| Date: |
28-11-2015 |
| Subject: |
Green Revolution was not successful in rainfed areas: Govt |
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NEW DELHI: India's first Green Revolution was not successful in rainfed areas, which contribute about 60 per cent of the country's total foodgrains, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said today.
Therefore, the NDA government is focusing more on bringing the second Green Revolution in eastern region, which has rich water resources, he added.
"Barring pulses and oilseeds, we are self-sufficient in foodgrains. This was possible due to Green Revolution," Singh said while addressing an event commemorating Golden Jubilee of Green Revolution.
While there has been significant jump in production and productivity of rice and wheat due to the Green Revolution in 1960s, but the benefits did not reach rainfed areas, he said.
The country's foodgrains output has increased from 82 million tonnes in 1960s to 262 million tonnes in 2013-14. Rice output has risen from 34 million tonnes to 100 million tonnes, while wheat production has increased from 11 million tonnes to 90 million tonnes in the said period, he added.
M S Swaminathan, Father of Green Revolution, and other scientists who contributed in raising crop yields were present at the event. The minister felicitated these scientists and also unveiled a postal stamp on this occasion.
Stating that second Green Revolution should come from eastern region, Singh said, "I believe the Green Revolution was not successful in rainfed areas, which contributes about 60 per cent of total foodgrains. So, our government is focusing more on improving yields in this region."
The country's 50 per cent of the farm land is rainfed.
Singh further said Indian agriculture is at a corner stone, facing new challenges of ensuring not only higher output but also increase in farmers' income.
He also urged scientists to develop new varieties that can help make the country self-sufficient in pulses and oilseeds, thereby reduce the dependence on imports.
In 1960s, Green Revolution had allowed India to overcome chronic food deficit by raising foodgrains production by using high yielding varieties of seeds, use of chemical fertilisers and modifying farm equipments.
Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com
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