'Talk science not application'

By Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI, JAN. 6. At a Science Congress, you only talk science. And the language of science is English. If you ask a question on application of science or its extension, in a non-English language, you will be unanswered first and unheeded next.

So when a progressive farmer from North India asked at a Public Forum meeting on ``How Food Secure is India?'' what should farmers do for marketing their produce when procurement agencies do not lift causing suicides of farmers in Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, the facilitator of the meet, Mr. Sharad Joshi, asked him to stick to the theme.

At another stage when a remark was made from the audience about Multi-National Companies (and transgenics), someone from the dais roared: ``What is wrong in being a Multi- National company?'' Another questioner from Bihar who asked about the ban on kesari dal was similarly brushed aside. While making a point of describing himself as a ``farmer'', Mr. Joshi made no attempt to interpret the questions of farmers in the audience for the benefit of panelists which included Dr. M.S. Swaminathan or vice- versa.

The panelists described the major problems in food security as limited irrigable land, high production but low productivity per unit hectare, low purchasing power with ultra- poor, and lack of research for (need-based) stress-prone conditions such as drought and ofcourse, population growth.

Dr. M.S. Swaminathan said he was soon coming up with a Food Insecurity Atlas that would give indicators of food insecurity in the country. He defined food security as ``availability, accessibility and absorption''. Sustainability can be achieved by community food and water security systems. ``The power to purchase grain is an important factor in individual nutrition,'' he said.

Dr. G.S. Khush, an expert in hybrid rice at IRRI in Manila and Dr. S.K. Vasal, an expert in hybrid maize at CIMMYT in Bangkok, underscored the need for use of biotechnology and hybrid technology respectively for improving yields. ``About 60 to 70 per cent more food would be required in the next 20 to 25 years because of increase in population and higher incomes and living standards of people in India,'' Dr. Khush said. He talked of exploring the opportunity of enhancing the yield in the eastern region of India.

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