Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday emphasised on the need of second green revolution of India which is ‘more inclusive and more sustainable’ even as India achieved a record foodgrain production of 241 million tonnes (MT) in 2010-11.
Terming climate change as biggest challenge to country’s agriculture, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday emphasised on the need of second green revolution of India which is ‘more inclusive and more sustainable’ even as India achieved a record foodgrain production of 241 million tonnes (MT) in 2010-11.
“We all look back proudly to our green revolution, which helped us overcome food shortages and banish the spectre of starvation. But, today we find that the regions of the country which witnessed the green revolution are suffering from problems of environmental degradation. In many other regions of the country, particularly in eastern India, yields continue to be much lower than what is attainable,” said the prime minister in his address at the 83rd Foundation Day of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) here.
On achieving record production of 241 MT foodgrains, especially wheat, maize, pulses, Manmohan Singh said: “Oilseed production also set a new record. I salute all our farmers and our agricultural scientists for these sterling achievements.” He also complimented state governments, chief ministers and their agriculture ministers for their efforts in increasing agricultural productivity and production.
The estimated 241 MT foodgrain production is higher by 5 MT as announced by the agriculture ministry in its third estimate. It is also higher by 23 MT as compared to previous crop year 2009-10. PM noted that India’s total demand for foodgrains is projected to touch 281 MT by 2020-21.
He, however, noted that challenges Indian agriculture faces in coming years remains enormous. “Though we have achieved self sufficiency in cereal production, we continue to depend on imports for pulses and edible oils. We continue to face the problem of under-nutrition, particularly among our children and women. Ensuring food and nutritional security and eliminating hunger, including hidden hunger, remain a high national priority,” he added.
The PM also outlined climate change as a major challenge to country’s agriculture. “There is an urgent necessity to speed up our efforts to evolve climate-resilient crop varieties,” he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}