The Hindu Business Line : The daunting task on farm

A SENSE OF déjà vu is unmistakable in the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh's speech at the first national conference of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) last week when he urged agricultural scientists to aim for a sustained four per cent annual growth in farm output so as to accelerate the country's GDP growth rate to over 8 per cent. Calling for a second Green Revolution, he wanted food production doubled by the end of the Eleventh Plan Period (2011-12) with available technologies. These motherhood statements expressing pious hope create ennui because we have heard all this before. Admittedly, farm growth rates have been declining at an alarming rate. From the average annual rate of 4.5 per cent in the Eight Plan, it declined to 2.2 per cent in the Ninth; and, worse, in the first three years of the current, Tenth, Plan period, it has dropped further to about 1.1 per cent. Given that nearly two-thirds of the population earns its livelihood from farm and related activities, the country can never hope to achieve growth with equity unless rural incomes rise. The continuing skew in the growth rates between agriculture, on the one hand, and industry and services sectors, on the other, is not only disturbing, but also potentially dangerous, for, it can accentuate migration and social tensions.

Five years ago — July 2000, to be precise — the then government came out with a National Agricultural Policy (NAP) that set out the guidelines for farm sector growth and reforms. The NAP contains excellent statements of intention. Unfortunately, it has remained just that — a statement of intentions. The policy has suffered benign neglect at various levels leading to an enervated sector, which continues to face both internal and external challenges that primary producers are unable to cope with. At the policy level, there is neither a roadmap of activity nor an assessment of resource requirements, financial, human or technological. For agriculture, the Centre has numerous schemes and programmes, but implementation is tardy and there is little accountability. What else can explain the annual fluctuations in farm production, the volatility in prices, the chronic shortages and the mounting imports? The sector's investment needs are huge. But declining public investment in agriculture sends negative signals that discourage greater flow of private funds. Policy-makers' efforts of recent years to improve credit flow, announce higher support prices, and so on, have had only a marginal impact.

The priorities are clear. Strengthening the input delivery system, scientific water management, expansion of irrigation facilities, improving agronomic practices, building rural infrastructure and delivering market information to growers are the areas that need focused attention. Given the complexities of farming and the constraints of funds, it is going to be a tough call to ensure a four per cent annual average growth rate. Today, Indian agriculture needs committed policy-makers and a holistic approach. Active engagement and cooperation of all State governments (after all, agriculture is in the State List) alone can help any forward move. The task is indeed daunting.

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