VISAKHAPATNAM: With the new government promising major changes for the better in the agro-sector, agriculturists, horticulturists and consumers alike are hoping for a much better deal and a wider basket of offerings to choose from. 
Pointing out that food security in India has largely been dependent on mega crops like rice and wheat, agriculturist K Narayana Murthy, said that the focus needs to shift to food grains such as jowar, millets, barley and oats that require far less irrigation and provide a more wholesome and balanced diet. 
"But unfortunately, heavy irrigation projects have been focused on increasing the output of these two crops. This overdependence is reducing the genetic diversity available and making our soil more vulnerable, making it unsustainable in the long run," he said pointing out that the area under paddy cultivation is 4.3 lakh plus hectares in North Coastal AP. 
There was a need to usher in a more streamlined market mechanism to benefit the farmer and the consumer and also scrap the MNREGS, according to agriculturist V S Raju. "There are high expectations of both new governments. If they wish to salvage agriculture, they must either get rid of MNREGS or directly connect it to agricultural and horticultural productivity by encouraging farmers opting for MNREGS to work in the farm sector. They must also ensure that the domestic market is rid of agents as only a streamlined market can keep the farmer and consumer happy," Raju said. 
R N Sarma, a horticulturist from Narsipatnam division, pointed out that farmers who own 25 acres of full grown mango and cashew topes could expect to make roughly Rs 2 lakh each year for the entire extent. "It is the lease holding distributer and the wholesaler who make a killing. The wholesaler even controls the retail market as most of the small retail vendors are actually his agents," he said. 
Officials in the agriculture and horticulture department too talked about the need to develop infrastructure to enable the growth of agro-industry in the rural areas. "If the government is serious about the agro industry, it must set up more cold-storage facilities, ripening centres (for fruits) and better road connectivity," said an official of the agricultural department. 
G Prabhakar Rao, assistant director, horticulture department said the previous regime had, in the last couple of years, put in place a plan to ensure a seed-to-consumer linkage, both in agro and horticultural sectors, as part of which a lot of work had gone into the development of cold storage facilities. "The previous regime tried to reach out to the consumer through special bazaars and also provide quality produce by introducing ripening centres. Things are going to move in this direction hopefully and the consumer will get a better deal," he said. 
However, he did concede that the streamlining of the market chain was easier said than done. "The Indian agro market is today controlled by non-producers. The shift to a producer controlled market has to be made," he said.