Indian
Agriculture had been guided in the past mostly by the
pressing and hammering demands for food which could
be solved with the concerted efforts of agricultural
scientists and the farmers, and with appropriate financial
and policy support of the Government. Present day agriculture
is still a very complex activity in which agricultural
research, education and extension are complimentary
to each other. To meet the food demand of increasing
population, agricultural scientists have to ensure
food and nutritional security on one hand and save environmental degradation on the other hand. The concern is
often expressed about our sustained, cost effective
and eco- friendly progress in agriculture. We have
the responsibility not only to provide the nutritional
security economically to the rising population of the
country, but also export surplus to earn more foreign
exchange, generate more job opportunity as well as
self employment in this sector to gain higher income
on long term and sustainable basis for the farming
community. There is no doubt that India will be a formidable force to reckon with as we move into the next millennium,
with opportunities expanding through globalization
of agriculture. In the changed scenario, in addition
of ensuring food and nutrition security, agricultural
development in the future would also be guided by profitability,
competitiveness and efficiency in our agricultural
production as well as export. Our research strategy
in future must lay greater emphasis on sustainability
and profitability, increase input use efficiency, diversification,
adoption of organic farming, using bio-resources, post harvest management, value addition and ensuring quality.
Availability of Human Resource, especially in high
technology areas and linkage among the institutions,
industries and export houses for resource efficiency
and quality are of high priority in present context.
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