Agriculture Key To India’s Development, Says Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan has underlined the importance of agriculture to India’s food security and long-term development, saying the country cannot afford to depend on imports to meet the needs of its population of more than 1.4 billion.

Addressing a programme at Musunuru in Nuzvid constituency of Eluru district on Monday, Radhakrishnan unveiled a non-GMO popcorn maize hybrid developed by Gourmet Popcornica. He said India’s population is nearly 70 times that of Australia, making self-reliance in food production an essential national priority.

The Vice President called for greater use of modern technology, innovation and improved farming practices to make agriculture more productive and profitable. He also welcomed the proposal put forward by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for linking rivers in southern India, including a proposed connection from the Mahanadi to the Cauvery. Though such a project would take time, he expressed confidence that it could eventually become a reality and help expand irrigation facilities across districts.

Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer described agriculture as the backbone of the Indian economy and praised farmers for ensuring food security. Citing the Economic Survey 2024-25, he said agriculture and allied sectors account for about 17% of GDP and provide employment to around 45% of the country’s workforce.

He noted that maize is India’s third-largest food crop after rice and wheat, cultivated across about 16.9 million hectares. He appreciated Gourmet Popcornica’s efforts to develop tropical popcorn hybrids suited to Indian soil and climatic conditions, including challenges such as El Nino.

According to the Governor, improved domestic seed production has shifted around 70% of popcorn-related income that earlier went to Argentina and Brazil towards Indian farmers, while saving about $125 million in foreign exchange.

The company currently works with 17,500 farmers across eight states, covering around 39,500 acres. Nazeer said introducing the crop among tribal farmers in Srikakulam was particularly encouraging and expressed hope that Gourmet Popcornica would develop into an international brand like Araku Coffee.

Earlier, Radhakrishnan, Naidu and Nazeer visited the company’s facility, unveiled two non-GMO popcorn maize hybrids and inspected the processing equipment and finished products.