Keeping the farmers’ interest foremost in our research programmes: Radha Mohan Singh

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Mr. Radha Mohan Singh addressed the Plenary Session of 9^th Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference at Berlin, Germany today. In his addressed Shri Singh said that keeping the farmers’ interest foremost in our research programmes, there is a need to optimize the resources’ use efficiency.  Mr Singh said that water is certainly the most critical resource for agriculture, gaining primacy even on other important inputs like soil. The competing use of water for agriculture and non-agricultural purposes, inefficient irrigation practices, injudicious use of pesticides, poor conservation infrastructure, and lack of governance have lead to increasing water scarcity and pollution worldwide. 

   Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said that though India is among the leading producers of foodgrains in the world but India’s productivity vis-à-vis world average and highest yield (kg/ha) for major crops  cereals, pulses, oilseeds, sugarcane and vegetables remains short of the highest levels achieved elsewhere in the world, except castor an industrial oil crop.  India has highest courage, production and productivity of castor in the world mainly because of hybrid technologies and water use efficiency in castor.  Similarly, in livestock sector also, despite India being the top producer of milk, bovine productivity is only 1538 kg per year as compared to the world average of 2238 kg per year. The low productivity levels also indicate existence of enormous untapped potential. Shri Singh further said that efficiency-mediated improvement in productivity is the most viable option to raise production. Development of new crop varieties with more efficient photosynthesis and shorter duration would be of immense help in increasing cropping intensity.