India needs skilled human resource

Bangalore, June 8 (UNI) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General Mangala Rai today stressed the need for development of skilled human resources in agriculture if it has to be boosted in a commercial style in a big way.

Addressing faculty and the students at the University of Agricultural Sciences here, he said that to create adequate manpower, the government has to bring changes in the style of recruitment on contractual base right at entry level. Top priority has to be accorded for skill development.

Mr Rai regretted saying that "for the last 10 to 15 years the country was not getting enough senior scientists and it was further trickling down." The Agriculture Ministry had written last month to all the Chief Ministers to fill all the posts funded by ICAR in their Universities immediately, he added.

Stating that agriculture has to be promoted as an industry with a huge investment by providing infrastructure facilities besides enabling the farmers to get higher profits and for this farmers should be assured of proper remunerative price for their produce.

He also stressed on the development of adaptation and mitigation technology in view of the climate changes affecting the agricultural production.

UNI