Andhra Pradesh CM's vision: Revolutionising Indian agriculture for evolving dietary needs

India’s agriculture sector needs to shift from a supply-driven model to a demand-based approach, in sync with evolving food preferences and health awareness, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said.

In an interview with PTI Videos on Sunday, Naidu stressed that conserving water must be a top priority, given its scarcity, and called for strategic interlinking of rivers to ensure optimal utilisation of the resource.

“Money is not the constraint. Proper public policies are needed. If water is there, India won't have any problem with agricultural productivity. Farmers are ready to produce. Simultaneously, you have to guide what type of agriculture to promote. Again, demand-driven, based on food habits, and also what is good for health,” he said, underlining that nutritional philosophy had evolved.

Pointing to a shift in dietary choices, Naidu noted, “Earlier, it was all about carbohydrates. Now, the focus has shifted to protein. Earlier, it was about very rich food. Now, it’s about balanced nutrition. People are health-conscious.”

On water management, the chief minister said river-linking projects could prevent large volumes of water from flowing wastefully into the sea and help convert water-deficient regions into water-surplus areas if planned efficiently.

“Just like a bank balance, I am working on having a water balance. It has been my dream from the beginning to link the Ganga-Kaveri linking. To start with, some people will resist, but those who are willing, you can work it out with them. Ultimately, you can link (the rivers),” he concluded.