New Delhi: Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan appealed to the scientific community to work in the interest of small and marginal farmers and bring a revolution in Indian agriculture. Chouhan said that about 86 per cent of the farmers here are small-marginal landholders. We have to make the model of farming such that farmers can earn their livelihood properly even in farming up to one hectare. The agriculture minister was speaking at the alumni meet of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) at Pusa, New Delhi today.
Addressing the agricultural scientists, the union minister said let us together make a roadmap on which not only the welfare of Indian agriculture and farmers can be achieved, but let us make India the food basket of the world, feed the world, and export.
Chouhan stressed the need to make India self-reliant in pulses and oilseeds. He said, “Adoption of technological advancement is necessary to increase the income of our farmers and to meet the changing scenario. We have to ensure that our agricultural policy and research bring a positive change in the lives of small and marginal farmers.”
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Further, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that it is my insistence to completely change the scenario of agriculture. I want to connect farmers and science. We have to connect farmers with science and for this, the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are very useful. Since the day I became agriculture minister, I have been thinking day and night about how to make the lives of farmers better, he said.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog, emphasised that it is imperative to understand the real problems of farmers and find solutions in policy making. “Our priority should be to make agricultural policies for the interest of small and marginal farmers. We have to ensure that they can use the latest technologies and resources,” he added.
Also present at the IARI alumni meet, Dr. RS Paroda, former Director General ICAR, said that the need of the hour is to upgrade Indian agriculture with the help of innovation and scientific research. We have to test and implement new technologies in collaboration with farmers, which will increase their yield and income.
Addressing the meeting, Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary, DARE and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), stressed the need for collective efforts for advancement in the agriculture sector. He said that it is only through collaboration between the government, scientific community and farmers that we can take Indian agriculture to new heights.
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During the conference, it was concluded that collective efforts are necessary to enhance the income of farmers and promote technological advancement in the agriculture sector. The participants assured their support to promote innovation and research in Indian agriculture.
The scientists and experts present at the conference also shared their views and resolved to take concrete steps to make Indian agriculture self-reliant and prosperous. They stressed the need to increase investment in agricultural research and development and talked about the introduction of new schemes and programmes to help farmers.
All the experts and scientists at this meeting pledged to secure and enrich the future of Indian agriculture. They stressed that it is not only the duty of the government and the scientific community but the entire country, to help the farmers and take Indian agriculture to new heights.
In this meeting, IARI Director, Dr. AK Singh and DDG, ICAR, Dr. RS Aggarwal were also present. These experts had an in-depth discussion on the challenges and prospects of Indian agriculture. They stressed the need for a scientific approach and policy reforms to address the problems of farmers.
