By IANS,
New Delhi : Sharad Chandra Govindrao Pawar was back at Krishi Bhavan here Monday as the cabinet minister in charge of agriculture, food, public distribution and consumer affairs – the same portfolios he had held in the previous government.
He got down to work, presiding over a meeting with key officials, during which he called for a second green revolution in the country – an initiative in mid-1970s and 1980s that combined irrigation and better seeds to make India self-sufficient in food production.
The 68-year-old Pawar, who represents Madha in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha and has been chief minister of the state for four terms, said the measures must ensure enhanced productivity.
Food grain output in India was at a new high of 230.67 million tonnes in the 2007-08 season and estimates suggest that this year, it will be even higher, thanks to high rice production.