Unlocking agri-potential of FRA lands

GS-III | Agriculture | Tribal Development | Food Security | Sustainable Agriculture | Inclusive Growth

Introduction

• Land rights and livelihood security: The securing of land rights is an important step for millions of indigenous peoples living in forests. A parcel of land can provide an indigenous family with more than just a legal right. It can also form the basis for achieving livelihood security, as long as there are appropriate circumstances to allow the land to be both productive and sustainable.
• Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006: Although the FRA has increased the number of tribals and forest-dwelling communities who have land and livelihood rights, we now need to supplement those rights with sustainable agricultural practices, better management of soil and water resources, institution building, and providing access to markets.
• Role of oilseeds and pulses: The role of oilseeds and pulses is to enhance the productivity of land recognized under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) by converting these lands into more profitable and sustainable livelihoods. This would also lead to an increase in local food production, which could potentially decrease India’s reliance on foreign imports.

1. Potential of Pulses and Oilseeds on FRA Lands

• Climate change adaptation: Due to their ability to grow on rain-fed and marginal land, pulses and oilseeds are well-suited for enhancing agricultural production and supporting climate-resilient agriculture.
• Agricultural suitability: An evaluation of agricultural suitability using the UN FAO Soil Map showed that many tribal areas have the potential to grow various crops including soybeans, peanuts, sunflowers, mustards, chickpeas and other pulse crops.
• Seasonal cropping patterns: The variety of crop types grown throughout the year include paddy and corn (maize) as dominant crops in the Kharif season and wheat, gram (chickpea), mustard, lentil and other leguminous plants as important crops during the Rabi season.
• Regional diversification: The millets, soybeans, cottons, groundnuts, sesames, spices and horticultural crops are reflective of local agro-ecological conditions and offer opportunities for sustainable diversification of oilseeds and pulses grown in FRA lands.

2. Mapping the Agricultural Potential of Tribal Districts

• Geographic diversity: Tribal Districts located within 33 states and union territories represent a wide variety of ecosystems and socio-economic conditions. There are also significant variations in the way that people settle, what resources they have available to them, and how productive their agricultural lands can be. Because of this, it is necessary to develop solutions that are tailored to the local environment.
• Oilseed potential: There are 244 tribal districts in total. Of these, 60 have the ability to produce a large amount of oilseed.
• Pulse potential: 31 districts have strong pulse production potential.
• Combined potential: A total of 23 districts have potential for the cultivation of both pulses and oilseeds due to their favorable conditions.
• Targeted interventions: The spatial alignment of FRA lands with agricultural potential indicates that there may be a need for targeted interventions to increase sustainable production of pulses and oilseeds within these areas.

3. Measures to Enhance Productivity and Livelihoods

• Quality seeds: The expansion of access to high quality seeds and improved seed varieties will enhance the production of both pulses and oilseeds.
• Soil and water management: Enhancing the soil’s moisture content and implementing good agricultural practices will improve crop production.
• Income, nutrition and livelihood resilience: The potential for these actions to benefit farmer income, nutrition, and livelihood resilience is possible.
• Tribal development: Integrating these activities with the land development process of the FRA (Forest Rights Act) will help to build resilience into the tribal development process, enhance national food security and increase the income of tribals, especially given that there is a great deal of overlap between the tribal districts and aspirational districts.

4. Region-Specific Strategy for Sustainable Development

• Production clusters: Develop oilseed and pulse production clusters in a region-specific manner on FRA lands located in tribal areas with great potential.
• Agricultural assistance: Provide timely and sufficient access to certified seed, improved irrigation, watershed management, and improved agricultural extension services.
• Post-harvest infrastructure: In order to decrease post-harvest loss and increase the amount of value obtained from a crop, invest in local primary processing facilities such as drying, storage, grading, etc.
• Community organisations: Strengthen the ability of community organizations such as Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Cooperative Societies (CSs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and other community organizations to assist in the process of aggregating produce, value adding to produce, and accessing markets.

5. Convergence with Government Programmes

• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana: Will provide support for irrigation systems and water resource management.
• National Food Security and Nutrition Mission: Has potential to increase the scope of institutional support for agriculture production and food security.
• National Mission on Edible Oils: Supports the growth of domestic oil seed crops.
• Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan: Can increase support for farmers’ income and procurement.
• Van Dhan Yojana: Has potential to provide opportunities for adding value and enhancing livelihoods in tribal areas.
• Marketing ecosystem: GIS-based crop planning, increased access to institutional credit, crop insurance and guaranteed procurement can all help to enhance the marketing environment.

Way Forward

• Crop suitability: Ensure that your local agro-ecological environment matches the most appropriate pulse or oilseed crops in order to maximize the productivity of FRA land.
• Agricultural support: Provide certified seed, improve irrigation, manage watershed, scientifically manage crops.
• Market access: Make investments in post-harvest primary processing (drying/storing/grading) to minimize loss after harvest and increase value.
• Community engagement: Create an environment where Farmers’ Producer Organizations, Cooperatives, and Self-Help Groups can participate actively in aggregating, adding value, and accessing markets.
• Institutional convergence: Integrate FRA land development with relevant agricultural schemes, institutional credit, crop insurance and guaranteed purchase of produce.

Conclusion

• From rights to livelihood security: The transition from the right of forests to secure livelihood is not complete after the recognition of lands but rather starts from there.
• Sustainable development: The productive capacity of FRA Lands can be enhanced through the integration of local agro-ecological environments with pulse and oil seed varieties that are appropriate for each environment, as well as providing support to assist farmers in cultivating and marketing those crops successfully.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. Discuss how the promotion of pulses and oilseeds on Forest Rights Act-recognised lands can strengthen tribal livelihoods and national food security. What measures are required to realise their productive potential sustainably?

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