Agricultural production should be an evolutionary model and not a revolutionary one. Any intensive production system has the danger of extensive use of land and material, former Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, T Ramasami, has said.
Speaking at a two-day national seminar titled '500 MT – 2025, Doubling Food Output in 10 years' organised by the Department of Agricultural Research – ICAR in association with the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, State Planning Commission and Agriculture Consultancy Management Foundation at the farm varsity here, he said: “We have for long remained without much focus on intensive production. While it is possible to double food production in 10 years, we should tread the path carefully and take a cautious approach. Achieving production targets alone would not do; we will have to take into account the livelihood of the peasants and the demand management. Our agriculture policy and technology should be designed to address the needs of the poorest of the poor in the country.”
“The emphasis is on doubling food production. But how can this be achieved without enhancing water productivity?” he asked, but not before stating that the country has not done much towards increasing water productivity.
Citing reports, Ramasami said: “The availability of water per person has fallen from 5,000 cubic meters during the mid-40s to 1,650 cubic meters at present. If this dips below 1,000 cu.m, we will be declared a water-starved state. TN incidentally is already a water-starved state with the availability of water per person at 980 cu.m.”
“The technology to address this issue is available, but not affordable,” Ramasami said and pointed out that farmers took to livestock-based farming practices to tide over this issue as also crops that offered price stability.
Hailing the State’s achievement in surpassing food production target, the Vice Chancellor of TNAU, K Ramasamy, emphasised the need to retain youngsters in agriculture and make farming remunerative.
“The present day youth are not inclined to take to agriculture because appropriate policies are not in place to make farming a remunerative proposition. Fragmented holding and farm implements/machinery are not suited for such holdings making farm mechanisation a distant dream.”