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Tumkur: President Calls for Another Green Revolution at Shivakumar Swami's 102nd Birthday

  •   Mon, Feb 02 2009 10:04:57 PM

Tumkur: President Calls for Another Green Revolution at Shivakumar Swami's 102nd Birthday

Agencies

Tumkur, Feb 2: The sharp rise in food prices in India last year has pushed an additional 100 million people into starvation, President Pratibha Patil said here on Monday.

"We need to have another green revolution which will be an evergreen revolution where agricultural production would be on a continuous upward curve," she said while participating in the 102nd birthday celebrations of Sri Shivakumara Swami, head of the Siddaganga Math near Tumkur, about 80 km from Bangalore.



The Siddaganga Math under the leadership of Shivakumara Swami runs 130 educational institutions in Karnataka and a 'Gurukula' (traditional Indian residential school) where 8,000 students are provided free education, food and shelter.

Though he has completed 101 years, the Swami leads an active life. "He continues to remain sharp and agile, and still follows a rigorous work schedule," Patil noted.

"The sharp rise in food prices last year has negatively impacted on efforts to eradicate poverty. It is estimated that an additional 100 million people now face the prospect of starvation," the president said.

Patil said since Indian population was expected to surpass that of China, "we may need to look at our population policy. Also, to feed this population, we need to ensure that food availability is increased".

"That can only happen if food production and productivity are augmented. Productivity can be enhanced by making available to our farmers, better seeds, necessary irrigation facilities and marketing linkages. Scientists must constantly work with farmers to acquaint them with better agricultural practices and at the same time our research efforts in the field of agriculture must continue," she added.

Besides Shivakumara Swami, Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur and Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa attended the function.

Patil arrived here Sunday on a two-visit. She inaugurated Apollo Hospital Sunday evening and said private hospitals and government should join hands to take better healthcare facilities to villages.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Ronald, Karnataka

    Tue, Feb 03 2009

    Three cheers to the Swami on his magnificent century ! However the remaining matter may not be necessarily good as follows. Green revolution ? What Green Revolution ? Look at the Western Ghats and the coastlands where forests/trees, shrubs, bushes and even grass disappear. Wild animals from the Ghats must have disappeared except for a few which appear in the populated coastal areas because their natural habitats have been destroyed by us monsters in the name of 'Development' or 'Progess' most of it counter-productive and an environmental terror. So the Government may, as usual, twist and bring in more GM varieties of agriculture and finish off the coastal people in slow but sure motion. Let them drive away GM foods altogether. What is not suitable for the E.U countries and REJECTED by STARVING African people cannot be suitable for solving our problems (in the real and Long run). In the US the packed foods have to be labelled-they have a choice. What choice do Indians have -farmer suicide and eventual famine and starvation of most of the remaining Indians ? If we are talking about "Vanamahotsava" thats fine. As for food, go ahead and reinstate the plants/seeds which God had originally created. If you are talking about food crops/seeds, redevelop at a fast pace, ancient local and natural agriculture using all-natural seeds, manures etc.-like 'Atootam'. there are farmers in TN and Karnataka and elsewhere, however small in number they might be, who know about this. Recently there was a meet in Kumbhashi, Udupi. Talk to these farming people both farmers and experts. In summary, give priority to R&D in natural agriculture if we have to ever see that true Green Revolution happen. Time is running out !

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