LINKS:
Krishi Vigyan Kendra:GOI:- http://iihrkvk.org/
BOOKS Links:
MILLETS: EXPLORE HERE
MILLETS: EXPLORE HERE
RECEPIES: EXPLORE HERE
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Press Information Bureau
Government Of India Special Service and Features
(17-July, 2014 13:39 IST )
Government Of India Special Service and Features
(17-July, 2014 13:39 IST )
MILLETS: The nutrient rich counterparts of wheat and rice
Dr Santosh Jain Passi, Ms Akanksha Jain
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VISIT TO GREEN FEATURES BLOG
Solving food challenges with more research -M.S. SWAMINATHAN
Solving Food Challenges with More Research
Linking agricultural and nutritional outcomes is crucial
The world’s population is booming. According to estimates, the global
population is likely to exceed 9 billion by 2050, with 5 billion people
in Asia alone. The capacity to produce enough quality food is falling
behind human numbers. Food production in the region must keep pace, even
as environment sustainability and economic development are ensured. The
answer to these challenges lies in research for sustainable
development. As the second goal of the UN’s Sustainable Development
Goals says: “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition,
and promote sustainable agriculture.”
Investing in research
India’s fivefold increase in grain production over the past 50 years is
largely the result of strong scientific research that has focussed on
high-yielding crop varieties, better agronomic practices, and pro-farmer
policies. However, India continues to face challenges such as food
insecurity and malnutrition, particularly in rural areas.
Providing the world’s growing urban population with safe and healthy
food requires both a rural and a peri-urban agricultural movement — a
huge challenge, but also an opportunity for ingenuity. Integrating
agricultural production, nutrition, and health is emerging as a key
focal point throughout Asia, with policymakers shifting their attention
to the role of biodiversity and the power of local farming systems to
improve nutritional status.
There is considerable potential in targeting underused crops such as
millets, pulses, and vegetables as a sustainable means of increasing
agricultural production and improving nutrition and health in high-need
areas. In one project, researchers tested the sustainable use of
traditional crops, vegetables, and fruit trees, as well as greater
livestock diversity, to increase income and improve food and nutrition
security in rural India. This project demonstrated that in three Indian
“agro-biodiversity hotspots”, home gardens could provide households with
up to 135 kg of legumes, vegetables, tubers, leafy greens, and gourds
per year — more than double the amount of vegetables they were buying in
local markets. These crops add value to existing farming systems by
providing an additional source of income and/or more nutritious food for
the family. The Food Security Act of 2013 was welcome, as was the
inclusion of millets in the Public Distribution System as millets are
superior to common grains in many ways and are also climate-resilient.
Bio-fortification is also important in overcoming hidden hunger caused
by micronutrient deficiencies such as iron, iodine, zinc, vitamin A, and
vitamin B12.
Empowering women
Studies show that women make up nearly half of agricultural labourers,
yet they carry out approximately 70% of all farm work. Women are among
the most disadvantaged because they are typically employed as marginal
workers, occupying low-skilled jobs such as sowing and weeding. Our
research shows that empowering women is one of the best ways to improve
nutrition. Research needs to continue focussing on the needs of women
farmers to ensure that they are the direct recipients of development
impacts, such as access to markets and income, to improve theirs and
their children’s access to adequate and diversified diets.
Most importantly, it is crucial to continue to identify issues and seek
evidence-based solutions through research. Building on the momentum of
recent efforts by the government to improve understanding of India’s
nutritional situation, there is considerable potential in building
partnerships to extend the reach of research for development and to
improve the connections between agricultural and nutritional research
with extension services and policy. Taking a multisectoral approach that
links agricultural and nutritional outcomes will help India sustainably
grow, feed its people, and maintain the agricultural sector over the
coming decades.
India’s research community is poised to be a leader in meeting new food
challenges by increasing food quantity and quality to improve food
security and nutrition. The world needs to tap into India’s research
excellence to experiment, innovate, share knowledge, and scale up
effective solutions.
M.S. Swaminathan is the founder of the MS Swaminathan Research
Foundation, and Jean Lebel is the President of Canada’s International
Development Research Centre
SOURCE: THE HINDU
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/solving-food-challenges-with-more-research/article19754690.ece
NEWS UPDATE 6 JUNE 2017
AGRICULTURE
Green ministry reissues GM mustard FAQs
Anti-GM groups argue conflict of interest in Harsh Vardhan's appointment as he holds S&T portfolio
http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/green-ministry-reissues-gm-mustard-faqs-117052300068_1.html
After withdrawing it for a few days, the ministry of environment and
forests has brought back its ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ (and Answers)
list on genetically modified (GM) mustard. These say that safety of GM foods should be assessed case by case, and that those in the international markets have passed all safety tests.
These FAQs were withdrawn hours after it was issued, days after the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)
under the ministry recommended approval be given for commercial
cultivation. The reason given was spelling and grammatical mistakes (the
name of the main applicant for GM mustard was mispelt).
The FAQs were brought back as a new environment minister, Harsh
Vardhan, till now only minister for science & technology and earth
sciences, took charge on Monday, following the demise of Anil Madhav
Dave. Vardhan has to now decide on the GEAC recommendation.
Anti-GM crop activists asked that Vardhan exercise "supreme
objectivity" on decisions regarding the matter, claiming it was
"unacceptable conflict of interest" that he also held the science and
technology portfolio.
In a letter to Vardhan, they claimed that according to some who were close to Dave, the latter was not in favour of approving GM mustard and
was in fact considering resigning as an alternative. They asked Vardhan
to reject GM mustard, claiming it was a "hazardous scientific fraud
being perpetuated on the nation, with taxpayer funds. This is simply
unacceptable".
The letter was from a 'Sarson Satyagraha', describing itself as a broad
platform of hundreds of organisations representing farmers, scientists
and others.
The body said that it would like to see "lasting, farmer-controlled,
farmer-friendly solutions", rather than "hazardous, irreversible and
uncontrollable" technologies, deployed in an "unscientific and
unaccountable" manner.
Their letter hoped that as a medical doctor, Vardhan would understand
the risks involved in a herbicide tolerant Genetically Modified Organism
entering the food and farming systems.
"Over the past several months, we have meticulously analysed and showed scientific evidence on the falsehoods related to GM mustard claims, both of its benefits and safety," added the letter.
23 MAY 2017
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