The Hindu Business Line : Centre to launch National Food Security Mission

Targeting 4 per cent growth in the agriculture and allied sectors, the Union Government has decided to launch the National Food Security Mission that is aimed at achieving an additional production of 30 lakh tonnes of rice, 3.5 lakh tonnes of pulses, 5 lakh tonnes of oil seeds and 32 lakh tonnes of milk.

At a high-level meet to review the state of affairs with regard to agriculture - attended by Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, and Mr Sharad Pawar, Union Agriculture Minister, here on Tuesday - it has been resolved to kick off a national campaign to increase productivity, reducing yield gaps.

The meeting followed decisions taken at the NDC meeting in May that included Prime Minister's visit to six States to discuss growth plans for the agriculture sectors. Addressing the meet, the Prime Minister said the States needed to draw district- wise decentralised plans, keeping in mind the local realities and opportunities.

He also advised them to converge these activities across all departments, while focusing on closing yield gaps and increasing farm livelihoods. Pointing out that 40 per cent of Andhra Pradesh was still rain-fed, he said pastoralism (a way of rural life intertwined with animal husbandry) held the key for increasing livelihoods in the countryside.

FINANCIAL INCLUSION

Stating that more than 50 per cent of the farmers were defaulters in the co-operative sector, he asked the States to work with the Reserve Bank of India for covering them under the financial inclusion programme.

Mr Pawar said the meeting resolved to set up postharvest management infrastructure and marketing facilities for horticulture produce.

While helping the publicprivate initiatives achieve fi- nancial closure for Terminal Marketing complexes at Hyderabad, the meeting decided to prepare project proposal of about Rs 400 crore by September for appraisal by the World Bank under Multi-State Agricultural Competitiveness Project.

The meeting also resolved to expedite implementation of the Vaidyanathan Committee report and provide credit to additional 18-lakh farmers. It was decided bring 10-lakh hectares under organic farming in 5,000 villages in rain-fed areas, covering 10-lakh farm families in association with self-help groups and non-governmental organisations.

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