Innovation can make India food basket of world: Scindia
February 13th, 2011 - 6:33 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) A second Green Revolution, involving technical innovation, increased investment in agriculture and proper infrastructure for food processing can make India the “food basket of the world”, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said Sunday. “Agriculture sector is critical for our economy as 60-70 percent of our population is dependent on it for livelihood. We require 4.5 to 5 percent growth in the farm sector to uplift our economy in rural areas,” Scindia said at an award function organised by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) here.
Scindia emphasised on the need for a second Green Revolution.
Increased use of fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation facilities and introduction of high-yield varieties of seeds, collectively called the Green Revolution between 1965 and the early 1980s, nearly quadrupled the production of rice and wheat in the country. It made India almost self-sufficient in production of foodgrain.
“With proper investment in agriculture, technical innovation and infrastructure for food processing, India could well become the food basket of the world,” Scindia said.
On exports of agricultural goods, Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar said Indian farm products needed to move up the value chain to achieve the target of $15 billion exports in the next three years.
Khullar said the main challenge for the farm sector would be to deal with an emerging range of non-tariff barriers.
- India can become world's food basket in next two decades: Scindia - Feb 13, 2011
- India should open retail to spur 'Ever-Green Revolution': US biz - Nov 03, 2010
- India offers to develop Botswana's rail network - Sep 20, 2011
- India targets over $1 billion organic product exports - May 15, 2010
- Need to integrate agriculture with other sectors: President - Nov 09, 2011
- Agriculture reform at heart of Pranab's budget - Feb 28, 2011
- Himachal's fruit processing plant to be modernised - Jun 24, 2011
- Karnataka holding agri-biz summit to woo investments - Nov 25, 2011
- Increasing farm productivity key to food security: Thomas - Sep 15, 2011
- We have to think differently how to solve problems: PM - Aug 22, 2011
- India, Zimbabwe to deepen investment, trade ties - Sep 21, 2011
- Budget promises reforms, growth-focus, inflation-check (Second Lead) - Feb 28, 2011
- Interaction between farm scientists, industry inadequate: Hooda - Dec 04, 2010
- Himachal seeks funds for apple post-harvesting facilities - May 08, 2012
- US companies operating in India awarded - Feb 08, 2011
Tags: agricultural goods, agriculture sector, commerce secretary, emphasised, export development authority, farm sector, fertilizers pesticides, food basket, food products export development, india food, irrigation facilities, minister of state, processed food products, proper infrastructure, scindia, second green revolution, target, tariff barriers, technical innovation, value chain