Call to optimise production through sustainable farming

There is an imperative need to usher in another green revolution in the agricultural sector to optimise production by adopting sustainable farming techniques, according to Andhra University Vice-Chancellor G.S.N Raju.

He was speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day seminar on sustainable agriculture which began in the university in memory of the late economics professor, B. Sarveswara Rao, on the occasion of his birth centenary.

He said during the first green revolution the stress was on increasing production with the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides to achieve food security, but now the stress would have to be on optimisation of production by using modern technologies.

AP Agricultural University Vice-chancellor A. Padma Raju said that maintaining soil health is the most crucial aspect of sustainable agriculture.

Subhash Palekar, the advocate of zero budget natural farming, said that it had been conclusively shown that both the present type of farming using chemical fertilisers and pesticides as well as organic farming would not serve the purpose in the present context. The food security of the country as well as environment would be in jeopardy and the kind of farming advocated by him, with cows as the key, is the need of the hour.

sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

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