Economic Survey: Broad efforts needed for 4% agri growth in 12th Plan

Concerned over lower farm sector growth during the 11th Plan notwithstanding bumper output, the Economic Survey 2011-12 today said comprehensive and coordinated efforts are needed to achieve 4% agricultural growth in the next Plan period.

The survey suggested that pooling of land, efficient food stock management, improvement of supply chain to achieve the desired growth. Creation of rural infrastructure and irrigation facilities and investment in research and development should also be a priority, it added. "During the current Five Year Plan, the agriculture growth is estimated at 3.28% against the target of 4%...In order to make, 4% agricultural growth a reality, adequate efforts are required to focus on addressing the challenges in this sector," the Economic Survey said.

For this fiscal, the survey pegged 2.5% growth for agriculture, which accounted for 13.9% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). "Reasonable growth in agriculture is important both from the nutritional point of view as well as control food prices and overall headline inflation," it noted. Pointing out that the area under foodgrains has declined in the last three decades, the report called for for speedy improvement in productivity through adequate investment in research and development.

"We need to address the challenge of the agriculture sector through comprehensive and coordinative efforts directed at improving farm production and productivity of foodgrains as well as high-value crops...," the report said.