Hyderabad, Mar 31 : Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday emphasised the need for much-needed reforms in the agriculture sector to improve the status of the Indian farmers and make agriculture profitable.

He called for cooperative action to achieve this and dialogue with farmers and agricultural scientists to design a system that delivers tangible results to the farming community.

Expressing happiness about instances of enterprising youth returning to the villages and bringing advanced techniques to agriculture, the Vice President said this is an encouraging trend and must be further accelerated.

He underscored that agri-entrepreneurship is an effective way to gainfully and sustainably employ and leverage our demographic dividend.

Mr Naidu also advised top priority and coordinated action by both the Centre and the States with a team India spirit to bring in reforms.

Mr Naidu also suggested that the 4 Ps–Parliament, political leaders, policymakers and press must proactively adopt a positive bias towards agriculture. “In fact, a radical shift in making agriculture profitable is the need of the hour. We must also ensure that the growth is steady and sustainable”, he said.

Releasing the book ‘Agriculture in India: Contemporary Challenges – in the Context of Doubling Farmers Income’ authored by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary, Dr Mohan Kanda here, the Vice President suggested that the problems that are holding back Indian farmers from realizing their full potential must be identified, adding “we can’t continue with business as usual”.

Referring to key issues affecting agricultural productivity such as the decreasing sizes of land holdings, continued dependence on the monsoon, inadequate access to irrigation and lack of access to formal agricultural credit, among others, he said “As a result of these factors, agriculture is not seen as a profitable venture”.

Mr Naidu observed that many people are leaving agriculture and migrating to urban areas because it is not remunerative, because of rising input costs and unfavourable market conditions.

In this regard, the Vice President called for long term policy changes like governance and structural reforms to make agriculture viable.

Suggesting that the centre and states should give a helping hand to the farmers, he advised governments to think beyond loan waivers. Farmers need timely and affordable credit, assured and quality power, infrastructural support like godowns and marketing facilities, more than just doles, Mr Naidu remarked.(UNI)