Agri Sec stresses on use of innovative farm technologies

Agriculture Secretary S K Pattanayak Monday stressed on the use of innovative technologies to boost output and prosperity of the farming community.

Speaking at an event here, the secretary also said that the goal of agricultural development in India needs to go beyond the production, productivity and acreage.

"Important as they are but these three are merely output indicators so far as the farmers as producers are concerned. The outcome from their perspective is to be seen in their gains in terms of profit and prosperity," a release said quoting him.

Pattanayak said bright agriculture outlook doesn't mean a relaxed life to the government.

"The challenge that such a situation of abundance puts up before us is that of maintaining food prices at levels that ensure farmers get their due profits, while not letting the general consumers remain deprived of the gains of bumper harvest," he said.

Food inflation based on Wholesale Price Index has remained benign during 2017-18 and 2018-19 (April-June) at 1.9 per cent and 1.2 per cent, respectively, due to a record foodgrain production.

Inflation in cereals remained low at 0.3 per cent and 1.5 per cent during the mentioned period and for pulses it remained negative since 2017-18.

The secretary further said that farmers face numerous problems in both managing agricultural production with the minimum possible cost and selling their produce at the maximum feasible agricultural produce prices because of serious market imperfections.

Farmers face farm input market imperfections. Similarly, when it comes to realizing maximum prices, the agricultural produce market ground realities disable and deprive the farmers of their due prices, he said.

Pattanayak stated that farmers can profit and prosper with better use of land, animal, water, and forestry resources to maximize their income.

"This requires serious attention to use innovative farm technology and management to increase both production and earning on the one hand and reducing uncertainties related to crop, prices, and supporting services on the other hand," he said.

The country's foodgrain production has touched an all-time high of 284.83 million tonnes during 2017-18 crop year that ended last month.