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.

When I watched Australia under the leadership of Michael Clarke winning the World Cup 2015, I was reminded of the heroship I used to do when I was in school and college of the skill in Cricket widely prevalent in Australia and the gift of Australia to the World of Don Bradman. As a Member of the School & College Cricket Teams (I was a spin bowler) I am happy that Australia has maintained its great heritage and unparalleled ability in the field of Cricket. This will be a source of inspiration to all Cricket lovers.

Much has been written and said about the unique qualities of this great leader who converted a small island into one of the most prosperous and corruption free nations on our planet. In 1985 I was invited by him to attend a consultation in Singapore to discuss how to increase jobs and income per square meter of land. He had assembled a group of 10-12 scientists to advise on how Singapore can become the Biotechnology capital of Asia, as a means of achieving his goal. I am recalling this to cite one example of the vision of this unparalleled leader.

Today is a proud day, as our President is honouring one of the greatest sons of the country, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, with Bharat Ratna. Long before the UN started the zero hunger programme, Vajpayeeji releasing the Food Insecurity Atlas of Rural India, in 2002 said:

Speaking at the event on "Land Rights for Women Farmers" in Chennai yesterday, Prof Swaminathan, Founder, MSSRF, reminded the Centre of the Constitution Amendment for Women providing for reservation of one-third of seats for women in the State Assemblies and in Parliament.

There are reports that there is a 40% increase in farmers’ suicides in Maharashtra (particularly in Vidarbha) during the last 7 months. Farming is a life giving occupation. Hence there is something radically wrong. If farmers who keep us alive, take their own lives. This problem cannot be solved only by government. A Social Protection Committee (SPC) should be formed in every Panchayat which can help to take proactive action in preventing suicides. Those suffering from extreme depression as a result of crop failure and inability to repay loans should be identified by the SPC and preventive steps should be taken to avoid the extreme event.

Farmers and farming are the most affected by either deficiency or excess of precipitation as well as higher mean temperature. Proactive action is needed to help them to meet the challenge of climate change. As I pointed out in my Sardar Patel Memorial Lectures, of AIR in 1973, we need to develop drought, flood, and good weather codes to help to maximise the benefits of good weather and minimize the adverse impact of unfavourable weather. Panchayati Raj Institutions should be fully involved in developing and implementing climate risk management strategies.

There is considerable debate on this topic among Parliament Members and Farmers Organisations.

Unseasonal rainfall now and severe drought earlier have reduced yields in Vidarbha. Farmers are in a state of depression. In all such areas, we should promote precision farming involving higher productivity per units of land, water, nutrients and other inputs. This will help to improve the earning from a small holding through a steep drop in the amount spent on inputs.

Indications of budget proposals and priorities are usually given in the address of the President of India at the Joint Session of Parliament. In his address, the President has stressed that Kisan is the sentinel of our food security and that value added agriculture, market reform, use of technology and improving productivity in areas with untapped potential are important. 2015 is the International Year of the Soil and the Government is proposing to issue soil health cards to all farm families.

A refreshing journey through rural landscape, meeting with communities and learning more about their lives and agriculture is Thanthi TV’s new show “Payanam- via forest and field”.  Through the travels of the camera and the team, the show captures the impact of agriculture, change and innovation in each of the places it moves to.