It is necessary to encourage our agricultural institutions to undertake coordinated production-oriented research as also applied adaptive research. These would cover among others the diverse problems faced by our farmers, whether it be in respect of improved seeds, plant diseases or the behaviour of the soil under varying conditions. Since the basic aim is "to make two blades of grass grow where one grew before", research will have to cover all the related factors like irrigation, which could include ground water exploitation, sprinkler irrigation, reducing the loss of water from canal heads to the fields. It would also have to be directed towards the evolving of improved implements which would be effective, but at the same time cheap and easy to operate. The evolving of improved high yielding seeds of all agricultural crops that obtain in this country would also be of prime importance. This list could be multiplied to cover the various activities with a bearing on agricultural productivity. Our constant effort will have to be to evolve and adopt an intensive cultivation strategy which should facilitate double and triple cropping operations. When we simultaneously engage ourselves in research on so many fronts, it will also have to be ensured that there is proper coordination between the various wings.
Because of the vastness of the country and the variations that obtain in physical conditions, agricultural research will have to be on regional or even sub-regional basis. This should not be difficult to achieve. With the rapid growth of agricultural universities and research institutions it should be possible for each institute to constantly attend to the problems faced by farmers in the areas under its jurisdiction. The basic task will thus be of increasing the agricultural productivity of the region in which the institute is located. One important problem that we will have to keep in mind relates to the resistance by the farmers and consumers to new varities of crops. This problem has come to the fore in the cultivation of Mexican varieties of wheat and Taichung Native variety of paddy. There has been some consumer resistance to these varieties of foodgrains. Once such a consumer attitude is experienced by the farmer, no amount of persuasion or temptation of high yields will succeed in making him accept and try new improved varieties. Therefore, if we want the farmers to take up improved varieties of seeds enthusiastically, the seeds will have to meet the test of not only high yields but also consumer acceptability.
