Coimbatore: Increasing productivity, employment and income for poor farmers is necessary for agricultural development in the country, Verghese Kurien, former chairman, Institute of Rural Management, Anand, said here on Wednesday.

"A realistic agenda for achieving these goals should include the vigorous promotion of agro-based rural, non-farm employment, fostering public-private partnership in rural infrastructure development, and research and technology focus on small holders and resource poor regions," Mr. Kurien said, while delivering the convocation address at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU).

Villagers were getting marginalised because of low farm productivity and the inability of the growing labour force in the farm sector to find work. This situation was likely to worsen, creating major problems in sustaining development in rural areas.

Diversifying by opting for high value commodities such as fruits, vegetables, livestock and fish was another way to promote growth.

Price policies, urbanisation, technological improvement and infrastructure development would influence diversification, he said.

Growth

Growth in agriculture would come from new and cost effective technology, genetic improvement for better seed and yield, market reforms, post harvest management, data base improvement for better research, land allocation, and bridging the gap between knowledge and practice.

It was important to build on the skills of farmers as agricultural entrepreneurs through links with technology, markets, society and the Government. By becoming competitive, they could prepare themselves to meet new challenges.

Agricultural graduates were the "link between the hard realities of our country and the dreams of our rural people," he noted. "In helping to realise these dreams, you may not get the best in terms of pecuniary rewards, but you will certainly get the love and affection of farmers, not to mention the deep satisfaction that comes only to those whose lives are lived to better the lives of others, especially those less privileged than themselves."

With agriculture changing fast, the graduates would have to cope with new challenges and opportunities. Those who took up the cause of the weak and the poor would have to contend with "vested interests" that opposed change. Graduates would also have to face "growing indifference" from policy makers.

Degree conferred

Tamil Nadu Governor and Chancellor, TNAU, Surjit Singh Barnala, conferred the degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) on Mr. Kurien and John C. O'Toole, former Associate Director, Food Security Programme, The Rockefeller Foundation, United States. A total of 909 candidates received undergraduate, post-graduate and doctoral degrees.

In his welcome address, C. Ramasamy, Vice-Chancellor, said that the research activities of the university would focus on the needs of society and would deal with basic issues such as poverty, food security and better livelihood.

New awards

Agriculture Minister and Pro-Chancellor, TNAU, Veerapandi S. Arumugam, announced the institution of three new awards: Peter Hazell Award, Prof. C. Ramasamy Award and Award for Best Diploma Students in C. Subramaniam Institute of Agriculture, Tindivanam.

The Minister released two books, one of them in English and the other in Tamil.

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