PM calls for integrated approach to boosting farm output

India's farm economy needs to look beyond the application of known technology to a much greater injection of science and a knowledge-based approach to increasing incomes and productivity, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said today.

Addressing the golden jubilee celebrations of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in Delhi today, he said India needs to plan for both drought-hit and flood-hit farms at the same time as the country faces both.

''We need to develop varieties which can ensure high yield while economising on water and are also capable of withstanding water stress,'' he said.

This is also true for livestock production, he said, adding, ''We need to develop improved breeds which can flourish in our agro climatic conditions and do not require high value inputs which our farmers cannot afford.''

He said the extension services system that served the first Green Revolution in the country has to be strengthened to support a fresh revolution.

We need now to revitalise the infrastructure of support at the district level, the Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Agricultural Technology Management Agencies (ATMA) for a transformation of the extension network, he said.