SPEECH OF HON’BLE MOS ON 1ST SEPT 2010.
Shri Sharad Pawarji, Shri Awadh Pal Singh Yadav, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Rudra Gangadharan, Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, and Shri Avrind Kaushal, Joint Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Distinguished members of public, Senior Officers of the Central, State Government, representatives of Media.
I feel a sense of pride to be associated with the beginning of a new chapter in the history of livestock health of our country. The establishment of National Institute of Animal Health will ensure quality animal health cover in the country.
1. Though we have made remarkable strides in animal production, recording high levels of milk and egg production, the losses owing to diseases need to be curtailed.
2. In value basis livestock sector accounts for about 32 percent of the entire agriculture production and production losses due to disease load must be reduced as much as possible.
3. It needs to be also kept in mind that livestock production is necessary for increasing agricultural inputs like draught power, organic manure for domestic use and resultant savings in energy.
4. The National Animal Health Institute will be a nodal point for disease prevention and control.
5. We have with support and collaboration of organizations like the OIE eradicated diseases like the Rinderpest through national programmes.
6. Besides this the department coordinates the prevention and combating of widely infectious diseases like Avian Influenza through nationally coordinated action plans.
7. The legislation of Prevention and control of contagious diseases in Animals Act of 2009 is another step in the right direction.
8. The country is doing very well in FMD control as well with about 58 million doses in 2010-11 which is a substantial increase.
9. I am sure that the institute of Animal Health will emerge as an International Centre of Excellence in Veterinary Vaccines and Biological in a short span of time.
10. I congratulate the department or this project and share the joy in opening it in a short time.
Jai Hind.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Biodata
DETAILED PROFILE: PROF.K.V. THOMAS
Full Name
Kuruppassery Varkey Thomas
Father’s Name
Late Shri Kuruppassery Devassey Varkey
Mother’s Name
Late Smt. Rosa
Date of Birth
10TH May, 1946
Place of Birth
Kumbalanghi, Distt. Ernakulam (Kerala)
Marital Status
Married
Spouse’s Name
Smt. Sherly Thomas
No. of Sons
Two
No. of Daughters
One
Educational Qualifications
M.Sc.(Chemistry)Educated at Sacred Heart College, Cochin, Kerala
Languages Known
Malayalam, English, Hindi, Tamil
Profession
Professor and Department Head, Chemistry Deptt., Sacred Heart College, Thevara, Ernakulam, Trade Unionist , Political and Social Worker
State Name
Kerala
Party Name
Indian National Congress
Constituency
Ernakulam
Permanent Address
‘Kuruppassery’, Prof. K.V. Thomas Road, Thoppumpady, Cochin, Kerala-682 005.
Telephone: 0484-2232530, 2231999,2235400, Fax:0484-2235541
Present Address
17, Balwant Rai Mehta Lane, New Delhi-110 001.
Telephone: 011-23070884, 23070885 (Tele. Fax)
E-mail
mos-agri@nic.in, kvthomas@asia.com
Present Position
Took over on 28-5-2009 as Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Govt.. of India.
Executive Positions Held
Member of Parliament (1984-1996). 1984 Elected to 8th Lok Sabha, 1989 Re-elected to 9th Lok Sabha (2nd term), 1991 Re-elected to 10th Lok Sabha (3rd term) again Elected to 15th Lok Sabha 2009(4th term).
2001-2004 Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Excise, Govt. of Kerala.
2001-06, 2006-09 (two terms) Member, Kerala Legislative Assembly.
Other Posts Held
Member of Court, Jawaharlal Nehru University & Pondicherry University, Chairman, Indira Gandhi Co-operative Hospital, Director, Cochin International Airport Society.
Books Published
Ente Kumbalangi, Ente Kumbalangiku Seshum, Kumbalangi Touch, Kumbalangi Flash, Kumbalangi Varnamkal, Ammayum Makanum, Sonia Priyankari, Ente Leader, Order-Order-Order- All in Malayalam.
Favourite Pastimes and Recreation
Reading & Writing
Countries Visited
Spain, Italy, Yugoslavia, England, France, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Germany, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Vatican, Indonesia, Philippines, China.
Political Career
General Secretary, Ernakulum District Congress (I) Committee, President, Ernakulam District Congress (I)Committee, Member of KPCC, Member of AICC, Member of State Election Congress (I) Committee, Consultative Committee Member of Civil Aviation & Tourism, Defence and Official Language, Director, Marine Products Export Development Authority, Treasurer of KPCC, Organizing Secretary INTUC (Kerala), General Secretary INTUC(Kerala), President, All Kerala Ration Dealers Association, President, Indian Rare Earth Employees, AICC Observer to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Lakshadeep, President 7th Ward Committee Kumbalanghi, President, Kerala Fishermen Congress, Director, JAI HIND Communications.
Full Name
Kuruppassery Varkey Thomas
Father’s Name
Late Shri Kuruppassery Devassey Varkey
Mother’s Name
Late Smt. Rosa
Date of Birth
10TH May, 1946
Place of Birth
Kumbalanghi, Distt. Ernakulam (Kerala)
Marital Status
Married
Spouse’s Name
Smt. Sherly Thomas
No. of Sons
Two
No. of Daughters
One
Educational Qualifications
M.Sc.(Chemistry)Educated at Sacred Heart College, Cochin, Kerala
Languages Known
Malayalam, English, Hindi, Tamil
Profession
Professor and Department Head, Chemistry Deptt., Sacred Heart College, Thevara, Ernakulam, Trade Unionist , Political and Social Worker
State Name
Kerala
Party Name
Indian National Congress
Constituency
Ernakulam
Permanent Address
‘Kuruppassery’, Prof. K.V. Thomas Road, Thoppumpady, Cochin, Kerala-682 005.
