let me start with a question to all of you do you sometimes think about where
you do you sometimes think about where
you do you sometimes think about where your food comes from sometimes maybe not
your food comes from sometimes maybe not
your food comes from sometimes maybe not always but sometimes but I want to take
always but sometimes but I want to take
always but sometimes but I want to take you on a journey today as a
you on a journey today as a
you on a journey today as a five-year-old girl growing up in rural
five-year-old girl growing up in rural
five-year-old girl growing up in rural Maharashtra when many men would gather
Maharashtra when many men would gather
Maharashtra when many men would gather at our home for lunch
at our home for lunch
at our home for lunch my sisters and I would serve them dal
my sisters and I would serve them dal
my sisters and I would serve them dal and roti I did not understand the
and roti I did not understand the
and roti I did not understand the significance of this act but these were
significance of this act but these were
significance of this act but these were the days when India had severe food
the days when India had severe food
the days when India had severe food shortage food just was not available for
shortage food just was not available for
shortage food just was not available for many in the room I am sure you cannot
many in the room I am sure you cannot
many in the room I am sure you cannot imagine this situation especially if you
imagine this situation especially if you
imagine this situation especially if you are under 40 years of age communities
are under 40 years of age communities
are under 40 years of age communities often came together to support each
often came together to support each
often came together to support each other to think that for some men who
other to think that for some men who
other to think that for some men who came to our home for lunch this was the
came to our home for lunch this was the
came to our home for lunch this was the only meal of the day still gives me
only meal of the day still gives me
only meal of the day still gives me goosebumps we have made progress and
goosebumps we have made progress and
goosebumps we have made progress and moved on where we have a significant
moved on where we have a significant
moved on where we have a significant surplus now but my first memory is of
surplus now but my first memory is of
surplus now but my first memory is of the ease of ease of seeds relating to
the ease of ease of seeds relating to
the ease of ease of seeds relating to seeds of tomatoes
seeds of tomatoes
seeds of tomatoes my sisters and I sitting in a line
my sisters and I sitting in a line
my sisters and I sitting in a line cleaning tomato seeds my older sisters
cleaning tomato seeds my older sisters
cleaning tomato seeds my older sisters would cut the tomatoes and I would put
would cut the tomatoes and I would put
would cut the tomatoes and I would put them through a sieve to separate the
them through a sieve to separate the
them through a sieve to separate the seed from the pulp
seed from the pulp
seed from the pulp these were seeds that my father was
these were seeds that my father was
these were seeds that my father was working on to see if the tomatoes that
working on to see if the tomatoes that
working on to see if the tomatoes that he was growing would be there will be
he was growing would be there will be
he was growing would be there will be more fruits on the plant or if the
more fruits on the plant or if the
more fruits on the plant or if the plants would be diseased
plants would be diseased
plants would be diseased disease-resistant this is how the seed
disease-resistant this is how the seed
disease-resistant this is how the seed revolution really started in India I did
revolution really started in India I did
revolution really started in India I did not understand at the time for me it was
not understand at the time for me it was
not understand at the time for me it was just something to do for a few days when
just something to do for a few days when
just something to do for a few days when tomato season was in full season and
tomato season was in full season and
tomato season was in full season and pack it after packet of tomatoes would
pack it after packet of tomatoes would
pack it after packet of tomatoes would arrive at our home for harvesting seeds
arrive at our home for harvesting seeds
arrive at our home for harvesting seeds this same act repeated around the
this same act repeated around the
this same act repeated around the country is how India would address its
country is how India would address its
country is how India would address its food needs in the decades to come
everywhere we go today we see a food
everywhere we go today we see a food surplus in the Mundy’s in the
surplus in the Mundy’s in the
surplus in the Mundy’s in the supermarkets everywhere
supermarkets everywhere
supermarkets everywhere we cannot relate to a time when there
we cannot relate to a time when there
we cannot relate to a time when there was no food and to think that a time
was no food and to think that a time
was no food and to think that a time existed in my lifetime when food was not
