Substantial increase in productivity can bring food security, says Agriculture Minister
Updated: Feb 13, 2015 04:09:35pm
Agra, Feb 13 (KNN) Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said that a substantial increase in productivity is the answer to achieve food security in an efficient and sustainable manner.
Inaugurating the India Seed Congress-2015 in Agra today, the minister said that increase in farmers’ incomes and quality food supply to consumers at affordable prices were closely linked to supply of quality seeds and increase in productivity.
Singh said that apart from increased productivity to produce more from less input including water and land, the losses that occur due to droughts, floods, salinity, biotic and other abiotic stresses also need to be eliminated decisively through the adoption of appropriate technologies.
Citing that the private organized seed industry has significantly contributed and successfully complemented with the public sector, the minister said the government would support private-public partnership (PPP) initiatives for overall development of the sector.
He said that international institutional collaborations both in public and private sector was essential to introduce innovations and technologies to the farmers. However such arrangements should benefit all the stakeholders and faster technology diffusion and adoption can happen only if there is a rational regime for technology pricing and licensing which enables a level playing field and also fosters healthy competition.
Emphasising that while agriculture feeds the nation, seeds feed agriculture, Singh said seeds were a critical determinant of productivity in agriculture.
By embedding various types of values, like health enhancing benefits, crop protection and water and soil nutrients to resist adverse climatic conditions, a seed is eminently suited to increase productivity, he said.
He said appropriate policy support for seed improvements through conventional and biotech methods, in combination with improved agronomic practices, would greatly help in ensuring food and nutritional security of the country. (KNN/ST)
Inaugurating the India Seed Congress-2015 in Agra today, the minister said that increase in farmers’ incomes and quality food supply to consumers at affordable prices were closely linked to supply of quality seeds and increase in productivity.
Singh said that apart from increased productivity to produce more from less input including water and land, the losses that occur due to droughts, floods, salinity, biotic and other abiotic stresses also need to be eliminated decisively through the adoption of appropriate technologies.
Citing that the private organized seed industry has significantly contributed and successfully complemented with the public sector, the minister said the government would support private-public partnership (PPP) initiatives for overall development of the sector.
He said that international institutional collaborations both in public and private sector was essential to introduce innovations and technologies to the farmers. However such arrangements should benefit all the stakeholders and faster technology diffusion and adoption can happen only if there is a rational regime for technology pricing and licensing which enables a level playing field and also fosters healthy competition.
Emphasising that while agriculture feeds the nation, seeds feed agriculture, Singh said seeds were a critical determinant of productivity in agriculture.
By embedding various types of values, like health enhancing benefits, crop protection and water and soil nutrients to resist adverse climatic conditions, a seed is eminently suited to increase productivity, he said.
He said appropriate policy support for seed improvements through conventional and biotech methods, in combination with improved agronomic practices, would greatly help in ensuring food and nutritional security of the country. (KNN/ST)
Loading...
