IT, key to agricultural expansion: Sharad Pawar

New Delhi, Feb 27: Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Friday, Feb 27 said that information technology has to play a major role in the expansion of agriculture in the country.

Addressing the national seminar on Agriculture Extension here, Pawar said information technology is a critical component for revitalizing national agricultural system.

Pawar's speech, which was read in absentia, said that the technology would facilitate farmers in improving the efficiency and productivity of agriculture and allied activities.

He further said that the farmers organizations and NGOs can help in supplementing the extension work in a cost effective manner.

Referring to the foodgrain production in the country, the Minister said it has reached all time high of 231 metric tones with an addition of ten million tones every year.

"The goal is to sustain the growth in the agriculture sector and achieve foodgrain production to 320 million tones by 2025," he added.

ANI