Jayanti Kajale

From EGS to MGNREGS in Maharashtra: Were the Programme Potentials Achieved?

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) implemented since 2006, is considered to be a landmark policy in India, in terms of its socio-economic implications in rural India. The aim of the scheme is to provide safety net to the rural poor and marginalised groups by generating employment and creating durable assets. The state of Maharashtra was the pioneer state to initiate employment guarantee scheme (EGS) for rural poor during the drought years of early 1970s. From 2006, both the schemes of EGS and MGNREGS are being implemented in Maharashtra state simultaneously. This has provided us an opportunity to compare performance of the two schemes on the ground. This chapter analyses employment generated and the assets created under traditional EGS and MGNREGS in Maharashtra. The EGS and MGNREGS have been successful in providing the employment in the state, however, durable and good quality assets have not been created by these schemes to have a dent on agricultural productivity. The extent of employment generated annually under MGNREGS in Maharashtra in the last few years was in fact less than that generated under EGS before 2005–06. There are several practical problems in the implementation of the scheme in Maharashtra. There is a need for locating new and appropriate types of works and innovative ways of implementing the scheme and need for providing timely technical help to the gram panchayats. It would be more desirable if the creation of employment under the schemes also leads to creation of durable assets and efficient management of water and other natural resources locally, thus, ultimately increasing the overall productivity of the agricultural sector as a whole.

Promoting Organized Retail in Horticulture and Beneficial Impact on Farmers—The Case of Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemicals Limited

Diversification of agriculture has brought about increased production of several agricultural commodities, which in turn have brought about new challenges to handle in terms of huge marketable surplus. India, now ranks second in the production of fruits and vegetables and policy makers have focused attention on building up an efficient marketing system which will ensure time, place and form utility. Market reforms have therefore been initiated to facilitate integration of farm production and attract massive investments for building up post-harvest infrastructure. Accordingly, corporate units have entered agricultural markets to capitalize on opportunities such as “farm to fork” approach.

Soyabean sector of Maharashtra: Pattern of growth and prospects

Soyabean is on its road to become the most important crop in the cropping pattern of Maharashtra. However, the analysis of growth rates of area, production and productivity underlines the slowdown in the overall growth in the case of soyabean both at the state and district level in the post 2000 period. The major factor responsible for this was the lower proportion of irrigated area allocated to soyabean crop. The available data shows that only 0.4 percent of the soyabean area is irrigated. In view of increasing demand for edible oil and increasing reliance on imports to satisfy the domestic demand, productivity enhancement would help in maintaining and increasing the current level of soybean production. There is a need to increase productivity of soybean through provision of irrigation, quality seeds and extension regarding correct mix of quality inputs. This definitely calls for implementation of policies for arresting the slowdown in the soyabean sector.