PERUMATTY (Palakkad): The introduction of mechanisation and precision farming would attract more youth to farming, said noted agricultural scientist Dr M S Swaminathan.Speaking after inaugurating the Perumatty Agro Service Centre set up under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) here on Sunday, he said usage of new technologies will also help address the key challenges faced by the agricultural sector such as environmental and ecological problems. “Moreover, farmers should receive remunerative prices for their end products,” he said adding that attractive skill-based employment opportunities should be provided for the young and educated in the rural farming sector.According to Dr Swaminathan, production should be increased without causing environmental harm. He added that only Palakkad and Kuttanad still have traditional granaries, contributing to secure food supply in Kerala. Around 40 years ago, rice cultivation had been spread across 9 lakh hectares of land, which has shrunk to 2.34 lakh hectares, at present, he said. The state needs four million tonnes of rice annually. The required quantity should be produced from the one million hectares in its possession, he said. The National Committee, constituted to study the farmers’ problems, include the districts of Palakkad, Wayanad, Kasargod, Alappuzha and Idukki.Dr Swaminathan said that the National Food Security Bill will be passed when the ‘right to food’ will be legalised. He said that farm schools should be set up to impart knowledge to the farmers from other states. Dr Swaminathan pointed out that 66 per cent of the population contributes only 14 per cent of the GDP. Mechanisation and the removal of drudgery should reverse it.Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan, Former MLA K Krishnankutty, P K Biju MP and Perumatty panchayat president K Suresh also spoke.
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