Performance of Agriculture Sector Quite Satisfactory
As per Mid-term appraisal of the Eleventh Five Year Plan, performance of agriculture sector is quite satisfactory.
The major challenges facing agriculture sector at the beginning of 11th Five Year Plan inter alia included slowdown in growth, widening economic disparities between irrigated and rainfed areas, inefficient use of available technology and inputs, degradation of natural resource base, etc.
These challenges have been addressed in the Eleventh Five Year Plan through higher investment in agriculture sector and rural infrastructure; emphasis on increasing production and productivity by means of targeted interventions through flagship schemes such as National Horticulture Mission, National Food Security Mission, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Mission on Micro Irrigation etc.; strengthening agriculture potential in rainfed areas through setting up of National Rainfed Area Authority; increasing availability of agricultural credit to farmers on attractive terms; and introduction of frontier technology and making agriculture resilient to climate change.
This information was given by Prof. K.V. Thomas, Minister of State for Agriculture in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
SB:CP: challenges (10.12.2010)