Success in agriculture forms the basis of success in hi-tech software, IT and biotechnology, country’s top most farm research body ICAR chief said here on Thursday, while cautioning that 50 years from now nobody in the world will give rice and wheat.
“Fifty years from now, we can buy arms and aircraft but not rice and wheat. Nobody in the world will give rice and wheat.” Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General S Ayyappan said. “If agriculture succeeds, what else can fail? If agriculture fails, what else can succeed in the country? Software, IT, BT and every thing succeeds only if agriculture succeeds,” he added.
Addressing the global agri-business and food processing summit 2011, organised by the Karnataka government, he said there is a proposal to link up Krishi Vidya Kendras with agricultural universities and public and private institutions in the field in the 12th Plan (2012-17).
Similarly, under a proposed ‘Farmer First’ inititive, students would have spend 25 per cent of their time in agricultural universities and institutes in farm fields, Ayyappan added.
Secretary in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Rakesh Kacker said in the 12th Plan, the Centre proposed to devolve more responsibility on the state governments in food processing programmes. According to a new proposal, states would be asked to set up primary collection and processing centres which can help feed into larger processors.
