K'taka: Proj to boost agribiotech on cards by Centre

Bangalore, June 9: The Union Department of Biotechnology is contemplating a massive boost to Agribiotech taking up a huge project worth over Rs.1000 crore to give a fillip to stagnant agricultural production.

Amidst growing concern over the stagnant agricultural growth both area and productionwise, during the last decade, experts feel the second green revolution in the country could be ushered in only through improvements in dryland farming, constituting 70 per cent of the 140 million hectares of cultivable land in the country.

Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Director S A Patil, talking to newsmen, on the sidelines of a conference on Agribiotech at the Bangalore Bio 2007 here today said there was need to pick up selective foodgrain crop and take up genetic improvement besides improving the landstock in arid area and improve the water table to assure at least one irrigated crop.

He said a project was in conceptual stage to take up development of agribiotech in an integrated manner, involving other related six or seven ministries such as rural development, irrigation, power and human resources.

He said agricultural production remained stagnant as the farmers were not getting remunerative price. While prices of other commodities have seen a tremendous increase, the prices of agricultural produce had increased only marginally.

Asked for his reaction on the government's waiver of farm loans and interest he said it was only a temporary benefit. The government should provide infrastructural facilities such as marketing and if it was done even in interrior areas, the life of farmers would be better, he felt.

UNI