Government should incentivise farmers for drying grains: MS Swaminathan

NEW DELHI: Government should give incentive to farmers for drying the grains affected by unseasonal rainfall and hailstorm, eminent agri scientist MS Swaminathan said today.

In a letter to Union Agriculture Minister and four state Chief Ministers, Swaminathan has recommended for community nurseries for short duration rice as water table is now high.

"As soon as the rain stops, incentives may be given for the use of combine harvesters and for grain drying. Grain drying is a must to prevent the development of mycotoxins," Swaminathan said in the letter.

The water table is just now high and hence water may not be a problem. Farmers may be assisted in cultivating short duration rice, maize, moong or millets, he added.

"They all require less water and public funds may be used for implementing this contingency plan to compensate for the losses incurred," he said.

Emphasising on the need for a detailed strategy to manage such unfavorable weather events in the future, Swaminathan has said that there is need for seed reserves of alternative short duration crops. The reserves of seed is as important for crop security, as food grain reserves, for food security.

Unseasonal rains and hailstorms during this month have damaged rabi (winter-sown) crops in 106.73 lakh hectares of area across 14 states as against the earlier estimates of 181 lakh hectares.

Total cultivable area in rabi season is 600 lakh hectares.