The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented the Krishi Karman Awards for the year 2011-12 to State Governments for exemplary performance in increasing food grain production at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (January 15, 2013).

Speaking on the occasion, the President said all-round progress in agriculture and allied sectors is a sine qua non for holistic rural development in the country. Our farmers have to quickly adapt in order to cope with the changing times. They have to upscale from engaging in agriculture for subsistence to taking up agriculture as a commercial venture.

The President said government would simultaneously need to focus on creation of employment opportunities in other sectors to provide income diversification to rural families who today are dependent for their livelihood solely on unviable land holdings. Agriculture also needs to be given priority access to power, credit, water and fertilizers, he added.

This release issued at 1515 hrs.