Telephone: 0484-2232530, 2231999,2235400, Fax:0484-2235541
Present Address
17, Balwant Rai Mehta Lane, New Delhi-110 001.
Telephone: 011-23070884, 23070885 (Tele. Fax)
mos-agri@nic.in, kvthomas@asia.com
Present Position
Took over on 28-5-2009 as Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Govt.. of India.
Executive Positions Held
Member of Parliament (1984-1996). 1984 Elected to 8th Lok Sabha, 1989 Re-elected to 9th Lok Sabha (2nd term), 1991 Re-elected to 10th Lok Sabha (3rd term) again Elected to 15th Lok Sabha 2009(4th term).
2001-2004 Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Excise, Govt. of Kerala.
2001-06, 2006-09 (two terms) Member, Kerala Legislative Assembly.
Other Posts Held
Member of Court, Jawaharlal Nehru University & Pondicherry University, Chairman, Indira Gandhi Co-operative Hospital, Director, Cochin International Airport Society.
Books Published
Ente Kumbalangi, Ente Kumbalangiku Seshum, Kumbalangi Touch, Kumbalangi Flash, Kumbalangi Varnamkal, Ammayum Makanum, Sonia Priyankari, Ente Leader, Order-Order-Order- All in Malayalam.
Favourite Pastimes and Recreation
Reading & Writing
Countries Visited
Spain, Italy, Yugoslavia, England, France, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Germany, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Vatican, Indonesia, Philippines, China.
Political Career
General Secretary, Ernakulum District Congress (I) Committee, President, Ernakulam District Congress (I)Committee, Member of KPCC, Member of AICC, Member of State Election Congress (I) Committee, Consultative Committee Member of Civil Aviation & Tourism, Defence and Official Language, Director, Marine Products Export Development Authority, Treasurer of KPCC, Organizing Secretary INTUC (Kerala), General Secretary INTUC(Kerala), President, All Kerala Ration Dealers Association, President, Indian Rare Earth Employees, AICC Observer to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Lakshadeep, President 7th Ward Committee Kumbalanghi, President, Kerala Fishermen Congress, Director, JAI HIND Communications.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Speech on Agriculture Meet 2010
ICAR-Industry Meet – 2010
Speech
Hon’ble Prof. K.V.Thomas,
Union Minister of State of Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Shri Sharad Pawar Ji, Union Minister of Agriculture, Consumer Affairs and Food and Public Distribution; Dr Ayyapan, Secretary, DARE and Director-General, ICAR; Shri Rajiv Mehrishi, Additional Secretary, DARE and Secretary, ICAR; invitees from the industry, scientists, friends from media, ladies and gentlemen!
The National Agricultural Research System (NARS), spearheaded by the ICAR is serving a wide variety of research objectives, ranging from the system’s traditional emphasis on increasing food security by increasing yield and output, to new pathways that aim at providing livelihood security and poverty alleviation. This paradigm shift necessitates creating appropriate mechanisms for providing smallholders and other vulnerable social groups with new technological options. Implicit in this shift is also greater awareness of the demand for research derived from markets for both, the staple food as well as the high-value agricultural commodities — a significant change from the conventional tendency attempting to directly cater to the end-point elements in a value chain. This requires widening the focus, from research for technological innovation, - to - building a complete value-chain around the innovation.
Hitherto, the NARS has played its role directly or through the agriculture extension system in developing new technologies and encouraging their adoption and production by the farmers. However, the emergence of a strong private sector capacity in agricultural R&D has created new challenges and opportunities for the agricultural research system. In the changing scenario, effective institutional linkages between public and private research laboratories can increase the flow of technology-oriented knowledge across the system.
The processes through which new technologies are researched, developed, and disseminated are characterized by complex interactions among diverse actors, markets, institutions; and public-private partnerships are emerging as a viable approach to conducting research for development. The principal objective of developing these partnerships would be to link the fundamental, or pre-technology, research capacity of public sector institutions with the commercial research and marketing expertise of the private sector.
Planning the role for public–private collaboration in agriculture research and development needs to look beyond the aspects of resource generation, and risk and benefit sharing only. It should focus on the opportunities and possibilities that such arrangements will deliver for improved outcomes aligned with the government’s holistic approach of development and intended growth strategy for the agricultural sector. These could be improved productivity, greater crop or livestock diversity, technology transfer for employment generation, and expansion of the intended markets; be that local, urban or export. These partnerships could also be helpful in fostering the much-needed linkages between inventor in the public sector, technology user in the private sector, and the farmer; who is the end user of technology.
Nevertheless, development of formal institutional linkages between the public and private sectors, particularly in agricultural research, in our country, is relatively a new concept. The nature and scope of such linkages is still evolving and warrant further analysis and discussion; and I am sure the two-day meet of ICAR-Industry interface would provide the right platform for working out innovative arrangements that serve to build strategic relationships with each other.
One of the major issues of public-private cooperation in research that has important social and economic consequences is the content of the collaborative research agenda. In this regard, the three pertinent parameters that could be used for assessing the need of a public–private partnership are: (i) whether the partnership contributes to reducing the costs of research, (ii) whether it promotes innovative research and substantially adds to the knowledge base, and (iii) whether it enhances the impact of research and technology development on small and marginal farmers.
The primary requisite for building a successful public-private partnership would be confidence building among the partners, and this would require understanding and appreciation of mutual strengths and weaknesses. This would help in proper selection of partners and their harmonious interaction, which would be very important for achieving the mutually agreed objectives. It is crucial that each partner acts faithfully and legitimately to implement the partnership.
