12 May 2011-13 May 2011|Noida | Amity University Uttar Pradesh
Amity University in Collaboration with Department of Science & Technology organized two day Workshop-cum-Seminar on "Innovation in Agriculture for Livelihood Security"
"Solution Science Approach is the key to Agricultural boom in India” emphasizes Dr. Vinita Sharma, Advisor, Department of Science & Technology during a Seminar cum Workshop at Amity To provide a common platform of interaction to scientists, farmers and field level workers of India wherein they can unanimously take up action oriented and location specific projects that aim at socio economic upliftment of the marginalized sections of the society through appropriate Science and Technology Interventions Amity University in collaboration with Department of Science & Technology (DST) has organized a two day Workshop cum Seminar on “Innovation in Agriculture for Livelihood Security” at Amity University Campus, Sector – 125, Noida.
Welcoming the scientists, farmers, entrepreneurs and all participants of the workshop
Dr. Sunil Saran, Chairman, Amity International Centre for Postharvest Technology and Cold Chain Management (AICPHT & CCM), informed “Agriculture provides livelihoods to 60 percent of the rural population in India, the majority of which are poor and remain vulnerable for the country’s food security. India loses about 25-30% of its horticultural produce during post harvest handling which needs to be reduced lest all endeavours to production increase will be ineffective due to the loss percentage.” “Adoption of integrated Post Harvest Management is advocated for 100% utilization of the produce and certain low cost storage, handling cum processing techniques such as Zero Energy Cool Chamber, Solar drying, Small Scale processing etc should be used at the optimally to minimize postharvest losses.”, added
Dr. Saran.
Delivering her key note address during the inauguration of the Two Day Workshop cum Seminar
Dr. Vinita Sharma, Advisor, DST hoped that the deliberations during the two days of the seminar will lay a roadmap for improving lifestyle of farmers in the future. She added “India witnessed first crop revolution in the 1960s in the form of hybrid seeds of dwarf genes in rice and wheat. However the excessive and inappropriate use of pesticides and fertilizers had led to contamination of food, water and fiber which has adversely affected the socio economic fabric of the rural communities.” Dwelling upon the deceleration in agricultural growth she added “Indian agriculture demands a second green revolution to ensure higher productivity of crops with the Solution Science approach that focuses on finding solutions to the problems faced by the marginalized farmers by integrating traditional agriculture practices with scientific technology and market linkage. Scientists need to work with farmers on the field also rather conducting computer generated researches only”
Wishing great success to the seminar
Dr. Ashok K Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Group informed “Indian agriculture is in a state of serious crisis. The country is facing a formidable challenge of feeding its billion plus population that is growing at a rate of 2.2% per annum and the growth rate in food production has fallen below population growth rate.” “The current agricultural scenario of India comprises of degraded land, declined productivity and frustrated farmers which calls for a coercive effort to formulate a practical strategy sphereheading innovation in agriculture for livelihood security with the amalgamation of traditional knowledge with modern agricultural techniques to sustain the health of natural resources in order to maintain biodiversity and increase the income of farmers”, he added.
Apprising the audience with the objective of the seminar
Dr. Jyoti Sharma, Principal Scientific Officer, DST said “After the Green Revolution of the 1970s which enabled India to achieve self-sufficiency in food grains, agricultural growth has been found to have slackened by more than 1.5% during 1990s to 2000. Slow agricultural growth and consequent widening of the gap between rural and urban incomes have become major concerns of the country’s economic development. Therefore the Government of India has set high priority on poverty reduction programmes based on agricultural growth which aims at accelerating the expansion of irrigated area and improving water management in rain fed areas, bridging the knowledge gap through effective and extensive research, facilitating farmer’s access to credit at affordable rates and increasing food grain productivity for food security.”
During the two day Workshop a plethora of useful technical sessions based on relevant topics pertaining to‘Innovation in agriculture for livelihood security’including “Rural Entrepreneurship Development",
“Cultivation of Baby corn-Benefit for farmers”, “Management of High Value crops like Chilli, Basmati Rice, Sweet corn etc” “Monitoring Soil Health for Higher Productivity” “Importance of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture” besides several others will unfold that will be deliberated by various eminent scientists, farmers and field experts .
Over 200 farmers from various regions of Punjab, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh will participate in the two day workshop cum seminar.