existed in my lifetime when food was not
existed in my lifetime when food was not available it’s really quite a scary
available it’s really quite a scary
available it’s really quite a scary thought and while my children sometimes
thought and while my children sometimes
thought and while my children sometimes will say I’m quite old really I’m not
will say I’m quite old really I’m not
will say I’m quite old really I’m not that old so when we think about our food
that old so when we think about our food
that old so when we think about our food needs and are comforted with the fact
needs and are comforted with the fact
needs and are comforted with the fact that we have food surpluses we cannot
that we have food surpluses we cannot
that we have food surpluses we cannot forget that our needs are growing and
forget that our needs are growing and
forget that our needs are growing and our agriculture must work to ensure that
our agriculture must work to ensure that
our agriculture must work to ensure that we never go back to the situation that I
we never go back to the situation that I
we never go back to the situation that I described so because of the what
described so because of the what
described so because of the what happened during the what happened which
happened during the what happened which
happened during the what happened which made us go from food shortage to food
made us go from food shortage to food
made us go from food shortage to food surplus in short seeds seeds made it
surplus in short seeds seeds made it
surplus in short seeds seeds made it happen
happen
happen seed policy made it happen the Norman
seed policy made it happen the Norman
seed policy made it happen the Norman Borlaug’s seed came to the rescue
Borlaug’s seed came to the rescue
Borlaug’s seed came to the rescue many of you may know Green Revolution
many of you may know Green Revolution
many of you may know Green Revolution but some of you probably don’t but high
but some of you probably don’t but high
but some of you probably don’t but high yielding varieties in the Green
yielding varieties in the Green
yielding varieties in the Green Revolution increased yields on the farms
Revolution increased yields on the farms
Revolution increased yields on the farms dramatically hybrids developed during
dramatically hybrids developed during
dramatically hybrids developed during this time also increase the livelihoods
this time also increase the livelihoods
this time also increase the livelihoods of the farmer we went from a food
of the farmer we went from a food
of the farmer we went from a food shortage nation to a food surplus nation
shortage nation to a food surplus nation
shortage nation to a food surplus nation when we think about what was unique
when we think about what was unique
when we think about what was unique about these varieties or hybrids that
about these varieties or hybrids that
about these varieties or hybrids that were grown these plants were shorter
were grown these plants were shorter
were grown these plants were shorter they stood upright didn’t fall over
they stood upright didn’t fall over
they stood upright didn’t fall over they resisted disease and yielded more
they resisted disease and yielded more
they resisted disease and yielded more the farmers lives were transformed with
the farmers lives were transformed with
the farmers lives were transformed with the simple adoption of these hybrids and
the simple adoption of these hybrids and
the simple adoption of these hybrids and varieties we went from producing 750
varieties we went from producing 750
varieties we went from producing 750 kilograms of wheat to 1600 kilograms of
kilograms of wheat to 1600 kilograms of
kilograms of wheat to 1600 kilograms of wheat in the same area almost in one
wheat in the same area almost in one
wheat in the same area almost in one season this is no small feat if we think
season this is no small feat if we think
season this is no small feat if we think about it what did it do for the farmers
about it what did it do for the farmers
about it what did it do for the farmers the farmers of course had more money if
the farmers of course had more money if
the farmers of course had more money if we think about the varieties and we also
we think about the varieties and we also
we think about the varieties and we also think about the hybrids which were
think about the hybrids which were
think about the hybrids which were adopted by the farmers these hybrids
adopted by the farmers these hybrids
adopted by the farmers these hybrids were straighter the law he was
were straighter the law he was
were straighter the law he was straighter so it could be transported
straighter so it could be transported
straighter so it could be transported more easily the chilies had more intense
more easily the chilies had more intense
more easily the chilies had more intense red color so the color could be
red color so the color could be
red color so the color could be extracted and used as food coloring if
extracted and used as food coloring if
extracted and used as food coloring if all of these things led to prosperity
all of these things led to prosperity
all of these things led to prosperity for the farmer when farmer had money the