It is equally important that partnerships are based on negotiated legal, financial, and governance framework for partnering. The scope of the partnership, contributions of the partners, funding, governance, and distribution of benefits have to be pre-defined through some kind of partnership agreement or contract.
Another major concern in public-private partnerships is the issue of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). The increasing applicability of IPRs in agriculture research and development and their implications on technology transfer and commercialization also need to be properly understood. Conventionally, the public sector organisations have much less experience in negotiations, moreover, the differing cultures and perspectives between public and private organizations can add to difficulties. Therefore, suitable capacity building on technical and legal aspects of IPRs is essential for negotiating partnerships. I am happy to know that ICAR has taken the initiative for the development of trained manpower and capacity building across the country, and over 600 persons from ICAR institutes and State Agriculture Universities have been exposed to the nuances of the overall subject of IP management and Technology Transfer. Nonetheless, this capacity building exercise will have to be a dynamic process and in tune with the new global developments emerging in the area.
Although much has been advocated in support of public–private partnerships as a mechanism by which to foster agricultural research and innovation, they are still underutilized and little understood. The Meet would provide ICAR institutes a unique opportunity for show-casing the technologies developed by them to a large cross section of industry and exploring avenues for taking to the market the selected technologies which have been assessed to have high commercial potential. The interaction would also be important to appraise the trends of research collaboration and technology transfer between ICAR and private sector so as to have increased synergy between the institutes developing the knowledge and technologies and the potential industry recipients.
I am sure the deliberations during the next two days would provide the right opportunity to the partners to communicate and exchange ideas effectively, judiciously identify areas of complementarity and synergy, and build and sustain trust through inter-personal and organizational relationships.
Jai Hind!
Speech
Hon’ble Prof. K.V.Thomas,
Union Minister of State of Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Shri Sharad Pawar Ji, Union Minister of Agriculture, Consumer Affairs and Food and Public Distribution; Dr Ayyapan, Secretary, DARE and Director-General, ICAR; Shri Rajiv Mehrishi, Additional Secretary, DARE and Secretary, ICAR; invitees from the industry, scientists, friends from media, ladies and gentlemen!
The National Agricultural Research System (NARS), spearheaded by the ICAR is serving a wide variety of research objectives, ranging from the system’s traditional emphasis on increasing food security by increasing yield and output, to new pathways that aim at providing livelihood security and poverty alleviation. This paradigm shift necessitates creating appropriate mechanisms for providing smallholders and other vulnerable social groups with new technological options. Implicit in this shift is also greater awareness of the demand for research derived from markets for both, the staple food as well as the high-value agricultural commodities — a significant change from the conventional tendency attempting to directly cater to the end-point elements in a value chain. This requires widening the focus, from research for technological innovation, - to - building a complete value-chain around the innovation.
Hitherto, the NARS has played its role directly or through the agriculture extension system in developing new technologies and encouraging their adoption and production by the farmers. However, the emergence of a strong private sector capacity in agricultural R&D has created new challenges and opportunities for the agricultural research system. In the changing scenario, effective institutional linkages between public and private research laboratories can increase the flow of technology-oriented knowledge across the system.
The processes through which new technologies are researched, developed, and disseminated are characterized by complex interactions among diverse actors, markets, institutions; and public-private partnerships are emerging as a viable approach to conducting research for development. The principal objective of developing these partnerships would be to link the fundamental, or pre-technology, research capacity of public sector institutions with the commercial research and marketing expertise of the private sector.
Planning the role for public–private collaboration in agriculture research and development needs to look beyond the aspects of resource generation, and risk and benefit sharing only. It should focus on the opportunities and possibilities that such arrangements will deliver for improved outcomes aligned with the government’s holistic approach of development and intended growth strategy for the agricultural sector. These could be improved productivity, greater crop or livestock diversity, technology transfer for employment generation, and expansion of the intended markets; be that local, urban or export. These partnerships could also be helpful in fostering the much-needed linkages between inventor in the public sector, technology user in the private sector, and the farmer; who is the end user of technology.
Nevertheless, development of formal institutional linkages between the public and private sectors, particularly in agricultural research, in our country, is relatively a new concept. The nature and scope of such linkages is still evolving and warrant further analysis and discussion; and I am sure the two-day meet of ICAR-Industry interface would provide the right platform for working out innovative arrangements that serve to build strategic relationships with each other.
One of the major issues of public-private cooperation in research that has important social and economic consequences is the content of the collaborative research agenda. In this regard, the three pertinent parameters that could be used for assessing the need of a public–private partnership are: (i) whether the partnership contributes to reducing the costs of research, (ii) whether it promotes innovative research and substantially adds to the knowledge base, and (iii) whether it enhances the impact of research and technology development on small and marginal farmers.
The primary requisite for building a successful public-private partnership would be confidence building among the partners, and this would require understanding and appreciation of mutual strengths and weaknesses. This would help in proper selection of partners and their harmonious interaction, which would be very important for achieving the mutually agreed objectives. It is crucial that each partner acts faithfully and legitimately to implement the partnership.
It is equally important that partnerships are based on negotiated legal, financial, and governance framework for partnering. The scope of the partnership, contributions of the partners, funding, governance, and distribution of benefits have to be pre-defined through some kind of partnership agreement or contract.
