The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has asked scientists and researchers to regularly interact with farmers and work in a mission mode to double the farmers income by 2022 as envisaged by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. He further said that doubling of farmers income can be achieved through reduction in input cost, value addition and proper marketing of agricultural produce.Speaking at the 10th Convocation of Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University in Bidar, Karnataka today, he emphasized the need to focus on blue revolution and said that fisheries must be encouraged and given priority along with agriculture and the dairy sector. The Minister for Co-operation, Karnataka, Shri Bandeppa Kashempur and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.The Vice President asked authorities to make sincere efforts to ensure that the livestock farmers move from subsistence farming to a financially viable livestock enterprise.The Vice President said that the allied activities such as animal husbandry, dairy and poultry play a crucial role in improving the farmers income as they support the livelihood of farmers by providing supplementary income.
The Vice President said that it is not just doubling the farmers income by 2022, the major global challenge is to ensure food and nutritional security. He further said that there is a need to alleviate poverty in developing countries by producing more and safe food, especially of animal origin, against a shrinking animal genetic diversity and increased global trade. The livestock production in the developing world should be more than double to meet the growing demand of meat and milk in these countries over the next 20 years, he added.The Vice President said that animal husbandry provides employment and also manure for crops. There is evidence to show that farming households with some cattle head were able to withstand better the distress caused by extreme weather conditions and cattle wealth is national wealth, he added.Referring to the proposal to establish Integrated Indigenous Cattle Centres or Gokul Grams in the breeding tracts of indigenous breeds, the Vice President said that the Gokul Gram will be self sustaining and will generate economic resources from the sale of A2 milk, organic manure, vermi-compost and production of electricity from bio-gas for in house consumption and sale of animal products.
The Vice President said that integrated farming system models should be demonstrated and popularised among farmers. He called upon the scientific community to adopt the 4Ts formula and integrate Tradition, Talent, Technology and Trade.Stressing the need to reform and streamline our education system, the Vice President asked universities to make youngsters become part of knowledge revolution which is sweeping the world. He has also asked them to make good use of technology and expand the knowledge to students through distance mode by using online courses. School dropouts and farmers can benefit from distance learning, he added. The Vice President opined that unfortunately our education system is focused not on the creation of knowledge, but on the mass production of an educated workforce. He said that Universities must encourage culture of research and innovative thinking rather than focusing on exam-oriented method to become a knowledge-based economy .The Vice President asked the students to play an active role in making livestock and fisheries sectors profitable through scientific approach and technological innovations.Quoting Swami Vivekanand, the Vice President said that we want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand on ones own feet.