Agricultural policy must be pro-women: Pratibha Patil

President Pratibha Patil today called for development of agricultural strategies that are not only be pro-poor and pro-nature, but also pro-women.

New Delhi, Aug 6 : President Pratibha Patil today called for development of agricultural strategies that are not only be pro-poor and pro-nature, but also pro-women.

"We must endeavour to mainstream gender considerations in all areas of agricultural research, education and extension, as women farm labour of about 60 per cent is also playing an important role in our agriculture operations," Patil said while delivering her address here on theme 'Agriculture Cannot Wait'.

She also attributed the success of the White Flood Revolution to the over 75 million women who took care of cows and buffalos.

"The big leap in our country's milk production can be credited to the toil and labour put in by nearly 75 million women who are involved in the care of the cow and the buffalo," Patil said.

Patil also reminded the audience about the pioneering role played by women in movements undertaken by them for the preservation of forests and topsoil.

Commenting on agricultural production, she said: "Crops diversification is an important issue both for production and consumption."

"We should not limit ourselves to a narrow crop basket. A well-planned diversification strategy with crops, horticulture, livestock, poultry, fishery and other on-farm and off-farm enterprises need to be pursued," she added.

ANI