Urgent Call for Agricultural Research Overhaul: NAAS President

NAAS President Himanshu Pathak calls for a major transformation in India's agricultural research and education, citing high cultivation costs, low productivity, and climate change. Speaking at the NAAS Foundation Day Programme, he emphasized globally competitive and sustainable farming, value addition, and leveraging new technologies to revitalize the sector.

In a pivotal address, NAAS President Himanshu Pathak has stressed the urgent need for a significant transformation in India's agricultural research and education landscape. This comes as the newly-formed government charts its 100-day agenda.

Amid challenges like escalating cultivation costs, diminishing productivity, and climate change impacts, Pathak articulated a vision for Indian agriculture to become 'globally competitive and sustainable.' Speaking at the NAAS Foundation Day Programme, he highlighted the substantial returns on agricultural research investments, asserting that every rupee invested generates Rs 13 in return, with even higher returns in the livestock sector.

Addressing impediments such as limited diversification, soil degradation, and pest issues worsened by volatile markets and climate change, Pathak urged focusing on high-impact research, diversifying agriculture, and integrating new technologies such as ICT, AI, GIS, and genome editing. He also championed value addition, post-harvest loss mitigation, and the promotion of quality, eco-friendly foods, stressing the need for increased funding and quality manpower.