Reserve prime farm land for agriculture: M S Swaminathan

Hyderabad (PTI): The government should evolve a land use policy reserving prime farm land for agriculture, while developing Special Economic Zones, eminent agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan said on Wednesday.

"Prime farm land must be reserved for farming. Unless there is a proper land use policy based on classification, reserving prime and high potential farm land for agriculture, you will find difficulties," he said when asked about the raging controversies over acquisition of farm lands for SEZs.

He was talking to reporters after delivering the Second Golden Jubilee Lecture at the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) here.

About the demands for increasing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy, he said the commission on agriculture headed by him favoured fixing of MSP at 50 per cent more than the production cost.

Political parties in Andhra Pradesh and other paddy growing states have been demanding hike in MSP for paddy to Rs 1,000 per quintal on par with wheat.

The scientist, however, justified a higher MSP for wheat even while favouring incentive for paddy too. "We are importing wheat. So there was criticism that we are paying higher price for foreign farmers. Moreover, we want to quickly increase wheat production," he said.

Stressing the need for strengthening food security, Swaminathan suggested development of Special Agricultural Zones (SAZ) by identifying untapped agricultural potential in every state.

Voicing concern over decline in agricultural growth rate from 3.69 per cent during 1990-96 to 1.65 per cent during 1996-2005, he said food security was directly linked to the sovereignty of the country.

Swaminathan said the SAZs should bring about small farm management revolution, particularly in the districts reeling under agrarian crisis.

He wanted farmers' organisations and Gram Sabhas to be provided with an integrated package of technology, services, techno-infrastructure.

"A predominantly agricultural country like India should become a world leader in the establishment and nurturing of special agricultural zones. Indira Gandhi canal area in Rajasthan will be ideal for developing into a SAZ," the agricultural scientist said.

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