Punjab will not be able to contribute foodgrains to the national pool for long. Going by the pace at which our water table is depleting,if we do not shift to value-added crops and get out of the rice-wheat cycle,we will not be able to last another decade, said Dr Gurdev Singh Khush,also known as the rice man. Coming from a renowned rice-breeder and geneticist,this warning should make the policy-makers and the government sit up and take notice. Dr Khush,a recipient of various awards,is in Punjab Agricultural University these days. About the ongoing debate on ethical and unethical agricultural practices,Dr Khush said,We need to form an authority that can keep a check on unethical practices. The debate over organic versus chemical agriculture is on world over. I too feel that we should go organic. But then we cannot grow cereals organically,as it will be an expensive proposition,which will make food expensive for 20-30 per cent of the world population. This is criminal. Dr Khush,who has played a crucial role in ushering in the Green Revolution,added,Using chemicals should be the last resort. Farmers should first adopt varieties that are resistant to pests attack,then follow right practices and when they exhaust all means,they should spray chemicals. At present,what is happening is that pesticide companies aggressive marketing is bringing chemicals to farmers faster than any other method. Talking about IRRIs ambitious project of developing a rice variety that would increase the yield by 50 per cent,Dr Khush said,This project is being funded by the Bill Gates Foundation. However,physiologists world over think that this is not possible. Scientists in the UK and Europe are trying to increase the photosynthesis of rice. I too have my doubts about the success of the project,but I feel that if we have the money then the experiment is worth a try. This experiment will take a long time to show results.
