New Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh, on Sunday, asked scientists to play a major role in tackling the challenges posed to the Indian farm sector by World Trade Organisation (WTO) and globalisation. In his first official engagement after being sworn in as Cabinet Minister on Sunday, Singh said "the biggest role has to be played by scientists in dealing with the challenges posed by globalisation and WTO".
The Minister was addressing a gathering of agricultural scientists and researchers after inaugurating a new "Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan" of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in New Delhi. Singh said with his professional background, he fully understood the implications of the rapidly changing global economic scenario under WTO regime.
"Agriculture now requires much greater attention than ever before in order to ensure overall progress of the country", he said. Stressing the need for concrete steps at the grassroots level to make agriculture vibrant, Singh said extension services must be strengthened to ensure that the benefits of research reach the farmers.
ICAR Director General R S Paroda said the new building, constructed at a cost of about Rs 165.6 mn, would go a long way in accelerating agricultural research with its modern and state-of-the-art facilities. Bureau Report