While scientists can develop yield enhancing technologies, these will not make an impact on production and productivity without appropriate support from public policy and investment. National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) has from time to time assembled groups of eminent scientists to analyse public policy issues in important areas related to agriculture and prepare papers relevant to policy formulation. The present book includes 39 policy papers issued by the Academy during the last 15 years covering a wide range of issues like: Sustainable Livelihood and Nutrition Security, Water Resources Management, Soil Health Enhancement and Fertiliser Use, Agro-biodiversity and Biosafety, Agricultural Research and Education, and Globalisation and Agri-Exports. Many of the suggestions and recommendations contained in the book present a road map for rescuing the fate of farmers and farming from the present agrarian crisis prevailing in several parts of the country.

This book will be useful for scholars in agricultural universities and research institutions and for policy and investment decisions in the field of agriculture.

A world scientist of rare distinction and a living legend Professor M.S. Swaminathan obtained his Ph.D. in Agriculture from University of Cambridge. He has had a distinguished research, teaching, and administrative career at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI); Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR); Secretary Agriculture, Government of India; Director General, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Currently, he is Chairman, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai (Madras) and President, Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs.

Recipient of numerous national and international awards (including the first World Food Prize in 1987), forty-five honorary doctorate degrees from around the world, author of over three hundred research papers and several books, the Time Magazine ranked Professor Swaminathan among the twenty most influential Asians of the 20th century.

Introduction

Section I
Sustainable Livelihood and Nutrition Security

1. Employment Opportunities in Farm and Non-farm Sectors through Technological Interventions with Emphasis on Primary Value Addition

2. Agriculture-Industry Interface: Value Added Farm Products

3. Dichotomy Between Grain Surplus and Widespread Endemic Hunger

4. Diversification of Agriculture for Human Nutrition

5. Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture for Nutritional Security

6. Hi-Tech Horticulture in India

7. Peri-Urban Vegetable Cultivation in the NCR Delhi

8. Empowerment of Women in Agriculture

9. Gender, Science and Agriculture: Ten Years after Beijing Conference

Section II
Soil Health Enhancement and Fertiliser Use

10. Fertiliser Policy Issues (2000-2025)

11. Low and Declining Crop Response to Fertilisers

12. Policy Options for Efficient Nitrogen Use

13. Organic Farming: Approaches and Possibilities in the Context of Indian Agriculture

Section III
Water Resource Management

14. Emerging Issues in Water Management – The Question of Ownership

15. Agricultural Scientists’ Perceptions on National Water Policy

16. Impact of Inter River Basin Linkages on Fisheries

17. Harnessing and Management of Water Resources for Enhancing Agricultural Production in the Eastern Region

18. Disaster Management in Agriculture

Section IV
Agro Biodiversity and Bio-Safety

19. Below Ground Biodiversity in relation to Cropping Systems

20. Transgenic Crops and Bio-safety Issues related to their Commercialisation in India

21. Biosafety of Transgenic Rice

22. Conservation and Management of Genetic Resources of Livestock

23. Seaweed Cultivation and Utilisation

24. Conservation, Management and Use of Agrobiodiversity

Section V
Agricultural Research and Education

25. Agricultural Policy: Redesigning R&D to Achieve it’s Objectives

26. Prioritisation of Agricultural Research

27. Scientists’ Views on Good Governance of an Agricultural Research Organisation

28. Priorities of Research and Human Resource Development in Fisheries Biotechnology

29. Strategies for Agricultural Research in the North-East

30. Redefining Agricultural Education and Extension System in Changed Scenario

31. Stakeholders’ Perceptions on Employment Oriented Agricultural Education

32. Reorienting Land Grant System of Agricultural Education in India

33. Guidelines for Improving the Quality of Indian Journals and Professional Societies in Agriculture and Allied Sciences

Section VI
Globalisation and Agri-Exports

34. WTO and Indian Agriculture: Implications for Policy and R&D

35. Globalisation of Agriculture: R&D in India

36. Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement of the World Trade Organisation—Advantage India

37. Intellectual Property Rights in Agriculture

38. Sustainable Agricultural Export

39. Export Potential of Dairy Products