Another major concern in public-private partnerships is the issue of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). The increasing applicability of IPRs in agriculture research and development and their implications on technology transfer and commercialization also need to be properly understood. Conventionally, the public sector organisations have much less experience in negotiations, moreover, the differing cultures and perspectives between public and private organizations can add to difficulties. Therefore, suitable capacity building on technical and legal aspects of IPRs is essential for negotiating partnerships. I am happy to know that ICAR has taken the initiative for the development of trained manpower and capacity building across the country, and over 600 persons from ICAR institutes and State Agriculture Universities have been exposed to the nuances of the overall subject of IP management and Technology Transfer. Nonetheless, this capacity building exercise will have to be a dynamic process and in tune with the new global developments emerging in the area.
Although much has been advocated in support of public–private partnerships as a mechanism by which to foster agricultural research and innovation, they are still underutilized and little understood. The Meet would provide ICAR institutes a unique opportunity for show-casing the technologies developed by them to a large cross section of industry and exploring avenues for taking to the market the selected technologies which have been assessed to have high commercial potential. The interaction would also be important to appraise the trends of research collaboration and technology transfer between ICAR and private sector so as to have increased synergy between the institutes developing the knowledge and technologies and the potential industry recipients.
I am sure the deliberations during the next two days would provide the right opportunity to the partners to communicate and exchange ideas effectively, judiciously identify areas of complementarity and synergy, and build and sustain trust through inter-personal and organizational relationships.
Jai Hind!
Friday, July 16, 2010
ICAR foundation day speech on 16/7/2010
ICAR FOUNDATION DAY AND RESEARCH AWARDS
on 16/7/2010
SPEECH OF HON’BLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION, PROF. K.V. THOMAS
We are here today at the commemoration of ICAR’s foundation and to honour ICAR’s researchers. We are at a juncture where the efforts taken in rejuvenating Indian Agriculture have started bearing fruits. After a hiatus of a few years, due to the efforts taken by the Union Agriculture Ministry, overall agricultural production is looking up. Following launch of RKVY and increased financial commitments by the Union Government, the States are now investing more in agriculture including agricultural R&D.
Just the other day, the Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture and the Hon’ble Minister for Finance guided the “Look East” policy in Indian Agriculture in Calcutta. At an initial investment of Rs.400 crores special productivity incentives are being provided to Eastern States to usher their quite belated green revolution. A package of enhanced productive packages mixing improved irrigation, hybrid seeds and use of environmentally sensitive fertigation has been proposed by most of the States. The enthusiasm with which the State Chief Ministers and Officials welcomed the package was an indication of the excellent results we hope to achieve in that front. I request ICAR to partake actively in the Eastern effort through its network of KVK’s in the region.
Regarding mainstream agricultural R&D, I think there has been disproportionate media attention on biotechnology research in the recent past. Media at least has chosen to report what is “hot”. The reality is that ICAR has developed a host of other technologies especially in the mechanization and post harvest front that need commercial viability testing and production in scale. We need to promote a culture of looking all around us and even abroad for technology also.
For instance, a genuine inhibitor affecting both Coconut and Oil Palm farmers is the lack of labour to bring the fruit bunch down from the tall palms. If a mobile elevatable platform with an all terrain facility is designed an operator can safely attend to more palms reducing risk and costs. I was quite satisfied with the post harvest processing technologies developed by CPCRI, Kasaragod during a recent visit.
Our thrust in horticulture has also brought to fore many practical issues which need clear R&D solutions. Floriculture needs several solutions which keep the shelf life of flowers intact. Seed production needs very highly efficient tissue culture based production and so forth.
I think Animal and Veterinary Science research needs to ground itself into the reality of our situation much better. I hear technologies like embryo transfer and cloning being cited frequently but the artificial insemination networks are yet to be established and stabilized properly in most States. Breeding policies are stuck in formulations of yester years. Quality seed and a wide variety of service delivery models is the lacuna here. Though exploratory research is welcome, it is time we addressed some of the constraints in enhancing milk production like shortage of fodder and fodder fortification technologies.
Grain storage, I am afraid is another area which is presently no body’s baby. The food Departments facilities to test quality of grain are to be highly improved. My visits to our central grain testing labs in Krishi Bhawan was an eye opener as to how much we lag behind, especially after the contrasting picture I got from my recent visit to China. I have asked the food department to consider taking help of ICAR or transfer the lab to ICAR for developing a modern biotechnology grade lab.
I am sure that the present policy issues related to transgenic crops will be resolved early. In the mean time, I should urge the scientific community to continue with an aggressive research programme in transgenics. We cannot afford to lag behind.
As a former academic, I am very pleased to facilitate the winners of the ICAR research awards here today. It is a reflection on the hard work all of you have put in that the country recognizes today. We are all indebted to you for striving very hard and bringing smiles to the Indian Farmers.
I have always maintained that ICAR needs to double its effort, resources and research strength in pursuit of excellence. I do hope that the present DG, ICAR, Dr. S. Ayyappan and his team succeeds in their new ventures.
I am very pleased to be amidst all of you. I wish you all the very best in your endeavors in future.
THANKING YOU,
JAI HIND
on 16/7/2010
SPEECH OF HON’BLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION, PROF. K.V. THOMAS
We are here today at the commemoration of ICAR’s foundation and to honour ICAR’s researchers. We are at a juncture where the efforts taken in rejuvenating Indian Agriculture have started bearing fruits. After a hiatus of a few years, due to the efforts taken by the Union Agriculture Ministry, overall agricultural production is looking up. Following launch of RKVY and increased financial commitments by the Union Government, the States are now investing more in agriculture including agricultural R&D.
