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HomePosts Tagged "Binod Anand"
Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agro chems – Pesticides, India

Rashtriya Kisan Progressive Association took strong exception to certain associations pegging the level of sub-standard and spurious pesticides at just 2 per cent of the overall pesticides market of the country

Rashtriya Kisan Progressive Association (RKPA), a pan-India association that works for the welfare and progress of farmers across the country accused certain associations and vested interests of working against the interest of farmers and condemned it for presenting misleading facts in the public domain.

Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Binod Anand, National President, of Rashtriya Kisan Progressive Association took strong exception to certain associations pegging the level of sub-standard and spurious pesticides at just 2 per cent of the overall pesticides market of the country.

“India’s agricultural productivity has increased by more than 6 times since 1950, a remarkable achievement indeed. But unfortunately, per acre yield is way below in comparison to many developed and developing nations. Despite having 30 per cent more arable land and 67 per cent more rainfall than China, India’s agriculture GDP is about one-third of China’s. One major contributor to lower yields is the widespread use of low-quality inputs including agrochemicals. Yet, some vested interest dares to put the level of sub-standard products at 2 per cent of the overall Indian market. This is nothing but misleading and cheating of farmers,” said Binod Anand.

“The counterfeit pesticides market is a parallel industry as evident from various FIRs which have been registered against the culprits by reputed companies. It is adversely impacting farmers’ livelihoods, yield, crop quality, income, and the Indian economy on a broader aspect,” Anand added.


Citing the example of the huge damage to 9 lakh acres of chilli crops in South India in 2021, he said, “The damage was mainly due to usage of sub-standard pesticides in the sub-lethal dose. The ultimate sufferers were farmers and consumers. Strict action is a must against such culprits, but unfortunately, vested interests are strengthening such elements by presenting a misleading picture.”

“Few of these so-called Bio-pesticides/ Bio-stimulants were the cocktails of 10-12 chemical pesticides and some of them are not even registered in India which also indicates the possibility of smuggling of such chemicals from foreign countries,” he said.

Rashtriya Kisan Progressive Association took strong exception

Institutions, World

The cooperative sector employs more than a 100 million strong workforce

Leading cooperative sector experts have come together to form the World Cooperative Economic Forum (WCopEF) to give voice to over 3 million cooperatives spread across the globe, employing 10 per cent of the total workforce worldwide.

The WCopEF will endeavour to promote cooperative thinking and cooperative movement, in addition to raising issues and concerns of the sector with the governments and other stakeholders around the globe.

The 300 largest cooperatives in the world, it may be mentioned, generate over $ 2.1 trillion in revenue, providing many essential goods and services. In many countries, cooperatives make significant contributions to the national economy by addressing market failures, empowering marginalised people, creating employment opportunities, and supporting sustainable development.

“WCopEF journey is starting at the juncture of ideation of an equitable economy, tempered by pragmatism. We are transitioning to a new engagement with the international cooperative economic order. Several challenges have emerged, invoking the need for an independent forum that would critically examine the problems facing the sector and help develop coherent policy responses,” said Dileep Bhai Shanghai, one of the founder members of the Forum.

Shanghai, Chairman of the fertiliser major IFFCO and President of the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), had also earlier served as a member of parliament and a Minister in the Government of Gujarat.

Binod Anand, other founder members of the WCEF are members MSP Committee on Agriculture Reforms, Dr. Rakesh Arrawatia, Professor Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) and Ashish Anand, Founder Whrrl (www.WHR.loans).

“WCopEF will bring together, for the first time, co-operators, social scientists, cooperative economists and policymakers and myriad other stakeholders to brainstorm about the Social and Solidarity economy,” said Binod Anand.

The cooperative sector employs more than a

Company News, India, Sustainability

CNRI is the national network of non-government organisations and people’s organisations working for development effectiveness and democratic governance in India

Confederation of NGOs of Rural India (CNRI) has proposed the creation of a global forum – World Cooperative Economic Forum – to democratise the global value chain for innovative food systems amid rising concerns over inequality in the post-Covid world.

New Delhi-based CNRI is the national network of non-government organisations and people’s organisations working for development effectiveness and democratic governance in India.

Addressing the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Secretary General of CNRI Binod Anand said he comes from a country where thousands of years ago, the concept of social and solidarity economy was expressed differently.”

“It is heartening to notice India has become home for cooperative Movement and helping the civil society create – World Cooperative Economic Forum- will go a long way in developing Social and Solidarity Economy,” Binod Anand said.

Anand also strongly advocated exploring SDG bonds as a new source of capital for raising vital resources for humanitarian projects in the post-COVID world.

Anand said the world is compelled to reconsider the issue of rising inequality, which has cast doubts on the successful implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Poverty itself bears multiple definitions.

To illustrate the point, he said two successful cases from India can be highlighted here.

