<p>Since the purchasing power of Indian people were rising and there was higher demand for processed foods, including vegetables and fruits, farmers and industry should meet requirements of the growing processing industry, Agriculture Ministry Secretary T Nandakumar said. The country has to face three major challenges to meet the food needs of growing population, such as production in limited land of 142 million hectares, water shortage and also technologies, changing from time to time, he said. <br /><br />Pointing out that the farmers have to be taught to cut down use of water and to produce more, Nandakumar said in the present scenario of climate change and global warming, it was necessary to bring new irrigation technologies, with rainfall across the globe was reporting below average.<br />Another major problem being faced by agriculture sector was shortage of labour and also being expensive, he further said.</p>
<p>Since the purchasing power of Indian people were rising and there was higher demand for processed foods, including vegetables and fruits, farmers and industry should meet requirements of the growing processing industry, Agriculture Ministry Secretary T Nandakumar said. The country has to face three major challenges to meet the food needs of growing population, such as production in limited land of 142 million hectares, water shortage and also technologies, changing from time to time, he said. <br /><br />Pointing out that the farmers have to be taught to cut down use of water and to produce more, Nandakumar said in the present scenario of climate change and global warming, it was necessary to bring new irrigation technologies, with rainfall across the globe was reporting below average.<br />Another major problem being faced by agriculture sector was shortage of labour and also being expensive, he further said.</p>