Strengthening the Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in Wheat, Maize and Barley Value Chains: Policy Advisories for the New Normal Agriculture

Abstract

Agriculture is the soul of the Indian economy and a source of livelihood for around 48% of the population. Worldwide, the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, a viral outbreak, disrupted the economies, especially the performance of the agricultural systems. In India, the lockdown imposed coincided with the Rabi (Winter)season which affected the regular functioning of the essential food commodities value chain, such as wheat, maize and barley. To mitigate the unforeseen risk and cope with the disruption for revival and prosper in the new normal agriculture, setting strategies and policy advisories are the need of the hour. The major shift in the predominant supply chain for demand due to the pandemic has disrupted the domestic and foreign trade. The prevalence of hunger, unemployment and malnutrition have further exacerbated the economic and social instability caused by the pandemic. Export sanctions with market restrictions and containment mechanisms affects the agricultural product supply chains. In order to improve the efficiency and performance of the supply chain, the role of stakeholders in adding value and strength to the trade in various forms and facets is very significant.

In the aftermath of the pandemic, the government intervened with a slew of policy initiatives like ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (Self-reliant India Movement)’, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (Prime Minister’s Farmer’s Tribute Fund) and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (Prime Minister’s Food Security Scheme for the Poor) to protect and revive the agricultural sector. Disruptions along the supply chain may lead to food shortages affecting food and nutritional security, and hence we need policy advisories for each stakeholder involved in the value chain to continue the uninterrupted supply of food. Investment in rural development programmes to minimize the urban migration crisis, and the government’s position in securing food and social security are very vital. The key goal for revival and prosperity of the sector post-pandemic is to promote the multi-stakeholder partnerships. Several policy advisories viz., enabling contract farming, futures trading, mechanization, direct income support, implementing staggered support price and procurement, and resetting the research priorities have been suggested for the new normal agriculture. The suggested policy advisories targets to improve the multi-stakeholder partnerships in wheat, maize and barley in response to the rapidly evolving food value chains, as these crops play a major role in ensuring food and nutrition security.