Thaindian News

Chennai, Aug 7 (IANS) Tamil Nadu is preparing a suitable agricultural strategy based on the application of biotechnology and information technology to meet the challenges posed by climate change, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said Saturday.
“Tamil Nadu will have to be prepared to face challenges like higher average mean temperature, adverse change in rainfall and a rise in sea level, as a result of global climate-change. We are therefore preparing a suitable agricultural strategy based on the application of biotechnology and information technology,” he said inaugurating a conference here.

The three-day conference ‘Eliminating Hunger and Poverty, Priorities in Global Agricultural Research and Development Agenda in an Era of Climate Change and Rising Food Prices’ is organised by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation.

Citing the government’s initiatives like rain water harvesting and desilting of tanks for sustainable water security, Karunanidhi said the state is trying to revive the earlier practices of community care and management of tanks.

“We plant to launch a mission for tank-fed agriculture in Ramanathapuram district,” he said.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minsiter K. Rosiah, who was also present, said the three focus areas for increasing the stagnating agricultural productivity are investment in irrigation projects, development of suitable dry land crop varieties and increasing the farm yield.

“The central government should take up large irrigation projects are the state governments do not have sufficient resources. The universities and research institutions should develop crop varieties suitable for dry land cultivation,” he said.

Stressing the importance of developing location specific farming systems, Rosiah said the Andhra Pradesh has achieved 6.8 percent growth in agriculture between 2004-09 - higher than the United Progressive Alliance government’s target of 4 percent.