The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has urged the scientific community to pursue good quality science, world class research and yet be able to address the needs of development and employment creation in rural India, so that the gains of development reach every corner of the country. Dr. Manmohan Singh exhorted the scientists to work with Government and non-government organizations and local bodies to make this happen. Inaugurating the 93rd Indian Science Congress at Hyderabad today, the Prime Minister said that despite the advances made in science, the challenge of bridging the development gap between urban and rural India, of increasing rural incomes, of increasing agricultural productivity, forever ending the so-called divide between Bharat and India, still remained. To achieve this, Dr. Manmohan Singh pointed to the need for a Second Green Revolution in non-food crops, in horticulture and in new plant varieties. Referring to the programme for “Agriculture Renewal” suggested by the National Commission of Farmers that could be the starting point of Second Green Revolution, the Prime Minister laid out a seven-point package. However, the Second Green Revolution would not be possible without a rejuvenation of agricultural universities and research institutions, he added.
The Prime Minister emphasised the need for renewed thrust on research that could enhance farm productivity and in the final analysis, increase yields and value addition at the level of the farmer, leading to better incomes, to ensure that those who depend on agriculture for sustenance are not left behind in this age of technology and knowledge. Dr. Singh highlighted the need for a harmonious blend of advance science and technology, appropriate technology and local knowledge to ensure equitable distribution of the benefits of new knowledge. “The technologies we develop must be economically affordable and relevant to small and marginal farmers, especially in drought-prone areas”, he added. The Prime Minister also pointed to the need to enable the development of local markets so that local solutions could be generated to address local problems.
Spelling out his vision of rural India, the Prime Minister said that he envisioned a rural India, where modern, agrarian, industrial and services economy co-existed side-by-side and people could live in well-equipped villages and commute easily to work, be it on the farm, or in the non-farm economy. Highlighting the need to encourage people living in rural areas to continue to live there, the Prime Minister stressed the need to improve the quality of life and to provide more amenities to them. “New functional townships must be developed, away from existing cities, but equipped with basic infrastructure, to attract new investment in manufacturing and services sector in rural areas”, he added.
Dr. Manmohan Singh highlighted the three challenges that science and technology must address – first, to increase agricultural productivity, the productivity of land, labour and other factors of production, second, to develop affordable and appropriate technologies for energy and water and third, to promote labour-using, yet efficient and relevant technologies in both, farm and non-farm sector. The Prime Minister called for a broadening of the knowledge base of farmers to enable them to make the best use of new technologies, adding that new communication tools could be used to overcome physical barriers between farmers and researchers.
Dr. Manmohan Singh said that the Government would encourage world-class research in appropriate water and energy-related technologies. Alluding to the inter-linking of rivers, the Prime Minister said that he sought a more informed debate on utilisation of rivers in a manner that would be ecologically sustainable and economically affordable.
The Prime Minister gave away the first India Science Congress award to Prof. C.N.R. Rao and also released a publication of the Science Congress. Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde, Governor, Andhra Pradesh, Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Shri Y.S.R Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Prof. I.V. Subba Rao, General President, Indian Science Congress, were among the distinguished guests present on the occasion.
The following is the text of the Prime Minister’s inaugural speech:
“I am delighted to be here in your midst for the inaugural session of the 93rd Session of the Indian Science Congress. I would, at the very outset, like to pay homage to the memory of Professor M C Puri who was gunned down in the greatest temple of Indian science by the most reprehensible and cowardly enemies of our people. Dr Puri was a soldier of knowledge. He lived a life of peace, dedicated to science and education. No civilized people can condone such an uncivilized act. I also take this opportunity to congratulate Prof. C.N.R. Rao for being the recipient of the first Indian Science Award. Prof. Rao’s life and work constitute an immense source of inspiration for all scientific and intellectual workers. I hope his example will lead to a fresh burst of creativity in various fields of Indian science.
It is a symbol of the success of Indian science and technology, of our emergence as a knowledge power, that the symbols and temples of our knowledge society are today being targeted by terrorists. I am confident that all our knowledge workers will close ranks and join the struggle to make India a great nation, a humane and modern nation in knowledge power. No force on the earth can weaken this resolve of the Indian people.
I am very happy that you have chosen an agricultural university campus as the venue for this session since this year we mark the centenary of the setting up of modern agricultural colleges in the Indian sub-continent. Our agricultural scientists and our agricultural universities have played an extremely modern role in the agrarian transformation of our country. On behalf of our nation, I salute all agricultural scientists who have contributed so immensely to the transformation of Indian agriculture in the last 40 years.
I am also happy that the focal theme for this session is the role of science and technology in the promotion of integrated rural development. I believe you are returning to this theme almost after three decades. It was in Andhra Pradesh, the rice bowl of India, that Indiraji addressed the Science Congress on this very subject, in 1976. It was a decade after our country had passed through the worst agricultural years since Independence. It was said in the mid-sixties that India was living a “ship-to-mouth” existence! By 1976, the Green Revolution had transformed many parts of our country and our agricultural scientists played a glorious role in making that happen.
