SHIKHAR Mains 2023 Day 14 - Model answer English

Updated : 22nd Jun 2023

भारत मे खाद्य प्रसंस्करण आपूर्ति शृंखला प्रबंधन की चुनौतियों का उल्लेख करते हुए इसके समाधान का मार्ग प्रस्तुत कीजिये ?

While mentioning the challenges of food processing supply chain management in India, Discuss ways to overcome it?

Approach -

In introduction, define Supply Chain.
Further, write the challenges of food processing supply chain management.
Give appropriate conclusions writing solutions to the challenges of food processing supply chain management.

Answer -

A supply chain is a network between suppliers (farmers) of raw material, company (food

processor) and distribution network to market the finished products. Supply chain represents

the steps it takes to get the product or service to the customer.

Often, the different stages within the supply chain are referred to as upstream or downstream.

Upstream operations are those in which the materials flow into the organization. This part of the process simply finds and extracts the raw material.
Downstream operations are those in which materials (mostly in the form of finished products) flow away from the organization to the customers.

Backward and Forward Linkages-

Linkages are a phenomenon which measures the capability of an industry to generate demand

for the products of/in the other industries.

Backward Linkage: It means the connectivity of the FPIs with sources of raw material supply. For example, supply of raw material like tomatoes to a ketchup manufacturer.
Forward Linkage: It means the connectivity of FPIs with the markets through distribution network comprising of physical infra like storages, road and rail network etc.

Challenges in Food Processing Supply Chain Management-

Problems of connectivity - There is a lack of better connectivity between villages, cities and markets.
Lack of infrastructure – This creates problems in sorting, grading, transportation, communication, pricing etc. Indian National Highways account for only 2% of the total road network, but carry 40% of all cargo.
Lack of better technology - This creates the problem of maintenance and smart working of goods and services. Tracking and tracing of products is not possible.

Solution :

· Developing basic infrastructure.

· The government is developing basic infrastructure through schemes like Bharat Nirman, Sampada Yojana, establishment of Mega Food Parks, Sagar Mala Yojana.

· Coordination of various institutions and committees.

· Quality transport means should be developed to ensure access to the market. So that the delivery system can be better.

· Market risk management should be rationalised.

· Along with skill development in this area, efforts should be made to make the financial system fair and effective.

· Technological detail and availability of techniques should be ensured.

· Smart governance and smart governance should be promoted.

Public and private partnerships should be promoted. To support the development of facilities such as grading, sorting, packing, pre-cooling, handling facilities, insurance, finance, transportation and processing facilities.

Q13. भारत में भूमि सुधार के क्षेत्र में वांछित सफलता प्राप्त नहीं हुई, इसके क्या कारण थे? इसे और प्रभावी बनाने के लिए सुझाव दीजिए।

What were the reasons for not achieving the desired success in the field of land reforms in India? Give suggestions to make it more effective.

Approach

Write about land reform in introduction.
Mention some of the efforts of the government to clarify the first statement.
Then state the reasons for the failure.
At the end, conclude the answer by giving suggestions.

Answer -

Land reform refers to the distribution of surplus land between small farmers and landless cultivators by imposing limits on agricultural landholdings. Broadly, it includes regulation of ownership, operation, lease, sale and succession of land.

Significantly, since independence, the government started extensive efforts for land reforms. However, these efforts did not yield proper results. Except West Bengal, Kerala remained negative in rest of India. The reasons behind the failure of land reforms can be understood as follows-

There were shortcomings in the laws, rules made by the government. The absence of adequate land records made implementation of these acts difficult. ‘Personal cultivation’ was very loosely defined which led to not only those who tilled the soil, but also those who supervised the land personally or did so through a relative, or provided capital and credit to the land, to call themselves a cultivator.
Moreover, in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madras there was no limit on the size of the lands that could be declared to be under the ‘personal cultivation’ of the zamindar.
As land is a state subject, the laws could not be implemented as per the requirement of each state. The biggest mistake was the imposition of one type of rule for each state.
There is a lack of political will towards these reforms. Agriculture has not always been a priority sector under various governments.
At the individual level, people's attachment to their land hindered consolidation. The belief that land belongs to those who cultivate it had a negative impact.
The zamindari trend going on since the British period hindered the change of perceptions related to land after independence.
The differences in the system of land records and land administration in tribal areas in the northeastern states also pose a challenge to land reforms.

Suggestion:

To provide adequate credit and capital to the cultivators who are actually cultivating the land.
Government regulation should eventually be phased out so that farmers can sell agricultural products directly in the market and market forces can control the prices of agricultural produce.
To encourage land leasing and contract farming.
Effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act by all the states.
To preserve especially fertile agricultural land for agricultural purposes.

Land reforms after independence were not successful in toto. Even today 5% farmers hold 32% of land holdings. We need second Land reform to achieve the goal of doubling farmer’s income.