8.32 ndian onom
expand their businesses in the growing regions of Technology (CIPHET), a government-run
the world. institute, has estimated the value of farm waste in
To strengthen and broad base of the market, India at Rs. 92,651 crore (at the prices of 2014),
the Forward Markets Commission (FMC), which that is around 9 per cent of the total produce,
is the regulator for commodity futures trading which is much lower than the oft-stated 40 per
under the provisions of the Forward Contracts cent level. Although cereals, such as wheat and
(Regulation) Act 1952, has taken many initiatives rice, pulses and oil seeds accounted for around
such as:34 two-thirds of the wastage, the loss in case of fruits
(i) Conducted awareness programmes in and vegetables was the highest at up to 18 per cent
2011, such as a media campaign under of the total produce.
the Jago Grahak Jago Programme about Attending the causes of storage and processing
the Dos and Don’ts of trading in the facilities, something the Government of India
commodity futures market; is emphasising, this level could come down
(ii) Police training programmes in the states significantly and can serve great purpose in helping
of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil the economy to fight the repeated price shocks of
Nadu and Delhi with regard to dabba the past two years in case of fruits, vegetables and
trading / illegal trading; foodgrains to a great extent.
(iii) A massive awareness and capacity-building The losses take place in almost all stages of
programme for various stakeholders, with farming, but the study looked at harvesting,
primary focus on farmers. collection, grading, cleaning, packaging,
(iv) On the regulatory front, the FMC transportation and storage. If cultivation was also
undertook measures for the development included the loss figure would be much higher.
of the commodity futures market, which The government has said that adoption of better
include ensuring more effective inspection technology has brought about a reduction in losses.
of members of the exchanges on regular
basis and in a comprehensive manner IrrIGAtIon
covering all aspects of the regulatory regime. The Planning Commission36 classified irrigation
(v) Bringing out a guidance manual for projects/schemes in India on the following lines :
improving audit practices, prescribing
(i) Major Irrigation Schemes—those with
penalty structure for client code
cultivable command areas (CCA) of
modification and for executing trade.
more than 10,000 hectares.
(vi) Granting exemptions for short hedge for
(ii) Medium Irrigation Schemes—those
soyabean/oil futures, issuing directives
with cultivable command areas (CCA)
for segregation of client accounts.
between 2,000 and 10,000 hectares.
(iii) Minor Irrigation Schemes—those with
FArm wAste deBAte
cultivable command area (CCA) upto
A recent study,35 undertaken by the Central 2,000 hectares. Expansion of irrigation
Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and facilities, along with consolidation of the
34. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey 2011–12, Technology (CIPHET), ICAR, Ministry of Agriculture,
p. 199. GoI, Ludhiana, Study released in September, 2016.
35. Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and 36. Planning Commission, GoI, N. Delhi, 1961.