New Delhi: Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is under fire from the Opposition and the Left parties. He has written a personal letter to all members of parliament a fortnight ago explaining the decision to import wheat. But Brinda Karat gave a point-by-point rebuttal to Pawar’s letter, pushing the NCP chief further on the backfoot.
The BJP also followed up its drive against the agriculture minister by approaching Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) Pratyush Sinha and submitting documents claiming that “wrong-doing” had been perpetrated in the entire episode. Speaking to CNN-IBN Pawar clarified his stand on the allegations surrounding wheat imports and the poor support price being offered to the Indian farmers for the food grain.
Q: Mr pawar what is the reason behind bad quality wheat, completely unfit for consumption, being imported in large quantities from Australia at nearly double the price?
Sharad Pawar: Red wheat is essentially grown in Russia, Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Australian wheat is exactly like Indian wheat but it’s not red wheat.
Q: Alright. But is there anything that your ministry can do to help the people who are being forced to eat poor quality wheat?
Sharad Pawar: After seeing your programme, we instructed FCI, MP people to go and inspect the godown and shops and collect proper information and report it to us immediately
Q: Leave aside where the wheat has been imported from, the biggest criticism is that you are giving the Indian farmers support price of Rs 850 whereas you are willing to give importers nearly double the price. Why not give Indian farmers a valid market price?
Sharad Pawar: Rs 850 is a much higher price in the history of independence India. But since domestic and international prices are going high and we have to give better price than last year, we will appropriate decisions in 8 days time.
Q: So are you saying that within 8-days you will take an appropriate decision. But will you reverse the policy and stop all imports as well now?
Sharad Pawar: No, I can’t say that. I am not in a position to give an assurance because our first responsibility is to protect interests of vulnerable sections of society and we are not in a position to compromise on the issue of food security
Q: Are you willing to change your support price?
Sharad Pawar: You see, that decision will be taken in cabinet and I cannot disclose unless decision is taken, but I can tell you one thing, recommendation from my ministry will be much more than what we paid last year.
When the break-away Congress group, Nationalist Congress Party, recently completed a year, INDIA TODAY Special Correspondent Lakshmi Iyer tracked down its president Sharad Pawar for a head-to-head. This is the full text of the combative, exclusive interview during which Pawar offered some interesting insights about his former party.
IT: You left the Congress a year ago. Are you happy with what you have achieved?
Sharad Pawar: I didn't leave the Congress. I was expelled. In a year's time, NCP has 85 MLAs spread in 11 states and 8 MPs. It got national party status when old parties like CPM are losing such ranking. In a year's time NCP has acquired a national character. Building a political party is a formidable task. The BJP took five decades to come to power. In the first few general elections to the Lok Sabha, the party's forerunner Jan Sangh, consistently lost security deposit.
IT: Why did the NCP fail to enthuse Congressmen? Why didn't you get the kind of response you had hoped for?
Sharad Pawar: The Congress is a power oriented party. We never tried wooing Congressmen. We have been cool to their feelers. I do not know on what basis (NCP colleague Purno) Sangma announced that some of them were going to join us. Maybe he had some information. Our thrust is not on Congressmen. We are focussing on youth. We want to create a new generation of leaders. I am concentrating on rural areas of Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. We are helping to connect youth with development. We are helping youth who join us to set up NGOs with a view to providing training in information technology. Young men and women from rural areas should be able to take advantage of changes in immigration laws that European countries for I-T professionals.
IT: What is the link between a political organisation and NGO activity?
Sharad Pawar: The concept of 24-hour political activity is outdated. Today the issue in the country is development. What is the use of politics? Why are we in politics? Youth must realise that the end all of politics is not becoming an MP or a MLA. Development has to be new mission for those in politics; it has to be a programme for party workers. They need to connect themselves to something more than just melas and dharnas (sit-in protests). Our NCP workers are encouraged to form NGOs and involve themselves in agricultural issues.
IT: What is new about that. You've always been involved in agricultural issues. As chief minister of Maharashtra (1988-91 & 1993-96) you encouraged sugarcane growers to diversify into horticulture.
