Emergence of a 2nd Green Revolution in India- Part 2.

India needs to expand its Food crop production by atleast between 50%-100% by 2050(as compared to current levels) to meet the food demands of such a vast population. Very frankly speaking India does not have any further cultivable land left. More advanced and rapid measures are required. Expanding our cultivable land’s productivity is essential. As Abdul Kalam suggests, “targeting rural drylands is a better option.” States of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, etc. have good amount of dryland which can be cultivated to increase food production.
Technology has always been a boon in such crisis. Imbibing Imaging tools and Bio-chemical studies technology is required, add to it Computer technology that can help to analyze plants at cellular levels and determine its needs. This will help us to understand our Bio-diversity better and allocate resources accordingly. Cross-disciplinary approach is needed for a 2nd Green Revolution. Integration of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Crop sciences (such as genetics, pathology, etc.) alongwith social sciences especially Economics will revolutionize Food cop production and management in India.
India’s economy is evolving in a giant, it being the 4th Largest Economy in the world in terms of GDP is a proof for its evolution as a giant. In such a transformational growth, it becomes crucially essential for India to deal with food demands of future as it can dampen all our future hopes of growth, can’t it? Today, our Government is taking all the necessary steps as mentioned above. The problem lies not in production but in Distribution of food grains. Efficiency in PDS is a way of achieving success here. Recent proposal by Manmohan Singh’s government of introducing a scheme for Government officers whereby they would be fined from their salaries for inefficiency and delays is a step towards success. Let us hope our Knowledge society brings more and more alternatives for addressing this problem.