Chandigarh: Indian agriculture must meet the requirements of food security and rapidly diversify itself in the next two decades and there is a need to revision it, said noted economist, chancellor of the Central University of Gujarat and former Union minister professor Yoginder K Alagh on Monday.
Professor Alagh delivered the first lecture on the topic of "Future of Indian Agriculture" as the Dr Manmohan Singh Chair Professor at Panjab University (PU) ICSSR Complex on Monday.
The noted economist highlighted that Indian agriculture would function in a rural urban continuum, with rapid developments of markets and shifting of working populations from villages to linked small towns and also from crop production to value added activities. He stressed for institutional reform of markets; new technology and market linkages and the establishment of farmer groups and local institutions. He emphasized the need for wider development of primary activities like dairying, poultry, fishing, etc. "Employment growth will be high in these activities chasing a high rate of economic growth. All this will happen if the institutional structure gives the appropriate signals in term of technology and organizational support. The Indian farmer will happily respond to the changing needs of the society if given the right environment."
PU vice-chancellor professor Arun Kumar Grover and the former PU VC professor RP Bambah, former (GoC-In-C) Western Command Chandimandir and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Chair Professor at PU, Lt Gen KJ Singh, PVSM, AVSM (BAR) (Retd), Emeritus Professor, Prof HS Shergill, large number of PU teachers, research scholars and students participated in the lecture.
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