Sharad Pawar: Yes, I did. (Renonwned agricultural scientist) Dr M S Swaminathan has acknowledged my role in promoting horticulture. Instead of demanding urea subsidy, the political class should enable our farmers to compete with agricultural imports that would begin arriving next year. For instance the Pune-based sugar research institute, I head, has come up with new cane variety that has higher sugar percentage. This discovery has led to an increase in sugar yield worth Rs 750 crores. If we improve purchasing power of farmers there would be no need for subsidy. It is a pity no political leader is paying attention to bio-technology. I recall the day I was expelled by the Congress. I was in midst of a conference of agricultural scientists in Pune. Some people urged me to rush to New Delhi but I decided to stay on for the three-day conference.
IT: Discontent is smouldering in the Congress. Do you think there will be an open revolt against Sonia Gandhi? Will she be shown the door in the organisational elections?
Sharad Pawar: Discontent may be there but nobody will dislodge her. No one can win an election against the Congress president. I lost miserably against a man like Sitaram Kesri.
IT: Do you expect an exodus from the Congress?
Sharad Pawar: None of its present leaders have the courage to leave the party. They all need the 'hand' symbol. Besides I am also not willing to admit any more Congressmen into the NCP. For, Congressmen cannot visualise a political life without entering state assembly or parliament. That is why the oldest political organisation in the country does not have leaders like A B Bardhan (of the CPI) and Harkishan Singh Surjeet (of the CPM). The two communist leaders have never contested an election.
IT: Do you think you could have posted a challenge to Sonia if you had remained in the Congress?
Sharad Pawar: That is what Congressmen tell me. But personally I do not think so. The Congress president is all powerful. Everyone in the party will grumble but no one will stand up to authority. As for the party's revival, democracy will bring it to power. People will vote for the Congress when they are fed up with the BJP. But the real revival of the party will depend on the issues it identifies with. Of course, such cyclical revivals will not solve basic problem of the Congress. There is as yet no viable alternative to rebuild or revive it.
IT: Are you happy outside the Congress?
Sharad Pawar: I'm the happiest man. I do not have to continuously bother about the high command's opinion. I can make full use of my time. I do not have to camp in New Delhi.
IT: How is Sonia faring as leader of the opposition?
Sharad Pawar: The leader of the opposition is not an individual. It is an institution. Right now there is no floor coordination among the opposition parties. Sonia does not attend all-party meetings convened by the Lok Sabha speaker if either Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav or I attend it. Sonia's presence is a cementing force for the ruling National Democratic Alliance. As a result we have a stable government at the centre.
IT: How is your coalition government with the Congress faring in Maharashtra? State Congress president Govindrao Adik recently completed a tour of the state and the aim was to enable Congress to form a government on its own...
Sharad Pawar: Who is Govindrao Adik? He cannot become chief minister without our support. We are happy with Vilasrao Deshmukh (the Congress chief minister backed by the NCP). The alliance (between the two parties) will continue to keep the BJP-Shiv Sena out of power.
IT: You left the Congress a year ago. Are you happy with what you have achieved?
Sharad Pawar: I didn't leave the Congress. I was expelled. In a year's time, NCP has 85 MLAs spread in 11 states and 8 MPs. It got national party status when old parties like CPM are losing such ranking. In a year's time NCP has acquired a national character. Building a political party is a formidable task. The BJP took five decades to come to power. In the first few general elections to the Lok Sabha, the party's forerunner Jan Sangh, consistently lost security deposit.
IT: Why did the NCP fail to enthuse Congressmen? Why didn't you get the kind of response you had hoped for?
Sharad Pawar: The Congress is a power oriented party. We never tried wooing Congressmen. We have been cool to their feelers. I do not know on what basis (NCP colleague Purno) Sangma announced that some of them were going to join us. Maybe he had some information. Our thrust is not on Congressmen. We are focussing on youth. We want to create a new generation of leaders. I am concentrating on rural areas of Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. We are helping to connect youth with development. We are helping youth who join us to set up NGOs with a view to providing training in information technology. Young men and women from rural areas should be able to take advantage of changes in immigration laws that European countries for I-T professionals.
IT: What is the link between a political organisation and NGO activity?
