Conference on Science based Agricultural Transformation Towards Alleviation of Hunger and Poverty in SAARC Countries

SHRI PAWAR CALLS FOR GREATER COOPERATION IN R&D AMONG SAARC NATIONS

New Delhi
March 5, 2008

Agriculture Minister, Shri Sharad Pawar today called for sharing farm technology and experience among the SAARC countries to reduce poverty in the region. Cooperation in the agriculture sector is of special significance for this region as about 60 per cent of the people in South Asia are still dependent directly on agriculture for their livelihood and also because agriculture has been growing at mere 2 per cent per year, he said.

Shri Pawar was addressing Conference on Science based Agricultural Transformation Towards Alleviation of Hunger and Poverty in SAARC Countries. Ministers, officials, scientists and farmers from SAARC countries will deliberate upon the issues relating to use of science in agriculture over the next three days.

"It is well accepted that investments in R&D pay off handsomely with appreciably high internal rate of return. Given the agro-climatic advantages and availability of manpower, there is potential to turn agriculture in the SAARC (South Asian) region into a dynamic sector with rapid technological accelerating growth and reducing poverty, he said. He also called for better synergy in R&D efforts and said that India was ready to extend cooperation through her excellent network of research institutions.

Shri Pawar also highlighted the need for intra-region trade in South Asia, which is only 0.8 per cent of GDP as compared to nearly 27 per cent in the East Asia. He expressed the need to strengthen the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).
The Agriculture Minister stressed that investments and regional cooperation in R&D must be at the top of policy agenda of SAARC countries. The Minister said, 'with agriculture becoming complex today, we need science and technology interventions at a much larger scale at all stages of agricultural chain. The urgency of enhancing agricultural productivity, bridging yield gaps and strengthening regional agricultural research, extension and farmer linkages can hardly be overemphasized. It is well accepted that investments in R&D pay off handsomely with appreciable high internal rate of return. Given the agro-climatic advantages and availability of man power, there is potential to turn agriculture in the SAARC region into a dynamic sector with rapid technological innovation accelerating growth and reducing poverty.'

The Conference has been organized jointly by the Agriculture Ministry, ICAR and IFFCO Foundation. Besides country representatives, Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, MP, Dr. Mangala

Rai, DG, ICAR, Dr R B Singh, Secretary General of Steering Committee also address the Conference. The Afghanistan Minister of Agriculture, Obaidullah Ramin urged for assistance and cooperation for rebuilding his country's agriculture. The Agriculture Minister of Bhutan, Sherub Gyaltshen expressed concern over the fast melting of Himalayan glaciers which in the near future may adversely impact the country's agriculture, particularly the most treasured medicinal and aromatic plants. He also said the Happiness Index formulated by His Majesty' Government should be used to judge the overall development perspectives. Sri Lankan agriculture minister, Malthripala Sirisena said that his country would deploy modern biotechnology including the transgenic for ensuring food production. Secretary DARE and Director General, ICAR, Dr Mangala Rai said, the availability of natural resources like water and land is declining. Better environment friendly technologies for soil, water and livestock management and more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems are needed, he further added. Sharing of knowledge-led emerging technologies like information technologies has an important role to play in ensuring high agricultural growth in SAARC countries. He also emphasized, there is lot of scope of joint efforts on the front of food security and poverty alleviation.

Prof. M.S Swaminathan, MP & an eminent agriculture scientist in his presentation said that ''we need science and technology interventions at a much larger scale at all stages of agricultural chain. The urgency of enhancing agricultural productivity, bridging yield gaps and strengthening regional agricultural research, extension and farmer linkages can hardly be over emphasized. Investments in research and technology development and regional cooperation in R&D must, therefore, be at the top of the policy agenda of SAARC countries. It is well accepted that investments in R&D pay off handsomely with appreciably high internal rate of return. Given the agro- climatic advantages and availability of man power, there is potential to turn agriculture in the SAARC region into a dynamic sector with rapid technological innovation accelerating growth and reducing poverty. There is also a need for better synergy in the efforts being made by various countries and organizations in R&D to optimize gains.

Chairman Steering Committee of the SAARC Conference Mr. Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said that SAARC is one of the poorest regions of the world and to make it prosperous we should come together and exchange latest know how of agricultural technology. For making agriculture a profitable enterprise governments should make policies to integrate produce with market. It has become clear that hunger could be reduced only through agricultural and rural development in the South Asian Region.

(PR Unit/March/2008)