India needs greater technological intervention to produce 350

million tonnes of foodgrains by 2020 to feed rising population,

former President APJ Abdul Kalam said today, while lauding
Gujarat for achieving 9 per cent farm growth against over 3 per cent at
national level.
Speaking on the 84th foundation day of Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR) here, Kalam hailed the country achieving a record 250
million tonnes of foodgrains in 201112 due to hard work by farmers.
But we will be requiring 350 million tonnes of foodgrains by
2020 to feed our rising population, Kalam said and asked
agriculture scientists to play an important role in this regard.
Kalam stressed on the need to provide technological assistance
to small and marginal land holders who constitute 50 per cent of
the agricultural workforce of the country, for accelerating farm
growth.
The former President praised Gujarat for maintaining 9 per cent agriculture
growth rate for the past seven years.
The entire India has achieved only over 3 per cent growth rate in
agriculture production. How Gujarat is able to attain 9 per cent growth
rate? Kalam said recalling the question he had posed to Centre for
Management in Agriculture (CMA) that assisted the state in its agricultural
policy.

Kalam said the agriculture turnaround story of Gujarat was an eye opener
for the entire nation.