NAAS Silver Jubilee 25 Years of Achievement in Agricultural Science

and Way Forward for 2030

Prof M S Swaminathan, FNA, FNAAS, FRSUNESCO Chair in Ecotechnology, MSSRF, Chennai

New Delhi, 3 June 2015

Over 60 years of Adventure in Agricultural Research & Development

NAAS has rendered

invaluable service to

enhancing the prestige

and purpose of

agricultural sciences as

well as public policy

formulation

Indian Agricultural Research Institute (1947-49)

Research on Non-tuber bearing Solanum sp.

for the Associateship of IARI

Picture Source: Google image

Prof R PrakkenWageningen (1949 – 50)

Genetics Department

Tuber bearing Solanumbreeding for Nematode resistance

Picture Source: Google image

Breeding for Golden Nematode Resistance (Globodera rostochiensis)

Resistance Genes from Solanum polyadenium

Cambridge University (1950-52)Ph.D. Research on the Origin of Potato

Picture Source: Google image

Lake Titicaca

Region

Centre of Diversity

in tuber bearing

Solanum

The Irish Potato famine of the 1840s led to the search

for new genes for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses

Hawkes collection at Cambridge

University of Wisconsin (1952-54)Genetics Department

Gene transfer in potato across sexual barriers

Picture Source: Google image

Solanum acaule

Donor of Frost

Resistance in the variety

Alaska Frostless

Gene Transfer through the“artificial stigma” technique

Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack (1954)

Indica - Japonica hydridization programmeThe beginning of yield revolution in rice

Dr K Ramiah

Picture Source: CRRI, Google image

Emphasis on multipurpose projects

IARI ( 1954-72)Breeding for High Yielding Varieties Programme

Picture Source: Google image

Intensive Agricultural District Programme(Package Programme)

o Launched in 1960-61 for maximising the benefits of

irrigation water and mineral fertilizer

o By 1963-64, IADP covered 15 districts

o Unfortunately the impact on yield improvement was

not upto expectation, since the package of practices

missed one important ingredient, namely, a genetic

strain which can respond to the rest of the package

Swaminathan, MS, 1962

Comparison of woo-gen (right) and dee-geo-woo-gen strains, the latter containing

the sd1 mutation

The effects of different Rht alleles on plant height in wheat (cv. April

Bearded). The wild-type contains Rht-B1a and Rht-D1a, which are homoeologous (corresponding) genes on the B and D genomes. Rht-

B1c is a more severe allele at the Rht-B1 locus

Source: http://5e.plantphys.net/

The Green Revolution in Wheat and RiceTransformational Genes

Ref: Swaminathan, MS 2013 J. Agri. Research

Need for Genetic checkmating of new disease threatsPuccinia Path

Innovations in the 1960s

Extension (Generating Yield Consciousness)

o National Demonstrations – 1964

o National Tonnage Club of Farmers (1965)

o Seed Village (beginning with Jounti village to Delhi

State)

Public Policy:

o High Yielding Varieties Programme

o Minimum support Price

o Public Procurement (FCI)

o Public Distribution

Synergy between Technology and Public policy

IARI – Strengthening the Research Infrastructure(1966-77)

A General view of the Atomic Garden at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute showing plants grown in different sectors for being treated with gamma rays

A Close-up of the Gamma Source with the seed tray and the monitor used for measuring radiation

Source: Indian Farming, October 1960

Nuclear Research LaboratoryDivision of Genetics

Source: IARI

“Intensive cultivation of land without conservation of soil fertility and soil

structure would lead ultimately to the springing up of deserts. Irrigation

without arrangements for drainage would result in soils getting alkaline or

saline. Indiscriminate use of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides could cause

adverse changes in biological balance as well as lead to an increase in the

incidence of cancer and other diseases, through the toxic residues present

in the grains or other edible parts. Unscientific tapping of underground water

would lead to the rapid exhaustion of this wonderful capital resource left to

us through ages of natural farming. The rapid replacement of numerous

locally adapted varieties with one or two high yielding strains in large

contiguous areas would result in the spread of serious diseases capable of

wiping out entire crops, as happened prior to the Irish potato famine of 1845

and the Bengal rice famine of 1942. Therefore, the initiation of exploitative

agriculture without a proper understanding of the various consequences of

every one of the changes introduced into traditional agriculture and without

first building up a proper scientific and training base to sustain it, may only

lead us into an era of agricultural disaster in the long run, rather than to an

era of agricultural prosperity.”

M.S. SwaminathanIndian Science Congress, Varanasi, January 4, 1968

Sustainable Food Production : Early Warning

“How can we speak to those who live invillages and slums about keeping theoceans, the rivers and the air clean whentheir own lives are contaminated at thesource?”

