Agriculture policy analyst Devinder Sharma has called for a fundamental rethink of India’s farm policy, arguing that food security, farmer incomes, and ecological sustainability should take precedence over narrowly defined targets for ethanol, fertiliser production, and trade.
In an interview with The Economic Times Digital , Sharma argues that several current policy choices risk creating disconnects between these objectives. From the diversion of sugar and grains towards ethanol to the continued dependence on chemical fertilisers and the prospect of greater agricultural imports through free trade agreements (FTAs), Sharma says policymakers need to look beyond short-term gains and assess their long-term consequences.
Ethanol push raises concerns
The sugar sector, Sharma says, offers the perfect example of what he describes as a policy disconnect. India has moved from being a sugar exporter to importing sugar, while the government has attributed the recent tightening of availability primarily to factors such as weather, drought, and crop diseases. Sharma, however, believes that the diversion of sugar towards ethanol should also be considered an important factor.
