by
Raghavan ‘Ragha’ Sampathkumar
I am continuing from my last column about the event focusing on indigenous seed varieties of field crops and trees
was pleasantly surprised to see the level of interest and attention it gained with the urban audience. For an agribusiness professional like me, nothing would be so exciting than this. In the current scenario of information overload, consumers hardly care to understand the logic and science behind tradition, customs, culture or even their own behaviour.
However, when an event like this can draw the attention of urban educated masses, it is definitely a great platform to disseminate correct information that they otherwise will never be interested in seeking.
It was a great opportunity for general public including young parents who brought their children to make them aware of different food crops such as millets, minor cereals, and pulses like horse gram, which used to be essential components of the diets of their generations.
The kids were obviously excited and roamed around the stalls and got first-hand experience in learning about food production. It also struck me that these kinds of indigenous cultivars from every country must be recorded and information must be made available to the researchers and academia so that breeders, for example, can pursue crop improvement programs.
The private sector also has a role to play here as it can further develop the varieties through using advanced techniques and commercialise. In this way, both the consumers and the farmers get benefitted.
In the recently concluded World Agricultural Forum in Singapore, similar points were raised to promote awareness among consumers since public perception now-a-days, perhaps plays the most important role in policy making.
It is important for the agri-food industry to promote awareness among consumers about the facts and science behind any technology and how it helps them in their everyday lives in terms of reduced price and/or enhanced nutrition.
This is a shared responsibility in the agri-food value chain and cannot be left only to the production sector as the grain trade industry stands to gain when correct policies are made based on solid scientific data.
Read the full article, HERE.
I am continuing from my last column about the event focusing on indigenous seed varieties of field crops and trees
 |
| Raghavan Sampathkumar |
was pleasantly surprised to see the level of interest and attention it gained with the urban audience. For an agribusiness professional like me, nothing would be so exciting than this. In the current scenario of information overload, consumers hardly care to understand the logic and science behind tradition, customs, culture or even their own behaviour.
However, when an event like this can draw the attention of urban educated masses, it is definitely a great platform to disseminate correct information that they otherwise will never be interested in seeking.
It was a great opportunity for general public including young parents who brought their children to make them aware of different food crops such as millets, minor cereals, and pulses like horse gram, which used to be essential components of the diets of their generations.
The kids were obviously excited and roamed around the stalls and got first-hand experience in learning about food production. It also struck me that these kinds of indigenous cultivars from every country must be recorded and information must be made available to the researchers and academia so that breeders, for example, can pursue crop improvement programs.
The private sector also has a role to play here as it can further develop the varieties through using advanced techniques and commercialise. In this way, both the consumers and the farmers get benefitted.
In the recently concluded World Agricultural Forum in Singapore, similar points were raised to promote awareness among consumers since public perception now-a-days, perhaps plays the most important role in policy making.
It is important for the agri-food industry to promote awareness among consumers about the facts and science behind any technology and how it helps them in their everyday lives in terms of reduced price and/or enhanced nutrition.
This is a shared responsibility in the agri-food value chain and cannot be left only to the production sector as the grain trade industry stands to gain when correct policies are made based on solid scientific data.
Read the full article, HERE.
The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.
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