Indira Gandhi added the dimension ofsocial sustainability to economic andenvironmental sustainability

Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, 1972

Source: Google Image

Evergreen Revolution is the Pathway

o World requires 50% more

rice in 2030 than in 2004

with approximately 30%

less arable land of today

o Mainstreaming ecology in

technology development

and dissemination is the

road to sustainable

agriculture

Krishi Bhavan (1972-80)

Source: Google Image

Union Planning Commission (1980-82)

New chapters on Environment , Women and Development A new deal for the self

employed

Chapters introduced for the first time in five year plans

New initiatives :National Biotechnology Board

National S&T EntrepreneurshipDevelopment Board

International Rice Research Institute, the Philippines(1982-88)

Strengthening & filling gaps in NARS Women in Rice Farming System Improving Farm Income (Rice BioPark) Genetic Resources Conservation Sustainable Rice Farming Network

IRRI – first among the CGIAR Institutes

Source: Google Image

RICE BIOPARK

IN Nay Pyi Taw

Myanmar

Designed to save

and add value to

each part of the

rice biomass, such

as rice straw, husk

and bran

MSSRF (1989 onwards) : Research Centres

Chennai Chennai Kalpetta, Kerala

Poomphar PondicherryJeypore, Orissa

o Coastal System Research (CSR)

o Biodiversity & Biotechnology

o Ecotechnology & Sustainable Development

o Agriculture, Nutrition & Health

o Information Technology

o Capacity Building & Networking

o Gender & Development

o Climate Change : Adaptation & Mitigation

Anticipatory, Participatory & Strategic Research

Alarming State of Malnutrition in India

o 39% of children under 5 are stunted

o 15% under 5 are wasted

o 40% of women of reproductive age are

underweight, and

o 48% of women of reproductive age are

anaemic

Source: Global Nutrition Report 2014

CALORIE DEPRIVATION

PROTEIN DEFICIENCY

MICRONUTRIENTDEFICIENCY

Picture Source: Google images

Three major dimensions of hunger

Biofortification and Zero Hunger Challenge :3 Major approaches

1. Naturally occurring biofortified plants like moringa,

sweet potato, nutri-millets and fruits and

vegetables.

2. Biofortified varieties selected by breeding and

selection, eg, iron rich pearl millet and zinc rich rice

3. Genetically biofortified crops like Golden Rice and

iron rich rice (after appropriate regulatory

clearance)

25 x iron in spinach17 x calcium in milk15 x potassium in bananas10 x vitamin A in carrots9 x protein in yogurt

National Geographic, November 2012

Genetic Garden of Biofortified Plants

Rich in Nutrition; Climate SmartCulinary Diversity

Need: All India Coordinated Research Project for Chefs

Source: CSE & Google Image

TRIBE DISTRICTMedicinal

Plants used

Bhatra Nawarangpur81

Bhumia Koraput 69

Bonda Malkangiri 55

Gadaba Koraput 83

Gond Nawarangpur67

KandhaKoraput + Rayagada

124

Koya Malkangiri 48

Paroja Koraput 74

Saora Rayagada 59

9 tribes 4 districts660 MPs

Women andCultural & Curative Diversity

Farmers’ Rights :Conserver, Cultivator, Breeder

Genome Saviors Tribal Families of Koraput, Odisha

Science, Vol 325, 31 July 2009

Gene Banks for a

Warming Planet

19 varieties of Yam in 4 species were in Cultivation (as of

2006) but less than 5 in rural market and none in urban market

Dioscorea alata1. Inchikachil I & II`2. Kuzhikavithu I3. Kuzhikavithu II4. Quintalkachil I 5. Quintalkachil II 6. Anakomban7. Kaduvakkayyan8. Urulan kachil9. Kuppathottikizhangu10. Elivalankachil11. Neendi/Veetukizhangu12. Vella kachil I & II13. Chorakachil/cherakachil/chuvappukachil/ Neela kachil I, II & III

Dioscorea esculenta14. Nanakizhangu15. Vella Enchi kachil16. Mullan Kachil

Dioscorea rotundata17.Africankachil 18. Thoonankachi

Dioscorea bulbifera 19. Erachikachil/Adathappu

Life Saving Crops

in Wayanad

Leveraging Agro-forestry for Nutrition

Biofortification through breeding:High-iron Pearl Millet

ICTP 8203ICRISAT-bred OPV

(70-74 ppm Fe)With 10% Higher Yield

86M86Pioneer hybrid (54-64 ppm Fe)

Marketed by NIRMAL SEEDS

Golden Rice : Trial Site Vandalized in Bicol, Philippines

Source: Rice Today, IRRI, Oct-Dec 2013, Vol.12, No.4

Establish Regulatory system which inspires public, professional, political and media confidence

Marker Assisted Breeding IR 38 x Jeerige sanna

BI 33 x Jeerige sanna

Azucena x Moromutant

Five mapping populationshave been developed andpurified.

