The study on the Problems and prospects in Agriculture will have to focus on all the systems and components and the impact of the policies of the GoI, State Governments, RBI and NABARD on the sector. An important area of research in state specific studies can be land allocation/use amongst various competing users and its implications for the growth of the agriculture sector. Alternatively, the same aspects could be looked at from the point of view of crop specific studies in different states. Some of the topics suggested under this theme are as follows:
Land use pattern and its implications.
State specific studies on problems and prospects in Agriculture.
Identification, development and adoption of crop specific and agro-climatic specific matching equipment for marginal, small and medium farmers for various power sources.
Studies on market potential for meat and allied products.
Agriculture and Environmental implications - An enquiry into interrelationships.
Profitability of Indian Agriculture: Temporal and Regional Analysis.
Assessing risk hazards in Agriculture and adequacy of mitigation mechanisms.
Trends in factor shares in agriculture: An analysis of its determinants and Impact on Income distribution.
Study to assess the potential for organic farming, marketing opportunity and certification process.
Study of Value addition and Supply chain management in Agriculture.
Understanding Tribal Economy
Tribal economy is an area of research that is directed at studying various aspects of the tribal economy, viz. nature of tribal poverty, livelihood practices, impact of development schemes, dynamics of the tribal economy, access to financial services, marketing linkages, etc. The research initiatives may focus on the following areas under this topic:
Poverty and Tribal economy
Globalization and its impact on the tribal economy.
Credit and its relevance in Tribal economy
Credit and Finance related research
As per the findings of the Situation assessment report of NSSO (2005) only 48.6 % of the farmer HH in the country has access to credit (formal & informal). Evidently, there is a need to research this phenomenon so as to identify gaps and chalk out action plan. The objective of such research would be to examine the present scenario, emerging trends, innovations, opportunities and challenges, etc. in the rural financial sector. The following topics give an idea of areas to be researched under this theme:
An examination of the relationship between Institutional credit and productivity growth.
A study into nature and causes of rural indebtedness.
Institutional Rigidities and Farm Investment Demand: An analysis of inter relationships.
Understanding nature and composition of rural credit market.
Research on Non-credit Cooperatives
The non-credit cooperatives play an important role in the national economy. Having a wide network they perform an important function in the area of inputs distribution, processing and marketing societies covering a large number of agricultural/plantation commodities like, sugar, tea, coffee, rubber etc. Besides, there are also a number of producers' co-operatives in the rural non-farm sector covering jute, textiles, coir, leather, handicrafts etc. This sub-sector in the cooperative fold can play a key role in rural development, provided they are given adequate space. Research studies on the non-credit cooperatives can help in identifying constraints/ problems and evolving required for developing this sub-sector.
Role of Biotechnology in Agricultural Development
Biotechnology is the new frontier of science and can play a crucial role in transforming Indian Agriculture. Research funds could be utilized for not only evolving crop varieties using biotechnology but also in carrying out action oriented research studies to demonstrate its impact to the farmers. Research studies maybe considered on the following topics:
Bio-diesels Initiatives in India : A Quest for Green Fuels.
Plant Tissue Culture - Mass propagation of elite varieties for commercial value plant such as Jatropa species, Sandal wood and commercial value tree species.
Extraction of commercially important alkaloids such as Vanillin, Ficin that are used in food and Pharmaceutical industry.
Recombinant Vaccine, Drugs, Enzymes and Hormone production for livestocks and fisheries sector and Transgenic lines for commercial crops.
Extraction of commercially important polysaccharides such as agar agar, Carragennen, Algins from seaweeds.
Use of Enzymes for leather processing industry.
Use of Micro organism for decontamination of polluted land and water
Developing Rural Habitat
Development and promotion of Rural Habitat is recognized as a national priority and there are various budgetary allocations and schemes to give a support structure to this activity. There is need to study aspects related to this sector, such as, flow of funds and identification of bottlenecks at operational level for borrowers and lenders; innovations related to low cost housing strategies etc. Such research will help generate information for the policy makers to crave out suitable programmes and schemes to develop this sector.
Focus areas for Occasional Paper in 2006-07:
Problems & prospects of Hi-tech Floriculture in Karnataka
Issues and concerns in the Plantation sector.
Bio-Fuels initiatives in India
Impact of Irrigation Systems: Management Options on Rural Poverty
Financing of Weavers with particular reference to Production & Marketing.
Food, Work and Vulnerability of Women in KBK districts.
Corporate Initiatives in Agri Business in Punjab.
Participatory Irrigation Management –a way to improve Sustainability of Irrigation System
ICT in Agriculture and Rural development.
Informal credit and interlocked markets in Agriculture.
