|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
ABLE-AG has aggressive plans for Madhya Pradesh farmers to adopt biotech
|
|
Tuesday, 22 November, 2011, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
Our Bureau, Bangalore
|
Association of Biotech Led Enterprises - Agriculture Group (ABLE-AG) in collaboration with the Central Press Club of Madhya Pradesh is aggressively looking to ensure that farmers in the state adopt biotech to ensure sustainable food production.
Biotech has benefited farmers globally and enhanced yields substantially. Indian scientists are working hard to bring many more products to farmers at the earliest. In fact biotech has made India the second-largest cotton producer and exporter in the world – reversing older position of importer. On the occasion, two local farmers, who benefited from Bt Cotton cultivation, also shared their experiences.
Dr N Seetharama, executive director, ABLE-AG, states, “MP has held leadership position in agriculture productivity registering an impressive 8.75% growth against the national average of mere 4%.
“We should ensure further quantum jump by deploying relevant biotech products already available for a number of local crops that also address the nagging problems of labour shortage, drudgery to women labour, and excessive use of chemicals,” he added.
Further, the ABLE-AG executive director who is a fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences and worked with ICAR (Indian Council of Agriculture Research) and ICRISAT in different capacities, urges the state government to ensure continuity of research through timely approval of crop trials, encouraging partnerships between agriculture universities and private players, and facilitating sharing of knowledge as well as enhancing agronomic practices.
Delving on the declining productivity of soybean in the state, Dr Jay G Varshney, former director, directorate of weed science research, ICAR, Jabalpur, said that though MP used to contribute more than 75% to the national basket of soybean, in the past few years it has been seeing a decline.
Farmers very rarely use any plant protection measures, and there is only little seed replacement or adoption of improved varieties. It is in this backdrop that scientists have advised adoption of biotech crops, which are designed to work against pests and lead to enhances yields per acre. “Soybeans using biotechnology are produced by countries including USA, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Chile and others,” adds Dr Varshney.
Globally agri biotech has seen increasing favour from small and resource-poor farmers. Today biotech crops are available across 29 countries across all 6 continents in maize, soybeans, corn, canola, alfalfa, papaya, cotton and so on while R&D on other crops is underway.
MP ranked high not only in soybean but also in gram, oilseeds and pulses. With growing pressure of population, depleting water tables and climate change, the state would require to innovate to keep its leadership position alive. Scientists said biotechnology would remain the key in this, added Dr Seetharama.
ABLE-AG members comprise both Indian companies like Advanta, JK, Mahyco, Metahelix, Nath, and multinational companies – Bayer, BASF, Devgen, Dow, Pioneer-a DuPont business, Monsanto, and Syngenta, which are focussed on delivering farm value today, and lab-to-farm innovation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|