Book on population boom and food mismatch released

Hyderabad: With global population expected to cross 9 billion by 2050 from current 7 billion, a daunting question plaguing experts is--whether there will be enough food to feed so many people?

In his book `Feeding the Forgotten Poor`, agriculturist and Director General of the city-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Dr William D Dar tries to explore the topic threadbare. The hardback was released by former President APJ Kalam in New Delhi on February 6 on the sidelines of the second Global Agri-Business Incubation Conference: NIABI 2012. The event was organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in partnership with ICRISAT. In Foreword to the book, the former president wrote, "The Book reveals perspectives to grow and provide food to the people wherever they live on Earth, backed by Dr Dar`s own experience in multiple countries. Particularly, I am impressed with the Chapter `Innovate, Grow and Prosper` where he deals with strategic science and dynamic development," an ICRISAT release said yesterday. The book, co-authored by Arun Tiwari, is divided into four parts: (1) Soil and Roots, (2) Stems, Leaves and Fruits, (3) Skin of the Earth, and (4) Growth and Prosperity, corresponding to the extensive research done by Dr Dar on the subject. The ICRISAT director general, who hails from Philippines, is a research manager besides being an agronomist and has been associated with ICRISAT to realise its dream of smarter, healthier, sustainable and resillient agriculture towards attainment of food security, particularly in the arid tropics of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. PTI