The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Food security stressed for development

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 10, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Food security stressed for development

Special Correspondent

Small farmers who constitute a bulk of agricultural population being ignored: Murari

Agriculture, service, tourism will usher in economic prosperity
As the country is vulnerable to terrorism, intelligence should not be compartmentalised

— Photo: K. Pichumani

IN APPRECIATION: Inspector General Rajendra Singh, Commander, Coast Guard region (East), presenting a memento to P. Murari, former Secretary to the President, who delivered a lecture on board the Coast Guard Ship Sarang in Chennai on Thursday.

CHENNAI: Food security is an important component in industrial development, more so for India. A large population in the rural areas leads a miserable existence as far as agricultural income is concerned, P.Murari, a former Secretary to the President, said on Thursday.

Delivering a lecture on “Economic challenges in India - impact on security and development,” jointly organised by the Indian Coast Guard and the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, Madras University, on board the Coast Guard ship Sarang here, he said small farmers who constituted a bulk of the agricultural population were being ignored.

Not only food security, but also nutritional security should be taken care of.

There could be agricultural prosperity if there was value addition to agricultural products.

The lecture was organised by the Coast Guard as part of its “Looking beyond” series.

Challenges

Mr.Murari presented a comprehensive glimpse of significant challenges, which had an impact on the Indian economy.

Agriculture, service, tourism and house construction were important sectors, which would usher in economic prosperity.

The former bureaucrat covered a wide canvas of issues, including those relating to terrorism, political security, agricultural security, environment and ecological aspects and energy security.

He said the country was very vulnerable to terrorism. Intelligence should not be compartmentalised.

The inputs should be critically analysed and effective steps taken jointly by various agencies to tackle the threat.

Nuclear deal

On energy security, he said the present nuclear agreement with the U.S. would be of great benefit to the country in meeting its energy needs.

India’s inclusive growth should provide for trickle-down effect.

The country’s economic development should be tempered with inclusive development, he stressed.

Inspector-General Rajendra Singh, Commander, Coast Guard region (East), introduced the guest speaker.

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