The Hindu Business Line : ‘Set up national body on lines of WTO’

Advocating progress: Dr M.S.Swaminathan, renowned agricultural scientist, addressing the international conference on “Natural Rubber Extension and Development” organised by the Rubber Board in Kochi on Friday. –

Our Bureau

Kochi, May 9 Noted Agricultural scientist Prof M.S Swaminathan on Friday called upon the plantation industry to understand the impact of climate changes in the years to come by, considering it as a mega threat to human security.

The plantation industry should equip itself for adaptation; work in partnerships, capacity building and policy formulation as understanding the impacts of climate change is the greatest need for the industry, he said in his presentation at the “International Conference on Natural Rubber Extension and Development” here on Friday.

He said the climate change factors which were affecting agriculture included increase in temperature, changes in precipitation, floods arising out from the melting snow and retreat of glaciers, reduction in fresh water availability, adverse impact on coastal agriculture due to seawater intrusion, outbreak of pests and diseases.

The rubber plantation in the country could be affected by climate change in two ways – directly due to changes in temperature, precipitation and carbon dioxide levels, and indirectly through changes in soil health and frequency of infestation by insects, diseases and weeds. One of the challenges in raising rubber plantations in non-traditional areas was evolving disease-tolerant clones.

The effective coordination of research and extension has been the key to success in the cultivation of natural rubber. The demand for rubber is ever increasing, which can be met through synthetic or natural rubber. India can produce natural rubber at a globally competitive rates and quality, provided its production is adequately supported by R&D and extension, he added.

Prof Swaminathan also called for setting up of an Indian Trade Organisation (ITO) as a national counterpart of WTO. The country should introduce our own boxes for domestic agricultural support on the model of WTO’s Blue, Green and Amber boxes. The ITO should be a professionally-managed virtual organisation, he said.

There was also a need to segregate the support extended to farmers for their livelihood and the support for commodities which could be considered trade distorting in the global market. The agricultural exports accounted for only 6.2 per cent total agricultural production.

He emphasised the need for a strong biotech regulatory authority. The safety of the environment, health and nutrition security of consumers should be the bottom line for the biotechnology regulatory policy.

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