Call for more research

Food security is becoming a major concern and farmers must be given economically viable models to produce processed food, said Prof M J Modayil, member of Agriculture Scientists Recruitment Board.

Prof Modayil was speaking at the inauguration of the Tailor-Made Training Programme on Post-Harvest Management and Value Addition of Horticulture and Plantation Crops at Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology in Ludhiana.

Several NABARD officials from across the country are participating in the program.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Modayil said development of technology alone would not help farmers and entrepreneurs.

There was need to provide an economically viable production model.

"For this, scientists should look at what end product would they be producing through research and its viability in the market, he said, adding in the changing scenario, proactive research was required. Most of the highly successful companies are spending a large amount of money on research.

We, as a country, need to look at what our neighbours are doing.