for the farmer when farmer had money the
for the farmer when farmer had money the farmer spent more money on education had
farmer spent more money on education had
farmer spent more money on education had more money for health care for their
more money for health care for their
more money for health care for their children and of course instead of coming
children and of course instead of coming
children and of course instead of coming on a bicycle the farmer started riding
on a bicycle the farmer started riding
on a bicycle the farmer started riding into town on a motorcycle looking at
into town on a motorcycle looking at
into town on a motorcycle looking at this transformation growing up I decided
this transformation growing up I decided
this transformation growing up I decided to study agriculture these were really
to study agriculture these were really
to study agriculture these were really exciting times exciting times because
exciting times exciting times because
exciting times exciting times because science was progressing rapidly and for
science was progressing rapidly and for
science was progressing rapidly and for the first time at least in my for me I
the first time at least in my for me I
the first time at least in my for me I could say I believed that I could change
could say I believed that I could change
could say I believed that I could change agriculture like never before
agriculture like never before
agriculture like never before I worked on a tissue culture project the
I worked on a tissue culture project the
I worked on a tissue culture project the tissue culture project allowed me to
tissue culture project allowed me to
tissue culture project allowed me to produce an entire soybean plant from a
produce an entire soybean plant from a
produce an entire soybean plant from a leaf never heard of before but this
leaf never heard of before but this
leaf never heard of before but this tissue culture method combined with
tissue culture method combined with
tissue culture method combined with other tools which were available allowed
other tools which were available allowed
other tools which were available allowed us to move DNA into plants which we were
us to move DNA into plants which we were
us to move DNA into plants which we were not able to do before anytime we have
not able to do before anytime we have
not able to do before anytime we have innovation we think something must be
innovation we think something must be
innovation we think something must be troubling about this or I don’t
troubling about this or I don’t
troubling about this or I don’t understand it it’s not natural so
understand it it’s not natural so
understand it it’s not natural so let me talk about a few myths that we
let me talk about a few myths that we
let me talk about a few myths that we have about any innovation and talk about
have about any innovation and talk about
have about any innovation and talk about innovation from the standpoint of the
innovation from the standpoint of the
innovation from the standpoint of the still culture and the DNA that we were
still culture and the DNA that we were
still culture and the DNA that we were able to move into it did you know that
able to move into it did you know that
able to move into it did you know that everything we eat has DNA in it whether
everything we eat has DNA in it whether
everything we eat has DNA in it whether it is the papaya or the tomato but
it is the papaya or the tomato but
it is the papaya or the tomato but everything that we eat has to has DNA in
everything that we eat has to has DNA in
everything that we eat has to has DNA in it the plant breeding process that
it the plant breeding process that
it the plant breeding process that developed the varieties on the hybrids
developed the varieties on the hybrids
developed the varieties on the hybrids actually is a natural process natural
actually is a natural process natural
actually is a natural process natural process by which you do trial and error
process by which you do trial and error
process by which you do trial and error and select materials which are better
and select materials which are better
and select materials which are better suited for the environment and similarly
suited for the environment and similarly
suited for the environment and similarly when you think about a banana and you
when you think about a banana and you
when you think about a banana and you think you have nothing in common with
think you have nothing in common with
think you have nothing in common with the banana but in reality 50% of our
the banana but in reality 50% of our
the banana but in reality 50% of our genetic makeup is identical to that of
genetic makeup is identical to that of
genetic makeup is identical to that of banana and 98% of it is similar to the
banana and 98% of it is similar to the
banana and 98% of it is similar to the chimpanzee so evolution has been always
chimpanzee so evolution has been always
chimpanzee so evolution has been always at work and this is why scientific
at work and this is why scientific
at work and this is why scientific interventions were so critical for
interventions were so critical for