Sharad Pawar: The concept of 24-hour political activity is outdated. Today the issue in the country is development. What is the use of politics? Why are we in politics? Youth must realise that the end all of politics is not becoming an MP or a MLA. Development has to be new mission for those in politics; it has to be a programme for party workers. They need to connect themselves to something more than just melas and dharnas (sit-in protests). Our NCP workers are encouraged to form NGOs and involve themselves in agricultural issues.
IT: What is new about that. You've always been involved in agricultural issues. As chief minister of Maharashtra (1988-91 & 1993-96) you encouraged sugarcane growers to diversify into horticulture.
Sharad Pawar: Yes, I did. (Renonwned agricultural scientist) Dr M S Swaminathan has acknowledged my role in promoting horticulture. Instead of demanding urea subsidy, the political class should enable our farmers to compete with agricultural imports that would begin arriving next year. For instance the Pune-based sugar research institute, I head, has come up with new cane variety that has higher sugar percentage. This discovery has led to an increase in sugar yield worth Rs 750 crores. If we improve purchasing power of farmers there would be no need for subsidy. It is a pity no political leader is paying attention to bio-technology. I recall the day I was expelled by the Congress. I was in midst of a conference of agricultural scientists in Pune. Some people urged me to rush to New Delhi but I decided to stay on for the three-day conference.
IT: Discontent is smouldering in the Congress. Do you think there will be an open revolt against Sonia Gandhi? Will she be shown the door in the organisational elections?
Sharad Pawar: Discontent may be there but nobody will dislodge her. No one can win an election against the Congress president. I lost miserably against a man like Sitaram Kesri.
IT: Do you expect an exodus from the Congress?
Sharad Pawar: None of its present leaders have the courage to leave the party. They all need the 'hand' symbol. Besides I am also not willing to admit any more Congressmen into the NCP. For, Congressmen cannot visualise a political life without entering state assembly or parliament. That is why the oldest political organisation in the country does not have leaders like A B Bardhan (of the CPI) and Harkishan Singh Surjeet (of the CPM). The two communist leaders have never contested an election.
IT: Do you think you could have posted a challenge to Sonia if you had remained in the Congress?
Sharad Pawar: That is what Congressmen tell me. But personally I do not think so. The Congress president is all powerful. Everyone in the party will grumble but no one will stand up to authority. As for the party's revival, democracy will bring it to power. People will vote for the Congress when they are fed up with the BJP. But the real revival of the party will depend on the issues it identifies with. Of course, such cyclical revivals will not solve basic problem of the Congress. There is as yet no viable alternative to rebuild or revive it.
IT: Are you happy outside the Congress?
Sharad Pawar: I'm the happiest man. I do not have to continuously bother about the high command's opinion. I can make full use of my time. I do not have to camp in New Delhi.
IT: How is Sonia faring as leader of the opposition?
Sharad Pawar: The leader of the opposition is not an individual. It is an institution. Right now there is no floor coordination among the opposition parties. Sonia does not attend all-party meetings convened by the Lok Sabha speaker if either Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav or I attend it. Sonia's presence is a cementing force for the ruling National Democratic Alliance. As a result we have a stable government at the centre.
IT: How is your coalition government with the Congress faring in Maharashtra? State Congress president Govindrao Adik recently completed a tour of the state and the aim was to enable Congress to form a government on its own...
Sharad Pawar: Who is Govindrao Adik? He cannot become chief minister without our support. We are happy with Vilasrao Deshmukh (the Congress chief minister backed by the NCP). The alliance (between the two parties) will continue to keep the BJP-Shiv Sena out of power.
Reforms for Empowering
the Farmer
October 18-19, 2006, Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi
October 18-19, 2006, Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi
Address by Shri Sharad Pawar, Union Minister of Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Hon'ble Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singhji, Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Kanti Lal Bhuria, Secretary, Agriculture, Smt. Radha Singh, FICCI - President, Shri Saroj Kumar Poddarji, Chairman, FICCI Agriculature and Rural Development Committee, Mr. P.M. Sinha, FICCI Secretary General,
Dr. Amit Mitra, growers and farmers from across the country, distinguished participants, and ladies and gentlemen.
