PM calls for second green revolution

Prime minister Manmohan Singh has called for a second green revolution in the country that will focus on non-food crops, horticulture and new plant varieties.

Inaugurating the 93rd Indian Science Congress in Hyderabad today, Singh said, "Science and technology have benefited the Indian farmer but there still remains the challenge of bridging the development gap between urban and rural India. This requires a second green revolution in non-food crops, horticulture and new plant varieties."

"The National Commission on Farmers headed by MS Swaminathan has suggested a programme for agriculture renewal that can be the starting point of the second green revolution. It involves suggestions for soil health enhancement, water harvesting, affordable credit and crop and life insurance reforms, dissemination of appropriate technologies and improved regulations for marketing of produce. I will add application of science and technology for improvement of seeds and animal husbandry to these elements as well," Singh added.

Taking into consideration the criticism that the first green revolution faced, Singh said the second one should focus on dry land agriculture and benefit small and marginal farmers. He also spoke on the need for decentralisation and inter-linking of rivers for promoting rural development.

The prime minister also paid homage to MC Puri, who was gunned down at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore last week. "No civilised person can condone such an uncivilised act," he added.

Giving his views on the inequalities in urban and rural development, Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen said the vision of the future of India cannot be of one that was half California and half sub-Saharan Africa.

"While information technology, global communication, pharmaceuticals and many other parts of the urban economy have been expanding rapidly, agriculture has, in many ways, lagged significantly behind," he added.

Sen also said India needed to learn from China that collective incentives did not work in agriculture. "India also needs to focus on social infrastructure like education and health care besides completing the programme on land reforms," he added.