That is why a new agricultural policy has been adopted. That is why we are insisting on increasing the production and productivity. Unless you have larger areas under production and unless you have major irrigation projects there will be no food security. The report of the task force which was appointed by the Agricultural Commission is considered by the full meeting of the Planning Commission which is now going to be considered by the NDC (National Development Council).

The strategy for the agricultural development is going to be addressed and put in place. What has happened is that for the last ten to twelve years, investment in agriculture has been stagnant. Grain production has been around 400 million tones. You were talking of the food security. We are fully aware of it.

Nobody in the world can feed 100 plus crores of people. It is for people of India to feed them. But for that what we require is enhancement of production, and productivity. Now the first phase of the green revolution is over. The second phase of the green revolution is to be launched for which as I mentioned the Planning Commission has studied the report of the Agricultural Commission which will be further discussed and action plan will be worked out in the meeting of the NDC before the end of this month.

One area which is being addressed is that we must have new technologies because the success of the first green revolution was due to upgradation of technology. Now that has become little bit obsolete. So we shall have to go for newer technology which is more appropriate.

Another area is that there is a wide variation both in productivity and production. So we shall have to cover those areas which are well below the average level of productivity. Image: An Indian farmer cultivates his farm near the village of Sindhuari, near Patna.
Photographs: STR/AFP/Getty Images
Also see: Sonia Gandhi makes waves in Uttar Pradesh

Back

|

Next