The Hindu Business Line : Sow well

The Centre has often blamed supply-side constraints for inflation. Yet, how focused is the Government in addressing supply-side issues vis-à-vis essential food crops? And, importantly, does the Centre have the authority and the political will to ensure that State governments fully cooperate in producing more so that supply constraints are eased, if not eliminated? These questions, though awkward, are but natural as the country readies for one more kharif planting. The season (June-September) contributes close to 60 per cent of the annual agricultural output with rice, coarse grains, oilseeds and cotton as the major crops.

At the recent National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign 2007, many participants, including senior Agriculture Ministry officials, were optimistic of the country registering 4 per cent a year farm growth. But, then, such optimism is nothing new. The National Agriculture Policy of July 2000 envisaged a 4 per cent growth rate. The reality, however, is vastly different. Farm output growth has remained trapped in the 2.2-2.3 per cent band the last 10 years. The country is now in a phase when incomes, and concomitantly food demand, are surging as never before. It is unclear if the policymakers have learnt any lesson from the tardy performance of the farm sector in the last two Five-Year Plans. For the Eleventh Plan that has just commenced, the Agriculture Ministry has proposed a growth rate of 4.10 per cent per annum. While horticulture, livestock and fisheries may grow at 5-6 per cent, the proposed growth rate of oilseeds (4 per cent) and foodgrains (2.3 per cent) would mean continued shortages and dependence on imports. Anyway, there is nothing to suggest that even these modest growth rates will be achieved. Clearly, the task of fighting inflation can only get more daunting.

The agenda papers for the Kharif Campaign read more like a `wish list' than an action plan. As wishes by themselves will not translate into production, an action plan to achieve targets is necessary; and it must take into account the financial, technological and human resources required. Accountability for performance must be built in. It is the Government's position that despite implementation of several programmes to accelerate farm production and productivity, there was no tangible impact in the Tenth Plan. Specifically, for 2007-08, the Centre wants an additional 20 lakh hectares brought under pulses. No doubt, area expansion and yield improvement are critical. But they will not happen on their own. Growers need appropriate inputs at reasonable costs, accessible markets and remunerative prices. These require not only considerable financial outlays, but also committed involvement of the government machinery. The Centre and the State governments have to work with an unity of purpose if the 4 per cent a year farm growth rate is to become a reality.

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