Just the other day, the Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture and the Hon’ble Minister for Finance guided the “Look East” policy in Indian Agriculture in Calcutta. At an initial investment of Rs.400 crores special productivity incentives are being provided to Eastern States to usher their quite belated green revolution. A package of enhanced productive packages mixing improved irrigation, hybrid seeds and use of environmentally sensitive fertigation has been proposed by most of the States. The enthusiasm with which the State Chief Ministers and Officials welcomed the package was an indication of the excellent results we hope to achieve in that front. I request ICAR to partake actively in the Eastern effort through its network of KVK’s in the region.
Regarding mainstream agricultural R&D, I think there has been disproportionate media attention on biotechnology research in the recent past. Media at least has chosen to report what is “hot”. The reality is that ICAR has developed a host of other technologies especially in the mechanization and post harvest front that need commercial viability testing and production in scale. We need to promote a culture of looking all around us and even abroad for technology also.
For instance, a genuine inhibitor affecting both Coconut and Oil Palm farmers is the lack of labour to bring the fruit bunch down from the tall palms. If a mobile elevatable platform with an all terrain facility is designed an operator can safely attend to more palms reducing risk and costs. I was quite satisfied with the post harvest processing technologies developed by CPCRI, Kasaragod during a recent visit.
Our thrust in horticulture has also brought to fore many practical issues which need clear R&D solutions. Floriculture needs several solutions which keep the shelf life of flowers intact. Seed production needs very highly efficient tissue culture based production and so forth.
I think Animal and Veterinary Science research needs to ground itself into the reality of our situation much better. I hear technologies like embryo transfer and cloning being cited frequently but the artificial insemination networks are yet to be established and stabilized properly in most States. Breeding policies are stuck in formulations of yester years. Quality seed and a wide variety of service delivery models is the lacuna here. Though exploratory research is welcome, it is time we addressed some of the constraints in enhancing milk production like shortage of fodder and fodder fortification technologies.
Grain storage, I am afraid is another area which is presently no body’s baby. The food Departments facilities to test quality of grain are to be highly improved. My visits to our central grain testing labs in Krishi Bhawan was an eye opener as to how much we lag behind, especially after the contrasting picture I got from my recent visit to China. I have asked the food department to consider taking help of ICAR or transfer the lab to ICAR for developing a modern biotechnology grade lab.
I am sure that the present policy issues related to transgenic crops will be resolved early. In the mean time, I should urge the scientific community to continue with an aggressive research programme in transgenics. We cannot afford to lag behind.
As a former academic, I am very pleased to facilitate the winners of the ICAR research awards here today. It is a reflection on the hard work all of you have put in that the country recognizes today. We are all indebted to you for striving very hard and bringing smiles to the Indian Farmers.
I have always maintained that ICAR needs to double its effort, resources and research strength in pursuit of excellence. I do hope that the present DG, ICAR, Dr. S. Ayyappan and his team succeeds in their new ventures.
I am very pleased to be amidst all of you. I wish you all the very best in your endeavors in future.
THANKING YOU,
JAI HIND
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
indian fish festival 2010
INDIAN FISH FESTIVAL-2010’ (INFISH) ON 9TH JULY2010 AT HYDERABAD
SPEECH OF PROF. K.V. THOMAS , HON’BLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION, GOVT. OF INDIA
Good evening and welcome to all of you for Indian Fish Festival-2010.
Respected Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Rosaiah ji, Shri K. Pardha Saradhi, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, Fisheries, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Nitin Raut, Hon’ble Minister for Animal Husbandry Dairy & Fisheries, Govt. of Maharashtra, Shri Danam Nagender, Hon’ble Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Govt. Andhra Pradesh, Smt. B. Karthika Chandra Reddy, Hon’ble Mayor, GHMC, Hyderabad, My colleague in Parliament Shri Anjan Kumar Yadav, Senior Officers from the Ministry, MPEDA, ICAR, NABARD, Department of Fisheries, Andhra Pradesh and my dear fishermen, farmers, members from media, ladies and gentlemen.
It’s a great privilege to be amidst to all of you to participate and celebrate the Indian Fish Festival-2010. The overwhelming response received from the various fisheries stakeholders and the general public during last year has enthused us to repeat this festival for the second time in Hyderabad. I wish to place on record my thanks and gratitude to the Government of Andhra Pradesh for supporting this activity in a big way. As you all are aware the fish festivals of this kind are being organized all over the country with the objective of promoting fisheries development activities by introducing a professional approach to bring new concepts and new technologies to enhance the fish productivity and production, we intend to create greater employment opportunities, empowerment of women and nutritional and food security.
I hope these festivals would promote consumption and value addition of fish by building awareness about health benefits of fish amongst the esteemed consumers.
Infish-2010 is organized for four days from 9-12 July 2010 to showcase various technological advancements and achievements by various National Research Organizations/ Institutions, a pavilion for exhibiting attractive and colorful ornamental fishes and a large number of food courts for preparation and display various kinds of ready to eat and ready to cook fish products.
A technical seminar on aquarium fishes, culture of murrels along with stakeholders meeting of hoteliers is also well thought of. A major attraction is fish recipe competition for women and live recipe demonstration by reputed Chef’s of well known hotels.
I wish this festival would satisfy the palate of large number of consumers in tasting various kinds of fish products besides producing a handbook on Fish recipes in addition to awareness building on fisheries and aquaculture technological advancements.
In this regard, I am happy to inform you that the NFDB which is established at Hyderabad for promoting fisheries and aquaculture in the country through professional management has started working with full strength from 2006 onwards.
I wish to mention that so far NFDB has been given an amount of Rs. 226.9 crores and this year we have allocated a budget of Rs. 92.30 crores. They have utilized an amount of Rs.220.00 crores so far with the following major achievements.
