Post on 28-Jul-2015
NAAS Silver Jubilee 25 Years of Achievement in Agricultural Science
and Way Forward for 2030
Prof M S Swaminathan, FNA, FNAAS, FRSUNESCO Chair in Ecotechnology, MSSRF, Chennai
New Delhi, 3 June 2015
Over 60 years of Adventure in Agricultural Research & Development
NAAS has rendered
invaluable service to
enhancing the prestige
and purpose of
agricultural sciences as
well as public policy
formulation
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (1947-49)
Research on Non-tuber bearing Solanum sp.
for the Associateship of IARI
Picture Source: Google image
Prof R PrakkenWageningen (1949 – 50)
Genetics Department
Tuber bearing Solanumbreeding for Nematode resistance
Picture Source: Google image
Breeding for Golden Nematode Resistance (Globodera rostochiensis)
Resistance Genes from Solanum polyadenium
Lake Titicaca
Region
Centre of Diversity
in tuber bearing
Solanum
The Irish Potato famine of the 1840s led to the search
for new genes for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses
Hawkes collection at Cambridge
University of Wisconsin (1952-54)Genetics Department
Gene transfer in potato across sexual barriers
Picture Source: Google image
Solanum acaule
Donor of Frost
Resistance in the variety
Alaska Frostless
Gene Transfer through the“artificial stigma” technique
Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack (1954)
Indica - Japonica hydridization programmeThe beginning of yield revolution in rice
Dr K Ramiah
Picture Source: CRRI, Google image
Emphasis on multipurpose projects
IARI ( 1954-72)Breeding for High Yielding Varieties Programme
Picture Source: Google image
Intensive Agricultural District Programme(Package Programme)
o Launched in 1960-61 for maximising the benefits of
irrigation water and mineral fertilizer
o By 1963-64, IADP covered 15 districts
o Unfortunately the impact on yield improvement was
not upto expectation, since the package of practices
missed one important ingredient, namely, a genetic
strain which can respond to the rest of the package
Swaminathan, MS, 1962
Comparison of woo-gen (right) and dee-geo-woo-gen strains, the latter containing
the sd1 mutation
The effects of different Rht alleles on plant height in wheat (cv. April
Bearded). The wild-type contains Rht-B1a and Rht-D1a, which are homoeologous (corresponding) genes on the B and D genomes. Rht-
B1c is a more severe allele at the Rht-B1 locus
Source: http://5e.plantphys.net/
The Green Revolution in Wheat and RiceTransformational Genes
Ref: Swaminathan, MS 2013 J. Agri. Research
Innovations in the 1960s
Extension (Generating Yield Consciousness)
o National Demonstrations – 1964
o National Tonnage Club of Farmers (1965)
o Seed Village (beginning with Jounti village to Delhi
State)
Public Policy:
o High Yielding Varieties Programme
o Minimum support Price
o Public Procurement (FCI)
o Public Distribution
Synergy between Technology and Public policy
IARI – Strengthening the Research Infrastructure(1966-77)
A General view of the Atomic Garden at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute showing plants grown in different sectors for being treated with gamma rays
A Close-up of the Gamma Source with the seed tray and the monitor used for measuring radiation
Source: Indian Farming, October 1960
Nuclear Research LaboratoryDivision of Genetics
Source: IARI
“Intensive cultivation of land without conservation of soil fertility and soil
structure would lead ultimately to the springing up of deserts. Irrigation
without arrangements for drainage would result in soils getting alkaline or
saline. Indiscriminate use of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides could cause
adverse changes in biological balance as well as lead to an increase in the
incidence of cancer and other diseases, through the toxic residues present
in the grains or other edible parts. Unscientific tapping of underground water
would lead to the rapid exhaustion of this wonderful capital resource left to
us through ages of natural farming. The rapid replacement of numerous
locally adapted varieties with one or two high yielding strains in large
contiguous areas would result in the spread of serious diseases capable of
wiping out entire crops, as happened prior to the Irish potato famine of 1845
and the Bengal rice famine of 1942. Therefore, the initiation of exploitative
agriculture without a proper understanding of the various consequences of
every one of the changes introduced into traditional agriculture and without
first building up a proper scientific and training base to sustain it, may only
lead us into an era of agricultural disaster in the long run, rather than to an
era of agricultural prosperity.”
M.S. SwaminathanIndian Science Congress, Varanasi, January 4, 1968
Sustainable Food Production : Early Warning
“How can we speak to those who live invillages and slums about keeping theoceans, the rivers and the air clean whentheir own lives are contaminated at thesource?”
