Indian President Calls for 2nd Green Revolution by 2020

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, January 09, 2003

Indian President Calls for 2nd Green Revolution by 2020

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam Wednesday called for a second green revolution and said at a time when land under cultivation is decreasing and population is on the rise, doubling the productivity is the only way to feed the millions in the country.

In augurating the second International Congress on Plant Physiology in New Delhi, the president favored an integrated mission mode approach from soil to marketing to achieve a target of 300 millionton grain output by 2020 proportionate to the increase in population.

By 2020, India's arable land is projected to fall to around 100million hectares from the present 170 million hectares, yet production will have to be increased from 200 million tons to 300 million tons to remain self-sufficient in agriculture production, he said.

"The second green revolution should envisage integrated programs taking care of all aspects of agriculture from soil characteristics, matching seeds, grains, conversion to food and its marketing after value addition," Kalam said.

Drawing heavily from his interaction with food experts Norman Borlaugh and C Subramanian who were instrumental in spurring the first green revolution of the 1960s, he said time is ripe for the second such revolution.

Kalam dwelt on ways and means of increasing yields when land use is under stress and there is scarcity of water with an important role for farm scientists to face the challenge.

He said that the challenge is to ensure sustainable plant productivity under changing environment, proper training of farmers, providing them with upgraded equipment and enabling adequate amount of water.

The president also favored organic farming in the wake of adverse climate changes in the world, saying it will be a sound and viable alternative to the current methods of production.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Missile Man Sworn in as New President of India

Vajpayee to Visit Pakistan for South Asian Summit, Pakistan to Withdraw Troops from Border

Death Toll Rise to 20 in Tel Aviv Bombing Attacks ( 4 Messages)

China Lodges Formal Representation to Japan About Diaoyu Islands ( 8 Messages)

Can Weapon Inspection Avoid the Outbreak of War? ( 11 Messages)

Premier Zhu Urges Better Foreign Exchange Management ( 4 Messages)

China's Space Program on Course: Official ( 9 Messages)