Rethinking the Priorities for Indian Agricultural Research, Institutions and Policy: Learning from the Grassroots

Sometimes having succeeded in a mission, we fail because we tend to persist with the same strategy even when times have changed. The success, thus, becomes the reason for failure. Indian agriculture research has been an outstanding success in terms of achieving food self-reliance and converting a perennially importing country to an exporting country. But, the trend in the last decade has been disappointing and reasons are not far to seek. I will take this opportunity to reflect on the three decades of my engagement with the agricultural research community so that some new pointers can be identified. I will also share the lessons learnt from the grassroots innovators and traditional knowledge holders through Honey Bee Network activities in the last two decades. It is possible that some of my views cause discomfort. But, it is with great respect that I submit these ideas. The agricultural research community has always considered me as an insider and therefore the liberty that they have allowed me to take with the ideas. The interface of science and society, which has become a bit weaker in recent years, was taken as a matter of deep concern and commitment. It is a privilege for me to share my views in Dr B P Pal's memory. I hope to help in triggering some thoughts towards revitalisation of our institutions, policy making approach and our relationship with the common people and their creativity. Paper deals with mainly four issues, viz., (i) Managing genetic resources, (ii) Rethinking sustainability, (iii) Redesigning research organisations for sustainable, accessible and affordable outcomes and (iv) Ethical and institutional issues in agricultural research. The quality of education, development of entrepreneurial spirit, monitoring eco system health and developing longitudinal research facilities are some of the other important concerns in the Indian agricultural research system. When plant breeding got dominated by the practice of making selections in international nurseries and releasing varieties instead of painstaking seven to eight year breeding cycles of complex crossing programmes, the faster mortality of such rapidly released varieties was inevitable. The incentive systems for scientists unfortunately have not been upgraded and calibrated in a manner that social, professional and individual interests can converge. The organisational design does not let new forms of partnerships and networks to emerge. The current crisis in Indian agriculture is a consequence of the outdated policies and irrelevant organisational and institutional designs. There is no escape from major restructuring of agricultural research policy and institutions. I may be forgiven for being too critical at several places in my submission. Thousands of innovations and traditional knowledge identified from more than 500 districts have proved, if a proof was needed that Indian farmers, artisans, pastoralists and mechanics are extremely creative and engagement with them can not be avoided by institutional science for too long without inviting an unfortunate backlash.