Indira Gandhi added the dimension ofsocial sustainability to economic andenvironmental sustainability
Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, 1972
Source: Google Image
Evergreen Revolution is the Pathway
o World requires 50% more
rice in 2030 than in 2004
with approximately 30%
less arable land of today
o Mainstreaming ecology in
technology development
and dissemination is the
road to sustainable
agriculture
Union Planning Commission (1980-82)
New chapters on Environment , Women and Development A new deal for the self
employed
Chapters introduced for the first time in five year plans
New initiatives :National Biotechnology Board
National S&T EntrepreneurshipDevelopment Board
International Rice Research Institute, the Philippines(1982-88)
Strengthening & filling gaps in NARS Women in Rice Farming System Improving Farm Income (Rice BioPark) Genetic Resources Conservation Sustainable Rice Farming Network
IRRI – first among the CGIAR Institutes
Source: Google Image
RICE BIOPARK
IN Nay Pyi Taw
Myanmar
Designed to save
and add value to
each part of the
rice biomass, such
as rice straw, husk
and bran
MSSRF (1989 onwards) : Research Centres
Chennai Chennai Kalpetta, Kerala
Poomphar PondicherryJeypore, Orissa
o Coastal System Research (CSR)
o Biodiversity & Biotechnology
o Ecotechnology & Sustainable Development
o Agriculture, Nutrition & Health
o Information Technology
o Capacity Building & Networking
o Gender & Development
o Climate Change : Adaptation & Mitigation
Anticipatory, Participatory & Strategic Research
Alarming State of Malnutrition in India
o 39% of children under 5 are stunted
o 15% under 5 are wasted
o 40% of women of reproductive age are
underweight, and
o 48% of women of reproductive age are
anaemic
Source: Global Nutrition Report 2014
CALORIE DEPRIVATION
PROTEIN DEFICIENCY
MICRONUTRIENTDEFICIENCY
Picture Source: Google images
Three major dimensions of hunger
Biofortification and Zero Hunger Challenge :3 Major approaches
1. Naturally occurring biofortified plants like moringa,
sweet potato, nutri-millets and fruits and
vegetables.
2. Biofortified varieties selected by breeding and
selection, eg, iron rich pearl millet and zinc rich rice
3. Genetically biofortified crops like Golden Rice and
iron rich rice (after appropriate regulatory
clearance)
25 x iron in spinach17 x calcium in milk15 x potassium in bananas10 x vitamin A in carrots9 x protein in yogurt
National Geographic, November 2012
Genetic Garden of Biofortified Plants
TRIBE DISTRICTMedicinal
Plants used
Bhatra Nawarangpur81
Bhumia Koraput 69
Bonda Malkangiri 55
Gadaba Koraput 83
Gond Nawarangpur67
KandhaKoraput + Rayagada
124
Koya Malkangiri 48
Paroja Koraput 74
Saora Rayagada 59
9 tribes 4 districts660 MPs
Women andCultural & Curative Diversity
Farmers’ Rights :Conserver, Cultivator, Breeder
Genome Saviors Tribal Families of Koraput, Odisha
19 varieties of Yam in 4 species were in Cultivation (as of
2006) but less than 5 in rural market and none in urban market
Dioscorea alata1. Inchikachil I & II`2. Kuzhikavithu I3. Kuzhikavithu II4. Quintalkachil I 5. Quintalkachil II 6. Anakomban7. Kaduvakkayyan8. Urulan kachil9. Kuppathottikizhangu10. Elivalankachil11. Neendi/Veetukizhangu12. Vella kachil I & II13. Chorakachil/cherakachil/chuvappukachil/ Neela kachil I, II & III
Dioscorea esculenta14. Nanakizhangu15. Vella Enchi kachil16. Mullan Kachil
Dioscorea rotundata17.Africankachil 18. Thoonankachi
Dioscorea bulbifera 19. Erachikachil/Adathappu
Life Saving Crops
in Wayanad
Leveraging Agro-forestry for Nutrition
Biofortification through breeding:High-iron Pearl Millet
ICTP 8203ICRISAT-bred OPV
(70-74 ppm Fe)With 10% Higher Yield
86M86Pioneer hybrid (54-64 ppm Fe)
Marketed by NIRMAL SEEDS
Golden Rice : Trial Site Vandalized in Bicol, Philippines
Source: Rice Today, IRRI, Oct-Dec 2013, Vol.12, No.4
Establish Regulatory system which inspires public, professional, political and media confidence
Marker Assisted Breeding IR 38 x Jeerige sanna
BI 33 x Jeerige sanna
Azucena x Moromutant
Five mapping populationshave been developed andpurified.
