High compliance costs hit farmer incomes: Is National Turmeric Board a solution? | (अनुपालन की उच्च लागत से किसानों की आय कम हो रही है – क्या राष्ट्रीय हल्दी बोर्ड एक विकल्प है? )

Main Points In Hindi (मुख्य बातें – हिंदी में)

यहां पर दिए गए मुद्दों के आधार पर, निम्नलिखित मुख्य बिंदु दिए गए हैं:

1. किसानों की बढ़ती लागत और कम आय: केंद्र और राज्यों के समर्थन के बावजूद, "2022 तक किसानों की आय दोगुनी करने" का लक्ष्य पूरा नहीं हो सका। हल्दी जैसे प्रमुख निर्यात उत्पाद में किसान बढ़ती लागत और घटती आय का सामना कर रहे हैं।

2. अनुपालन लागत और निर्यात चुनौतियाँ: विभिन्न नियामक एजेंसियों द्वारा निर्धारित अनुपालन आवश्यकताएँ किसानों के लिए वित्तीय बोझ बढ़ा रही हैं। निर्यात प्रक्रियाओं में अस्वीकृतियाँ भी आम हैं, जिससे किसान निर्यात बाजार में खुद को असुरक्षित महसूस करते हैं।

3. नियामक जटिलताएँ: कई नियामक निकायों की अलग-अलग मानकों और परीक्षण प्रक्रियाओं के कारण, छोटे किसान वैश्विक मूल्य श्रृंखला में समाहित होने से हतोत्साहित हो रहे हैं। इससे उनके लिए घरेलू व्यापार को प्राथमिकता देना आवश्यक हो गया है।

4. शिक्षा और क्षमता निर्माण की आवश्यकता: किसानों को अधिकतर बाजार मानकों और परीक्षण प्रक्रियाओं की जानकारी नहीं है। इसके लिए एकीकृत प्रशिक्षण और सुधार प्रोग्राम की आवश्यकता है, जिससे किसानों को प्रीमियम निर्यात बाजारों में पहुंचने मदद मिल सके।

5. समानित नियामक और राष्ट्रीय हल्दी बोर्ड का प्रस्ताव: एक समर्पित और समन्वित एजेंसी, जैसे राष्ट्रीय हल्दी बोर्ड, किसानों की मूल्य श्रृंखला के एकीकरण और उनकी आय में वृद्धि में सहायक हो सकती है। इससे अनुपालन प्रक्रियाओं को सरल करना और किसानों को समर्थन प्रदान करना संभव हो सकेगा।

Main Points In English(मुख्य बातें – अंग्रेज़ी में)

Here are the main points from the article on the challenges faced by turmeric farmers in India due to high compliance costs:

- Advertisement -

1. Failure to Achieve Income Doubling Goals: Despite various measures by the government, the goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022 has not been met. Farmers, especially those growing turmeric—a key export product—are facing rising costs and decreasing incomes.

2. Rising Compliance Costs: A survey found that the costs associated with compliance have surged significantly due to multiple regulatory agencies setting industry standards without a coordinated approach. This fragmentation increases export costs, particularly affecting small farmers, who struggle with varying testing fees and the inconvenience posed by distant laboratories.

3. Market Rejections Due to Compliance Issues: Indian turmeric has faced numerous rejections in international markets due to contamination issues. Despite meeting compliance requirements, products can still be rejected, discouraging small farmers from participating in the global value chain.

4. Need for Streamlined Processes and Support: The article argues for the establishment of a national turmeric board to unify regulatory processes, standardize testing and certification, and provide necessary support to farmers. This could mitigate compliance costs and facilitate access to premium export markets.

5. Capacity Building and Training: There’s a significant gap in farmers’ understanding of market demands and quality assurance. Implementing standardized training modules would enhance their capacity to meet global standards, ultimately increasing their income and market integration.

Complete News In Hindi(पूरी खबर – हिंदी में)

Complete News In English(पूरी खबर – अंग्रेज़ी में)

While the central and state governments have implemented various measures and incentives, the goal of "doubling farmers’ income by 2022" has not been met. Farmers growing critical export products like turmeric are facing rising costs and decreasing income. Although there is a good global demand for turmeric, even small countries like Fiji are producing and exporting it. Yet, farmers in India, a leading exporter, struggle to meet their daily needs, with some even moving away from turmeric production.

- Advertisement -

A survey covering 262 turmeric farmers and 43 farmer producer organizations (FPOs) revealed that compliance costs have significantly increased. Several agencies, such as the Spice Board, APEDA, FSSAI, and BIS, set standards for agricultural products, but none control the entire turmeric value chain. For instance, the Spice Board focuses on processed turmeric, while APEDA deals with fresh turmeric. These agencies are associating with various laboratories that demand different compliance requirements, leading to a considerable rise in export costs, particularly for small farmers. Testing fees can range from ₹100 in government labs to ₹4,200 in private labs, with some private labs having more stringent testing processes. Additionally, most labs are in urban areas, creating logistical challenges for farmers due to limited decentralized testing options.

Despite facing high compliance costs and regulatory requirements, products can still be rejected in export markets. Data from the EU’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) indicate that between 2019 and 2024, Indian turmeric faced 16 rejections due to contamination. Similarly, the USDA recorded 42 rejections of Indian turmeric exports from 2017 to 2024.

The survey showed that various regulatory bodies with differing standards deter small and marginal farmers from participating in the global value chain (GVC). Many farmers opt to skip the testing and certification processes, choosing instead to sell to local traders at lower prices rather than to FPOs or contract manufacturers.

An interesting finding was that government agencies can reject each other’s compliance processes. For example, APEDA recently suspended the Sikkim State Organic Certification Agency (SSOCA), which farmers regarded as reliable since it is state-run.

The proposed establishment of a National Turmeric Board by Prime Minister Narendra Modi could have potentially addressed these regulatory complexities and streamlined standards, testing, and certification processes while providing farmers with the support needed to meet global standards. However, this has not yet materialized. Such a board could also facilitate research and development, capacity building, export, and knowledge sharing.

To improve compliance processes and enhance capacity building, the following steps are suggested:

1. Standardize Laboratory Testing: Establish uniform testing methods across laboratories and increase accessibility to reduce costs and time. Consistent results will foster trust among international buyers and lessen rejections in export markets.

2. Subsidize Third-Party Certification Costs: Provide financial support for third-party certification of organic products for small and marginal farmers. This could encourage more farmers to seek certification and expand their global reach.

3. Implement Unified Training Modules: Currently, farmers face confusion due to multiple training modules from various agencies. A comprehensive module tailored to local needs could improve effectiveness, with trained agricultural extension officers/ FPOs leading these initiatives.

4. Support for Product Traceability: Implement technology and new strategies to enhance traceability in fields, addressing it as a critical need for export markets.

In essence, a unified, high-quality output approach can help reduce compliance costs, increase farmers’ income, and integrate them better into value chains. The National Turmeric Board could provide cohesive support to farmers, serving as a singular regulatory body for exports, imports, and domestic markets.

Source link