dairy Farmers, have never ditched the interest of Agricultural Farmers or any other Farmers depending on their area of Farming Profession and the statements and articles or views of sitting Chief Executive of a large Dairy Federation published repeatedly in the Internet or Press Media which might be done through the assistance of some advertisement agencies or reporters in contact some way, should not be construed as the views of the Farmers of the Dairy Co-operatives or Dairy Farmers of India. The Farmers of the Dairy Co-operatives of India or the Dairy Farmers who are not even federated by co-operatives, would remain in Solidarity with all farmers of India, as a Farmer is a Farmer where ever he is located in India and in which ever farming area he/she may be operating within in India.

[ My views expressed above are based on my experience of working also for a large Dairy Co-operative stretching over almost one and half decades in Senior Capacities and having an eye, observation and experience over a large part of India’s Geography and subsequent observations across the country by various experiences and Internationally as well. My views remain as observations as an independent expert and not to infringe upon the rights of any party involved in the prevailing situation in contemporary times in any way or any manner – disclaimer to that effect]  

About the Author : Dr. Nimain Charan  Biswal is a B.Sc.(Agri. Science and Technology), M.B.A. and Ph.D.(Management Area ) by qualifications and he has 35 years of work experience in both  industrial and development sectors in diversified fields of social importance. He has been educated at Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT)-Bhubaneswar, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) and Gujarat University (with Resource Support of IIM-Ahmedabad). Dr.Biswal is further educated at IIM-Calcutta, XLRI-Jamshedpur, Apple Computer Industries and Spar Inc., USA. He has worked for reputed National and International Organisations in Senior/Top Management Capacities. He is a management expert covering extensive areas from management in agriculture, industrial management, development management to management of public systems. He is a prominent professional of India and known Internationally as well. He lives at Mumbai in India.