April 04, 2002

'27'

    The country is going to achieve an overall production of 210 million tonnes of foodgrains during 2001-02 due to satisfactory rainfall. The Union Agriculture Secretary, Shri J.N.L. Srivastava said that 6.8% growth in agricultural production has given an upward push to the Gross National Product. Addressing the two-day National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign, 2002 here today, Shri Srivastava said that against a target of 16 million tonnes the pulses production is expected to be 13 million tonnes and oil seed production is likely to be 22 million tonnes against a target of 27 million tonnes. He said that the Planning Commission has fixed a target of 220 million tonnes for foodgrain production during 2002-03. Shri Srivastava expressed the hope that this target will be achievable and called upon the participants of the conference to deliberate on how to achieve this objective.

    The Agriculture Secretary said that his Ministry has launched the on-farm water management scheme in Eastern India for better production. He said that under the scheme, which has been introduced from the current year, 30% subsidy would be given by the Central Government and 50% will come in the shape of bank loans at a favourable rate and the rest 20% has to be brought in by the entrepreneur. He said that Government has also launched a Rural Godown Scheme with 100 tonne capacity each for storage of foodgrains besides the Government’s plan to launch agri-clinics in the country soon. Shri Srivastava said that Government is giving a lot of stress on agricultural reforms. He said that restrictions on movement of agricultural produce in the country and reform in the marketing structure are two most important decisions in this direction. He said that the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) has to undergo change to allow private and cooperative sectors besides permitting farmers to directly sell their produce. He said that states are unanimous in amendment of this APMC Act.

    Stating that a credit of Rs. 70,000 crore is likely to flow into the agricultural sector this fiscal, Shri Srivastava said that during the Tenth Plan several schemes have been abolished. Out of 120 schemes which were operating in the Ninth Plan, the Government has brought down the number to 39 including 9 new schemes for major reforms in the agriculture sector, the Secretary added.

    Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Dr. Panjab Singh emphasised on the quality and productivity of the farm produce. He suggested that water management production technology should extensively be used because water is going to be very scarce in future. He also suggested that focus should be on the North-Eastern states from where substantial increase in agricultural production will come about. He also pleaded for extensive use of IT in Extension programmes. Principal Advisor in the Planning commission, Smt. Krishna Bhatnagar said that the focus of agriculture programmes should be the marginal farmer.

    The two-day meet will give a final estimate of the production of different crops after due deliberations besides working out strategies for the Kharif season. State Government representatives, scientists and academicians from agricultural universities are participating in this conference.