Chennai: Noted agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan on Sunday voiced concern over the rising food inflation and said it should be taken seriously.
"We must fight food inflation. We can purchase other commodities but what will happen if there is an inflation in food articles," he said addressing a session at the three-day banking conference 'Bancon 2011' which concluded on Sunday.
Elaborating, he said the major contributors for food inflation were pulses, milks and vegetables. "If there is inflation with relation to any other product like car, people may not buy (it)..but if there is inflation in food, what will happen.. We must take this (food inflation) seriously. It has to be done in a disaggregated way," he said.
The food inflation for last week stood at 12.27 per cent with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee expressing "grave concern" over it.
Stating that pulses were major contributors for food inflation, he expressed views that pulses seed need to be grown heavily in the country. "Pulses shortage are an issue. We need to multiply them.", he said.
Stating that 68 per cent of rural India bank on
agriculture, he said "when we have large number of people
depend on that both productivity and profitability should
grow".
Besides, the Rajya Sabha MP, also said that urban youth
should also be encouraged on agriculture. He said the example
of urban youths in Germany being sent on "agricultural
holiday" by their parents to help learn the basics of
agriculture. "We can follow this for educating our urban
youth," he said.
He said the farming was in a state of distress and lack of
developing agriculture infrastructure was becoming an issue.
"We are still very much behind investment and infrastructure
(in agriculture). We must increase farm production and create
farm management revolution. We must promote for evergreen
revolution.The future belongs to Nation which is green not by
guns", he said.
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