The target date for achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals will end this year. The first goal is reducing poverty and hunger by half.

On the occasion of the World Earth Day our basic task is the conservation of diversity and pluralism in all living organisms ranging from microbes to man.

2015 is the International Year of the Soil and the week 19-23 April is being commemorated as the Global Soil Week. 

The changes in weather patterns and the manner in which they have affected agriculture in recent days, has raised several concerns about managing unseasonal weather, especially in the context of food security. In order to anticipate and plan for the days ahead Prof .M S Swaminathan has suggested four steps that could be adopted to prepare for different rain possibilities. The text of the statement follows:

I am glad the Kerala Government has announced a new gender policy with focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment. More than 50% of women are involved in activities connected with crop and animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry, agro-processing and agribusiness.

Public procurement at a remunerative price has been a key factor in stimulating and sustaining farm production. Inspite of NCF recommendation that the MSP should be C2 plus 50%, there is a trend towards reducing MSP to below economic level.

India produces over 260 million tonnes of foodgrains, 270 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables and 140 million tonnes of milk. Inspite of this substantial production, malnutrition is widely prevalent. A recent study has shown that son preference leads to unequal allocation of food in the family.

We are grateful to the PM for drawing attention to the need for avoiding conflict of interest while agreeing to serve on committees engaged in policy formulation.

In the context of numerous concerns over the Land Acquisition Ordinance, Prof Swaminathan has re-emphasized the need to ensure that food security is safeguarded and prime farmland is preserved purely for farming purposes.

Today (24 March 2015) is the World TB Day. TB incidence is increasing in Tamil Nadu and other states. It is clear that a drug based approach alone cannot help to prevent the growing incidence. Most of the TB affected patients are poor and are undernourished. Therefore on this day, a Movement should be launched for providing nutrition support along with the needed drugs to the TB patients.

I chaired the 50th GB meeting of the Golden Jubilee Biotech Park for Women today. On this occasion I wish to congratulate the women entrepreneurs who have established environmentally sound and market driven biotechnological enterprises in the Park.

The India meteorological department has announced that during this week, rain and hailstorms may occur over most of northwest India.