Reinvigorating Agriculture through Science and Technology

The Government of India is targeting to achieve a growth rate of 4% in agriculture over the XIth Five Year Plan. Although agricultural production and growth are dictated by diverse factors such as credit and pricing policies, land reforms, etc., use and application of science and technology have significant role to play in enhancing the productivity and profitability of the sector.

The two Ministries, Science & Technology (S&T) and Earth Sciences (ES), seek to contribute in realizing the challenging goal set by the Government for the agriculture sector. Accordingly, a brainstorming meeting was taken by the Minister Shri Kapil Sibal with over forty experts from the two Ministries to discuss about “Reinvigorating Indian Agriculture through S&T”. Briefing the media in New Delhi today Shri. Sibal said that the meeting resulted in a commitment to focus and strengthen those activities that could deliver visible and tenable outcomes in a period of about eighteen months for which a fast track approval system will be operationalised. The time targeted activities to be taken up are:

• Information outreach and reach out programmes:

(i) Agromet advisory service for all the districts in the country to be operationalised by June 2008.

(ii) A comprehensive agroinformation portal, to be available in several local languages, to be operationalised by December 2007.

(iii) A real time crop health and productivity assessment and management platform to be perfected and proliferated nationally by December 2007.

• Showcasing of successful/proven technologies

(i) A horticulture planting material mission for the NE Region to be operationalised by December 2007.

(ii) Showcasing, demonstrating and proliferating diverse agro machineries, implements, devices and instruments developed through State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and other agricultural extension systems to be implemented by December 2007.

(iii) Feasibility study of mounting of a ‘Potash’ from sea water mission to be completed by December 2007.

• Exploratory time targeted studies/development programmes

(i) A high throughput seed quality assessment device/ instrument to be developed by June 2008.

(ii) A composite package of practices and inputs based on soil quality and water availability mapping, commencing with farmers’ ‘hot spots’ to be completed by June 2008.

(iii) Study on national economic benefits accruing (including carbon credit) by use of biopesticides and biofertilisers – to be prepared by December 2007.

(iv) A working paper and plan on potential to rejuvenate tea industry in North India to be prepared by October 2007

A few other programmes identified need consultation and collaboration with other Ministries and agencies; these are being pursued accordingly.

A Task Force reporting to Minister S&T and ES has been set up for the two Ministries with Secretary DST as Chairperson to facilitate and periodically monitor the programmes identified.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : August 09, 2007