Molecular markers for genesassociated with iron uptake,transport and accumulationhave been designed.
Marker Assisted Selection iseligible for organiccertification
Source : Indian Biofortification Network
Safe and Responsible Use of BiotechnologyBased on Cartagena Protocol
A National Biosafety RegulatoryAuthority should be set up underan Act of Parliament
The bottom line of our nationalagricultural biotechnology policyshould be the economic well beingof farm families, food security ofthe nation, health security of theconsumer, biosecurity ofagriculture and health, protectionof the environment and thesecurity of national andinternational trade in farmcommodities.
- M S Swaminathan Panel (2004)
“To access risks and benefits
from GMOs with reference
to biodiversity, human and
animal health and
environment, a National
Biosafety Authority is
needed. Develop legislation
using the Norwegian Model”
Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture chaired by Shri Basudeb
Acharya (2012)
Role of Community Hunger Fighters in Biofortification
o Become well-versed on thecauses and cures for theendemic and hidden hungerprevailing in the village /town through a nutritionliteracy programme
o Identify and introduceagricultural remedies tonutritional maladies based ongender and age
o Introduce in the farmingsystem biofortified crops andvarieties
Capacity Building
Climate Change and Biodiversity : Impact of Sea Level Rise
1. Inundation of low lying coastal lands with sea water
o millions of ha of land would be affected
o small islands would be affected very severely
2. Increased incidence of storm surges
3. Seawater intrusion into freshwater and groundwater
4. Enhancement of tidal waters into rivers
5. Accelerated coastal erosion
6. Climate Refugees will look for new areas to settle
Genetic Garden of HALOPHYTES
Obligatory halophytes Facultative halophytes
Tolerate high concentrationof sodium salts
> 3 times of seawater salinity
Even demand high NaCl for survival and reproduction
1560 species
Most of the species tolerate only moderate level of salinity
Reproduction requires low saline condition
Mangroves
60 species
Converting Sea Water into Fresh Water through Halophytes
Innovations in below sea level farming in Kuttanad
ONE RICE - ONE FISH
Punja seasonNovember- February
Low chemical input or OrganicYield- 4.2 t/ha
April- OctoberMonoculture – Giant Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)Polyculture*- Indian major carps or common carps or Silver carps and grass carps and Giant PrawnYield- Rice: 4.2 t/ha
Fish- Prawn: 480 kg; Carp : 300 kg.
* Recommended practice
Gene Bank Seed Bank Water BankGrain Bank
Conservation - Cultivation – Consumption - Commerce
Pathway to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Community Food and Water Security System in Koraput
Towards an Era of Biohappiness
Sustainable Development Goals
Zero Hunger Challenge
Biofortification is the Pathway
LANSA (Leveraging Agriculture
for Nutrition in South Asia) is
the effective platform for
partnership
Addressing the occupational hazards of salt workers
Salt workers particularlywomen face serious healthproblems such as high rateof cataract, skin ulcers, highblood pressure, reduced lifespan etc.
The Tamil Nadu Government has recently included all salt panworkers under the Chief Ministers’ Comprehensive HealthInsurance Scheme. This needs to the replicated all over the country.For example, Andhra Pradesh has over 10,000 registered saltworkers according to the 1998 survey. They need urgent attention.
Picture Source: Google image
National Food Security Bill of India, 2013
Goal : To provide food and nutritional security by ensuring access toadequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices
Special Features :
o Life Cycle approach with emphasis on the 1000 days of achild’s life
o The senior most woman in the household will be designatedthe Head of the Household from the point of view of foodentitlements
o Enlargement of the Food Basket by including nutri-milletsand other orphan crops in the Public Distribution System
o Entitlement : Every person belonging to priority householdsshall be entitled to receive five kilogram of foodgrains perperson per month at subsidised prices.
From Ship to Mouth to Right to Food
No Time to Relax : Major Challenges Ahead
o Avoiding Food losses and Food Waste
o Climate change, temperature, precipitation, and
sea level
o Shrinking per capita land and water resources
o Expanding biotic and abiotic stresses
o Adverse cost-risk-return structure of farming
o Market volatility
o Reluctance of youth to take to farming : Lack of
Demographic Dividend