Jammu, May 27 IANS) President Pratibha Patil has called for a second green revolution in the country to offset food shortage. “There is a need to enhance agriculture production with the help of new research, technology and rationalised use of fertilisers,” she said while addressing the second convocation of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) here Monday.

Patil said a “second green revolution was need of the hour” in view of the global food crisis. She said that agriculture should be taken up with the same passion and drive as at the time of the green revolution in the 1960s when food imports reached “alarming proportions”.

“Scientists, research and farmers need to make a coordinated effort in this direction,” she said.

Earlier, Governor S.K. Sinha and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad voiced concern over reduction in agricultural land across the country, especially in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The shrinking of agricultural land is a matter of grave concern for all of us,” Azad said.

He asked agriculture scientists to be the leaders in developing new seeds and technology to help offset the food crisis, caused by growing population and increasing use of agricultural land for commercial and residential buildings.

Sinha said: “A way has to be found to overcome the global food crisis.”

Planning Commission Vice Chairman Montek Singh Ahuluwalia was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Sciences at the convocation.