Picture by Laura Dunnmark at Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/lauradunnmark/

More than 70% of India’s population depend on agriculture.  With the advent of YRI generation now, more farmers in next couple of decades will be young.  Swaminathan, who is the chairman of National Commission on Agriculture says that a small-farm management revolution will not be possible in the country without attracting the new generation into the farming sector and promoting the farmers of 21st century.  Read more about his views in Rediff article titled “How to attract youngsters into Agriculture”.  Mr. Swaminathan says unless farming becomes intellectually satisfying and economically rewarding, the younger generation will not take up farming.  Relevant mechanization and technological up gradation through initiatives such as the biotechnology movement must be conducted to make agriculture attractive for the young people.

Stressing that the biggest challenge before country’s agriculture today was how to make small farm economically viable and beneficial to the farmers, Swaminathan said that benefits of mass production technology should be combined with Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of production by masses without affecting the individuality of farm holding.