We are privileged to have the hon'ble Prime Minister of India, with us this afternoon, who will share with us his thoughts while inaugurating the Agriculture Summit, 2006.
We meet at a time when several important changes and challenges confront Indian Agriculture. While it is true that Indian Agriculture has been under considerable stress over past several years on account of a complex set of reasons which include lack of adequate public investments, smallness of holdings, low productivity, infrastructure inadequacies and lack of adequate institutional credit cover including risk mitigation measures. Government has over the last two and a half years made sincere efforts to address these problems. Investments have been stepped up for strengthening rural infrastructure, particularly irrigation and watershed development, availability of credit to farmers has been increased appreciably, production and distribution of necessary inputs have been facilitated, bio-technology policy has been firmed up, decentralized demand driven extension system put in practice through autonomous entities at district level, the enormous reach of Doordarshan and All India Radio harnessed to provide information to farmers, Protection of Plant Variety Act has been operationalized and Seed Bill and Warehouse Receipts have been introduced in Parliament.
Reasonable progress has been made on agricultural reforms also. As on date, 22 states and Union Territories have amended their APMC Act. The Integrated Food Law and the Warehouse Receipts Law have been introduced in Parliament. Setting up of terminal market complexes in metros with backward linkages with collection Centres located in producing areas is being actively pursued with private entrepreneurs. The response has been very encouraging. Our endeavour is to link the farmers with the consumers. The ministry has also piloted modern perishable cargo Centers to facilitate exports. Removal of restrictions on movement of commodities, warehousing facilities and entry of corporates in the markets are some other major initiatives taken towards horizontal and vertical integration of agriculture produce markets. The international experience shows that these linkages, have helped farmers on a sustained basis, introduced efficiencies, enhanced growth, and created new job opportunities.
The impact of these initiatives has been positive and the growth of agriculture sector during 2005-06 has been 3.9%. With sustained efforts, the momentum of growth is being maintained and the results of the first quarter of the current year indicate a growth of 3.4%. The experience of amendments in the Agriculture Produce Marketing Act with the intent of providing more options to the farmers with freedom to sell their produce to prospective buyers of their choice has been a positive beginning. However, much more remains to be done. It has also to be particularly ensured that while facilitating a conducive environment for investment and freeing the agriculture sector from rigidities, small holder farmers interests are not lost.
Although small, we have reasons to believe that as a consequence of such reforms, farmers have got marginally better prices than the prices offered by the State/ Central agencies. Precisely for this reasons Government could not procure the required quantity of wheat at the predetermined MSP. In view of the liberalized regime and options afferrded to the farmers, many chose to sell their produce at easier and higher prices to agencies other than Government. With considerably more options available to the farmers it may not be necessary for Government to further enhance the MSP of major agricultural and horticultural produce as prices of most of the commodities could rule above MSP and farmers do have the option to sell their produce in places other than government mandis.
There has been some criticism of some of these initiatives. However, we need to underscore the point that these reforms are in a nascent stage, and we would have to allow more time for full benefit of such liberalization to be realized by our farmers. Therefore, instead of going back to an era of controls and regimented marketing, our agriculture and food policy would need to be flexible enough to respond to strategies that promote agriculture development that benefit the nation and more so the poor and vulnerable must enable it to adjust to the rapidlychanging scene both on the supply and demand side of production and marketing to different situations in an open-market environment. Our commitments under the public distribution system for various welfare programmes and food for works and commitments undertaken by the Government, however, would need to be addressed differently.
Growth in horticulture has been impressive. The last two year have registered a near 7% growth in the horticulture segment. This has been largely because of the special efforts and initiatives being taken by the Central Government to launch the Technology Mission on Horticulture in the North East and the Hill States as also for the rest of the country. Our horticulture production at this point is around 169 metric tones. This sector is adding value and income for the farmers cultivating horticultural crops and providing gainful employment to millions of people. The Mission is ongoing in 340 districts. We have to persist with these efforts and concentrate on last mile infrastructure which is still missing, to add value and to help bring the produce from the farm to the table.
