Dr. M.P. Gupta
Population Explosion
In our country population was 50 crore in 1950 which has increased to more than 125 crore in 2014.As a matter of fact, population is increasing in geometrical progression whereas food production is increasing in arithmetical progression leading to explosion. Consequently, a good proportion of population (About 30 %) remains hungry, but how long?
Agriculture Land is shrinking
Productive land for growing crops is decreasing day-by-day due to:
* Urbanization
* Industrialization
* Infrastructure development, etc.
Thus, the great challenge is to increase the production per unit area per unit time
Food Security Act
The Govt. of India has recently passed Food Security Act to guaranty food to every individual in the country. According to FSA, food has to be provided at affordable price i.e. Rice @Rs.3/kg; Wheat @Rs.2/kg & Coarse grains @Rs.1/kg. In this behalf, 625 Million tons of food is required to feed every hungry mouth in our county where as 225 million tons food is available which poses a great challenge.
National Food Security Mission
In order to meet increasing food demand for growing population, National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was launched in October 2007 to increase production and productivity of cereal crops like rice, wheat and pulses on sustainable basis for food security of the nation. The mission is being continued during 12th Five Year Plan with target of additional production of 25 million tons of food grains comprising of 10 million tons of rice, 8 million tons of wheat, 4 million tons of pulses and 3 million tons of coarse grains. For this purpose, 50% subsidy will be given on all farmers’ activities.
Agriculture situation in J&K
Jammu &Kashmir being a hill state, production of major food crops per unit area is well below the national average, which has to be increased by bridging the production gaps in Rice and Wheat through Rice- wheat cropping system -the main objective of the National Food Security Mission. This Mission has been launched in six districts of the State namely: Udhampur, Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Leh & Kargil with emphasis to increase food production through the use of improved seed and management practices. In this behalf, Department of Agriculture provides agri. inputs, farm machinery, incentives and technical “know-how” through season trainings and cluster demonstrations. A target of 12,300 ha area under cluster demonstrations on wheat as well as 500 season trainings has been achieved for the current year in the State.
Accomplishment of Action plan under NFSM
* Action plan has been implemented as per modified operational guidelines (2012-13) of NFSM-Districts for 2013-14.
* All efforts are being made by the National food security mission staff in collaboration with the field functionaries at District level to achieve set financial and physical targets for the Districts.
* In this behalf, a calendar for organization of season trainings &cluster demonstrations has been devised for NFSM-districts in the State specifying location, date so as to ensure full achievement of set physical and financial targets for the respective district.
* Looking into the successful implementation of the programme, this mission has been extended to include 11 districts besides inclusion of coarse grains i.e. maize, millets, etc. under NFSM in the State.
ROLE OF MEDIA
At one time, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, founder Prime Minister of India has said that everything can wait but not the agriculture, thereby underlines its importance.
* In a fast changing and variegated world of today, mass media have to play a crucial role for social change and agriculture development.
* Mass Media like Radio, T.V, Motion pictures, Printed materials, etc. is employed to develop contact with the people at large.
* Marshall McLuhan has gone to an extent in saying that dramatic change is occurring through an electronic technology and the societies are shaped more by the nature of media than the content of the communication.
* Certainly in rural development nothing is more important than transfer of technology through sharp media and methods as quickly as possible to influence its ultimate users i.e. farmers.
* Radio & T.V bring ideas, concepts, etc. to the notice of people to much faster speed.
*Movies present events in a dramatized way to alter the thinking processes of viewers.
It is beyond doubt that mass media have a lot of potential in transfer of technology which has not been sufficiently exploited in developing countries. However, there is a growing recognition to provide developmental communication support through electronic mass media to agriculture and rural development programmes.
Radio and NFSM
* Radio is a potent medium of communication which is capable of informing, educating, entertaining and influencing the thoughts and habit patterns of millions of land tillers.
* It is most common and quickest medium of disseminating information among rural masses spread over a geographically large areas.
* It is relatively inexpensive, most suitable for giving timely advice under developmental Programme like NFSM.
Farm Field School under NFSM
* Providing farmers with problem based and field based agriculture information.
* Create awareness, arouse interest/ desire.
* Motivate farmers for action and ultimately helps in the adoption of modern technology
Activities Oriented Education
In Farm education under NFSM, stress is laid on skill activities than on passive learning. Therefore, subject matter contents like Package of Practices for important cereal crops, pulses, oil seeds, coarse grains, millets, etc. are covered. The agricultural recommendation made with respect to area and time/ seasons evoke high response among farmers for taking action.
In nut shell, radio has a multiplier effect means covering more area and more people. In fact, without the service support of radio in particular & mass media in general, it is not possible to make farmers at large aware & successfully execute the activities under NFSM which in turn will usher agriculture prosperity in the State of J&K.
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