1. Under intensive aquaculture in ponds and tanks, about 6500 hectares of area has been developed for fish culture, 40 fish seed hatcheries were established, and renovated with an amount of Rs. 52.91 crores. It is proposed to bring in an additional 2000 ha under intensive aquaculture during this year.
2. Under reservoir development, 1985 reservoirs covering an area of 11.00 lakh hectares were stocked with 57.10 crores of fish fingerlings with an amount of Rs. 73.94 crores. The reservoir fish production which was hardly 20-25kg/ha has increased to about 50- 75kg/ha during the last 3 years of implementation of this programme.
3. Rs.1.77 crores was provided as subsidy to entrepreneurs to establish 396 ornamental fish units, 10 aquarium fabrication units and 3 integrated ornamental units. For promoting this activity a budget of Rs. 1.86 crores is ear marked for this year.
4. For establishing an aquatic animal health quarantine facility at Nelankari, Chennai, to demonstrate the techno economic viability of sea bass culture in field and to train 4640 farmers in coastal aquaculture Rs. 7.00 crores were provided as assistance.
5. To demonstrate the techno economic viability of sea cage farming, NFDB extended a financial assistance of Rs. 1.20 crores to CMFRI, Kochi.
6. NFDB provided an assistance of Rs. 2.05 crores to NIFPHATT, Cochin for setting up of common facility centre for export processing of Sashimi grade tuna at Vizag and to conduct training for fishermen in deep sea fishing.
7. Rs. 27.39 crores has been provided as grant towards modernization of 6 fishing harbours in the country, to establish IQF machinery at Sasoondock, Mumbai.
8. Rs. 22.30 crores has been provided towards modernization of 23 whole sale fish markets, 21 retail markets, 58 fish drying platforms, 5 fish dressing centres and to train 935 fish handlers and traders on hygienic handling of fish and value addition.
During this year, I have requested NFDB to focus on enhancing fish production in the reservoirs as well as farmers ponds. The NFDB is currently focusing on this strategy so that the targeted production of 10 million tons can be achieved shortly. A major focus that the department desires is promotion of ornamental fishes. The Government of Kerala has established a PPP model company to promote ornamental fisheries and to develop an export hub. I appeal to the government of Andhra Pradesh also to focus attention on this model.
While I am happy that, conducting the fish festival at Hyderabad for the second time is indeed commendable, the NFDB may consider taking up such festivals in Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi and other major cities during the course of the year. I request the processing industry and the entrepreneurs to focus the attention on promotion of value added products so as to promote more consumption of fish in the country.
I wish the farmers, the ornamental fish producers, scientists and public in general all the best and wish this programme all the success.
I request the press and the electronic media to communicate the message and encourage participation of large number of people to see and enjoy the opportunities developed in the venue.
I wish the exhibition all the best and congratulate the leaders of NFDB in launching this laudable initiative.
Thanking YouJAI HIND
SPEECH OF PROF. K.V. THOMAS , HON’BLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION, GOVT. OF INDIA
Good evening and welcome to all of you for Indian Fish Festival-2010.
Respected Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Rosaiah ji, Shri K. Pardha Saradhi, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, Fisheries, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Nitin Raut, Hon’ble Minister for Animal Husbandry Dairy & Fisheries, Govt. of Maharashtra, Shri Danam Nagender, Hon’ble Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Govt. Andhra Pradesh, Smt. B. Karthika Chandra Reddy, Hon’ble Mayor, GHMC, Hyderabad, My colleague in Parliament Shri Anjan Kumar Yadav, Senior Officers from the Ministry, MPEDA, ICAR, NABARD, Department of Fisheries, Andhra Pradesh and my dear fishermen, farmers, members from media, ladies and gentlemen.
It’s a great privilege to be amidst to all of you to participate and celebrate the Indian Fish Festival-2010. The overwhelming response received from the various fisheries stakeholders and the general public during last year has enthused us to repeat this festival for the second time in Hyderabad. I wish to place on record my thanks and gratitude to the Government of Andhra Pradesh for supporting this activity in a big way. As you all are aware the fish festivals of this kind are being organized all over the country with the objective of promoting fisheries development activities by introducing a professional approach to bring new concepts and new technologies to enhance the fish productivity and production, we intend to create greater employment opportunities, empowerment of women and nutritional and food security.
I hope these festivals would promote consumption and value addition of fish by building awareness about health benefits of fish amongst the esteemed consumers.
Infish-2010 is organized for four days from 9-12 July 2010 to showcase various technological advancements and achievements by various National Research Organizations/ Institutions, a pavilion for exhibiting attractive and colorful ornamental fishes and a large number of food courts for preparation and display various kinds of ready to eat and ready to cook fish products.
A technical seminar on aquarium fishes, culture of murrels along with stakeholders meeting of hoteliers is also well thought of. A major attraction is fish recipe competition for women and live recipe demonstration by reputed Chef’s of well known hotels.
I wish this festival would satisfy the palate of large number of consumers in tasting various kinds of fish products besides producing a handbook on Fish recipes in addition to awareness building on fisheries and aquaculture technological advancements.
In this regard, I am happy to inform you that the NFDB which is established at Hyderabad for promoting fisheries and aquaculture in the country through professional management has started working with full strength from 2006 onwards.
I wish to mention that so far NFDB has been given an amount of Rs. 226.9 crores and this year we have allocated a budget of Rs. 92.30 crores. They have utilized an amount of Rs.220.00 crores so far with the following major achievements.
1. Under intensive aquaculture in ponds and tanks, about 6500 hectares of area has been developed for fish culture, 40 fish seed hatcheries were established, and renovated with an amount of Rs. 52.91 crores. It is proposed to bring in an additional 2000 ha under intensive aquaculture during this year.
