Vice President, M Venkaiah Naidu has called upon the scientific community to lay emphasis on enhancing the productivity of small and marginal farmers as they are the most vulnerable and their welfare must be accorded the highest priority. <br />'' <br />'' Mr Naidu was addressing the 58th Convocation of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), in New Delhi yesterday. He lauded the Institute's achievements as truly remarkable in the post-green revolution phase, considering the quantum jump in the country's foodgrain production from 50.82 million tonnes in 1950-51 to over 283 million tonnes in 2018-19.<br />'' <br />'' Appreciating the central government for the historic step last year to honour 12 farmers with Padmashri awards for their path-breaking innovations in agriculture, Mr. Naidu said that such recognitions will boost their morale.<br />''  <br />