Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Govt report on farms calls for reforms to boost investment

Govt report on farms calls for reforms to boost investment

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Mar 14, 2012   modified Modified on Mar 14, 2012
-The Hindu Business Line

A Government report has called for enhancing investment in agriculture and leveraging technology to boost the country's farm sector growth in the years ahead.

The report ‘State of Indian Agriculture 2011-12,' released by the Agriculture Ministry on Tuesday, called for institutional reforms in research set up to make it more accountable and geared towards delivery, conservation of natural resources such as water and land among others.

“Achieving a 8-9 per cent growth in overall GDP may not deliver much in terms of poverty reduction, unless agricultural growth accelerates. The agriculture growth has to be kept at the centre of any reform agenda or planning process, in order to make a significant dent on poverty and malnutrition and to ensure long-term food security for the people,” it said.

The report, first of its kind, has emphasised on development of rain-fed agriculture, irrigation, creating infrastructure support for marketing and ensuring increased credit flow to farmers among others. It calls for the need to bridge the yield gaps through technology input and other interventions, while placing thrust on raising productivity.

PUBLIC PRIVATE TIE-UP

Strongly advocating public-private partnership in the farm sector, the report said that the Government needs to raise public investment, besides playing a catalytic role to attract more private sector investment. “We want the private sector's managerial and technical capabilities on the field,” said the Union Agriculture Secretary, Mr P.K. Basu.

INCREASE INVESTMENTS

Stating that contribution of agriculture to overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has halved in the past two decades to around 14.5 per cent in 2010-11 from about 30 per cent in 1990-91, the report noted that such a trend is expected in any development process of the economy. The gross capital formation in agriculture has hovered between 6 and 8 per cent as compared to 18 per cent in the early 1980s, Mr Basu said.

Such a trend suggests that non-agriculture sectors have been receiving higher investments over the plan periods. Keeping in view the high population pressure on agriculture for their sustenance, there is need to increase in investments, he said.

The report also calls for reforms to streamline domestic markets and expanding infrastructure and institutions to connect local markets with national and global markets.

Besides, deliberating on the consequences of rising population on farming and its capacity to provide employment, the report calls for creation of additional employment opportunities to the rural populace in non-farm and manufacturing sector. Such opportunities could be agro-based rural industries that have area specific comparative advantage in terms of resource endowment and development possibilities. “This would require suitable skill development,” Mr Basu said.

WATER USAGE

Cautioning on the impact of water scarcity, the report calls for efficiency in water usage. It estimates that even a rise of 5 per cent irrigation efficiency can increase the irrigation potential by 10-15 million ha.

The report also focuses on problems of imbalanced use of fertilisers, deteriorating soil health and the threats posed by climate change among others.

The Hindu Business Line, 13 March, 2012, http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/article2991689.ece?ref=wl_industry-and-economy


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close