Eminent scientist MS Swaminathan on Tuesday said that Indian agriculture must become profitable to boost farmers’ income and attract youth to the farm sector as loan waivers cannot be sustained. He also pitched for including pulses under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) to deal with the issue of deficiency of protein and micro-nutrients.
Speaking at an agri conference organised by Indian Council of Food and Agriculture (ICFA), he said the country should move from food security to “nutritional security for all”. “Indian agriculture is facing challenge of climate change. Income of farmers is not going up. There is a continuous demand for loan waivers,” he said. Stating that loan waivers cannot be sustained, Swaminathan said Indian agriculture must become profitable and help raise farmers’ income.
“Youth should get attracted to the agriculture sector,” he emphasized. States like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh have announced debt waiver for farmers in view of distress because of fall in prices of agri-produce on bumper output.