Father of green revolution, MS Swaminathan has outlined the importance of integrated rural farming to improve the status of farmers and said that it is they who hold the key to food security of the nation. He was speaking at the 43rd Foundation Day of BAIF.

Speaking about the green revolution in which farmers from Punjab were in the forefront, Swaminathan said that there needs to be an ‘evergreen’ revolution by farmers who are responsible for guarding our seed sovereignty by preserving traditional seeds.

Referring to the National Food Security Bill, the panel for which is headed by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Swaminathan said that the nation is slowly moving from a charity-based approach to rights-based approach.

It is the farmers who can give the citizens the right to food, and the food security of the nation lies in their hands. “The National policy for farmers tabled by Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar in the parliament in 2007, for the first time, aims to improve the income of farmers, and this is significant as two-third of our population is represented by farmers,” he said.

Swaminathan also brought out the importance of women in agriculture. “I am also happy that for the first time in the last budget, the Union government spoke about the 'Mahila Kisan Sashakthikaran Pariyojana', which meant that they have recognised mahilas (women) too as kisan,” he said. He added that women farmers must get the basic rights of farmers like right to land, right to insurance etc.

Swaminathan felt that integrated rural farming, giving equal importance to livestock  and crop production was important. “We have 100 crore farm animals in our country and their health is the key to benefit farmers on a mass scale. Animal Biotechnology has numerous aspects to it, and we want to look at all aspects of animal health, nutrition, fodder crop and reproduction,” he said.

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Swaminathan brought out the importance of women in agriculture. “I am also happy that for the first time in the last budget, the Union govt spoke about ‘Mahila Kisan Sashakthikaran Pariyojana', which meant that they have recognised women too as kisan,” he said.