Modern storages needed to secure rotting grains: Prof Swaminathan

Modern storages needed to secure rotting grains: Prof Swaminathan
HERALD REPPORTER
PANJIM, SEPT 26
“There is a need to establish fifty modern grain storages in different parts of the country each with a capacity for strong one million tonnes of food grains,” said Prof M S Swaminathan, a renowned agricultural scientist and Rajya Sabha member while delivering a public lecture at National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) on Sunday here.
Speaking on “Safeguarding national food security in an era of climate change,” Prof Swaminathan deliberated on the issue of rotting food grains for want of adequate storage facility.
“With precious food grains left rotting,” he said, there has to be reverence towards food if we need to see a change. Taking about larger issue of food security, he warned “if farm ecology goes wrong nothing else will go right. Over exploitation bore disaster,” he said emphasising the relevance of maintaining biological diversity.
Referring various studies that have revealed grim reality of under nutrition and hunger existing in the country, he said this proves that existing policies and programmes of the government are not making significant dent. Food availability, access and absorption,” are central to food security.
In his talk he also emphasised on the policy for nutrition security for farm animals and food-cum-drug approach in order to achieve bigger target of food security.
Stressing the need for preservation of biodiversity, he explained why it is so important to maintain “genetic variability” whether it is of food grains or animals.
Moreover, through his lecture he highlighted the need for sustainable development while drawing attention to grave instance of destruction of natural resources thanks to exploitation by man.
Referring to “mining” he said, it is important to restore the destruction of nature happening through excavations in search of minerals. One can look at Canada that has stringent rules for mining. Though, he maintained that it is not yet proved that global warming is responsible for natural calamities such as floods witnessed in some countries, “metrological scientists are finding it difficult to predict such calamities.”