These missing links include quality consciousness, post-harvest technologies, processing, marketing and building up of supply chain and perishable cargo Centres linked to stable production bases. Considering the criticality of agriculture and the high dependency of the population on it for their livelihood, the investment in the sector has to be substantially increased, especially in areas like irrigation post-harvest infrastructure, storage facilities, processing, marketing and transportation. While public investments in agriculture are being stepped up, the need for stepping up private sector investment cannot be over emphasized.
I urge the captains of agri business present here to come forward and invest in the sector more enthusiastically. Public-private partnerships have to be fostered to reap the success. I look forward to private investments in rural infrastructure, R&D, extension, value addition, agro processing, marketing, storage, cool chains, transportation and so on. I also feel that the case for treating investment in agriculture research, extension and infrastructure as deduction on expenditure merits sympathetic consideration.
I trust that this summit would deliberate on various ways and modalities to enhance private sector investment and involvement in various sub sectors of agriculture and in the process offer new opportunities and choices to our farmers and empower them.
Thank you.
We are privileged to have the hon'ble Prime Minister of India, with us this afternoon, who will share with us his thoughts while inaugurating the Agriculture Summit, 2006.
We meet at a time when several important changes and challenges confront Indian Agriculture. While it is true that Indian Agriculture has been under considerable stress over past several years on account of a complex set of reasons which include lack of adequate public investments, smallness of holdings, low productivity, infrastructure inadequacies and lack of adequate institutional credit cover including risk mitigation measures. Government has over the last two and a half years made sincere efforts to address these problems. Investments have been stepped up for strengthening rural infrastructure, particularly irrigation and watershed development, availability of credit to farmers has been increased appreciably, production and distribution of necessary inputs have been facilitated, bio-technology policy has been firmed up, decentralized demand driven extension system put in practice through autonomous entities at district level, the enormous reach of Doordarshan and All India Radio harnessed to provide information to farmers, Protection of Plant Variety Act has been operationalized and Seed Bill and Warehouse Receipts have been introduced in Parliament.
Reasonable progress has been made on agricultural reforms also. As on date, 22 states and Union Territories have amended their APMC Act. The Integrated Food Law and the Warehouse Receipts Law have been introduced in Parliament. Setting up of terminal market complexes in metros with backward linkages with collection Centres located in producing areas is being actively pursued with private entrepreneurs. The response has been very encouraging. Our endeavour is to link the farmers with the consumers. The ministry has also piloted modern perishable cargo Centers to facilitate exports. Removal of restrictions on movement of commodities, warehousing facilities and entry of corporates in the markets are some other major initiatives taken towards horizontal and vertical integration of agriculture produce markets. The international experience shows that these linkages, have helped farmers on a sustained basis, introduced efficiencies, enhanced growth, and created new job opportunities.
The impact of these initiatives has been positive and the growth of agriculture sector during 2005-06 has been 3.9%. With sustained efforts, the momentum of growth is being maintained and the results of the first quarter of the current year indicate a growth of 3.4%. The experience of amendments in the Agriculture Produce Marketing Act with the intent of providing more options to the farmers with freedom to sell their produce to prospective buyers of their choice has been a positive beginning. However, much more remains to be done. It has also to be particularly ensured that while facilitating a conducive environment for investment and freeing the agriculture sector from rigidities, small holder farmers interests are not lost.
Although small, we have reasons to believe that as a consequence of such reforms, farmers have got marginally better prices than the prices offered by the State/ Central agencies. Precisely for this reasons Government could not procure the required quantity of wheat at the predetermined MSP. In view of the liberalized regime and options afferrded to the farmers, many chose to sell their produce at easier and higher prices to agencies other than Government. With considerably more options available to the farmers it may not be necessary for Government to further enhance the MSP of major agricultural and horticultural produce as prices of most of the commodities could rule above MSP and farmers do have the option to sell their produce in places other than government mandis.
