Science and Agriculture
The most important factor in any planning for India's development and economic uplift is that of turning a hungry, discontented people into a happy, well-fed one. Food can be had either by import or by production at home.
India must produce her own food. The problem, therefore, reduces itself to one of agricultural improvement. We must grow more food. The scientist has other methods. The chemist, the biologist, the engineer and even the physicist, have a great role to play in applying science to large-scale production, and they must be given due scope for carrying on experiments and researches.
The first step to be taken is to increase the fertility of the soil, to ensure a higher yield of crops per acre. Old farmers relied upon easily available manure like cow dung. He must be taught to realize that chemical fertilisers can improve the productivity of land to an undreamt of extent. The proportion of organic and inorganic manures depends upon the nature of the soil.
The next step is to improve the quality of the seed. The supply of good seeds is by far the most vital problem. Plant breeding is not only an art; it is a highly specialized science. Fortunately, at many agricultural farms, especially in Hyderabad, this is being done successfully. The scientist will help us to raise needs fit for a local environment. It is reported that in former Soviet Union hybridization method was adopted with great success.
Improved methods of cultivation must also be introduced. Japanese method of rice cultivation has yielded splendid results, wherever applied. In Europe, the production per acre is much higher than in our country. So high yielding strains should be used and double harvesting is to be ensured every year.
Science can help agriculture in another way by fighting down the insects and bacterial pests that destroy considerable quantities of grains and crops. Plants are liable to be attacked by these pests at all times. Faulty methods of storing food also
India must produce her own food. The problem, therefore, reduces itself to one of agricultural improvement. We must grow more food. The scientist has other methods. The chemist, the biologist, the engineer and even the physicist, have a great role to play in applying science to large-scale production, and they must be given due scope for carrying on experiments and researches.
The first step to be taken is to increase the fertility of the soil, to ensure a higher yield of crops per acre. Old farmers relied upon easily available manure like cow dung. He must be taught to realize that chemical fertilisers can improve the productivity of land to an undreamt of extent. The proportion of organic and inorganic manures depends upon the nature of the soil.
The next step is to improve the quality of the seed. The supply of good seeds is by far the most vital problem. Plant breeding is not only an art; it is a highly specialized science. Fortunately, at many agricultural farms, especially in Hyderabad, this is being done successfully. The scientist will help us to raise needs fit for a local environment. It is reported that in former Soviet Union hybridization method was adopted with great success.
Improved methods of cultivation must also be introduced. Japanese method of rice cultivation has yielded splendid results, wherever applied. In Europe, the production per acre is much higher than in our country. So high yielding strains should be used and double harvesting is to be ensured every year.
Science can help agriculture in another way by fighting down the insects and bacterial pests that destroy considerable quantities of grains and crops. Plants are liable to be attacked by these pests at all times. Faulty methods of storing food also