'Income security for farmer must be a priority of new govt'

Income security for farmers and conserving water and soil health should be the top priorities of the new government, eminent agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan said today.
Swaminathan said he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and presented him the agenda on agriculture for the new government.
"The income security for farmers, conserving water and soil health should be on top of the agenda of the new government," he said.
"I have also suggested for sea water farming in coastal regions of the country... To make use of the sea water for irrigation purposes," he added.
New Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh after taking charge had said the government would launch insurance scheme for farmers after determining their average income in the last 5-7 years.

"Farmers will take interest in agriculture only when their investment is guaranteed," Singh had said.
Swaminathan also said there was proposal to set up 60,000 pulses villages that needs to be implemented at the earliest.
He added that government should rename the Agriculture Ministry as 'Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare'.