Lab-to-Land: Modi's slogan to increase agri production

Pitching for greater use of research for boosting the agriculture sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today gave the slogan 'Lab-to-Land', saying that farmers should be able to enhance production to increase their income and feed the country as well as the world.

He pressed for the use of scientific technologies to help raise the agricultural production in "less land, less time" as he expressed concern over the depleting natural resources and the challenge of climate change.

The Prime Minister also called for 'Blue Revolution' in fisheries sector on the lines of Green and White Revolutions.

"We have to prove two points. One is how we can make farmers capable of feeding the whole country and the world. Second is how we can make agriculture capable to fill the pocket of our farmers," Modi said while addressing the 86th Foundation Day of Indian Council Agriculture Research (ICAR) here.

He asked the scientific community to plan for the centenary celebrations of ICAR and achieve more in the next 14 years than what they have over the last 86 years of the existence of the premium agriculture research body.

"'Per drop, more crop' can be our mission statement," he said, while noting that India is still dependent on import of edible oil and pulses despite being an agrarian economy and efforts need to be made to become self-sufficient.

He emphasised upon the need for taking scientific research to fields and suggested setting up of radio stations by agri-colleges and universities to create awareness among farmers.

The farm growth target cannot be achieved unless farmers' income is increased, Modi said, adding that the government's policies therefore should focus in this direction.

Modi also talked about the need to address the challenge of taking farm research from 'Lab-to-Land' by making efforts to convince farmers about efficacy of new farm techniques in simple ways.