The inclusive strategies of development that we are pursuing should further increase the incomes of the poorer sections of our society – Dr. Manmohan Singh

Zakir Hussein

INVC,,

Delhi,,

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, addressed the 83rd Foundation Day of ICAR in New Delhi , The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has called for raising farm productivity to meet the growing demand of food grains in the country. Speaking at a function here today organized to honour ten States with Krishi Karman Awards for recording highest ever food grains production, Dr. Singh said, “The inclusive strategies of development that we are pursuing should further increase the incomes of the poorer sections of our society. This will further increase demand for not only food grains but also fruits, vegetables and animal products. The total demand for food grains is projected to touch 280 million tonne by the year 2020-21. Meeting this demand will necessitate a growth rate of nearly 2 per cent per annum in food production.”

The Prime minister said that the production of major crops has been at record levels in 2010-11. He said that the highest production record could be achieved because of record production of wheat, maize and pulses. Dr. Singh said that the country clearly needs a second green revolution that is more broad-based, more inclusive and more sustainable; there is a need to produce more without depleting natural resources any further. Referring to India’s current expenditure on agricultural research and development which is about 0.6 per cent of agricultural GDP, he said, this needs to be enhanced at least 2 to 3 times by 2020, since a substantial portion of our agricultural growth would come through the application of new technologies and new knowledge to production processes.