Make farming remunerative, says Venkaiah Naidu

Scientists urged to undertake more research to improve productivity of farmers.

Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu greeting eminent agriculture scientist Dr. Surender Lal Goswami after presenting him the 5th M. S. Swaminathan Award in Hyderabad on Sunday. Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday urged scientists to undertake more research to improve farm yields and thereby turn agriculture into a remunerative occupation.

The challenge is to empower small and marginal farmers, something crucial not just for them, but also for food security and economic growth, he said, presenting the 5th M. S. Swaminathan Award to agricultural scientist Surender Lal Goswami. An initiative of the Retired ICAR Employees Association and Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd, the award was presented at a function in the city.

Agricultural output had improved significantly in many States, a list topped by Madhya Pradesh and comprising among others Gujarat, Jharkhand and West Bengal. This was bound to relive burden on traditional food basket States, but more needs to be done to consolidate the gains, declared Mr. Naidu, who is also Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation besides Parliamentary Affairs.

Debt traps

Absence of good remuneration coupled with the high cost of education and healthcare pushed farmers into debt traps, he said, underscoring the need to promote high value activities such as horticulture and floriculture. Assured income could save farmers from the brink, the Union Minister said. Lack of good facilities in rural areas was also a reason for farmers giving up agriculture and migrating to city.

In addition to government investing more in healthcare and education, private sector should be “encouraged in a big way” to develop the two sectors, he said. Hailing the contributions of Mr. Goswami, a former director of the National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad, Mr. Naidu recalled his association with leading agricultural scientist M. S. Swaminathan in Rajya Sabha.

Referring to Prof. Swaminathan as a “rishi in krishi” and his “enlightening speeches”, the Union Minister said debates in the Parliament were a rarity nowadays. “It is either talkout or walkout,” he remarked.

Mr. Goswami, who has over 37 years of research and teaching experience in the field of animal genetics and embryo biotechnology, said he accepted the award with all humility.

Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister Prathipati Pula Rao said Centre and States should work together to encourage farmers and develop rural areas.