Rs 350 cr for climate resistant crops set aside in Budget: Pawar

The Centre has set up a Rs 350 crore National Initiative for Climate Resistant Agriculture to study the impact of global warming on agriculture, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar informed the Rajya Sabha today.
Responding to Members' queries on the falling agricultural production due to rising temperature levels, the Minister said the Government was paying attention and studying the impact on crops.
Referring to milk production, he said India was the largest milk producing country in the world and produced an estimated 112 million tonnes annually.
Admitting that worldwide milk production figures were falling as pointed out by Mr Rajiv Pratap Rudy, BJP, the Minister said budgetary provision of Rs 300 crore had been made to take care of this issue.
He said that last year, a drop in milk production was noticed in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. One of the ways out was to go in for improved cattle breed for higher milk yield.
Replying to supplementaries, he said milk prices were rising in other countries and temporarily decision to go in for import liberalisation had been taken. Milk powder was being imported at lower prices. The National Dairy Development Board had called for tenders for supply of milk powder at the price of Rs 180 a kg for skimmed milk powder and Rs 212 a kg for full milk, he said.
Regarding Basmati rice production, Mr Pawar maintained that there had been no serious impact on basmati rice productivity and export was also high.
The Minister dismissed reports of falling basmati production, saying the study was carried out "on a limited area and for a limited period". Minimum two years' study was required for it to be acceptable.
He said export of basmati rice was encouraged while non-Basmati rice was not being exported "as we have to protect demand of our domestic population."