Suresh Prabhuspeaking at the World Agriculture Prize function in New Delhi

The majority of the population of India still depends on agriculture, therefore the ills plaguing Indian agriculture have to be dealt with urgently. Restoration of health of top soil, optimum use of water and climate change are the three major challenges facing the agriculture sector, said Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, in New Delhi today. He was speaking at a function organized to honour Indian geneticist, international administrator and Father of the Green Revolution in India, Dr. M.S. Swaminathan.

Recalling the contribution of Dr. Swaminathan to increase production of food grains in the country, the Commerce Minister said that as a consequence of the Green Revolution, India became self-reliant in food production in about 15 years. The Minister further said that today India produces 600 MT of agricultural produce and has the capacity to export the excess production to the world. The Commerce Ministry is ready with an Agriculture Export Policy so that farmer’s income can be doubled by 2022. He further said that the various schemes introduced by the Government like Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Fasal Bima Yojana, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Soil Health Card, Kisan Credit Card and eNAM will make agriculture a profitable venture.

The very first, World Agriculture Prize, was given to Dr. M.S. Swaminathan by Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu at the function today. Governor of Kerala, Justice P. Sathasivam, Agriculture Minister of Haryana, O. P. Dhankar and DG, ICAR, Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, were also present on this occasion.

Soil health and water management: prioritise sustainable, climate resilient agricultural practices to secure farmer incomes and production. Restoration of topsoil health, optimized water use and climate change response are the principal challenges for Indian agriculture, and are presented as priorities to sustain productivity and farmer livelihoods. Government programmes cited to strengthen farmer income and profitability include Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Fasal Bima Yojana, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Soil Health Card, Kisan Credit Card, eNAM and an Agriculture Export Policy to expand market access.