In the private sector, Dhanuka AgriTech’s sustainable agriculture initiative stands as a significant milestone. This initiative honours farmers with the slogan ‘India Ka Pranam Har Kisan ke Naam’ (Salutations to every farmer). It not only educates grassroots farmers about Sustainable Development Goals but also supports their efforts in practising sustainability within the Crop Protection sector, thus contributing to National Food Security.

CNRI is the national network of non-government

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, India, Pulses

India needs a dynamic trade policy to promote agricultural exports, issues related to agri-export infrastructure, agri-value chains, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures

Binod Anand the Secrertary General of Confederation of NGOs for Rural India (CNRI), a member of the Committee on MSP and Agri Reforms appreciated the recent announcement government to hike the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Kharif crops.    

Anand, who hails from cooperative sector, strongly advocated utilising PACS (Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society) for structural changes in procurement directly from farmers and democratisation of the value chain.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the increase in MSP on June 7, 2023, for all mandated Kharif crops for the marketing season 2023-24. As per the list released by PIB, GoI announced an increase in MSP rates for the crops of Paddy-Common, Paddy-Grade A, Jowar-Hybrid, Jowar-Maldandi, Bajra, Ragi, Maize, Tur/Arhar, Moong, Urad, Moongfali (Groundnut), Sunflower seed, Soybean (yellow), Sesamum, Nigerseed, Cotton (Medium staple) and Cotton (Long Staple).  The expected margin to farmers over their cost of production is estimated to be highest in the case of Bajra (82 per cent) followed by Tur (58 per cent), Soybean (52 per cent) and Urad (51 per cent). For the rest of the crops, the margin to farmers over their cost of production is estimated to be at least 50 per cent.

Welcoming the announcement, Binod Anand said, “The MSP of many crops like Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, Nigerseed in comparison to MSP declared for 2014-15, whereas the other crops have witnessed the increase in the rage of 70 to 90 per cent, which is significant if you look at the global scenario.”

Anand also underlined the progress on the front of agricultural exports, wherein India’s agricultural exports increased by about 22.7 per cent in 2020-21, from ₹2.6 lakh crore in 2019-20 to ₹3.2 lakh crore in 2020-21, which further increased to ₹3.9 lakh crore in 2021-22, an increase of 21.6 per cent.

He said that India needs a dynamic trade policy to promote agricultural exports, issues related to agri-export infrastructure, agri-value chains, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and traceability, export procedures and documentation, etc. need to be addressed apart from giving special thrust on the export of value-added processed products and organic produce.

India needs a dynamic trade policy to

AgroPolicy, Environment, Foodgrains, India, People, Sustainability

FGNI to organise 4 seminars this year to suggest measures for the betterment of small and marginal farmers

In the next 25 years, by the time India’s Amritkal is complete, India will write a better and more spectacular story wherein the agriculture sector will play an important role, said Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, Indian Council of Agriculture Research & Secretary, Department of Agriculture Research and Education (DARE). He describes the coming together of centres, states, industry and Civil Society organisations in the welfare of the agriculture sector as a healthy thing, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India.

He was speaking at a seminar in New Delhi on ‘Unlocking the Potential of India’s Agriculture: Key to Unleash A Thriving Economy’ organised by the Foundation for the Growth of New India (FGNI).

Dr Pathak who himself was a farmer in his early growing-up years said that he feels the pain of India’s farmers, particularly the small and marginal farmers.

Citing the recent applauds India has received from Bill Gates and various countries, he said, “We have come a long way from begging bowl in hands to self-sufficiency and second largest producer of food grains, however, if India is to be developed nation, most probably by 2047, it cannot happen without agriculture and contribution of small and marginal farmers.”

Dr Pathak was joined by Dr R. B. Singh, Chancellor of Central Agricultural University, Imphal and President & Founding Member of FGNI and Shri R. G. Agarwal, Advisor, FGNI.

Dr R. B. Singh strongly pitched for making growth inclusive, sustainable, symmetric, high-performing and in line with the SDG goals of India.

R. G. Agarwal candidly spoke at length on a number of issues faced by Indian farmers, including the use of injurious pesticides imported from China which is damaging the soil and crops, lack of technology in hands of farmers, different treatment to fertiliser and pesticides by the government etc. and demanded free & competitive markets to maximise farmers’ income, time-bound approval for researched based products used in agriculture, enabling policy initiatives & incentives for precision farming and advance IT tools for agriculture.

“India has a great potential to increase both production and export of food grains and crop chemicals. If we have a more enabling environment and policy support, India can easily be the leader in this space. Moreover, if we can do away with waste of food grains which is roughly 30 per cent, which is possible through technology, we will be prepared to meet our requirements in 2050 too, “said Agarwal.

Binod Anand, who spoke on the plight of small and marginal farmers, proposed to organise four deliberations on the issues faced by farmers. The same was agreed upon by all scientists and eminent personalities. DG ICAR Dr Himanshu Pathak also accepted to be a patron of the foundation.

FGNI to organise 4 seminars this year