In
the ongoing debate on genetically modified crops, seeds, plants, organisms,
etc., what is your stand?
Genetic
modification offers many opportunities to undertake precision breeding
and the production of designer crops. However, there are still many
areas of concern both with regard to the environment and human health.
Therefore, this is an area where we must hasten slowly–hasten in the
area of research and slowly in the area of spreading GM crops in farmers’
fields.
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Dr.
Swaminathan believes that
IT can be used very effectively to help our farmers. The foundation
has established hub and spoke model of data-cum-voice communication
in a group of six villages in Pondicherry. The village centres
can communicate with each other and to the Internetusing wireless
for communication and solar energy for power supply. Villagers
send in their queries to these centres, which are replied on
the basis of data collected at the hub.
The
foundation has also set up comprehensive databases on biodiversity
and traditional farming techniuesuesd by Indian farmers. The
Farmers Rights Information System database, for example aims
to protect the intellectual property of tribal by making public
their knowledge.
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What
do we need to do to protect endangered species of medicinal plants?
We can
protect endangered species of medicinal plants by creating an economic
stake in conservation. This will be possible after the proposed Protection
of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act and the Biodiversity Act
become operational after approval by Parliament.
Irrigation
practices are known to cause salination and land damage. What are
the alternatives?
Scientific
water management and conjunctive use of water can help to avoid salinisation.
How secure is India with respect to water resource? How can we improve
water security?
India
has on the whole good rainfall and reasonable water resources. We
can manage with the water available provided we follow Gandhiji’s
advice “Nature provides for everybody’s need but not for everybody’s
greed”.
What
should be the focus of R&D in agriculture?
Public
sector R&D is exceedingly important for assisting small farm families
to improve the productivity, profitability, stability and sustainability
of agriculture.
The
National Agriculture Policy aims to increase private sector participation
in agriculture through contract farming and land leasing. Will this
boost growth in the agriculture sector? Are there any pitfalls we
need to watch out for?
The private
sector can help by arranging buy-back systems of marketing and by
ensuring remunerative price for perishable commodities. They can also
help in adding value to primary produce.
How
will WTO affect Indian farmers? How can the government protect the
interests of Indian farmers in the WTO regime?
WTO
offers both opportunities and threats. We should immediately improve
the productivity of our agriculture and strengthen food safety standards
and sanitary and phytosanitary measures if we are to become globally
competitive.
