Vice Prez flags concern over galloping population, its widespread ramifications

NEW DELHI: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday expressed concern over galloping population of the country saying it was unfortunate that political parties are shy of discussing the issue which has widespread ramifications.

Addressing the 58th convocation of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), he said India’s poor ranking in the global hunger index was a matter of concern and policymakers as well as farm scientists must introspect and address this issue by ensuring food and nutritional security of the country.

“While the position on food front is comfortable with total foodgrains production at 283.37 million tonnes. India, however, ranks 102nd in the global hunger index. This is a matter of concern,” Naidu said.

The policy makers, politicians, parliamentarians, agricultural universities and farm scientists must be “seriously concerned why we are still at 102nd rank in the global hunger index”, he said, and sought to know whether it was because of lack of policy or poor implementation of programmes.

“We must all introspect seriously and address this concern,” Naidu said.

The Vice President highlighted that the country’s total foodgrains production has increased to 283.37 million tonnes from nearly 51 million tonnes in 1950-51.

“We have achieved self sufficiency in food but mere food security will not suffice. We need to have protein security. There is vitamin deficiency in each and every person. We must address the problem of protein,” Naidu said.

He asked farm scientist to focus on raising crop yield and production level and cited example of Vietnam, where productivity of rice is 10 times more than India.

“In a country like India with a galloping population, unfortunately no body is paying attention to the issue of population. Political parties are feeling shy, politicians are feeling shy, Parliament also do not adequately discuss about the issue,” Naidu said.

“You know how population is growing leaps and bounds, creating problems. See the problems in Delhi, traffic, more human beings, more vehicles, more problems more tension, less attention. If you have tension you cannot pay attention,” the Vice President said, addressing students and faculties of IARI.