interventions were so critical for agricultural improvements so when we
agricultural improvements so when we
agricultural improvements so when we look ahead and think about what it is
look ahead and think about what it is
look ahead and think about what it is that we need to do science and
that we need to do science and
that we need to do science and innovation has to be critical for the
innovation has to be critical for the
innovation has to be critical for the farmers livelihoods as we look ahead I
want to share one example of a product
want to share one example of a product that we developed it’s called BT brinjal
BT brinjal actually has a protein and
BT brinjal actually has a protein and it’s like a vaccination vaccination to a
it’s like a vaccination vaccination to a
it’s like a vaccination vaccination to a plant so the protein is produced in the
plant so the protein is produced in the
plant so the protein is produced in the plant and if the insect bites the bites
plant and if the insect bites the bites
plant and if the insect bites the bites the fruit the insect actually dies so
the fruit the insect actually dies so
the fruit the insect actually dies so why is it that we needed to develop a BT
why is it that we needed to develop a BT
why is it that we needed to develop a BT brinjal a farming family in West Bengal
brinjal a farming family in West Bengal
brinjal a farming family in West Bengal actually produce a sprays pesticide 74
actually produce a sprays pesticide 74
actually produce a sprays pesticide 74 times in one
times in one
times in one to protect this insect protect against
to protect this insect protect against
to protect this insect protect against this insect 74 times that means every
this insect 74 times that means every
this insect 74 times that means every other day the crop is standing in the
other day the crop is standing in the
other day the crop is standing in the ground and so what fruits you get in the
ground and so what fruits you get in the
ground and so what fruits you get in the market actually have a lot of pesticides
market actually have a lot of pesticides
market actually have a lot of pesticides on them and why do they do it
on them and why do they do it
on them and why do they do it they do it because they don’t want the
they do it because they don’t want the
they do it because they don’t want the fruits to be damaged because as soon as
fruits to be damaged because as soon as
fruits to be damaged because as soon as you see of damaged fruit in the market
you see of damaged fruit in the market
you see of damaged fruit in the market when you go to shop you put that aside
when you go to shop you put that aside
when you go to shop you put that aside you never touch it that means the market
you never touch it that means the market
you never touch it that means the market value for that has gone to zero so the
value for that has gone to zero so the
value for that has gone to zero so the farmer will do everything at the risk of
farmer will do everything at the risk of
farmer will do everything at the risk of personal exposure and environmental
personal exposure and environmental
personal exposure and environmental impact to make sure that there is no
impact to make sure that there is no
impact to make sure that there is no fruit insect damage in these fruits and
fruit insect damage in these fruits and
fruit insect damage in these fruits and that is why the farmers praise 74 times
that is why the farmers praise 74 times
that is why the farmers praise 74 times now while these products are being
now while these products are being
now while these products are being developed we have strict government
developed we have strict government
developed we have strict government oversight to ensure that these products
oversight to ensure that these products
oversight to ensure that these products are safe this product that I described
are safe this product that I described
are safe this product that I described has already been cleared by the apex
has already been cleared by the apex
has already been cleared by the apex body in India for bio safety in terms of
body in India for bio safety in terms of
body in India for bio safety in terms of safety for humans for environment for
safety for humans for environment for
safety for humans for environment for microbes and so on Bangladesh has
microbes and so on Bangladesh has
microbes and so on Bangladesh has decided to go ahead and use this product
decided to go ahead and use this product
decided to go ahead and use this product and for the last four seasons the
and for the last four seasons the
and for the last four seasons the Bangladeshi farmer has been planting
Bangladeshi farmer has been planting
Bangladeshi farmer has been planting this the consumers and the farmers are
this the consumers and the farmers are
this the consumers and the farmers are benefiting from growing this BT baingan
benefiting from growing this BT baingan
benefiting from growing this BT baingan so in the market you have Tories coming
so in the market you have Tories coming
so in the market you have Tories coming with brinjal fruit with a label on it
with brinjal fruit with a label on it
with brinjal fruit with a label on it saying it’s it’s pesticide free baingan
