Trilochan Mohapatra, Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has said that India’s agriculture sector is currently at crossroads.

Degrading soil health and dwindling fresh water availability are posing major concerns for agricultural sustainability in the country. Low soil organic matter and imbalanced use of fertilisers are affecting crop productivity. “Stagnation of production in most of the crops, erratic behaviour of climate, degradation of natural resources, higher production cost, lower farm income, inadequacy for quality seed and planting material, and diminishing land holdings are some of the major concerns that require our urgent attention,” he said.

Addressing a convocation at the Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) here on Wednesday, he called for the creation of employment opportunities in the non-farm and manufacturing sectors, especially in agro-based rural industries.

Brain drain “Over half of India’s total population is under the age of 29. Of this, of over 60 per cent live in villages. Migration of youth from villages to towns and cities is the most serious form of brain drain, which leads to regional imbalances and adversely affects the rural India’s development. We need to harness their energy and enthusiasm for betterment of the society,” he said.

Mohapatra, who is also the Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, said that the upcoming Higher Agricultural Education (NAHEP) Project shouldbe seen as an opportunity to attract talented students, competent faculty and innovative researchers into the field of agriculture.

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