Set up special farm zones a la SEZs: Swaminathan

 
Agriculture scientist M.S.Swaminathan called for setting up Special Agricultural Zones (SAZs), on the lines on the much-touted Special Economic Zones (SEZs), to achieve food security and food sovereignty through sustainable farm practices. As in the case of SEZs,special incentices and support must be given to farm facilities in SAZ areas so that the country could usher in a second Green Revolution, he said. The guiding priciples of the SAZs were preservation of ecology, optimization of economic and social benefits, equity, creation of additional jobs and energy conservation. The concept would help to realize the unta
piped potential of rainfed areas and ensure national nutrition security and food sovereignty.


(The Hindu, 24th April 2007)