Agricultural Innovation

Union Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan has rightly described the scientists as modern day sages, terming their  intellectual capabilities as matchless. He was speaking while addressing the agricultural scientists at the 97th  Foundation Day celebration of the  Indian Council of Agricultural Research(ICAR) at Bharat Ratna  C. Subramanium  Auditorium, NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi, while addressing the agricultural scientists he acknowledged their dedication and expertise. He said they are paving the way for  the welfare and progress of the farmers. Indeed ICAR has been in the forefront of agricultural research and extension in the country and enabling the farmers to do their best in terms of cultivation and production. Shivraj Singh Chouhan for materialising the signing of the agreements with the various countries with which India has been able to execute the  exports. It is noteworthy that  800  million people are able to receive food grains through the  public distribution  system  and ICAR is worthy of gratitude from these beneficiaries  who are being fed by this distribution system. The Minister’s  emphasis that ICAR’s Foundation Day is a matter of pride  and  should be celebrated as a festival is indeed the expression of national gratitude towards the agricultural scientists who are catering to the increasing demand of the food grains all over India. The Minister  said that India’s food reserves are abundant under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This has enabled India to export wheat and there has been  a significant  increase in the production of rice. Substantiating the increase in India’s rice production, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that due to the surplus of rice production, additional storage facilities are being arranged. This is a good sign for agricultural output. This is tantamount to a new agricultural revolution. Minister highlighted that during the Green Revolution (1966-1979), India’s food grain production  increased by 2.7 million tonnes annually  Then this annual growth  reached  6.1 million tonnes between 1980-1990. From 2000 to 2013-14 the average annual increase was  3.9 million tonnes. From  2013-14  to 2025,the yearly growth in food production has reached 8.1 million tonnes. From the past one decade there  is a  2.5- 3 fold increase in the food grain production making it clear that there is a considerable increase in  agricultural production. The Minister also highlighted the  significant growth in the horticulture sector that has grown by 7.5 million tonnes on a yearly basis. He also underlined the  increase in the milk production due to  adoption of the  advanced technologies. Milk production has grown by 4.2 million tonnes annually  between 2000-2014 and this has shown a further increase of million tonnes annually between 2014- 2025.This makes it a success story for the development of agricultural sector  despite the climatic  challenges that includes the fragmented landholdings, viral infections and challenges in the livestock management. This has been enabled due to the cutting edge research of the agricultural scientists under the aegis of the ICAR. There is a need for promoting natural farming as a sustainable solution to uphold the  resources for the progeny. Shivraj Singh has rightly urged the agricultural scientists to  focus on the high production quality, environmentally friendly agricultural outputs using the natural methods. His speech laid thrust  to enhance per-hectare productivity of pulses and oilseeds. There is a need to focus on research in these areas to add to agricultural innovation.