saying it’s it’s pesticide free baingan
saying it’s it’s pesticide free baingan so what is it done for the farmer in
so what is it done for the farmer in
so what is it done for the farmer in Bangladesh the farmer went from spraying
Bangladesh the farmer went from spraying
Bangladesh the farmer went from spraying 80 times pesticides in the brinjal field
80 times pesticides in the brinjal field
80 times pesticides in the brinjal field to zero you may be saying no no it’s
to zero you may be saying no no it’s
to zero you may be saying no no it’s wrong but it is zero zero pesticide
wrong but it is zero zero pesticide
wrong but it is zero zero pesticide applications required for for growing
applications required for for growing
applications required for for growing this crop so the question that you must
this crop so the question that you must
this crop so the question that you must ask is why is the Indian farmer not
ask is why is the Indian farmer not
ask is why is the Indian farmer not growing it a made in India innovation
growing it a made in India innovation
growing it a made in India innovation ready for planting
ready for planting
ready for planting proved by the regulatory body for
proved by the regulatory body for
proved by the regulatory body for biosafety because that of course is
biosafety because that of course is
biosafety because that of course is something that we want to be sure is the
something that we want to be sure is the
something that we want to be sure is the case and this is what we want to make
case and this is what we want to make
case and this is what we want to make sure that Indian farmer has access an
sure that Indian farmer has access an
sure that Indian farmer has access an ability to grow this
ability to grow this
ability to grow this so while plant breeding has been able to
so while plant breeding has been able to
so while plant breeding has been able to achieve a lot of a lot of things we have
achieve a lot of a lot of things we have
achieve a lot of a lot of things we have to think always about the farmer and
to think always about the farmer and
to think always about the farmer and what is it that we want to do for the
what is it that we want to do for the
what is it that we want to do for the farmer the farmer of the future how do
farmer the farmer of the future how do
farmer the farmer of the future how do we elevate the farmer to the next level
we elevate the farmer to the next level
we elevate the farmer to the next level how do we make him prosper and the
how do we make him prosper and the
how do we make him prosper and the farmer does what we need so the farmer
farmer does what we need so the farmer
farmer does what we need so the farmer has to feed us and our demands we are a
has to feed us and our demands we are a
has to feed us and our demands we are a demanding society and so the farmer is
demanding society and so the farmer is
demanding society and so the farmer is changing what he or she plants to make
changing what he or she plants to make
changing what he or she plants to make sure that they deliver what it is that
sure that they deliver what it is that
sure that they deliver what it is that we need so at no time can we think that
we need so at no time can we think that
we need so at no time can we think that the farmer doesn’t need the best in
the farmer doesn’t need the best in
the farmer doesn’t need the best in technology the best knowledge and tools
technology the best knowledge and tools
technology the best knowledge and tools which are available so in the age of big
which are available so in the age of big
which are available so in the age of big data and digitization agriculture is
data and digitization agriculture is
data and digitization agriculture is really not that far behind
really not that far behind
really not that far behind agriculture is using the information
agriculture is using the information
agriculture is using the information historical data on whether for instance
historical data on whether for instance
historical data on whether for instance to tell our farmers at what time we
to tell our farmers at what time we
to tell our farmers at what time we should plant the crop which crop would
should plant the crop which crop would
should plant the crop which crop would be more suitable because of the weather
be more suitable because of the weather
be more suitable because of the weather this year compared to how it was the
this year compared to how it was the
this year compared to how it was the last year similarly if we look at a look
last year similarly if we look at a look
last year similarly if we look at a look at a field today and I like to say that
at a field today and I like to say that
at a field today and I like to say that I can fly a drone but really not very
I can fly a drone but really not very
I can fly a drone but really not very well but some other people in my team
well but some other people in my team
well but some other people in my team can and so if we if we fly a drone over
can and so if we if we fly a drone over
can and so if we if we fly a drone over a field today I can get the whole image
a field today I can get the whole image