There has been some criticism of some of these initiatives. However, we need to underscore the point that these reforms are in a nascent stage, and we would have to allow more time for full benefit of such liberalization to be realized by our farmers. Therefore, instead of going back to an era of controls and regimented marketing, our agriculture and food policy would need to be flexible enough to respond to strategies that promote agriculture development that benefit the nation and more so the poor and vulnerable must enable it to adjust to the rapidlychanging scene both on the supply and demand side of production and marketing to different situations in an open-market environment. Our commitments under the public distribution system for various welfare programmes and food for works and commitments undertaken by the Government, however, would need to be addressed differently.
Growth in horticulture has been impressive. The last two year have registered a near 7% growth in the horticulture segment. This has been largely because of the special efforts and initiatives being taken by the Central Government to launch the Technology Mission on Horticulture in the North East and the Hill States as also for the rest of the country. Our horticulture production at this point is around 169 metric tones. This sector is adding value and income for the farmers cultivating horticultural crops and providing gainful employment to millions of people. The Mission is ongoing in 340 districts. We have to persist with these efforts and concentrate on last mile infrastructure which is still missing, to add value and to help bring the produce from the farm to the table.
These missing links include quality consciousness, post-harvest technologies, processing, marketing and building up of supply chain and perishable cargo Centres linked to stable production bases. Considering the criticality of agriculture and the high dependency of the population on it for their livelihood, the investment in the sector has to be substantially increased, especially in areas like irrigation post-harvest infrastructure, storage facilities, processing, marketing and transportation. While public investments in agriculture are being stepped up, the need for stepping up private sector investment cannot be over emphasized.
I urge the captains of agri business present here to come forward and invest in the sector more enthusiastically. Public-private partnerships have to be fostered to reap the success. I look forward to private investments in rural infrastructure, R&D, extension, value addition, agro processing, marketing, storage, cool chains, transportation and so on. I also feel that the case for treating investment in agriculture research, extension and infrastructure as deduction on expenditure merits sympathetic consideration.
I trust that this summit would deliberate on various ways and modalities to enhance private sector investment and involvement in various sub sectors of agriculture and in the process offer new opportunities and choices to our farmers and empower them.
Thank you.
Address by Shri Sharad Pawar, Hon'ble
Umon Minister for Agriculture & Consumer Affairs. Food and Public Distribution
3rd Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GEAR) Triennial Conference
2006 New Delhi, 9th November 2006.
I am extremely happy to participate in the Third Triennial Conference-2006 of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research being held for the first time in India. It gives me pleasure to welcome Dr. Abdul Kalam, President of India, the other dignitaries on the dais and all the esteemed participants representing national and international Agricultural Research and Development organizations of the world , who have assembled here to deliberate on "Reorienting Agricultural Research to Meet the Miflennium Development Goats". I consider the Conference theme to be relevant in view of the emerging consensus that to achieve the targets of the Millennium Development Goals, we must put agricultural growth on a technology based fast track to make farming more su statable and economically rewarding. Obviously, the role of agricultural research institutions in gen era ti ng appropri ate kn ow-how i n t h is context i s of pa ra mou nt signifi ca nee. Adoptinga people centric approach, we will have to address poverty by concentrating on profitability, productivity and permanency so as to bring about the needed food, nutritional and environmental security, locally, regionally and globally. I compliment GEAR for having taken up issues related to creating and promoting partnerships among diverse stakeholders for the cause of agriculture, by linking research and rural innovation to sustainable development.
In the long run, growth in agricultural productivity can only be sustained through continuous technological progress. We need to make agriculture more efficient by enhancing resource use efficiency as inefficient use of inputs leads not only to cost escalation, lowering profitability but also adversely impacts the environment. Land resources for agricultural purposes are actually shrinking and water is becoming a scarce resource globally. Hence, erosion and degradation of land and water bodies will have to be arrested and the quantity of soil and water will have to b epreserved. We will lhave to develop techniques and technologies for the multiple use of water.
It is recognized that about 20% of the world's farmland is irrigated and produces 40% of our food supply. By the year 2025, nearly 22 million ha of irrigated rice areas in Asia may face "economic water scarcity" as supplies for irrigation become too expensive for rice farmers. An additional 17 million ha may confront "physical water scarcity" as supplies for irrigation simply dry up. In most of the developing countries, water use efficiency in irrigation is expected to grow from an average of 38% to 42%. In India itself, water use efficiency seldom exceeds 40 percent. This needs to be substantially enhanced further.
