Federal government college, School in Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has called for increasing the acreage and productivity of pulses for achieving self-sufficiency and urged agricultural universities to step up research on improving their yields.Speaking at the inaugural session of All India Coordinated Research Group's Annual Group Meet on MULLaRP and Arid Legumes workshop here on Sunday, the Vice President said there was a need to introduce high-yielding, disease and pest-resilient seed varieties.Pointing out that pulses were an inexpensive source of plant-based proteins, vitamins and minerals for people, Shri Naidu said they provide green, nutritious fodder for mal and also enrich soil through biological nitrogen fixation."Some legumes are known to have medicinal and therapeutic properties also. Hence, they were rightly termed as 'Unique Jewels' of Indian crop husbandry," he said.Observing that legumes were an essential component in Indian cropping pattern, especially in dryland farming, Naidu said India was the world's largest producer, accounting for 34 per cent of the area and 24 per cent of production followed by Myanmar, Canada, China, Nigeria, Brazil, and Australia.Referring to his recent visit to Vietnam, the Vice President mentioned about crop production differentials between India and Vietnam. He said that Vietnam produces five tonnes of rice per hectare and 1.5-tonne soya bean per hectare, while India was producing only three tonnes of rice per hectare and only one tonne of soya bean.Naidu said that the universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and the government must come together with long term strategies for producing new high yielding varieties, which are resilient to diseases and climate change.Saying that climate change was adversely impacting the marginalized people in dryland areas due to the shifts in moisture and temperature regimes, the Vice President called for a new paradigm in agricultural research that makes full use of science and technology in conjunction with traditional knowledge to cope with the challenges of climate change and achieve food and nutritional security was necessary.Observing that there was an urgent need for new knowledge, alternative policies, and institutional changes to improve productivity from agricultural crops, the Vice President advised agricultural universities, research institutions and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) to play a big role in improving the lot of the farmers and empowering them.

Home

City

Latest News

Cricket

LT Premium

National

International

Maharashtra

Opinions

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Nagpur

Entertainment

Photos

Business

Technology

Sports

Lifestyle

Social Viral

Lokmat Games

Health

Marathi Language Controversy

Maharashtra News

Mumbai Local

Weather Update

Mumbai Rains

Ahmedabad Plane Crash

Federal Government CollegeFOLLOW

Federal government college, Latest News

International :Asia's homicide rate lowest globally: UN study

A UN study revealed on Monday showed that Asia's average homicide rate was the lowest in the world with only 2.3 killings per 100,000 people per year, making the continent a relative haven of peace, especially compared to South America, which has a r ...

Politics :Five Indian sailors abducted in Nigeria released

Five Indian sailors, who were kidnapped from a ship in Nigeria, have been released. ...

National :Drug use increased 30% in India in last decade: Report

The United Nation's latest report on drug use revealed a 30 per cent increase on 2009 with regards to the consumption of narcotics with some 35 million people worldwide suffering from drug disorders, thanks to in-depth surveys conducted in India and ...

Entertainment :Bruno Mars, Beyonce and Cardi B among winners at BET Awards

The much-awaited BET Awards hosted by Regina Hall at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, turned out to be a special night for many stars. ...

National :Vice President calls for improving pulses productivity

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has called for increasing the acreage and productivity of pulses for achieving self-sufficiency and urged agricultural universities to step up research on improving their yields. ...