a field today I can get the whole image of the field in the old days it used to
of the field in the old days it used to
of the field in the old days it used to take me days to walk the field many
take me days to walk the field many
take me days to walk the field many people walking the fields before we
people walking the fields before we
people walking the fields before we would understand what was the crop cover
would understand what was the crop cover
would understand what was the crop cover was there some plant which was using
was there some plant which was using
was there some plant which was using water more efficiently was there some
water more efficiently was there some
water more efficiently was there some deficiency in fertilizer and so
deficiency in fertilizer and so
deficiency in fertilizer and so on so this is how agriculture is
on so this is how agriculture is
on so this is how agriculture is changing this is how the seeds would
changing this is how the seeds would
changing this is how the seeds would have to change and having technology and
have to change and having technology and
have to change and having technology and tools available to the farmer will keep
tools available to the farmer will keep
tools available to the farmer will keep the young farmers on the field and not
the young farmers on the field and not
the young farmers on the field and not have looking have them looking for
have looking have them looking for
have looking have them looking for opportunities in the cities we talk
opportunities in the cities we talk
opportunities in the cities we talk about nutritious food we are all
about nutritious food we are all
about nutritious food we are all conscious of our health you go to the
conscious of our health you go to the
conscious of our health you go to the doctor and the doctor says maybe you
doctor and the doctor says maybe you
doctor and the doctor says maybe you should stop eating eggs you come back
should stop eating eggs you come back
should stop eating eggs you come back and say oh but I still like my omelet or
and say oh but I still like my omelet or
and say oh but I still like my omelet or I like to make my cake or whatever plant
I like to make my cake or whatever plant
I like to make my cake or whatever plant products are now available which have
products are now available which have
products are now available which have same properties as what the eggs have
same properties as what the eggs have
same properties as what the eggs have but without the Associated health risks
but without the Associated health risks
but without the Associated health risks so as we think about the future
so as we think about the future
so as we think about the future innovation is key we need to think about
innovation is key we need to think about
innovation is key we need to think about how we bring the latest tools to our
how we bring the latest tools to our
how we bring the latest tools to our farmer availability and affordability of
farmer availability and affordability of
farmer availability and affordability of food should matter to all of us do you
food should matter to all of us do you
food should matter to all of us do you think about the thali
think about the thali
think about the thali that you will have in the future would
that you will have in the future would
that you will have in the future would it have dal in it dal prices have been
it have dal in it dal prices have been
it have dal in it dal prices have been fluctuating up and down so if we think
fluctuating up and down so if we think
fluctuating up and down so if we think about it
about it
about it the once affordable source of protein is
the once affordable source of protein is
the once affordable source of protein is no longer available to a large
no longer available to a large
no longer available to a large population of the country so how do we
population of the country so how do we
population of the country so how do we ensure that technology is available to
ensure that technology is available to
ensure that technology is available to the farmer to grow produce more and
the farmer to grow produce more and
the farmer to grow produce more and reduce food prices at the same time the
reduce food prices at the same time the
reduce food prices at the same time the young farmer is who we have to keep on
young farmer is who we have to keep on
young farmer is who we have to keep on the farm producing better improving
the farm producing better improving
the farm producing better improving their livelihoods what you and I eat
their livelihoods what you and I eat
their livelihoods what you and I eat comes in different forms comes in less
comes in different forms comes in less
comes in different forms comes in less or more packaging but the common thing
or more packaging but the common thing
or more packaging but the common thing is it is all grown by this farmer and
is it is all grown by this farmer and
is it is all grown by this farmer and what the farmer plants in the field it
what the farmer plants in the field it
what the farmer plants in the field it all begins with a seed thank you
all begins with a seed thank you
all begins with a seed thank you [Applause]
”
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