Government is Committed to Higher Growth Rate in Agriculture – Radha Mohan Singh
Government is Committed to Higher Growth Rate in Agriculture – Radha Mohan
Singh
The Government is
committed to higher growth rate in agriculture through sustainable development.
A number of schemes have been initiated for this purpose
which include soil health card scheme, ‘Paramparagat Krishi Vikas
Yojana’, through ‘Pradhanmantri Gram Sinchai Yojana’; enhanced water efficiency
through ‘Per Drop More Crop’. This was stated by UnionAgriculture and
Farmers Welfare Minister, Shri Radha Mohan singh while addressing Asian Seed
Congress, in Goa today. He said that the Government has also taken up continued
support to employment guarantee schemes, creation of a unified national
agriculture market to boost the incomes of farmers.
Full text of Union
Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare speech:
“I am very happy
to be here on the occasion of inauguration session of the Asian Seed Congress,
2015 being organized by Asia and Pacific Seed Association. It’s a matter of
great pleasure and privilege for us that APSA has chosen Goa as a venue for
organizing this Seed Congress. This is very apt because India is now emerging
as a big economic power and agriculture is one of the important sectors, which
will substantially contribute to the growth of our economy.
It is well known
that agriculture production and productivity is mainly dependent on quality
seeds and organizing such an event would definitely help in increasing
availability of quality seeds at regional, national and global level. The seed
sector not only helps in improving the production and productivity of
agriculture crops but it also helps in generating employments and growth of
allied sectors like dairying, animal husbandry, fisheries, poultry, etc.
Agriculture is the
focus sector for the Government the Hon. PM has given the clarion call on the
need to increase agricultural productivity with overall welfare of farmers,
therefore Ministry has been renamed as Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’
Welfare with a view to develop a holistic approach. The Government is
committed to higher growth rate in agriculture through sustainable development
and has developed key schemes to address the natural resource management
including soil health card scheme, ‘Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana’, through
‘Pradhanmantri Gram Sinchai Yojana’; enhanced water efficiency through ‘Per
Drop More Crop’ and continued support to employment guarantee schemes, creation
of a unified national agriculture market to boost the incomes of farmers.
One of the
important features of the seed sector in India is that it has equal and
important role played by both public and private sectors. Organizing of such
events not only provide business opportunities to the seed industries but also
provides feedback and inputs researchers and scientists for initiating new
research and technology to overcome those constraints for the welfare of the
agrarian society.
The Indian
agriculture sector has made commendable progress during the last four decades
and from a food deficient country in sixties, today we have become a food
sufficient country. Baring pulses and oilseeds, we are surplus in many food
crops and are able to feed our growing population.
It is true that in
some crops a yield plateau has been reached but this barrier can be broken by
way of new and innovative technologies and also through an intensive
agriculture extension effort. Seed is one of the key factors to
increasing the production and productivity in agriculture crops and our efforts
should be to invest more R&D in the seed sector for the development of new
and better varieties which will not only have higher yield potential but will
also have wider range of adaptability and resistance / tolerance to biotic and
abiotic stresses. I applaud the efforts of the organizers to bring all such
issues in the forefront for solution by policy makers, researchers and other
stake holders of the Asia and Pacific countries.
It is a fact that
well identified seed production area, professionally organized seed villages,
and a vibrant private sector have made India a potential seed sourcing hub. All
this would not have been possible without the policy support provided by
Government of India, starting with the National Seed Production Programme, New
Policy on Seed Development of 1988, which opened the gates for private sector
participation in the seed business, to the National Seed Policy, 2002, opening
up of FDI in seeds, the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmer’s Rights Act,
2001 and the Biodiversity Act, 2002 etc. The adequate availability of quality
seeds is one way ensuring the enhanced agricultural production and other hand
supporting the entrepreneurship for while also providing opportunities excess
quantity of quality seed of elite varieties to be exported to earn foreign
exchange.
The potential of
the agriculture sector for rural rejuvenation cannot be neglected as about 60%
of our country’s population depends on agriculture for livelihood. Studies have
indicated that one percentage growth in agriculture sector is two to three
times more effective in reducing poverty than one percentage growth in other
sectors. Therefore, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare aims to achieve
the rejuvenation of this sector for farmer’s welfare. The government has been
taking various initiatives to counter the challenges faced by farmers.
At present, the
size of the domestic seed market is around Rs.15,000 crore, while India’s share
in the world seed market is less than 12%. However, the National Seed Policy
aims to increase our share in the global seed trade to 10% of by 2020. The new
Policy on Seed Development of 1988 has opened the gates for private sector
participation in the seed business, to the National Seed Policy, 2002, opening
up of FDI in seeds and India’s participation in Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD) guarantees that quality of seeds that can
also be exported with less hurdles.
The Indian seed
market is rapidly growing, during the recent past and the hybrid seed market of
vegetables has shown remarkable growth. We also give equal attention
towards the development of high volume low price food, cereal crops, which are
mainly handled by our public sector. Indian seed industry can become a major
supplier of seed for the global markets. India has high potential for hybrid
seed production with special reference to high value vegetable seeds at cheaper
cost as compared to other countries, of its diverse agro-climatic zones,
skilled/knowledge human resource and enterprise which offer opportunity for
diverse seed production for export especially that of high value hand
pollinated vegetables, field crops and flower seeds. Besides vegetables, the
seeds of Hybrid corn, Hybrid paddy, Hybrid pearl millet and hybrid cotton have
high potential for export in Asian and African countries. If any bottle neck or
constrains are observed by the Seed Industry in achieving the enhanced target
of quality seed production, they may bring such issues in to notice of my
Ministry and we will try our best to resolve the issues, so that Indian seed
industry of public and private sector may fulfill the domestic and
international demand.
We are
continuously attempting to streamline the seed quality regulatory framework, in
order to make it predictable, transparent and progressive, I would like to
assure that Government of India is making all out efforts to help seed sector
grow more, both domestically and in the international arena. We are
committed to see the growth of this sector in a transparent and sustainable
manner at a much faster pace.
The APSA is
certainly a great opportunity for all the stakeholders in seed sector to
brainstorm and deliberate on how to create value to the farmers and the
nations. As an international forum, it also provides a unique opportunity
to resolve issues and address challenges and come out with action plans and
recommendations to the Governments. I urge all the delegates and
participants that for the next five days each one of us, should engage and come
out with constructive plans to achieve our mission. I wish APSA 2015 all
the very best and look forward to a great congress, which should set a new
direction and contribute to the development of seed sector and agriculture.
I am sure that the
Asian Seed Congress, Goa - 2015 will provide an effective platform for growth
of seed business not only in Asia and Pacific regions but also across the
continents at global levels”.
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