Inclusive agriculture is the key to winning the fight against poverty, hunger and malnutrition in the dryland tropics of the world, according to Prof. M S Swaminathan, eminent scientist and chairman, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation.
In his talk as chief guest at the 40th anniversary programme of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) held on Wednesday at its Patancheru campus, Hyderabad, Prof. Swaminathan highlighted the need for inclusiveness to empower the farming poor. By giving small-holder farmers access to technologies and connecting them to markets, they will have options for more profitable and resilient agriculture towards achieving food, nutrition and economic security.
The scientist also recognised ICRISAT's four decades of commitment and dedicated service to the most underprivileged sector of the world - the poor in the dryland tropics. Among the challenges he posed to the institute were crop biofortification to combat the 'hidden hunger' or malnutrition due to micronutrient deficiencies prevailing in the developing world; and appropriate mechanisation to help resource poor farmers, particularly women, in ensuring the economic viability of small-farm operations.
Further, he raised the important role of science communication to inform, educate and mobilise the public on the importance of such technologies as agri-biotechnology in the fight against poverty and hunger, and the decision- makers to come up with supportive policies.
