Political India: Engaging America

Support MSSRF in coastal systems research, Ram tells A.P.

From The Hindu

CHENNAI: The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) reaffirmed its focus on tackling social inequalities through scientific and action-oriented research as it celebrated its Foundation Day and the release of its 19th Annual Report on Friday.

Dignitaries and proponents of agricultural research and development in India felicitated the MSSRF and its chairman M.S. Swaminathan on the occasion, which coincided with his birthday.

Focus areas

Ajay Parida, Executive Director, MSSRF, outlined some of the important achievements of the Foundation to date. In a presentation covering MSSRF focus areas such as coastal systems research, biodiversity, biotechnology, eco-technology and food security, he said, “The focus of the foundation has been pro-poor, pro-nature, pro-women and pro-livelihoods based on technology and information dissemination.”

Reflecting the MSSRF’s emphasis on tackling social inequalities through scientific research, Dr. Parida pointed out the Foundation’s achievements in capacity building in biodiversity for Panchayat Raj institutions, promoting organic farming to boost farmers’ income, holistic management of watersheds, climate change initiatives and grass-roots training for farmers.

Pro-poor policies

Delivering the address of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who could not be present due to unforeseen circumstances, M. Singh, Principal Secretary to the government, said the MSSRF had continued to do “a great job under the able guidance of Dr. Swaminathan.” He outlined some pro-poor and pro-agriculture policies recently implemented in Andhra Pradesh such as Jalayagnam, for water conservation and management, the Aam Aadmi Bhima Yojana, pensions for the poor and the Rs.2 a kg rice scheme.

Independent review

Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu N. Ram, who is a trustee of the MSSRF, touched upon a recent independent review of the Foundation’s work by economists Uma Lele and Kavita Gandhi. Praising the integrity of the institution, Mr. Ram said: “Although the review identified some weaknesses and deficits, the Foundation has done very well overall.” It had delivered practical outcomes on the ground, he said.

The food security atlases that the MSSRF had brought out spotlight the failure of India to make a dent in mass deprivation, hunger and nutrition deficiencies, he said.

Underscoring the “need to strengthen the financial foundations of the MSSRF,” Mr. Ram appealed to the Government of Andhra Pradesh to further support the Foundation’s work in areas such as coastal systems research. The State might stand to benefit from the results of such research, he pointed out.

Formally releasing the MSSRF Annual Report, Mihoko Tamamura, Country Director, World Food Programme, said: “We would like to see continued leadership from the MSSRF as a great platform for heated debates on food security in India.”

Call for convergence

Acknowledging the support received from external institutions and his colleagues within the MSSRF, Professor Swaminathan emphasised that “we cannot afford incremental progress in agriculture.”

Given the nutritional emergency facing the country, the “stubborn” hunger figures and overall stagnant productivity rates, Professor Swaminathan argued that India needed to “produce a convergence between health, nutrition, food security and gender outcomes.”

“When we can develop nuclear submarines, why can’t we improve food security,” he asked.

Labels: biodiversity, biotechnology, coastal systems, food security, M.S. Swaminathan, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, N. Ram, World Food Programme, Y.S. Rajasekara Reddy