Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said that it is necessary that farmers are given relevant information and guidance in simple language to generate better returns from farming activities.

The Minister was speaking at the first meeting of the Apex Committee on Mass Media Support to Agriculture Extension.

Minister said that "if farmers are guided about scientific use of inputs � especially balanced use of fertilizers, efficient use of water, marketing, animal husbandry, credit availability and other areas of farmers' interest, the adoption of new technologies and scientific agronomic practices will improve".

"This in turn will improve the overall farm productivity," he added.

At the national level, the Minister said, the demand for foodgrains is increasing because of rising population and improving standards of living. In such a situation, the only way to have sustained food security is to raise farm productivity.

Extension and media can play a major role in doing so by providing proper guidance and information to the farmer, he added.