Sustainable agriculture, 'more crop per drop' should be mantra: Vice President

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu Monday emphasised on the importance of sustainable agriculture as a part of sustainable development and said more efficient systems of irrigation with "more crop per drop" mantra should be used . Speaking at the inauguration of the three-day World Sustainable Development Summit 2019 here, he said, "There is a need to make use of the endless possibilities of biotechnology and nanotechnology to develop a range of green products, including nano-fertilisers."

"We should move towards more efficient systems of irrigation with 'more crop per drop' as our mantra. Greater thrust has to be placed on organic farming and on the use of natural means of pest control," he said. Naidu, while kickstarting the summit, said that sustainable development is inclusive development which includes sustainable agriculture, sustainable mobility solutions, urbanization, energy security and clean energy, waste management and efforts in wildlife conservation.

The summit themed 'Attaining the 2030 Agenda: delivering on our promise' has been organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) at India Habitat Centre, Delhi from February 11 to 13. "Sustainable development is a common goal for all world nations, given the unprecedented scale of environmental degradation and its drastic consequences that we have been witnessing," the vice president said.

He also drew attention to the impact of climate change on developing countries and said collaboration and cooperation was the need of the hour. "With the realisation that the impacts of climate change are borderless and that our fates are deeply inter-linked, we must explore an equally unprecedented degree of collaboration and cooperation.

"Climate change and global warming threaten lives and livelihoods of billions and upsets the delicate balance of nature. It is in its recognition that India is trying its best to include paradigm of sustainability and environmental conservation in all its development endeavours," he said. Naidu said the more immediate impact of climate change was felt by developing countries, because of higher dependence on climatic variables, especially when it comes to agriculture, and their limited capacities to adapt.

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