2. Under reservoir development, 1985 reservoirs covering an area of 11.00 lakh hectares were stocked with 57.10 crores of fish fingerlings with an amount of Rs. 73.94 crores. The reservoir fish production which was hardly 20-25kg/ha has increased to about 50- 75kg/ha during the last 3 years of implementation of this programme.
3. Rs.1.77 crores was provided as subsidy to entrepreneurs to establish 396 ornamental fish units, 10 aquarium fabrication units and 3 integrated ornamental units. For promoting this activity a budget of Rs. 1.86 crores is ear marked for this year.
4. For establishing an aquatic animal health quarantine facility at Nelankari, Chennai, to demonstrate the techno economic viability of sea bass culture in field and to train 4640 farmers in coastal aquaculture Rs. 7.00 crores were provided as assistance.
5. To demonstrate the techno economic viability of sea cage farming, NFDB extended a financial assistance of Rs. 1.20 crores to CMFRI, Kochi.
6. NFDB provided an assistance of Rs. 2.05 crores to NIFPHATT, Cochin for setting up of common facility centre for export processing of Sashimi grade tuna at Vizag and to conduct training for fishermen in deep sea fishing.
7. Rs. 27.39 crores has been provided as grant towards modernization of 6 fishing harbours in the country, to establish IQF machinery at Sasoondock, Mumbai.
8. Rs. 22.30 crores has been provided towards modernization of 23 whole sale fish markets, 21 retail markets, 58 fish drying platforms, 5 fish dressing centres and to train 935 fish handlers and traders on hygienic handling of fish and value addition.
During this year, I have requested NFDB to focus on enhancing fish production in the reservoirs as well as farmers ponds. The NFDB is currently focusing on this strategy so that the targeted production of 10 million tons can be achieved shortly. A major focus that the department desires is promotion of ornamental fishes. The Government of Kerala has established a PPP model company to promote ornamental fisheries and to develop an export hub. I appeal to the government of Andhra Pradesh also to focus attention on this model.
While I am happy that, conducting the fish festival at Hyderabad for the second time is indeed commendable, the NFDB may consider taking up such festivals in Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi and other major cities during the course of the year. I request the processing industry and the entrepreneurs to focus the attention on promotion of value added products so as to promote more consumption of fish in the country.
I wish the farmers, the ornamental fish producers, scientists and public in general all the best and wish this programme all the success.
I request the press and the electronic media to communicate the message and encourage participation of large number of people to see and enjoy the opportunities developed in the venue.
I wish the exhibition all the best and congratulate the leaders of NFDB in launching this laudable initiative.
Thanking YouJAI HIND
Friday, November 20, 2009
Conference on Development of Cooperative Fish Marketing & Achievements on Insurance of Fishers held at New Delhi on 20th November 2009
At the outset, I would like to express my deep sense of happiness and pleasure to be here this afternoon on the occasion of the inauguration of the conference on “Development of Cooperative Fish Marketing & Achievements on Insurance of Fishers”.
2. At present, cooperative movement in India is the largest in the world having more than half a million cooperative societies with a membership of 230 million. The cooperatives cover 100% of villages and 71% of rural households. Specialized agriculture cooperatives are operating in the fields of credit and banking, fertilizer, sugar, dairy and marketing etc. Cooperatives are advancing about 20% of total rural credit. They are distributing 36% of total fertilizer consumption and producing 27% of fertilizer output. 46% of sugar output is also being produced by sugar cooperatives. Agriculture cooperatives in India have helped in the generation of Green Revolution through supply of critical agricultural inputs to the farming community. Dairy Cooperatives have helped in generation of White Revolution and have facilitated attainment of top milk production in the world.
3. The present government is committed to the growth and development of the cooperative sector, as cooperatives are regarded as one of the pillars of democracy and a preferred instrument of planned economic development particularly in the areas which required people’s participation and community efforts. Cooperatives are visualised not only as an economic organization but also as a vibrant instrumental frame-work to promote equity and social justice. Within the cooperative sector, the fishery cooperatives represent the interests of the poorest of the poor, needing our special attention.
4. My Ministry accords priority attention to the development of fisheries sector in general and to ensure sustainable livelihood and welfare of fishermen in particular. With these objectives in view, the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) was established in 2006. I urge FISHCOPFED to not only implement some of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of the Ministry but also some programmes of NFDB as well. I am happy to know that FISHCOPFED has accessed funding from NFDB to undertake training programmes for fishers. Keeping the vast membership of fisheries cooperatives of over 2 million, FISHCOPFED needs to train at least 10,000 fishers per year with an aim to build capacity of fishers, enhance the production and thereby provide economic empowerment and livelihood support to the poor fishers which is the ultimate objective and mandate of FISHCOPFED. This calls of enhanced involvement of FISHCOPFED in the programmes of the Ministry as well as NFDB, not only for training component alone but also direct implement of certain other programmes leading to empowerment of fishermen and fisherwomen in the country.
5. A majority of fisheries cooperatives are financially weak in the absence of any economic activity being undertaken by them. Capacity building of such fisheries cooperatives is very much essential. There is a need for revitalization of fisheries cooperatives for which FISHCOPFED must take the lead, its activities being an interface between the governmental programmes and fisheries cooperative activities on the ground. An action plan has to be devised by the federation with an aim to explore ways and means of strengthening and capacity building of the fisheries cooperatives on a priority basis. It is hoped that the Conference will deliberate on these important issues at length and come up with certain pragmatic recommendations.
