COIMBATORE: While the rest of the world has pressed ahead in value- addition in agriculture, we still lag mainly because of the lack of a unified policy framework, reservations about food processing and the policy of discouraging exports, Jatindra Nath Swain, Special Secretary to Government and Commissioner of Drought-prone Area Programme, said on Tuesday.

There was stagnation in agriculture, though the other sectors had seen growth, he said, opening the third regional meeting of the Indian Agricultural Universities Association at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University here.

"Indian agriculture, with its diverse production capabilities and infinite variety and size, will provide a perfect setting for germination of fresh ideas that will drive value-addition. State agricultural universities must make interventions in different areas to promote value addition. In addition to the core areas, they should create a talent pool of freshers, who will be eager to tap opportunities in ... food processing," he said.

C. Ramasamy, Vice-Chancellor, TNAU, said sustainable agriculture was considered economically viable enough to meet food requirements, environmentally positive and concerned with the quality of life.

To achieve sustainable agriculture, rationalised use of land, market-led crop diversification and an open approach to organic farming were vital.

Slump in productivity

M.P. Yadav, president of the association, said though the Indian agriculture had crossed several phases since the Green Revolution, it had seen a slump in productivity in recent times.

"Now is the time to look backward and move forward". Value-addition was important, as at present India processed only seven per cent of its farm produce.

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