Return
to Story Page
To print: Select File and then Print from your
browser's menu
PTI
Jaipur, Feb 23: India needs to adopt an ``ever-green revolution'' based on eco- technologies to ensure sustainable food security for an expected population of about 1.5 billion in the coming century, according to the forerunner of India's green revolution, MS Swaminathan.
Delivering a public lecture at the 4th Agricultural Science Congress here yesterday, Swaminathan pointed out that the annual growth of agriculture had fallen below the population figures since 1990.
Indian agriculture not only provides food for a population of one nearly one billion but is also the means of livelihood for 65 per cent of the country's population, he said in his lecture titled ``Integrated Natural Resources Management--Key to Sustainable Advances in Agricultural Productivity.''
``The annual growth rate in agriculture, which had risen to 3.3 per cent during the 1980's has come down to about 1.8 per cent in the current decade as against a population growth of about two per cent,'' he said.
The pace of agriculturalgrowth could be enhanced through three major revolutions that is the gene revolution, the eco-technology revolution and the information and communication revolution taking place in area of science and technology, he said.
Quoting Lesster Brown, a foreign expert, the noted agriculture scientist said: ``Agriculturists abroad are predicting that India may have to import substantial amounts of grain once again during the next century.''
``Therefore, India has to attain an agricultural growth rate of 4.0 per cent neither for its short- term gain nor long- term loss, but to meet the food demand of all its people,'' he suggested.
The green revolution had provided a breathing spell for achieving a balance between human numbers and the food output, Swaminathan said.
``But, an evergreen revolution is needed for sustainable food security if we foster production technologies on the foundation of integrated natural resource management,'' he said.
``At the same time there is need for concurrent attention toon-farm and off-farm employment, so that agriculture also becomes an instrument for more jobs and income,'' he added.
India should develop a precautionary non-tariff barrier package to safeguard the livelihood security of the rural and urban poor and the ecological security of the country, Swaminathan said.
This could be done by invoking the food security clause for restricting imports of food and dairy products based on a careful study of their potential impact on the livelihood security of the poor, he added.
Land, Swaminathan pointed out, was a shrinking resource and thus, there was no option but to produce more food through higher yields per units of land, water, energy and time.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
------------------------------------------------------------
This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
------------------------------------------------------------