Molecular markers for genesassociated with iron uptake,transport and accumulationhave been designed.

Marker Assisted Selection iseligible for organiccertification

Source : Indian Biofortification Network

Safe and Responsible Use of BiotechnologyBased on Cartagena Protocol

A National Biosafety RegulatoryAuthority should be set up underan Act of Parliament

The bottom line of our nationalagricultural biotechnology policyshould be the economic well beingof farm families, food security ofthe nation, health security of theconsumer, biosecurity ofagriculture and health, protectionof the environment and thesecurity of national andinternational trade in farmcommodities.

- M S Swaminathan Panel (2004)

“To access risks and benefits

from GMOs with reference

to biodiversity, human and

animal health and

environment, a National

Biosafety Authority is

needed. Develop legislation

using the Norwegian Model”

Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture chaired by Shri Basudeb

Acharya (2012)

Role of Community Hunger Fighters in Biofortification

o Become well-versed on thecauses and cures for theendemic and hidden hungerprevailing in the village /town through a nutritionliteracy programme

o Identify and introduceagricultural remedies tonutritional maladies based ongender and age

o Introduce in the farmingsystem biofortified crops andvarieties

Capacity Building

Climate Change and Biodiversity : Impact of Sea Level Rise

1. Inundation of low lying coastal lands with sea water

o millions of ha of land would be affected

o small islands would be affected very severely

2. Increased incidence of storm surges

3. Seawater intrusion into freshwater and groundwater

4. Enhancement of tidal waters into rivers

5. Accelerated coastal erosion

6. Climate Refugees will look for new areas to settle

Genetic Shield against Sea Level Rise

Mangrove Forests

Genetic Garden of HALOPHYTES

Obligatory halophytes Facultative halophytes

Tolerate high concentrationof sodium salts

> 3 times of seawater salinity

Even demand high NaCl for survival and reproduction

1560 species

Most of the species tolerate only moderate level of salinity

Reproduction requires low saline condition

Mangroves

60 species

Converting Sea Water into Fresh Water through Halophytes

Innovations in below sea level farming in Kuttanad

ONE RICE - ONE FISH

Punja seasonNovember- February

Low chemical input or OrganicYield- 4.2 t/ha

April- OctoberMonoculture – Giant Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)Polyculture*- Indian major carps or common carps or Silver carps and grass carps and Giant PrawnYield- Rice: 4.2 t/ha

Fish- Prawn: 480 kg; Carp : 300 kg.

* Recommended practice

Gene Bank Seed Bank Water BankGrain Bank

Conservation - Cultivation – Consumption - Commerce

Pathway to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Community Food and Water Security System in Koraput

Food Safety : Fish for All Centre, Poompuhar

Towards an Era of Biohappiness

Sustainable Development Goals

Zero Hunger Challenge

Biofortification is the Pathway

LANSA (Leveraging Agriculture

for Nutrition in South Asia) is

the effective platform for

partnership

Jamsetji Tata National Virtual Academy (NVA) Fellows

Rural Knowledge Revolution

Addressing the occupational hazards of salt workers

Salt workers particularlywomen face serious healthproblems such as high rateof cataract, skin ulcers, highblood pressure, reduced lifespan etc.

The Tamil Nadu Government has recently included all salt panworkers under the Chief Ministers’ Comprehensive HealthInsurance Scheme. This needs to the replicated all over the country.For example, Andhra Pradesh has over 10,000 registered saltworkers according to the 1998 survey. They need urgent attention.

Picture Source: Google image

National Food Security Bill of India, 2013

Goal : To provide food and nutritional security by ensuring access toadequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices

Special Features :

o Life Cycle approach with emphasis on the 1000 days of achild’s life

o The senior most woman in the household will be designatedthe Head of the Household from the point of view of foodentitlements

o Enlargement of the Food Basket by including nutri-milletsand other orphan crops in the Public Distribution System

o Entitlement : Every person belonging to priority householdsshall be entitled to receive five kilogram of foodgrains perperson per month at subsidised prices.

From Ship to Mouth to Right to Food

No Time to Relax : Major Challenges Ahead

o Avoiding Food losses and Food Waste

o Climate change, temperature, precipitation, and

sea level

o Shrinking per capita land and water resources

o Expanding biotic and abiotic stresses

o Adverse cost-risk-return structure of farming

o Market volatility

o Reluctance of youth to take to farming : Lack of

Demographic Dividend

Unfinished Adventure : Zero Hunger ChallengePicture Source: Google image