Address by the President of India Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil on the occasion of special lecture on "Agriculture cannot wait "

I am very happy to be amidst you all today and it is immensely satisfying to note that to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of our Independence, the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences has organized a Special Lecture: ‘Agriculture Cannot Wait’. It is fascinating to note that Pt. Nehru, the visionary thinker, had echoed the same thoughts more than half a century ago when he remarked, “Everything can wait, but not agriculture’.  The theme of today’s lecture is of special relevance globally, as we are poised at a critical juncture grappling with the formidable task of eradicating hunger and poverty from our planet.

A nation is its people and our motherland is the abode of nearly one-sixth of all humanity.  Securing a better life for our citizens where each one of us, can lead lives of dignity and fulfillment therefore merits undivided attention in our development strategy.  A natural corollary to this is the attainment of the goal of food security for all.  The need to catalyze agricultural growth through a result-oriented agricultural development strategy with the synergized endeavours of our policymakers, the farming community, farmers organisations, farming labour, agricultural scientists and agri-business enterprises is indeed the call of the moment.

During the 60 years after Independence, we have made spectacular strides in the field of agriculture.  The chronic spectre of famine, which was commonplace during colonial rule, has long been obliterated from our memories. It is no mean achievement to be able to feed a population, which has crossed the one billion mark. I salute our farmers and congratulate our scientists who are responsible for this magnificent accomplishment and must add with all emphasis that the entire nation is proud of their dedicated work.  We have amidst us, Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, a distinguished scientist who played a stellar role in ushering in the First Green Revolution.  What is noteworthy of admiration is that he continues to be fired with the same zeal and spirit to pave the onward march of agriculture in our country. My special greetings also go to Dr. Jacques Diouf, Director General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

The success story of the First Green Revolution has run its course. We cannot afford to rest on our laurels.  The fruits of the Green Revolution and the momentum generated by it, needs to be sustained.  Towards this endeavour, we must analyse the challenges that beset the agricultural scenario.  The Economic Survey 2006-07 has enlisted some of the structural weaknesses of the agriculture sector which include low levels of public investment, exhaustion of the yield potential of new high yielding varieties of wheat and rice, unbalanced fertilizer use, low seeds replacement rate and low yield per unit area across almost all crops.  Agricultural growth has become lackluster, as rain-fed areas still constitute about 65 percent of the total net sown area.  The diminishing size of land holdings; degradation in land quality and soil health due to improper nutrient application; the looming threats of global warming and climate change; emergence of new pests and diseases; production losses due to biotic and abiotic causes; weak linkages between research and extension; limited credit access at reasonable rates of interest; non-remunerative prices; inadequate market access; poor rural infrastructure and insufficient post-harvest infrastructure such as warehousing, cold chains, and agro-processing facilities are other features plaguing our agricultural production environment.

Notwithstanding these difficulties and constraints, we are endowed with certain inherent strengths, which can help us meet these challenges.  Though 80 percent of our farming population comprises of small and marginal farmers, they are hard working “farming farmers”.  We have varied climatic and soil resources, abundant sunshine throughout the year, sizeable water resources, a long coastline and endowed with rich bio-diversity.  To cap it all, we have a time tested scientific infrastructure with a proven record of technological achievements for enhancing agricultural productivity in a sustainable and substantial manner.  For India, farming is a living heritage, which we should protect and preserve.  Agriculture has to remain centre-stage in our nation’s economic thinking, making it attractive and rewarding.

The per capita availability of land has also been shrinking due to population increase.  This has been compounded by increase of wasteland.  There is also spread of urbanisation and the growing demand for more land.  We are left with a situation where we have to produce more from the limited land available to ensure food security.  But in doing so, we must always keep in mind that any food production and consumption policy must safeguard that the integrity of natural eco-systems is not compromised.  Mahatma Gandhi had warned that, “trading in soil fertility for the sake of quick returns could prove to be a disastrous, short-sighted policy.  It would result in virtual depletion of the soil”.

New policy initiatives are a must.  Some of the measures requiring attention would include improving the management of water resources, timely supply of quality inputs, easy and efficient access to credit at low interest rates, better post-harvest management, besides, enhancing knowledge and skills of farmers, traders and other stake-holders involved in agri business.  The other priority for agricultural revival includes bridging the substantial yield gaps existing in all States.  This requires localised, State-specific strategies based on local agro-climatic conditions and constraints.  Precision farming should be developed as a special thrust area wherein a farmer adjusts farm practices to match the variation of soil and terrain of his plot rather than follow the one size, fits all approach.  Agri-clinics to provide services such as soil health care, water conservation, integrated nutrient management, dissemination of information on value adding processes and marketing services at the farm gate can be a source of tremendous confidence to vulnerable farmers.  Every Gram Panchayat should have a Knowledge Centre for our farmers.  They can make use of radio, television and IT medium to know the latest techniques to improve farm productivity and to propagate these in farmers. 

Efforts towards sustainable agriculture can be greatly augmented with the help of space technology and biotechnology advances.

There is a need for a climate literacy programme and for the training of local level climate managers to guide farmers on the methods of maximising the benefits of a good monsoon and minimising the hazards of a poor monsoon. We should encourage the application of computer simulation techniques, better forecasting techniques and remote sensing technology in our efforts for sustainable development in the agricultural sector.

There is also a need to learn to respect and encourage the traditional wisdom of our farmers and their traditional farming practices particularly in water conservation measures.  We must continue to enable village communities to conserve their bio-diversities in the field of gene banks and to preserve water, seeds and grains in village water, seed and grain banks.

Information is power.  We must try and ensure that the actual cultivator who tills the soil is himself encouraged to collect and maintain key information relating to his own arable land.  We should enlist the support of Panchayati Raj institutions and some of our agricultural Universities in this task. It is essential to actively involve farmers in the development of new technologies for it is only with their active participation that we can achieve our goal of sustainable development.  

Another important issue for consideration is crops diversification, both for production and consumption.  We should not limit ourselves to a narrow crop basket.  Widening and diversifying the current narrow food security basket to include local cereals, millets, sorghum, legumes, tuber crops, vegetables and fruits could be an effective strategy to combat hunger.  A well-planned diversification strategy with crops, horticulture, livestock, poultry, fishery and other on-farm and off-farm enterprises need to be pursued.    
                 
It would be equally important to bear in mind that our agricultural strategies should not only be pro-poor and pro-nature but also pro-women.  The pioneering role played by women in movements undertaken by them for preservation of forests and topsoil is well recognised.   The big leap in our country’s milk production can be credited to the toil and labour put in by nearly 75 million women who are involved in the care of the cow and the buffalo.  We must therefore endeavour to mainstream gender considerations in all areas of agricultural research, education and extension.  Women farm labour about 60 % is also playing an important role in our agriculture operations.

With these words and thoughts, I congratulate the organisers for holding this seminar and I sincerely wish that today’s deliberations will add to the resource-base of knowledge on how to strike a balance between natural resources and population as also between the needs of man and environment so as to make India a strong and agriculturally prosperous country where the people can lead a fuller and better life.

JAI HIND!