The seeds sown by the M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation over the last one year are now bearing fruits. In 2016, most of the panchayats in Tamil Nadu will become pulses panchayat, Dr. Swaminathan said.
The work done by the Foundation at Edaiyapatti panchayat in Pudukottai has been effective and now this place is being christened as ‘Pulses Panchayat’.
“Pulses do not require much water so we have now started pleading with panchayats to increase their production through community involvement,” Dr. Swaminathan said while delivering his address on ‘Importance of sustainable modern agricultural practices for making India a Food Sovereign Country’ at an event organised by the Andhra Chamber of Commerce.
2016 Year of Pulses
The year 2016 has been declared as International Year of Pulses, he said, adding that Tamil Nadu already has large number of pulses like toor dhal. Currently, India imports four million tones of pulses.
Dr. Swaminathan also pointed out food safety has now become important after the Maggie episode. “People are becoming conscious about their health,” he said. V. L. Indira Dutt, President of the Andhra Chamber of Commerce, said: “A more scientific farm policy is the need of the hour to determine proper usage of available resources like land and waterto produce the required quantum of agro products on an annual basis.”
“Guaranteed purchase policy as practiced in the western countries to buy the produce from the farmers at scientifically determined prices would also go a long way in enhancing agricultural production in India,” she said.
“In 2016, most of the panchayats in Tamil Nadu will become pulses panchayat”
