Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, one of the very few surviving protagonists of the Green Revolution of the 1960s which saw India
becoming self-sufficient in food grain production has asked the Government not to go ahead with the import of cheap wheat. Taking cudgels on behalf of the wheat farmers in India, he has made a passionate plea to the Union Government to listen to the request made by wheat farmers of the country to do away with the import of wheat.
Referring to the pleas made to the Centre by wheat farmers of Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi for slapping a 40 per cent duty on the wheat to be imported, the nonagenarian scientist said that was the only way to save the Indian farmers from distress sale of locally grown wheat.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Prof Swaminathan (91), pointed out that the country’s wheat production went up to 17 million tonnes in 1968 from 6million tonnes in 1946. “India’s wheat revolution lead ultimately to the coining of the term Green Revolution by William Gaud of USA. This achievement was possible through synergy between technology and public policy. Technology creates the potential for high yield, while public policy helps to realise the potential,” said Prof Swaminathan.
He reminded the authorities that import of wheat has been detrimental to the interests of the farmers and the country. “Our progress in wheat production in the past was hampered by cheap wheat imported through the Pl480 programme of the USA. Our goal for 2030 is to produce 150 million tonnes of wheat from 30 million hectares. This is easily feasible with the technologies and varieties on the shelf. The monsoon and the market are the major determinants of a farmer’s welfare,” said the world renowned farm scientist.
Prof Swaminathan, who is still active in agricultural research reminded the Government that if the market was distorted through cheap wheat imports, the country would be putting the clock back in terms of sustaining the wheat revolution.
“The request of farmers should be given very serious consideration based on a careful analysis of the impact of wheat imports at subsidised rates. Sustaining the wheat revolution is not only important for ensuring the success of our National Food Security Act 2013, but it is also fundamental to safeguarding the livelihood security of the wheat farming families,” said Swaminathan. .