Global inflationary trends in farm produce likely to continue: Sib

New Delhi, Aug 26 (UNI) Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal today said global inflationary trends in farm produce will not die down easily and are likely to continue.

Mr Sibal also mooted of forming for a (public private partnership) PPP model and technology sharing for increasing the productivity to counter the problem.

''Policy makers need to look at a holistic approach to increase productivity which should also be sustainable and eco friendly. The green revolution, which is happening now, should become 'Evergreen Revolution' which is only possible by PPP model and sharing of technologies between research institutes and farmers,'' the Minister said while inauguratiing a one-day National Conference on 'Agri and food Biotechnology for Food, Feed and Farmers Security' at the PHD Chamber here.

The country needs to have clusters of industrial institutes and industry together where cross fertilisation of ideas can be better and more effective and flow of ideas from lab to field much faster, he added.

Mr Sibal attributed the main reasons for decrease in productivity to extreme weather conditions, huge increase in population, diversion of food crops to fuel crops, decrease of arable land, overuse of fertilisers and urbanisation.

Mr Sibal said that crop conversion for energy purposes should be justified in terms of food security, energy capture of the product, sustainability and its impact on the ecology.

Viewed against these parameters, he said that there was no justification for diversion of corn for energy purposes, as was being done in the US on a large scale.

Only six per cent of the energy for transportation needs can be met from this source, he said.

Mr Sibal disclosed that the government was contemplating proactive schemes for creating food and energy security in the country.

He said that crops like rapeseed, soya, and sugarcane are ideally suited for diverting for generation of energy.

In this regard, he mentioned about the Rs 100 crore Godavari pilot project for creating energy from baggasse.

Significantly, the bye products of these processes have considerable value in the market to make their use profitable and sustainable.

UNI MP AK RN1931