We must not be content with the achievements and success stories of the First Green Revolution, which has run its course. Instead, we must look at the challenges before us. Some of the structural weaknesses of the agriculture sector include low levels of public investment, exhaustion of yield potential of new high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice, unbalanced use of fertilizer, low rate of seed replacement and low yield per unit area across almost all crops.

New policy initiatives are needed for the revival of agriculture. Some of the measures requiring attention include improving management of land and water resources, timely supply of quality inputs, easy and efficient access to credit at affordable interest rates, better post-harvest management, besides enhancing knowledge and skills of farmers, traders and other stake-holders involved in agri business. The revival of agriculture in the country also includes bridging the substantial yield gaps existing in the states. This requires localised, state-specific strategies based on local agro-climatic conditions and constraints.

Growth in agriculture would lead to development of rural areas as it leads to improvements in rural household incomes. This, in turn, will help increase purchasing power, thus leading to a virtuous cycle of increasing food intake, higher demand for food grains and better returns to farmers.

To enhance agricultural productivity, land development and irrigation are necessary. Land is a critically important national resource, the efficient use of which is vital for economic growth and development of rural areas. However, land is under tremendous pressure. There should be optimum utilization of land.

Efforts must be made to improve its quality and restore soil health through organic farming techniques. We have to produce more from the limited land available to ensure food security. But in doing so, we must always keep in mind that any food production and consumption policy must safeguard the integrity of natural eco-systems, which must not be compromised. Mahatma Gandhi had warned that, “trading in soil fertility for the sake of quick returns could prove to be a disastrous, short-sighted policy. It would result in virtual depletion of the soil.”

Rain-fed farming is like a gamble. To reduce risk, particularly during dry spells, protective irrigation will help. For this purpose, small structures like farm ponds, village tanks, nallah bunds and cement plugs are found to be effective. At the same time, the upkeep and de-silting of existing water bodies needs to be undertaken to enhance their water storage capacity. A climate literacy programme is needed for training of local-level climate managers to guide farmers on methods of maximising benefits of a good monsoon and minimising the hazards of a poor one.

Our farming community is hard working. We have varied climatic and soil resources, abundant sunshine throughout the year, sizeable water resources, a long coastline and endowed with rich bio-diversity. To cap it all, we have a time-tested scientific infrastructure with a proven record of technological achievements, which we must take advantage of.

To get stakeholders involved, we must enlist the support of Panchayati Raj institutions and our agricultural universities. It is essential to actively involve farmers in the development of new technologies for it is only with their active participation that we can achieve our goal of sustainable development.

Crop diversification, both for production and consumption, is needed. We should not limit ourselves to a narrow crop basket. Widening and diversifying the current narrow food security basket to include local cereals, millets, legumes, tuber crops, vegetables and fruits could be an effective strategy to combat hunger. A well-planned diversification strategy with crops, horticulture, livestock, poultry, fishery and other on-farm and off-farm enterprises need to be pursued.

There is also a need to learn to respect and encourage the traditional wisdom of our farmers and their traditional farming practices particularly in water conservation measures. We must continue to enable village communities to conserve their bio-diversities in the field of gene banks and to preserve water, seeds and grains in village water, seed and grain banks.

(Based on the thoughts of the President on the issues expressed at various public fora)