PM asks scientists develop varieties to increase rice production

New Delhi, Oct 9 (UNI) Calling for a Second Green Revolution in rice, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked the scientists to develop rice varieties resistant to submergence, drought and salinity to effectively address the concerns of food security, nutrition, poverty, food safety and environmental and natural resource sustainability.

Inaugurating the 2nd International Rice Congress 2006 (IRC 2006), Dr Singh stressed for a new boost to rice production and productivity to improve the economics of rice cultivation by finding alternative uses for by-products like rice straw.

''I am sure we can address these issues if rice research can attract the best minds we have in science research,'' the Prime Minister added.

He said there are some anxieties about the risks associated with new biotechnological products which can at the same time provide food security for the poor. ''We need to strike a balance between using the potential of biotechnology to meet the requirements of hungry people while addressing ethical concerns about interfering with nature.'' He said rice grown under irrigated conditions is facing the threat of water shortage. This is forcing a paradigm shift towards maximising output per unit of water instead of per unit of land.

Agriculture experts should come out with technologies that convince farmers to use less water in rice production without compromising on returns, he said.

Dr Singh further said that indeed, increasing output per unit of water is a larger challenge facing Indian agriculture as whole and asked for scientific, technological, economic and importantly, institutional responses to meet this challenge.

''We must shift the focus to increasing productivity per unit of water of both irrigated and rainfed agriculture. This is a vital challenge we face and we must address it.'' The Prime Minister said the need of the hour is the further application of science and technology to develop the rice economies.

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