CHENNAI: Asian countries have failed to end hunger despite economic growth, says agriculturist M S Swaminathan who is known as the ‘Father of the Green Revolution in India.’
"Livelihood security and food security depend on agriculture. We have not achieved this despite a spectacular economic and technological growth," Swaminathan said while speaking at the ‘Phenotyping for Agriculture Sustainability’ conference in Chennai on Monday.
Referring to the Food Security Bill passed by the Parliament last year, he said 2013 was the most significant year for India. "Food, for the first time, has become a legal right. Every citizen is entitled to get food as a right and not just a gift," he said.
Swaminathan noted that 1943 was a turning point in India’s agriculture history as this was the year ‘when three million children, women and men died.’ "In 1963, we began intensive research to raise the ceiling on yield. After these milestones, 2013 is the most significant year for the country," he said.
Dr K S Charak, advisor at the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, said agriculture in the country was growing at an impressive 6% annually.