India to introduce National Agriculture Code

NEW DELHI: India is to have a National Agriculture Code (NAC) for optimum utilisation of resources, deployment of the latest technologies and use of best practices from crop selection to storage of produce. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has been tasked with creating the Code in consultation with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, national agricultural universities and relevant industry associations. BIS already has the experience of putting in place a National Building Code and a National Electrical Code in India for construction and electricity respectively. Pramod Kumar Tiwari, Director-General of BIS, said at a stakeholders' meeting on NAC today that the proposed Code 'will be an enabler of quality in Indian agriculture, provide reference points to policymakers and guide the farming community'. Sanjay Pant, BIS Deputy Director General for Standardisation, said the NAC has the potential to transform Indian agriculture and create a conducive environment for farmers. Today's meeting was held at the National Institute of Training for Standardisation on the outskirts of Delhi. It included a workshop on the planned NAC. Agriculture contributes about 20 percent to India's gross domestic product and employs around 50 percent of India's workforce. Source: Emirates News Agency