The Hindu Business Line : `Growth imperatives'

It is indeed unfortunate that India, being basically an agricultural country, is plagued by "farmer suicides, mass migration and inexorable urban poverty in addition to continuing rural distress".

There is no dearth of agricultural policies at the Central and the State levels in the country. Also, huge funds are being allocated plan after plan for development of the rural sector. But, sadly, a large chunk of the funds has not reached the real needy.

Nor do there seem to be any effective proposals to draw investments into the farm sector. Conditions must be made conducive for funds to flow in, including ensuring attractive returns.

Further, to bring about agricultural resurgence, it is imperative that there should be reasonable prices for the agricultural products, good marketing facilities, sound irrigation systems, easy credit facilities, and adequate non-farming activities (to provide employment to farmers in the lean season) in every rural belt in the country.

Needless to say, there must be a sound mechanism to ensure that the allocated funds reach the farmers and the agricultural sector.

S. Ramakrishnasayee

Ranipet

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