Addressing the audience as chief guest at the National Technology Day celebrations at the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) on Monday, Padmashree awardee Dr Paroda lamented that despite achievements of Green Revolution in the buffer stock, India was successful in alleviating poverty even to a small extent. “There is a need for drastic change in policy making in favour of farmers. But, it can happen only when farmers voice out their demands loud and clear,” he said. He called upon the industries to take their research and findings to help the life of a common man, the end consumer and beneficiary.
“A policy should be framed to bridge the gap between emerging food technologies and common man using the model of public-private partnership. This is the only way to create sustainable livelihood and better future,” he asserted.
Dr R S Paroda, who is also the chairman of the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences said that the development in food technology should help farmers fare better in the consumeristic world. The technologies provided by the CFTRI has helped sustain the consumer-driven market, he said, adding “the relevance and services of CFTRI is much more than before today.”
Commenting on the export policies of the country, he said that some products like soybean which are exported, in fact are much needed within the country. “We have so many children suffering from malnutrition who need to be taken care of. Affordable soybean, instead of exporting it, would certainly help them fare better,” he added. Emphasising on its huge impact on the country’s economy, Dr Paroda felt that there was a need to balance the gap between meeting the needs of our own population and economic benefits generated from exporting.
Speaking on the occasion, CFTRI Director Dr V Prakash said that newer methods of agriculture on land considered barren and waste need to be explored. “It is while trying out such feats, that Science plays an important role. Besides, we need to define our own GDP very clearly, instead of merely interpreting figures provided by officials and other agencies. The technology which is required to grow and sustain desirable growth can be ‘reverse engineered’ to meet demand and targets,” he added. It calls for collective social responsibility to achieve a break-through, he felt.
On the occasion, 20 entrepreneurs were presented with Technology Day Insignia award. About 52 entrepreneurs, including some from India, Thailand and Tanzania obtained licenses for 66 food processing technologies that were released by the institute for commercialisation. Seventeen of these technologies were supported with patent rights.