The Hindu : National : Bridge potential-actual yield gap, says Swaminathan

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Wednesday, May 30, 2007
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Bridge potential-actual yield gap, says Swaminathan

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Reacting to the announcement of a Rs. 25,000-crore plan for new farm sector projects at Tuesday's National Development Council meeting, agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan said the exercise would be worthwhile "provided the States use the extra amount for a single purpose — bridging the gap between potential and actual yields with technologies on the shelf."

The gap varied between 50 and 100 per cent, and was very wide in dry farming areas and in eastern India.

Action plan

Agricultural production could be doubled if the States prepared a plan to tap the large production potential available with technologies on the shelf in both rain-fed and irrigated areas.

"But the technologies should be supported by appropriate services: input supply, good quality seeds, soil health care, balanced fertilization, necessary infrastructure, and above all, assured and remunerative marketing."

Food production

If all this was done, the total food production could be taken to about 300 million tonnes in the next five years.

This would provide a measurable output indicator of the benefit gained from this large additional investment, Dr. Swaminathan said.

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