Our scientists, our farmers, our community development staff and our extension workers, merged together to liberate the country from dependence on external sources for our food supplies. The Indian Science Congress paid tribute to the work of scientists like Dr Y Nayudamma, a great son of Andhra Pradesh, Dr M S Swaminathan, who is here with us today, and many others who played a key role in taking the benefits to the farm. Dr Nayudamma was among the first to urge scientists to step in and help in integrated rural development. He initiated the Karimnagar Project, here in Andhra Pradesh, that sought to bring together scientists, technologists, extension workers and community development staff. It will be interesting to see what lessons were learnt by that experiment, and how we can take forward that initiative.
Thirty years later, we can say that the Indian farmer has indeed benefited from the contribution of science and technology. However, in spite of the advances made, there still remains the challenge of bridging the development gap between urban and rural India; of increasing agricultural incomes; of increasing agricultural productivity; of increasing investment in agriculture and rural non-farm economy; of improving rural infrastructure and in the final analysis, forever ending the so-called divide between Bharat and India. The technologies and the strategies unleashed by the first Green Revolution seem to have run their course. This requires, as I have said before, a Second Green Revolution. In non-food crops, in horticulture, in new plant varieties.
As I see our agricultural growth plateau, I realize that there is a need for a renewed thrust on research that can enhance farm productivity. We need greater emphasis on research that can increase the efficiency in the use of inputs; that can improve farm management practices; that can reduce post harvest losses through better post-harvest management technologies in storage, transportation and in processing; that can, in the final analysis, increase both yields and value addition at the farmer level leading to higher incomes. This is extremely important if we have to ensure that our countrymen who depend on agriculture for sustenance are not left behind in this age of technology and knowledge.
India also needs increased application of science and modern technology to forest conservation and management, environmental protection, water conservation and utilization of herbs and plants. We have to recognize that the degradation of our land and water resources today threatens the livelihood of millions and millions of small and marginal farmers who live on the edges of subsistence. We therefore, need a harmonious blend of advanced science and technology, appropriate technology and local indigenous knowledge to ensure an equitable distribution of the benefits of new knowledge.
In 1976, Indiraji at this very Congress had said and I quote:
“The overwhelming majority of our people live in villages and will continue to do so for years to come. I would go further and say that we don’t even want to uproot them. All over the world, urbanization has brought comfort and stimulation; but who could claim that it has not given rise to complicated problems? Rural life should be so enriched as to prevent the migration of people and resources from villages to towns. Expedients worked out in countries where the agricultural population forms but a small part of the work force cannot serve our country.”
Indiraji’s wise words ring true even today. Our strategy for rural India has to be one of improving the quality of life in village India, based on easily accessible and appropriate technologies, so that the people can continue to live where their forefathers have for generations and yet live comfortable and decent lives. Science must serve the needs of our farmers if scientists wish to be contributing to the building of a more prosperous India.
Mahatma Gandhi once said: “If the village perishes, India perishes too.” He was perhaps echoing the thoughts of Oliver Goldsmith, an English poet, who once said: “A bold peasantry, their country's pride, / When once destroyed, can never be supplied.”
Our vision of rural India must be of a modern agrarian, industrial and services economy co-existing side by side, where people can live in well-equipped villages and commute easily to work, be it on the farm or in the non-farm economy. There is much that modern science and technology can do to realize this vision. Rural incomes have to be increased. Rural infrastructure has to be improved. Rural health and education needs have to be met on a priority basis. Employment opportunities have to be created in rural areas.
Our Government has taken several initiatives in each of these areas. We have launched Bharat Nirman, a time-bound programme to improve rural infrastructure, including rural roads, power, housing, telecom, and irrigation facilities. We have launched a National Rural Health Mission, enhanced funding for rural education and for the mid-day meal programme for school children. We have enacted the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and increased availability of credit to farmers. All these initiatives are aimed at offering a New Deal to Rural India.
The challenge before all of us is to pursue good quality science, world class research and yet be able to address the needs of development and employment creation in rural India. Those of you who meet this challenge will be regarded as the real architects and builders of modern India.
Let me focus my attention on three challenges that science and technology must address to promote integrated rural development. First, we have to increase agricultural productivity - the productivity of land, labour, seed and plant and other inputs in production. This is what I call the Second Green Revolution. Second, we have to develop affordable and appropriate technologies for energy and water. Third, we have to promote labour-using, yet efficient and relevant technologies in both farm and non-farm business.
The National Commission on Farmers under the Chairmanship of Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, has suggested a programme for “Agricultural Renewal” that can be the starting point of the Second Green Revolution. The five components suggested by the Commission are: soil health enhancement through concurrent attention to the physics, chemistry and microbiology of the soils; water harvesting, water conservation and sustainable and equitable use of water; access to affordable credit and to crop and life insurance reform; development and dissemination of appropriate technologies and, finally improved opportunities, infrastructure and regulations for marketing of produce.
