Nabard on board for the plan to be introduced in rain-fed, hilly areas
Concerned over low agricultural growth rate and low levels of farm income, the Union agricultural ministry is working towards a plan to introduce cluster-based farming in the country.
The cluster-based approach is aimed at forming a consolidated cultivable holding dedicated to specific food grains, vegetables, fruits and other horticulture crops.
“We are working on introducing the approach in association with National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard),” Union minister of state for agriculture and food processing industries Harish Rawat told Business Standard here.
He informed, it would first be introduced in rain-fed, hilly and tribal areas. He said since farming was basically family-based in India, there was not much farm mechanisation in place except for states as Punjab and Haryana.
“Private partnership in marketing of agricultural produce could be successful only in regions with mechanised farming, while the remaining areas would need state support,” he added.
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Meanwhile, Kisan Jagrati Manch President Sudhir Panwar said cluster-approach in farming would be beneficial for both the farmers and markets. “Such farming approach should be followed for all major crops and in all seasons to derive maximum benefit”. Rawat expressed concern over low levels of pulses and oilseeds production in the country. “The demand has overgrown supply in these crops over the last decade and this remains a pressing area for us,” he said.
In the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17), the Centre was hoping to increase agricultural growth rate to four per cent in the initial years.
Commenting on contract-farming and its likely impact on domestic agro-sector, the minister said it was prevalent in an unorganised manner in some pockets, but the government was yet to take a final view on the topic.
“Whether or not contract-farming could be allowed in an organised fashion in the country, I feel the Centre would certainly take a view on this issue,” he added.
The minister was in town as chief guest of the 10th Agricultural Science Congress on ‘Soil, Plant and Animal Health for Enhanced and Sustained Agricultural Productivity’ organised at National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources.
In his address, Rawat lamented the share of agriculture and allied activities in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had come down to 15 per cent from 58 per cent in 1950-51.
In his speech, Governor B L Joshi, who inaugurated the event, stressed the need for improving soil quality, conserving water resources and crop diversification for securing the future food security of the country.