National Seminar on Serving Farmers and Saving Farming

New Delhi, Jan 8 (UNI) More than 250 eminent scientists, farmers, professionals, officers from Government and NGOs will exchange their views at a National Semiar on 'Serving Farmers and Saving Farming:Indian Imperative and Global Perspective'.

The 3-day Seminar, beginning January 10, 2007, is being organised by College of Home Science, G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, at Pantnagar in Uttarakhand, in collaboration with 'Society of Community Mobilization of Sustainable Development'.

The main themes covered under different sessions will include technologies and techniques for improving sustainable agricultural production; entrepreneurship development; agri-enterprises; cottage industries and support system; ICT and innovative technology delivery mechanism; self-help groups, capacity building and disaster management for empowering farmers; gender and sustainable development; IPR and WTO issues and public private partnership.

The deliberations of eminent scientists, experts, extensionists and farmers will come foward with positive and fruitful recommendations to meet the challenges of present day and serve and save farmers in the present context of globalisation of agriculture.

The growth of Indian agriculture had decelerated from 3.5 per cent in 80s and 90s to 1.5 per cent at present. Capital formation in agriculture and allied sectors has declined leading farmers into the debt trap.

Frequent occurrence of floods, drought, tsunami and other natural calamities has resulted in difficult time for farmers.

Besides this, open market and liberalized economy have thrown global challenges to them.

At this juncture, minimum support price announced by the government is of no solace as the farmers input cost is higher.

With this view, the present National Seminar is being organized with the hope that the deliberation of scientists and farmers and brain storming discussions would come with effective and integrated strategies to address the issues from the farmer's perspective.

UNI