The Hindu Business Line : High and dry

In the context of the brewing agrarian crisis in the country and the resultant political backlash, policymakers are often at pains to draw attention to the numerous governmental initiatives — many a time described as `promising' — to strengthen the farm sector. Yet, on the ground, there is little material change. Stagnant output, uncertain quality, volatile market conditions and rising dependence on imports have become characteristic features of the farm economy. Despite the humungous amounts budgeted year after year for various production programmes, agriculture continues to be a laggard in the country's `growth' story, with a paltry annual average growth rate of 2.2-2.3 per cent over an extended 10-year period covering the Ninth and the Tenth Plan. There is now lurking suspicion about the `political will' to implement programmes and deliver real benefit to the intended beneficiaries.

How beneficial have been the Government programmes and schemes intended for the farmers? If at least one unassailable evidence of the ineffectiveness of government programmes was required, the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) provides it. In the seven years from 1995-96, the Centre and the State governments together spent over Rs 35,000 crore to create what is described as the `irrigation potential' of four million hectares. It would be natural to expect that a part of this irrigated area would go to major field crops. Yet, data show that the actual irrigated area under the country's major crops — fine cereals, coarse grains, pulses, oilseeds, cotton and sugarcane — has expanded little during the period. In other words, the so-called irrigation potential has remained unrealised and there is nothing to suggest that this is likely to happen anytime soon. It may well be the case of money literally going down the drain, and farmers being left high and dry. Obviously, someone in the Government must assume responsibility for the failure of the AIBP to deliver irrigation benefits to farmers at large, despite the large amounts spent.

If the Government believes that its duty is restricted to creation of potential or base infrastructure for water supply, the country has a serious problem on hand. Without doubt, water is the most critical input for agriculture; and lack of irrigation facilities (which means rainfed cultivation or dependence on monsoon) is often cited as the major reason for poor farm growth. Global warming and climate change are threatening agriculture everywhere. There are doomsday forecasts of India facing an imminent water crisis post 2010. In the words of the Finance Minister, "there is no dearth of money and no dearth of schemes". What, then, is stopping the Government from putting the funds to good use and delivering real benefits to the really needy?

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