Stating that agriculture is important “not only for growth, but also inclusive growth”, NITI Aayog member Prof Ramesh Chand Tuesday said growth in the farm sector was more impactful in reducing poverty than manufacturing.
“There are studies which show the power of 1% growth in agriculture to reduce poverty is four times the power of manufacturing to reduce poverty,” Chand said at a symposium on ‘Innovation and Sustainability in India’s Root and Tuber Crop Sector’.
Emphasising ‘agriculture focused inclusive development’, he said, “I prepared a case for agriculture focused inclusive development, that agriculture is important, not only for growth, but also important for inclusive growth.”
The symposium was organised by the Peru-based International Potato Center (CIP) in collaboration with the Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). It was held as part of the CIP’s board meeting.
The CIP, which commenced its work in India in 1975, plans to establish its South Asia Regional Centre at Singana in Agra, one of the top potato producing districts of the country. The UP government has transferred 10 hectares of land necessary for the establishment of the CIP’s centre at Singana in Agra. China opened a CIP centre eight years ago.
Speaking at the symposium, UP Horticulture Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh said the state government is ready to extend all support to set up the CIP centre in Agra. The CIP centre, he said, will not only help farmers in the state but in the entire country.
Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi said the partnership with Peru, where the potato originated, will be beneficial not just for India but also other parts of South Asia where the tuber is a major crop.
Dr Simon Heck, Director General, CIP, highlighted 50 years of CIP’s association with India. “It was in 1975 that the ICAR and CIP signed an initial agreement for cooperation on potato and sweet potatoes in India… On that, it’s also a time then finally, to look forward and discuss how the next 50 years might look like. Given the huge potential of potato, sweet potato and other root crops in India, and in the region and globally,” he said.
India is today the second largest producer of potato in the world, and perhaps it will be the largest in near future. That’s an excellent foundation for future growth,” Heck added.
With production of 93 million metric tonnes, China tops potato production globally followed by India (60 million metric tonnes). In a statement, the CIP said India is on course to overtake China in potato production.
