December 10, 2017: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today said, farmers should be given more focus in the country. He said this after conferring the Yerarignar award to renowned agriculture scientist Dr MS Swaminathan at a function in Chennai.
The Vice President said, agriculture is the basic culture of India adding that the electronic National Agriculture Market system, e-NAM, which is being experimented in 40 mandals, should be expanded nationwide to avoid middlemen exploiting farmers. He insisted that agriculture should be made a viable and an appealing profession for the next generation.
Mr Naidu also asked the media to give more importance to agriculture rather than getting drawn towards sensationalism. He also asked research institutions to transfer new technologies to farmers.
The Vice President lauded Dr MS Swaminathan for his great contribution in attaining self reliance in food grains production to the current level of exporting them.
In his address, Dr MS Swaminathan said agriculture in India is at a transitional phase. He observed that farming is facing both domestic and international challenges like climate change. He said when technology, policy makers and stakeholders join together, the sectors concerned register growth. (AIR News)