The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Scientists told to help small and marginal farmers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 27, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Scientists told to help small and marginal farmers

Staff Reporter

Science and technology can help increase crop productivity, says Minister

BANGALORE: Union Minister of State for Planning M.V. Rajasekharan on Sunday gave a call to scientists to use science and technology to help small and marginal farmers.

Speaking at the inauguration of a national seminar on "Science, Technology and Society" organised by the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) and Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, here, Mr. Rajasekharan said farm tools for agricultural productivity, which still remain outdated, need to be modernised. "Small and marginal farmers constitute 78 per cent of the farming community in India. These farmers can be spared of the drudgery they are suffering from generations if science and technology helps them in increasing crop productivity," the Minister said.

Mr. Rajasekharan said President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had at the 93rd Indian Science Congress on Integrated Rural Development: Science and Technology asked scientists to set up 100 clusters for providing urban amenities in rural areas by January 2007. "This can be possible through the application of technology in farming," he said.

Pointing out that trade and industry are moving in the right direction to help the country attain a "developed nation's status", Mr. Rajasekharan said: "There is a need to integrate ideas and design a management strategy to develop a strong rural technology base in agricultural, non-agricultural and infrastructure-cum-service sectors."

Setting up more rural technology-based enterprises will not only upgrade human skill, generate employment and create wealth but also will usher in an era of growth and development, he said.

He told scientists to become self-reliant for energy security needs by adopting innovative, environment-friendly and clean technologies. "We are optimistic about the use of nuclear energy and technology for civilian use. However, it has been reported that even if there is a 20-fold increase in India's nuclear power capacity by 2031-2032, the contribution of nuclear energy to India's energy mix is, at best, expected to be five per cent to six per cent only. This makes it essential for us to be self-reliant," he added.

Governor T.N. Chaturvedi reiterated the need to become self-reliant for energy security needs. "Expectations from science and technology are getting higher over the days. Science and technology is called upon to provide solutions in almost all problems faced by society. So we need to become self-reliant," he added.

In his welcome address, NIAS Director K. Kasturirangan said the seminar aimed at discussing the use of science and technology to address problems in day-to-day affairs both in urban and rural areas.

The former Director of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Goverdhan Mehta delivered the keynote address. The Chairman of the Governing Body Council of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, Bhalchandra Mungekar, spoke.

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