Centre readies field for 4% farm growth

Areas identified for special focus include pulses, oilseeds and horticulture.

Anticipating close to 3 per cent growth in the agriculture sector this year, on top of 6 per cent growth in 2005-06, the agriculture ministry has mooted a plan to raise the rate to above 4 per cent per annum in the Eleventh Plan.

The bulk of the growth is projected to come from the livestock and fisheries sectors, both of which are targeted to grow at 6 per cent a year, and the horticulture sector, stipulated to grow at 5 per cent.

If the horticulture output could also attain a growth of 6 per cent, at par with that of livestock and fisheries, the total growth for the agriculture and allied sector could go up to 4.3 per cent, beyond the Eleventh Plan target of 4.1 per cent.

The agriculture ministry discussed the road map to achieve this goal with states at the two-day National Kharif Conference that began here today. The meet will finalise the programme for the ensuing kharif season and finetune the strategy for the Eleventh Plan, which begins this season.

The meeting is being attended by agriculture secretaries and agriculture commissioners of states, vice-chancellors of state agricultural universities, and the concerned central and state officials.

Agriculture Secretary PK Mishra said the areas identified for special focus in the next Plan included food security, output of pulses and oilseeds, adequate availability of quality seed, revamping the extension system, and development of horticulture.

Mishra urged states to re-energise the agriculture sector to reverse the deceleration in growth witnessed in the Ninth and Tenth Plan periods. "Faster agricultural growth is also one of the instruments for realising the objective of inclusive and broad-based development," he maintained.

Though several allied sectors of farming have witnessed rapid growth in the recent past, crops still constitute about 48 per cent of the agriculture sector's gross domestic product (GDP). This includes the foodgrain' share of 26 per cent, oilseeds' 7 per cent and other crops' 15 per cent. Horticultural produce accounts for another 19 per cent of the farm GDP.

Livestock is the next major segment, contributing 25 per cent to the farm GDP. The share of fisheries and forestry is 4 per cent each.

The proposed plan envisages expansion of cropped area by about 5 million hectares in the Eleventh Plan. States have been asked to identify land that can be brought under cultivation.

Fallow land and cultivable wasteland would get priority for this. Besides, new cropping patterns are under consideration which will help expand cropped area through approaches like mixed farming and more crops per year.

For enhancing crop yields, stress would be laid on improving soil health through better nutrient management, efficient utilisation of water, use of appropriate seeds and mechanisation of farming operations.