The efficiency in use of other inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, feeds, energy etc. is also low. Therefore, to achieve the MDGs through agricultural transformation, we must have a relook at our agricultural research priorities and development efforts. I see great opportunity at this Conference of utilizing the knowledge available globally, to address the weaknesses that exist in Agriculture and allied sectors.
New generation technologies based on rapidly evolving scientific developments will play a pivotal role in achieving new levels of productivity in agriculture, contributing to reduction in costs and improvement in quality. The key to taster transformation is enhanced investment in agriculture and the effective use of such enhanced resources. Unfortunately, there has been a negative trend of declining public investment in agriculture and it needs to be reversed. Further, public institutions should explore possibilities of taking private sector institutions as partners in Agricultural Research and Development.
I wish to share with you that in mdia we have taken several initiatives to improve the Matronal Agricultural Research and Education System in recent years. Some of them Include the establishment of the National Fund for strengthening Basic and Strategic Research in the frontier agricultural science areas, promoting cutting-edge research in hybrid technology, biotechnology, integrated pest management, integrated plant and nutrient management, improved vaccines and diagnostics, post-harvest management and value-addition, enhancement of input-use efficiency, modernization of research and agricultural education facilities. New guidelines have been put in place for intellectual property portfolio management in •agriculture, to promote corn mere ialization of technologies and public-private sector participation in agricultural research. All these are aimed at bridging the existing knowledge deficit in the shortest possible time so that agriculture can become a profitable venture, by increasing in the productivity of our farmers through the infusion of modern science and technology.
We have recent fy launched the National Agri cultural Innovation Project, with the support of the World Bank. The uniqueness of the project lies in its emphasis on holism, integration of basic, strategic, applied and anticipatory research, social re-engineering in terms of consortia mode of operation and combining social, economic, ecological and participatory govern a nee features to ensure livelihood security.
With declining factor productivity, it is imperative that national research institutions and institutions of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) are strengthened further so that they can serve science, society and humanity at such a critical juncture. India has enhan ced its fina ncia I contri but ion to the CG system to boost the momentum of research meant for public good. Far more support of the international community to ensure technology led growth is essentially called for.
Human resource development is the key to agricultural transformation. We need to join hands so that quality human resource is developed to meet the changing research, education and extension needs. Seed borne diseases and viruses are going to be more serious with the changes taking place on the ground. Bird flu is a recent example of an epidemic that cut across political boundaries and virtually shattered the poultry sector round the worid. India, in a short span of four months, was able to develop a vaccine to checkthevirus. Hence, the worl d corn mu n ity wi 11 h ave to jo i n ha nds i n tackl i ng such biotic pressures as we go along.
Finally, I would tike to mention that in a globalized world with liberalized trade, the ability to complete in cost and quality, is the key to success. To enhance the potential to compete, the policy of complementarities in R&D efforts among different players and partners would be desirable. The power of effective partnership needs to be fostered and coherent synergies should be harnessed for the benefit of mankind.
My best wishes for success of the Conference and I look forward to receiving useful recommendations for speedy implementation.
I am extremely happy to participate in the Third Triennial Conference-2006 of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research being held for the first time in India. It gives me pleasure to welcome Dr. Abdul Kalam, President of India, the other dignitaries on the dais and all the esteemed participants representing national and international Agricultural Research and Development organizations of the world , who have assembled here to deliberate on "Reorienting Agricultural Research to Meet the Miflennium Development Goats". I consider the Conference theme to be relevant in view of the emerging consensus that to achieve the targets of the Millennium Development Goals, we must put agricultural growth on a technology based fast track to make farming more su statable and economically rewarding. Obviously, the role of agricultural research institutions in gen era ti ng appropri ate kn ow-how i n t h is context i s of pa ra mou nt signifi ca nee. Adoptinga people centric approach, we will have to address poverty by concentrating on profitability, productivity and permanency so as to bring about the needed food, nutritional and environmental security, locally, regionally and globally. I compliment GEAR for having taken up issues related to creating and promoting partnerships among diverse stakeholders for the cause of agriculture, by linking research and rural innovation to sustainable development.
