"We had set for ourselves the target of additional production of 20 million tonnes of foodgrain by the end of the 11th five year plan (2012). I am pleased to inform that through collective efforts of the national and state governments, we have achieved this target a year in advance," Pawar said at a function of ICAR.
The record foodgrain production this year has triggered problem of storage, Pawar said in his speech at the 83rd foundation day celebration of ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research).
The National Development Council (NDC), the highest decision making body on development matters, in its 53rd meeting held in May 2007 had adopted a resolution to launch a Food Security Mission comprising rice, wheat and pulses.
The aim of the mission was to increase the output of rice by 10 million tonne, wheat by 8 million tonne and pulses by 2 million tonne by the end of the 11th Plan (2011-12). Pawar, however, said that there is a need to sustain the efforts to keep pace with the growing domestic demands.
With rising income and increasing population there is a relentless pressure on agriculture sector to meet the demand from dwindling land and water resources in the wake of climatic uncertainties, he said.
"It is estimated that the agriculture production will need to be doubled in the developing countries world over in order to feed a global population expected to reach 9.1 billion in 2050," Pawar said.
Pawar emphasised on the need of technological breakthroughs and innovative agricultural practices. "Biotechnological approaches, including genetically modified crops and molecular breeding that will go a long way in achieving our goals... India should be able to compete with other nations in the application of cutting edge technologies such as genomics, nanotechnology and bioinformatics," he said.
Pawar also stressed on technological intervention and more research and development (R&D) in seconday agriculture. "R&D thrust in this area would certainly result in reducing the post harvest losses, improving shelf life of farm produce, generate employments, especially in the rural areas and help us to reduce poverty," Pawar added.