6. The working group on fisheries for the 11th Five Year Plan constituted by the Planning Commission, has recommended several social security measures for poor fishers such as introducing hut insurance scheme and mediclaim policy for poor fishermen policies. Besides that, the cooperative fish marketing networking is another important issue on which the conference will deliberate at length. Database of fisheries cooperatives is also an important task. I would request FISHCOPFED to interact with my Ministry and NFDB on all these important issues and come up with practical recommendations.
7. FISHCOPFED has to strongly focus on professionalized management of its activities and undertake a lead role in providing directions to the fisheries cooperatives in the country on a continuous basis. The fisheries cooperative census in the country doesn’t give a clear picture of various related but important socio-economic parameters. There is, therefore, a need for a baseline survey of such societies, which could be undertaken by FISHCOPFED. FISHCOPFED implements the programmes/projects at the grassroots level with financial assistance of Govt. of India as well as the NFDB. Its grass-root presence constitutes its real strength. The linkages developed through cooperative networking can go a long way in effective implementation of the programmes such as social security measures, training and even inter-state marketing activities. The Federation is an ideal forum to create, disseminate and manage an integrated database and information networking on fisheries cooperative sector to benefit all stakeholders at large. It can productively provide market intelligence activities, which will benefit the poor fishermen in many ways. FISHCOPFED in turn needs to build and upgrade its own capacity to qualitatively deliver these services more effectively.
8. Last but not the least, I hope that the recommendations of the conference would indeed be fruitful for development of better policies for the fisheries sector in general and fisheries cooperatives in particular.
I wish the conference all success.
2. At present, cooperative movement in India is the largest in the world having more than half a million cooperative societies with a membership of 230 million. The cooperatives cover 100% of villages and 71% of rural households. Specialized agriculture cooperatives are operating in the fields of credit and banking, fertilizer, sugar, dairy and marketing etc. Cooperatives are advancing about 20% of total rural credit. They are distributing 36% of total fertilizer consumption and producing 27% of fertilizer output. 46% of sugar output is also being produced by sugar cooperatives. Agriculture cooperatives in India have helped in the generation of Green Revolution through supply of critical agricultural inputs to the farming community. Dairy Cooperatives have helped in generation of White Revolution and have facilitated attainment of top milk production in the world.
3. The present government is committed to the growth and development of the cooperative sector, as cooperatives are regarded as one of the pillars of democracy and a preferred instrument of planned economic development particularly in the areas which required people’s participation and community efforts. Cooperatives are visualised not only as an economic organization but also as a vibrant instrumental frame-work to promote equity and social justice. Within the cooperative sector, the fishery cooperatives represent the interests of the poorest of the poor, needing our special attention.
4. My Ministry accords priority attention to the development of fisheries sector in general and to ensure sustainable livelihood and welfare of fishermen in particular. With these objectives in view, the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) was established in 2006. I urge FISHCOPFED to not only implement some of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of the Ministry but also some programmes of NFDB as well. I am happy to know that FISHCOPFED has accessed funding from NFDB to undertake training programmes for fishers. Keeping the vast membership of fisheries cooperatives of over 2 million, FISHCOPFED needs to train at least 10,000 fishers per year with an aim to build capacity of fishers, enhance the production and thereby provide economic empowerment and livelihood support to the poor fishers which is the ultimate objective and mandate of FISHCOPFED. This calls of enhanced involvement of FISHCOPFED in the programmes of the Ministry as well as NFDB, not only for training component alone but also direct implement of certain other programmes leading to empowerment of fishermen and fisherwomen in the country.
5. A majority of fisheries cooperatives are financially weak in the absence of any economic activity being undertaken by them. Capacity building of such fisheries cooperatives is very much essential. There is a need for revitalization of fisheries cooperatives for which FISHCOPFED must take the lead, its activities being an interface between the governmental programmes and fisheries cooperative activities on the ground. An action plan has to be devised by the federation with an aim to explore ways and means of strengthening and capacity building of the fisheries cooperatives on a priority basis. It is hoped that the Conference will deliberate on these important issues at length and come up with certain pragmatic recommendations.
6. The working group on fisheries for the 11th Five Year Plan constituted by the Planning Commission, has recommended several social security measures for poor fishers such as introducing hut insurance scheme and mediclaim policy for poor fishermen policies. Besides that, the cooperative fish marketing networking is another important issue on which the conference will deliberate at length. Database of fisheries cooperatives is also an important task. I would request FISHCOPFED to interact with my Ministry and NFDB on all these important issues and come up with practical recommendations.
7. FISHCOPFED has to strongly focus on professionalized management of its activities and undertake a lead role in providing directions to the fisheries cooperatives in the country on a continuous basis. The fisheries cooperative census in the country doesn’t give a clear picture of various related but important socio-economic parameters. There is, therefore, a need for a baseline survey of such societies, which could be undertaken by FISHCOPFED. FISHCOPFED implements the programmes/projects at the grassroots level with financial assistance of Govt. of India as well as the NFDB. Its grass-root presence constitutes its real strength. The linkages developed through cooperative networking can go a long way in effective implementation of the programmes such as social security measures, training and even inter-state marketing activities. The Federation is an ideal forum to create, disseminate and manage an integrated database and information networking on fisheries cooperative sector to benefit all stakeholders at large. It can productively provide market intelligence activities, which will benefit the poor fishermen in many ways. FISHCOPFED in turn needs to build and upgrade its own capacity to qualitatively deliver these services more effectively.
8. Last but not the least, I hope that the recommendations of the conference would indeed be fruitful for development of better policies for the fisheries sector in general and fisheries cooperatives in particular.
I wish the conference all success.
*******
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