I would add two more elements to this basic package, namely: the application of science and biotechnology to the improvement of seeds and utilization of herbal and other plants; and the application of science to animal husbandry to improve the productivity of livestock and poultry. There is much that science and technology can do in each of these seven areas. There is much that agricultural universities can and must in fact do in each of these areas.
The technologies we develop must be economically affordable and relevant to small and marginal farmers, especially in drought prone regions. Two criticisms of the first Green Revolution have been: one, that it did not benefit dry land agriculture; and, two, that it was not scale neutral and had benefited only large and big farmers. While evidence shows that this was not always the case, we must ensure that Second Green Revolution technologies have a special focus on dry land agriculture and do benefit in appropriate measure small and marginal farmers who constitute a majority of farmers in our country.
The Second Green Revolution will not be possible without a revitalisation of our agricultural universities and research institutions. We have to revitalize these institutions as a source of national renewal. We have to improve their scientific standing and their relevance to agrarian societies and our agricultural economies.
All advanced agricultural economies are knowledge-based economies. We must, therefore, broaden the knowledge base of our farmers to enable them to make the best use of new technologies. Our farmers’ needs for information are multi-faceted and these are not limited to technology alone. They need information about agriculture as a business, about farming practices, about policy initiatives of the Government, about best practices of other farmers and on market information and intelligence. Therefore, timely availability of information is a critical component in the development of our agriculture.
Our extension services need to gear up to meet these and emerging demands of farmers. Extension services, I regret to notice, have languished in the past two decades. We have to find innovative ways in which the skills of agricultural graduates can be harnessed for effective extension work. New communications tools can be used to overcome physical barriers between farmers and researchers. I am happy to learn that the Indian Council for Agricultural Research is now seeking to provide electronic connectivity to about 200 Krishi Vigyan Kendras to make them hubs for accessing information by our farmers. I believe that Krishi Vigyan Kendras should function as ‘knowledge banks’ in each district. They must bring scientists, extension workers and farmers together and bridge the gap between potential and actual farm yields. There is much that needs to be done in these areas.
Water and energy, like land, are scarce resources. Science and technology can help on the supply side by increasing factor productivity and by developing technologies that conserve utilization of these scarce resources. The western world has not invested enough in research on water, bio-mass, solar and other relevant sources of energy because they are not under the kind of pressure we face in this country. Solar energy and bio-mass are areas where Indian scientists must be at the forefront of research and development. I believe we can contribute enormously to more economic use of resources, to improved productivity and to affordable infrastructural development through such research. Our Government will encourage world class research in appropriate water and energy related technologies.
We are, I feel, in urgent need of science-based solutions in energy and water provisioning, especially in rain-fed areas. Ground water use needs to be accompanied by mandatory rainwater harvesting and aquifer recharge. Our Government has taken several initiatives in watershed development and ground water replenishment. In some regions of the country, inter-linking of rivers may contribute to reduced dependence on ground water and to re-charge of ground water. I seek a more informed debate on utilization of river waters in a manner that would be ecologically sustainable and economically affordable.
I hope the session devoted to these issues at this Congress can come forward with suggestions as to how we can bring 10 million hectares of additional land under irrigation without associated environmental damage and with minimal human dislocation.
Public policy must respond to an important trend in the Indian economy. While the share of agriculture in national income is falling rapidly, the share of population dependent on agriculture is not declining as rapidly. This is creating rural distress and contributing also to enforced migration to urban areas. The only sensible response to this trend is to create productive employment opportunities in rural areas, both in the farm and non-farm sectors. Scientists and technologists must develop labour-using technologies both in agriculture and in rural manufacturing so that productive jobs can be created closer home for those of our citizens who live in our villages.
This requires a multi-pronged approach. To be sure, it requires investment in skill development. It requires financing of labour-using technologies on the farm, especially in processing, packaging and marketing farm produce. We must also help modernize our handlooms and handicraft industries to enable rural artisans to reconnect them with new emerging markets. New functional townships must be developed, away from existing cities but equipped with basic infrastructure, to attract new investment in manufacturing and services sectors in rural areas.
All this opens up opportunities for new technology development. Agricultural universities must be intellectually alive to such possibilities and develop courses and programmes to train people living in rural areas. We have no option but to encourage people living in rural areas to continue to live there even as the quality of their life is improved and more and more modern amenities are provided for them.
To enable this we must look at decentralized energy generation, decentralized social and economic infrastructural development, decentralization of governance and of the rules and regulations governing business activity. Excessive centralization has been the bane of development in India. While we create a single market, removing internal barriers to trade and movement of goods, services and people, we must enable the development of local markets so that local solutions can be generated to address local problems.
It is my sincere hope that within the foreseeable future we can rapidly modernize rural India and ensure that the gains of development reach every corner of our vast country. Our scientists must work with Government, with non-governmental organizations, with local bodies and stakeholder groups to make this happen. I sincerely hope your Congress will devote itself to such urgent concerns of our people, and enthuse you to rededicate yourselves to the greater glory of our Nation.
With these words, I wish you all a very Happy New Year. May your path be blessed. Thank you.
(Release ID :14717)