Sir,
This refers to the editorial ‘Fall in farm output’ (DE, Feb 9, 2016). India is primarily an agricultural country and about three-fifths of her population resides in villages. Majority of the people in villages depend on agriculture for their livelihood . But unfortunately, our agriculture is rain fed and it depends on monsoon rains which play a vital role in crop production.Good monsoon rains promise us bumper crops whereas failure of monsoon leads to fall in crop output.It is really sad that out country has been facing severe climatic conditions like floods,draught and failure of rain leading to fall in farm output. Poor harvest of crops affects the farming community adversely and they find it difficult to make both ends meet.Such opportunities offer an opportunity to the agriculture scientists to conduct research and develop such varieties as can withstand climatic fluctuations.
Thus,it is here that institutions such as Indian Agriculture Research Institute have to play a key role to develop climate resilient technological solutions by leveraging opportunities from sciences such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, synthetic biology etc.The said institute has already developed mustard which can grow in uncultivable area.Our education in agriculture too needs to be focussed on developing varieties of seeds suitable to Indian climatic conditions.Awareness camps too need to be organised for the farmers to enlighten them about various schemes such as crop insurance and use of new varieties of seeds as also proper use of pesticides,manures and fertilizers for better harvest.Efforts must also be made to promote organic farming in India to improve the rural economy. The Government, too ought to devise contingency plans to deal with such an eventuality in case it occurs.
Yours etc…
Ashok Sharma, Flat No 4, Housing Colony,
Udhampur
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