Agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan has warned that India’s food security is being steadily imperilled by the sharp decline in agricultural growth.
Speaking on the Ministry of Earth Sciences Foundation Day Lecture 2010, Dr Swaminathan warned that in 2005-6, the agricultural growth was 5.2 per cent of GDP but according to Planning Commission statistics, it has dipped to 0.2 per cent in 2009-10.

This would decline with a projected two degree temperature rise due to global warming. He warned that the IFPRI has projected that rainfed wheat yields in South Asia would decrease by 44 per cent by 2050 if adaptation strategies were not put in place.
The Tamil Nadu state government has taken a lead over other states by announcing the setting up of five genetic heritage gardens to preserve a wide range of plants and animals.
These parks are being set up in the Kolli Hills, Sirumalai, Sakkottai, Thirukkadaiyr and in the Pattinamkathan village in Ramanathapuram district.
Rising ocean levels will affect food production in coastal areas and Dr Swaminathan has recommended other states start following “the deep water rice practices which allow farmers to grow rice underwater in the Kuttanad district of Tamil Nadu”.
Rising salinity in coastal areas due to rising sea levels required the need to grow high saline tolerant plants such as the atriplex, the batis maritime whose seed contains high quantities of proteins, oils and starches.
He also emphasised there was not enough conclusive data collected to study the impact of temperature rise in all the 127 agro-climatic zones in India.
“Research stations need to be set up, at least virtual stations to assist in comprehensive data collection,” he added.
Prof. S. Krishnaswami received the national award in Ocean Sciences by minister of state for earth sciences Prithviraj Chavan for his outstanding contribution on he role of chemical erosion in the river basins of the Himalayas.