There has been a giant leap in the country’s agricultural production since the 1950s. However, there are several challenges yet to be tackled and thrust areas that demand attention, Himanshu Pathak, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, said on Monday.
Mr. Pathak, who is also the Director-General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, delivered a speech on ‘Indian Agriculture: Shortage to Surplus’ as part of the M.S. Swaminathan centenary lecture series. He traced the agricultural revolution — that transformed the country from a begging bowl dependent on food imports to a self-sufficient nation — from the 1950s. The talk was hosted by M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation.
While the cultivation area remained constant over the decades, technological innovations and modernisation have gained prominence in agricultural production. For instance, food grain production in the country increased by 6.6 times since 1950.
However, though oil seeds production was on the rise, the country was importing them as consumption too increased, he said.
Despite such successful revolutions over the decades, Mr. Pathak said that global challenges such as climate change, calamities and high cost of production need to be addressed.
Elaborating on the efforts being taken to improve Indian agriculture for achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047, he underlined various thrust areas to address consumer needs, in line with the shift from crop to food system.
He also highlighted efforts to develop 150 bio-fortified varieties to improve nutrition. Some of the other thrust areas include developing organic farming, climate-resilient technologies, climate-smart villages; digital agriculture, integrating modern science with traditional systems and supporting research and development through collaborations.
Published – December 17, 2024 12:10 am IST
