Ludhiana, Sep 28 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday said that India's economic growth was dependent on the agricultural growth and called upon the corporate sector to play a more pro-active role in improving the farming sector.

The prime minister was addressing agriculture experts, corporates and farmers at the research and development farm of the Fieldfresh group, a company floated by telecom giant Bharti.

Inaugurating the Fieldfresh Agriculture Centre of Excellence at its modern 300-acre farm at Ladowal village near here, the prime minister said that the R&D centre was an ideal example of corporate intervention in the farming sector.

"The corporate sector can help in enhancing productivity and diversification of the farm sector," he said.

Referring to the green revolution in the country in the 1960s and 70s, the prime minister said it was time to put modern technology to use in the agriculture sector to enhance productivity again.

He added that this would also help eliminate poverty from the rural areas.

The prime minister complimented Bharti for their farm project.

Company officials said the R&D centre would help farmers with know-how to enhance productivity and grow crops that get them better returns.

The company will implement a farm-to-fork project to export fresh fruits and vegetables from Punjab to markets across Europe, the US and the Middle East.