CPA aims 50% agri produce boost by 2030

Raises concerns over high water consuming crops, asks scientists to come out with low water-consuming, heat-resistant and high-production crop varities

Taking into consideration the impending food crisis in the world, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in its meeting in Chandigarh finalised a blueprint to enhance agricultural production by at least 50 per cent by 2030 on the same area of land.

The meet also raised concerns over high water consuming crops, after the advent of green revolution, and asked scientists to come out with low water-consuming, heat-resistant and high-production crop varities.

Giving a detailed presentation on the second day of the meet, Guy Poulter of Natural Resource Institute of University of Greenwich (UK) outlined a grim scenario and said it was a matter of great concern that over 1.2 billion people in the world live on less than a dollar a day.

He said with the population projected to be at nine billion by 2050, the world would have to produce 50 per cent more food and energy on the same area of land by 2030. Poulter, however, said agriculture sector was currently using 70 per cent of fresh water supply and this projected increase in the production with the same type of seeds would require 30 per cent more fresh water, triggering a global water crisis. He said we should learn a lesson from the pitfalls of green revolution and focus on low water-consuming crops.

Describing Asia as the future engine for the agricultural growth in the world, Poulter said Asia's economic rise after 1960s has been momentous and with increasing prosperity, the world would have to brace for feeding more mouths who have become prosper enough to take more food. Even after this prosperity, he said, quarter of a billion people of Asia go to bed hungry every night.

He said with 80 per cent Asians depending on agriculture sector and 87 per cent of farmers having small farms, the new policy should have more dispersing effect.

Giving a call to parliamentarians for coming out with institutional network for the agricultural growth Poulter stressed the review of agricultural laws and policies coming in the way of growth of agricultural sector.