(Rpts correcting headline)

Shillong, Aug 3 (UNI) The ''rain fed'' North East Region will now become a major contributor to the nation's 'food basket' as the 'green revolution' belts have not been able to achieve the desired agrictural growth in the country.

According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) officials here, states in the 'green revolution' belts---Punjab, Harayana and Uttar Pradesh--- which produce 74 per cent of the country's wheat and 24 per cent of its rice have been showing 'green fatigue'.

The nation is looking forward to 63 per cent of North East 'rain fed' areas under accelerated agricultural growth.

''There needs to be a paradigm shift from input-based agriculture to knowledge-based agriculture in the North East,'' Director of the ICAR, North Eastern Region (NER) Dr KM Bujarbaruah told UNI here yesterday.

With the fertile soils of the North East yet to be fully ploughed, Dr Bujarbaruah said the ICAR is busy preparing a draft on the agricultural prospects of the region to be incorporated into the Approach Paper for the 11th Five Year Plan.

Presently, he said NE still falls short of 1.6 million tonnes in food grains, a whopping 2.2 lakh MT in meat and poultry products.

''Our task, therefore, is not only to bridge this gap but also to target additional production to strenthen the national food basket,'' the ICAR Director asserted.

To achieve the target, the ICAR would adopt a three-pronged strategy for increased productivity in the region with emphasis on enhancing area-wise yield, profitability and permanency.

So far, the Council has already developed 12 high-yield varieties of rice suitable to the climatic and topographic conditions in the region, he said.

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