Centre to boost indigenous seed production: Pawar

Bangalore, Nov 7 : The centre is seriously considering extending credit to the farmers to purchase seeds in drought and flood affected areas and to give a major boost to seed production from among the farming class, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said today.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating Semen Institute at the Central Frozen Semen Production and Training Institute at Hesaraghatta on the outskirts of the city he said this was one of the initiatives taken in direction of achieving four per cent growth in agri output.

"Due to severe drought in Northern parts of the country the Khariff crop would not be up to the mark. But we expect a boost in the Rabi crop as things had improved and major parts received good rains that filled reservoirs in September and October," he said.

He said the centre was eagerly looking at the output from the rabi crop as it would be crucial. However the country had enough food stocks and the production of pulses and sugar that had fallen short were being compensated with higher imports, he said.

He said four per cent growth in agriculture will be possible only if the livestock and fisheries sector grew at about 6 pc and milk production at 5 per cent.

"For this the states have to do more. The centre is always at hand to help them if they come up with specific programmes. The contribution of livestock to national and Agricultural GDP has been improving over the years," he said.

The targetted targetted growth can only be achieved with judicious public investment and creating conditions environment for more private investment, he said.

--UNI

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