Swaminathan for revolution in small farm management

M.S. Swaminathan addresses an open forum at the Science Congress, in Thiruvananthapuram.

A revolution in small farm management is essential to revitalise the country's agriculture sector, according to noted agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan.

Corporate farming would be detrimental to India. Farming was the largest private sector enterprise in the country, and any bid to take away land from the farmer would be counter-productive. But a symbiotic relationship between farmers and industry, resulting in a win-win situation for both, would be good, he said.

Dr. Swaminathan was addressing an open forum at the 97th Indian Science Congress. Group farming (farmers sharing machinery and other resources) would be good for a country like India. Farming should be socially sustainable, he said. Anticipatory research Dr. Swaminathan called for anticipatory research to help vulnerable communities cope with the impact of climate change and improve the yield and quality of farm produce, including crops, milk and meat. 'The threat posed by the rising sea level would require the mapping of vulnerable areas in the Maldives, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands.' Terming climate change a mega calamity, he said Kerala's heavily populated coastal areas would feel the impact of the phenomenon. 'Climate refugees would be forced to migrate from coastal to inland areas, and food and security would be affected.

The effect will also be felt on the farming of rice and plantation crops, which contribute to the State's economy.'

The situation called for intense research into climate- resilient crops. He proposed the establishment of an international research centre for below-sea level farming in Kuttanad.

He also underlined the need to marry frontier science with traditional agricultural practices.

Dr. Swaminathan identified four major challenges to science and technology in the 21st century: climate change, nutritional deficiency, concerns over the safety of biotechnology and biodiversity loss.

He proposed the establishment of research and development centres in each of the country's 127 agro climatic zones for crop management.

'Self-sufficiency in home-grown food is a must for a country of our size.'

The future, he said, belongs to nations with grains, not guns. Self-employment Dr. Swaminathan highlighted the need to attract youth to the farm sector, suggesting that students be given opportunities to seek self-employment in such agricultural services as pest control and manufacture of value-added products.

Citing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's inaugural speech at the Indian Science Congress, he said the outcome of the climate change conference in Copenhagen was not satisfactory.

He, however, hoped the December 2010 conference in Mexico would lead to legally binding commitments to emission control.

He reiterated the need to have a regulatory mechanism for genetically modified crops.

The regulations should enjoy the confidence of people.

Dr. Swaminathan expressed concern at the continuing loss of biodiversity due to habitat destruction and deforestation in the country.

He called for community involvement in conservation programmes. 'Biodiversity is the feedstock for modern biotechnology.'

Supply of micro and macro nutrients, clean drinking water, primary healthcare and sanitation were important for nutritional security.

(Courtesy: The Hindu)