More agri science institutes on anvil

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Chennai: In order to increase productivity in the agricultural sector and increase farmers’ income, the Union agriculture ministry, through the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), will set up more krishi vigyan kendras in addition to the existing 569, minister of agriculture & consumer affairs, food and public distribution, Sharad Pawar, told the 4th National Conference on Krishi Vigyan Kendras, at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, on Friday.

One KVK each would be set up in 28 new districts and other districts to be created during the 11th Plan. One additional KVK each would be set up in all the 50 larger districts during the Plan period, keeping in view the potential of a district for agricultural growth and scope for diversification in addition to geographical area, rural population and net sown area.

Inaugurating the three-day conference, organised by ICAR and TNAU, Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi, requested the agricultural scientists to explore all the avenues to develop agriculture, since they are directly in contact with the “sons of the soil”, who till and toil”. “The Scientists should serve as a “ladder” to them to scale better heights in their economic and social status’’, he said.

Karunanidhi said ``at the global level, our country has stood second in production of sugarcane, second in rice and wheat production, first in pulses production, third in oilseeds and second in vegetables and fruit production. Although the performance is exemplary, we still have to achieve a lot in agriculture. Hence, I request the scientists to utilise this opportunity and re-do their objectives and re-dedicate themselves to empower the farming community.