PM bats for bio-tech to improve farm output

As the country battles food inflation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today called upon agriculturists to judiciously use biotechnology to improve productivity and enhance the farmers’ income.

He said though foodgrain production in 2010-2011 is now estimated to be at an all-time high of 241 million tonnes, up 2.17 per cent from the third advanced estimate released in April and 10.4 per cent more than the production last year, much more needs to be done.

"Although foodgrain production has since 2006-07 regained the requisite momentum and the agriculture sector as a whole is set to grow by three per cent per annum during the 11th Plan, we cannot be complacent,” Singh said while delivering foundation day lecture of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

He said overall growth of agriculture is likely to be three per cent during the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012), which is less than the targeted four per cent. “Less than 4 per cent growth in agriculture is leading to unacceptable levels of food price inflation,” he said.

Pointing out the country was still facing problem of under-nutrition and dependent on imports of pulses and edible oils, he said, "We clearly need a second green revolution that is broad-based, inclusive and sustainable.”

The prime minister noted that foodgrains demand is projected at about 280 million tonne (mt) by 2020-21 and to meet this requirement, the foodgrains output needs to grow by two per cent annually, which he said was an "enormous task".

"The enormity of the task ahead is indicated by the fact that during the 10 year period (1997-98 to 2006-07), our foodgrain production grew at an average annual rate of only one per cent," Singh said.

Expressing concern over stagnated crop yields over the years, he said the 12th Plan should contain all measures to accelerate farm sector growth.

Singh emphasised that there is need to step up spending in agriculture research, increase irrigation facilities and promote biotechnology carefully to boost crop productivity and enhance farmers' income.

"India currently spends about 0.6 per cent of its agricultural GDP on agricultural R&D. This needs to be enhanced at least two to three times by 2020, since a substantial portion of our agricultural growth would come through the application of new technologies," he said.

The prime minister also awarded five states — Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Orrisa, Assam, and Tripura — with 'Krishi Karman' award for achieving high foodgrain output in 2010-11.