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President Kalam's stress on conserving water bodies

Special Correspondent

First Citizen holds interaction with farmers and children

TAKING A KEEN LOOK: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam visiting the exhibition at 93rd Indian Children's Science Congress at Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University in Hyderabad on Thursday. - PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

HYDERABAD: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has stressed on the need for conserving water bodies as part of drought mitigation measures, and asked farmers in dry land areas to cultivate jatropha.

He came up with a variety of responses to the queries posed by farmers, including women from five States, during an interaction through a videoconference at the inaugural of first National Virtual Congress of Farmers held here as part of the 93rd Indian Science Congress on Thursday.

Replying to a query from Lalithamma of Addakkal in Mahabubnagar, he said water bodies should be properly maintained and periodic desilting taken up. The Centre had agreed to mix ten per cent of biofuel with diesel, he said, while advising farmers in water-scarce areas to go in for jatropha.

To another question from a farmer of Waifad (Maharashtra) he referred to the drought-resistant seeds developed by ICRISAT and said they should be made available to farmers.

He advised farmers to form self-help groups and seek bank assistance. When another farmer sought to know how grain storage facilities could be developed at village level, he suggested setting up cost-effective silos. He told a farmer from Jeypore (Orissa) that the new Gene Fund Authority would help them preserve traditional plants.

Later, Dr. Kalam had a lively interactive session with children at the Children's Science Congress. He fielded questions from child delegates with aplomb. Is the country not ashamed about the elected representatives taking bribes openly? His reply was both Houses of Parliament had already initiated corrective measures. "Righteousness should come from home from the three pillars-- father, mother and elementary school teacher--" he said.

The Government could not create honest people, but it can only punish the dishonest.

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