Former Union Minister and Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, Hukmdev Narayan Yadav stressed on utilising the modern agricultural science and technology for refinement, modification and upgradation of farmers’ traditional knowledge, skill and experience.
Yadav said that farming related special knowledge is called agricultural science which should aim at minimizing the problems, pains and sufferings and increasing the yield and income of farmers. Farmers should also be involved in technology development process so that whatever is perfected and recommended is as per their needs, priorities and agro-ecological conditions.
Yadav was addressing the scientists and officials of BAU, after visiting different units of the University on Sunday. “Only modern technology and high-cost mechanized farming cannot change the fate of the farmers because for majority of the country’s small and marginal farmers, it was beyond their reach,” said the Former Minister.
Yadav advised BAU to develop a national level museum of traditional farm implements where small tools and machinery of different states and regions could be kept with detailed description of their origin, capacity, suitability, price, operation technique etc as many traditional farming tools are facing the threat of extinction.
“Size, design and types of traditional farm tools used in plains like Western UP, Punjab and Haryana are quite different from those used in hilly areas like north eastern states, Jharkhand and Himachal which need to be preserved and modified to suit the present requirement,” Yadav asserted.
The Minister said that all the large farm implements and machinery are fuel operated and if such a situation emerges when we are unable to import oil, our agriculture system will collapse, therefore small hand-operated and animal drawn implements should also be maintained in the system.
Other two members of the committee Cl Ruala, Congress MP from Mizoram and Harnath Singh Yadav, Rajya Sabha member of BJP from Uttar Pradesh also accompanied Yadav during during his visit to BAU. Dr AK Vashisth, Assistant Director General, ICAR and some officials of Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare were present on the occasion. Dr Parvinder Kaushal, Vice Chancellor, BAU briefed them about the major activities and salient achievements of the university.