Expressing concern over slow growth in the farm sector, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Wednesday asked the policy makers to keep agriculture at the centre stage of the country's development agenda.
"The slow growth of farm economics is a major challenge before the policy makers and the scientific community," she said in the foundation day lecture of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in New Delhi.
Talking about the pathways for accelerating growth of the farm sector, Patil said, "We must enhance productivity on a constant basis and bring about second green revolution, which along with agro-biotechnology can translate into an ever-green revolution in India."
For India, the President said, it is a challenge to feed a population of over one billion people.
Pointing out that per capita availability of resources is about four to six times less as compared to the world average, she said the availability is likely to further decrease due to demographic factors and pressures from the competing uses of land.
"But whatever the constraints, we have to provide food security for all as a national priority," Patil emphasised.
The President said since women undertake approximately 65 per cent of the farm work from planting to harvesting and post-harvest operations, pro-women policies and approaches would invariably result in increased production.
Emphasising that farmers should benefit from IT revolution, Patil said a communication system that provides information about agricultural policies, markets and weather, credit and crop insurance services is important.
She said the country's research system should intensify the linkages with the public and private extension system at all levels, where the actual uptake and impact happens.
In order to spread knowledge-based and demand-driven agriculture, the President said agriculture schools should be established at taluka level and existing ones be reoriented.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the country has added 10 million tonnes of food grains every year in the last four years. "But, we cannot rest. We have a large population. Our needs are growing. Our aspirations are growing."
Home Minister Shivraj Patil underlined the need of developing scientific expertise to produce agriculture products on ocean beds.
Patil said since land cannot be expanded, it should be put to the best possible use for farming, besides using our oceanic exclusive economic zones for farm produce. "As whatever can be produced on land, can also be produced on ocean beds through use of science," he said.