Swaminathan for technical panels to earmark SEZs

Special Correspondent

Calls for completing the unfinished agenda of land reforms

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan has called
for setting up State-level technical committees to earmark special
economic zones (SEZs) for industrial activity based on the biological
potential for farming.

Delivering the Chintamani Singh memorial lecture on `Food security with
special reference to animal production' organised by the Dr. C.M. Singh
Endowment Trust here on Thursday evening, Dr. Swaminathan said the
committee should comprise a soil expert, woman social scientist and a
remote sensing scientist so that farmlands would not be diverted for
industrial purposes.

This would help to identify land for agriculture purposes and also for
setting up special economic zones.

A policy for conserving prime farmland was imperative. But for Kerala
and West Bengal, the State Governments were yet to introduce land
reforms with fidelity.

The unfinished agenda of land reforms should be completed and
comprehensive asset and aquarian reforms should be initiated. The
`Kerala model' was worth emulating, he said.

Agricultural curriculum and pedagogic methodologies should be
restructured for enabling every farm and home science graduate to become
an entrepreneur and to make agricultural education gender sensitive.

He cited the model set by Kerala Agricultural University and made a
special mention of the efforts of the former Vice-Chancellor in this
regard. Steps should be taken to attract the youth to farming by making
it both intellectually stimulating and rewarding too.

Cardinal aim

The cardinal aim of agriculture education in the 21st century should be
that every scholar should be an entrepreneur. Mainstream business
management in all applied courses such as seed technology and business
should be launched.

India should strive to become a leading outsourcing hub in areas
relating to biotechnology, information communication technology and
special products such as organic and health foods, he said.

Since 2007-08 would be observed as Water Year with the focal theme `More
yield and income per drop of water,' a man and a woman panchayat member
should be trained as water masters to popularise water harvesting
techniques.

Grama sabhas should be empowered with the knowledge to enable them to
discharge the functions of a `paani panchayat,' he said.

Dr. Swaminathan also called for a food guarantee Act combining the
principal features of the food-for-work programme and the National Rural
Employment Guarantee Scheme. Dr. Swaminathan released the book `Dr. C.M.
Singh - Life, Scientific Contributions and Memories.'sez

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/01/stories/2006120111110400.htm