Record rise in food grains production

Bapatla: India’s food grains production reached a highest of 274.55 million tonnes in the current year, said Dr Shaik N Meera, principal scientist, Indian Institute of Rice Research, Rajendra Nagar.

He was speaking at the two-day national workshop jointly organised by AP Human Resource Development Institute (APHRDI) and Institute of Leadership, Excellence and Governance (ILEG) here on Thursday.

He said that over 58 per cent of rural Indians depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Agricultural sector contributes around 18 per cent to the country’s GDP.

The Indian food industry employs more than 50 per cent of the workforce in India.

Indian farmers are getting used to farm mechanisation at a faster rate. With the growing urban migration by men, feminisation of agriculture sector is being witnessed, Dr Meera said.

Director General of the APHRDI D Chakrapani presiding over the inaugural function said that this workshop provides a platform to understand the potential of innovation in agriculture.

The workshop identifies the best practices from different States. ILEG Officer Ramana Murthy, Karnataka Joint Director of Agriculture Anthony Maria Emannuel and others spoke at the inaugural session.

About 40 scientists and officers from ICAR and 10 States participated in the workshop.