“The farmer takes care of the needs of one billion people. His condition must be improved”
Stressing the need for a “a second green revolution” as called for in the current Economic Survey, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said this would be one of India's major achievements in the coming years.
“We feel, with our efforts, our nation's major achievement in the next five years will be a second green revolution, not just in crops, but also in fisheries, meat, eggs, fruits and vegetables,” Mr. Pawar told reporters on the sidelines of a party meet on Panchayati Raj on Saturday.
He highlighted various areas of thrust, namely water availability, reduction in interest rates on farm loans from 12 to five per cent and more, the need to factor in cost of cultivation in the prices of agricultural produce and the need for research in agriculture.
In his address, he cautioned against ignoring 62 per cent of the country dependent on agriculture. “India covers two and a half per cent of the total land in the world. It has three and a half per cent of the world's water resources. However, it accounts for 17 per cent of the world population. [Given this imbalance], the farmer takes care of the needs of one billion people. His condition must be improved,” Mr. Pawar said.
Good sign
He hailed the 5.6 per cent agricultural growth as “a good sign” and said this should continue. “I think the UPA [United Progressive Alliance] government is paying a lot of attention to agriculture. On the 28th [the day of the budget], we expect to see this focus,” he said.
On the issue of food security, Mr. Pawar called for boosting food production. “To improve agricultural production, budgetary allocation for irrigation has to be expanded, increased power has to be made available and more investments in seeds need to be brought in,” he said.
He called for advancing the food processing sector and packaging facilities to reduce wastage of farm produce. “We lose Rs. 50-crore worth of produce due to a lack of processing units. In Thailand, 70 per cent of the food is processed, whereas in India only two per cent is,” he said.
Jaitapur
Mr. Pawar endorsed the controversial Jaitapur nuclear power project, saying it would address the country's energy needs without affecting the environment. “Maharashtra has been facing a shortage of power since 1995. The pace of investments has slowed owing to energy concerns. So, it is the government's responsibility to generate power. The Jaitapur project will generate power at cheaper rates. There was opposition to the Dabhol power project, originally Enron, but there was no effect on the environment. I speak knowingly, since Dr. Anil Kakodkar [former head of the Atomic Energy Commission] and other experts have given an assurance on Jaitapur's safety. If the people have any concerns, the government should address them,” he said.
In response to a question on the various scams, Mr. Pawar said he had “no doubt about [Prime Minister] Manmohan Singh's integrity and honesty” and neither did the Opposition. “Some issues have come before the nation and they are at the stage of investigation. Our responsibility is to cooperate with the probe. The truth will come out,” he said.
Keywords: green revolution, Sharad Pawar, Agriculture Minister
"We feel, with our efforts, our nation's major achievement in the next five years will be a second green revolution, not just in crops, but also in fisheries, meat, eggs, fruits and vegetables". But you should not complain about the rotting food grains, the government's inability to distribute them to the end-user in a country where suicides due to poverty and hunger are an everyday occurrence. 'The 5.6 per cent agricultural growth [i]s 'a good sign' and...this should continue.' I think the UPA [United Progressive Alliance] government is paying a lot of attention to agriculture. On the 28th [the day of the budget], we expect to see this focus.' But please do not nominate this statement for the joke of the millennium awards. The government may be paying a lot of attention to agriculture, but not to the agriculture minister, who reciprocates by not paying attention to his ministry. One suspects whether he read the statement made by a member of opposition criticising him and his ministry. But in spite of the busy ICC World Cup schedule, he has the time to do an introspection. You should congratulate him.
I agree with Mr Sivasakthivel Kandasamy and Pankaj Malviya. It is very clear that the corrupt minister is on his way to stage a food crisis before announcing that only GENETICALLY MODIFIED crops are the answers to feed the masses! That will be the death blow to India. They introduced BT(Bacillus thuringiensis)bacterial DNA infused BRINJAL AND COTTON SEEDS! RESULT: Thousands of farmer suicides! The farmer doesn't need any financial assistance if he uses his saved traditional SEEDS... Zero Budget Natural Farming is the answer to all of INDIAN agri problems and can also produce an abundance of food. If not taken seriously and let loose, the minister won't shy off to bring large scale commercial fisheries projects back. (Result: More fish produced to serve people and exports. But in reality, more contamination of dangerous elements in the fishes and when another tsunami strikes, all of the coast will be wiped off again!) People should start to grow their own food gardens in their homes again. Fancy lawns are a crime. They are not meant to be green pastures in India.
I hope Mr Singh would return the complement and certify Mr Pawar's honesty and integrity. With such cooperation, why look for truth, when we can have reciprocal certificates of honesty ?
Second Green Revolution essentially means prevention of fertile farmlands to be converted into industrial or residential lands. The pace at which 'Real Estate Mafia' is eating the fertile farmlands to construct villas and apartments is most dangerous for nation. In our country at one end we are suffering from acute food prices, on the other hand, few corrupt people are grabbing lands and purchasing multiple villas and houses. People just don't need houses to live but more essentially everyone needs food to eat. This kind of situation will lead to civil war in future. Today is the right time to prevent such a civil war happening. Not only government but everyone of common citizens shall come forward to solve the problems in a correct way.
With the focus being on National Food Security, it will be the Government- both Central, State and their agencies, which will be the largest consumer of agricultural produce (at least cereals) for meeting their onward distribution obligations. Thus the link to the Markets for a majority of the Small Farmer/ Producer will be the government and their agencies. The onus will be on the government, therefore, to offer a good price for their produce to the farmers to encourage them to produce more and produce more efficiently. Allow the farmers to produce efficiently and supply their produce to the procuring agencies. Let the farmers collect their consumption requirements under the provisions of the Food Security Act, through the PDS. The inefficiencies of input supply, etc., should not be loaded on to the shoulders of the farmers.
First, while stressing the need for the second green revolution, isn't it obvious that people should be encouraged to go for family planning. Isn't it obvious that the resources are limited.Second, Nuclear energy is relatively clean compared to Coal and similar forms of power production if it is implemented with utmost care. With ramping corruption, I couldn't think about the consequence of corruption in this arena and the subsequent payment that people have to pay for it. Another, concern in this area is the eco-friendly implementation and rehabilitation for the people displaced due to this project. What beats me is why isn't the farmers encouraged to used solar power of wind power...? Third, I believe or at least hope the second revolution is not akin to the first achieving productivity at the cost of the well being and the legacy of our Indian citizens. The harm of fertilizers and the need for bio farming is stressed all over the world. While our ministers are pitching for BT products. I would also like to draw attention to the use of banned chemicals in apiculture. The second green revolution cannot be accepted to end as a means of justifying blatant acts of corruption and negligence. Second green revolution is a must, not just for feeding the people but also for their well being. So, the second revolution should be an eco-friendly and anti-corrupt revolution. Whether our weak PM can achieve it or will he justify as he did for 2G scam remains to be seen.
Mr.Pawar, Agriculture is not your cup of tea.Find more time for cricket.I hope in next change of cabinet(not just re-shuffle) the PM is able to find a competent person to fill the job.What did Mr.Pawar do when he found out that million of tons of grain meant for the poor people was stolen and sold in the black market?India needs proper storage and refrigeration.Yes, we do need second green revolution.We need more research in biotechnology.We do not need GM food that makes us dependent on foreign firms for seeds
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