In the long run, growth in agricultural productivity can only be sustained through continuous technological progress. We need to make agriculture more efficient by enhancing resource use efficiency as inefficient use of inputs leads not only to cost escalation, lowering profitability but also adversely impacts the environment. Land resources for agricultural purposes are actually shrinking and water is becoming a scarce resource globally. Hence, erosion and degradation of land and water bodies will have to be arrested and the quantity of soil and water will have to b epreserved. We will lhave to develop techniques and technologies for the multiple use of water.
It is recognized that about 20% of the world's farmland is irrigated and produces 40% of our food supply. By the year 2025, nearly 22 million ha of irrigated rice areas in Asia may face "economic water scarcity" as supplies for irrigation become too expensive for rice farmers. An additional 17 million ha may confront "physical water scarcity" as supplies for irrigation simply dry up. In most of the developing countries, water use efficiency in irrigation is expected to grow from an average of 38% to 42%. In India itself, water use efficiency seldom exceeds 40 percent. This needs to be substantially enhanced further.
The efficiency in use of other inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, feeds, energy etc. is also low. Therefore, to achieve the MDGs through agricultural transformation, we must have a relook at our agricultural research priorities and development efforts. I see great opportunity at this Conference of utilizing the knowledge available globally, to address the weaknesses that exist in Agriculture and allied sectors.
New generation technologies based on rapidly evolving scientific developments will play a pivotal role in achieving new levels of productivity in agriculture, contributing to reduction in costs and improvement in quality. The key to taster transformation is enhanced investment in agriculture and the effective use of such enhanced resources. Unfortunately, there has been a negative trend of declining public investment in agriculture and it needs to be reversed. Further, public institutions should explore possibilities of taking private sector institutions as partners in Agricultural Research and Development.
I wish to share with you that in mdia we have taken several initiatives to improve the Matronal Agricultural Research and Education System in recent years. Some of them Include the establishment of the National Fund for strengthening Basic and Strategic Research in the frontier agricultural science areas, promoting cutting-edge research in hybrid technology, biotechnology, integrated pest management, integrated plant and nutrient management, improved vaccines and diagnostics, post-harvest management and value-addition, enhancement of input-use efficiency, modernization of research and agricultural education facilities. New guidelines have been put in place for intellectual property portfolio management in •agriculture, to promote corn mere ialization of technologies and public-private sector participation in agricultural research. All these are aimed at bridging the existing knowledge deficit in the shortest possible time so that agriculture can become a profitable venture, by increasing in the productivity of our farmers through the infusion of modern science and technology.
We have recent fy launched the National Agri cultural Innovation Project, with the support of the World Bank. The uniqueness of the project lies in its emphasis on holism, integration of basic, strategic, applied and anticipatory research, social re-engineering in terms of consortia mode of operation and combining social, economic, ecological and participatory govern a nee features to ensure livelihood security.
With declining factor productivity, it is imperative that national research institutions and institutions of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) are strengthened further so that they can serve science, society and humanity at such a critical juncture. India has enhan ced its fina ncia I contri but ion to the CG system to boost the momentum of research meant for public good. Far more support of the international community to ensure technology led growth is essentially called for.
Human resource development is the key to agricultural transformation. We need to join hands so that quality human resource is developed to meet the changing research, education and extension needs. Seed borne diseases and viruses are going to be more serious with the changes taking place on the ground. Bird flu is a recent example of an epidemic that cut across political boundaries and virtually shattered the poultry sector round the worid. India, in a short span of four months, was able to develop a vaccine to checkthevirus. Hence, the worl d corn mu n ity wi 11 h ave to jo i n ha nds i n tackl i ng such biotic pressures as we go along.
Finally, I would tike to mention that in a globalized world with liberalized trade, the ability to complete in cost and quality, is the key to success. To enhance the potential to compete, the policy of complementarities in R&D efforts among different players and partners would be desirable. The power of effective partnership needs to be fostered and coherent synergies should be harnessed for the benefit of mankind.
My best wishes for success of the Conference and I look forward to receiving useful recommendations for speedy implementation.