K Rosaiah also urged universities and research institutions to take up development of varieties suitable for dry land agriculture.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister K Rosiah today voiced concern at 'stagnated agricultural productivity' and suggested a three-point programme to increase productivity and avert food shortage, including the need for the Centre to invest more on irrigation.
'Unfortunately, world over, in the last 10 years, agricultural growth has been hampered by problems of stagnated productivity' he said in his address at the inauguration of three day conference, 'Eliminating Hunger and Poverty; Priorities in Global Agricultural Research and Development Agenda in an Era of Climate Change and Rising food Prices.'
This was not only impacting food security of the country, but also incomes of farmers in real terms, Rosiah said.
Bridging the yield gaps, augmenting the entire irrigation potential and development of varieties suitable for dry land agriculture were the keys to future development of agriculture, he said.
'As most state governments do not have adequate resources, the Central government will do well to take up for implementation of large irrigation projects as they have done in the case of power,' said.
He urged universities and research institutions to take up development of varieties suitable for dryland agriculture.
'We also have to come up with location specific farming systems for these areas, taking into account the livelihood requirements,' he said.
Rosiah said his government's fiscal and non-fiscal initiatives to boost agriculture had seen Andhra Pradesh achieve a 6.8% growth rate in agriculture and allied activities in 2004-09, much higher than the UPA government's target of 4 per cent.
'In quantitative terms, our foodgrains production recorded an average annual growth rate of 8.9 per cent for the same period as against nation's 1.9 percent,' Rosiah added.
Earlier, Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi said his government was taking steps to ensure sustainable water security in the 'rain shadow' state. This included rainwater harvesting,desilting tanks and promoting economic use of water
'Tank-fed agriculture is being given importance. We are trying to revive community care and management of tanks. We plan to launch a mission for tank-fed agriculture in Ramanathapuram district,' he said.
He said Tamil Nadu was in the process of setting up five genetic gardens in various parts of the state in association with M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, organisers of the conference.
The three-day conference will deliberate upon hunger elimination.
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