Income security for farmers, conserving water and soil health should be the top agenda of the new government said noted agriculture scientist, Prof MS Swaminathan, at the Agriculture Agenda setting meeting in New Delhi on June 3.
Pressing for water security for crops and income security for farmers, he sought for greater investment in farm sector towards increasing the contribution of small holders. Drudgery of farm women and remunerative price to farm produce is must for making Indian farms profitable and farmers globally competitive, said the professor, and also elaborated that the farm Agenda discussed with PM Narendra Modi will focus on resource and allocation in coming times.
“Agriculture is important agenda for the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for delivering on its poll promises,” said Dr MJ Khan, President, Agriculture Today Group and BJP National Executive Member. He added that the PM during the election campaign consistently raised farmer’s issues and sought new deals for the farm sector to help unlock its potential for creating jobs and contributing to the economy. Sanjeev Chopra, Joint Secretary, Government of India emphasised on the role of private sectors. He said, “Agriculture is India’s best private sector and should be given more emphasis. Cooperatives are high on agenda of the government and it’s time to take fresh look on our strategic agriculture investment.”
Dr AK Srivastava, Director, National Dairy Research Institute pointed that the priority of the government should be to enhance collection of milk from the farmer’s door and develop infrastructure for better procurement of milk.
Dr JS Sandhu, Agriculture Commissioner, Government of India, talked about expansion of the irrigation area, adoption of micro irrigation and regional cooperation for better sharing of varieties and germplasm with neighbouring countries.
Prof Abhijit Sen, Member Planning Commission said that the parameter to measure increase in food production is the increase in Food Inflation. He mentioned the importance of science and technology to increase agricultural production and said, for this South Asian Universities will play a vital role for the identification and implementation of the new technology. He also shared his view to decentralise the decision making powers from Centre to State government.
Other dignitaries on the occasion were Dr Gurbachan Singh, Chairman, ASRB, Shri KB Chowdhary, President, Bhartiya Krishak Samaj Dr Swapan Datta, DDG, ICAR, Mr Alok Sinha, former chairman, FCI, Suman Sahai, Chairperson, Gene Campaign, Dr KL Chaddha, President, Horticulture Society of India.
The agenda and road map prepared from the inputs in this meeting shall be next presented at the highest level in the Government.
— Nishant K Azad
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