Union Minister of Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Sharad Pawar addressed the 5th Editors Conference on Social Sector Issues (ECSSI), here today.
Shri Sharad Pawar’s opening remarks are as follows:-
The UPA Government has laid special emphasis on the agriculture sector. We are making all out efforts to not only strengthen the agriculture sector, but also fuel growth in ancillary sectors like Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries.
In the agriculture sector, for the last 5 months we have made efforts to promote certain thrust areas which we feel will not only enhance agricultural production in the country but would also improve the incomes of the farmers. We are taking up a National Mission to promote Horticulture in the country. Very soon a scheme would be launched with a substantial outlay to double Horticulture Production in the country. We are also in the process of launching a Micro Irrigation Project in order to promote drip irrigation in regions facing moisture stress. For the Northeast, my Ministry is working on a National Mission for Development of Bamboo Technology to harness the potential of Bamboo.
The Ministry has also launched a National Project on Organic Farming in August 2004 with an outlay of Rs. 57.05 crores for production, promotion and market development of Organic Farming in the country for the remaining period of 10th Plan. The main components of the scheme are (i) Putting in place a system of certification of Organic produce; (ii) Capacity building through service providers; (iii) Financial support for commercial production units for production of organic inputs like (a) Fruits and vegetables waste compost, (b) Bio fertilizers and (c) Hatcheries for vermiculture and (d) Promotion and extension of organic farming.
In order to improve the Godown and Marketing Infrastructure in the country, we have approved two new Schemes: (i) Construction of Rural Godowns and (ii) Development of Market Infrastructure, Grading & Standardization of Agriculture Marketing in the month of October, 2004.
The objective of the Grameen Bhandaran Yojana (GBY) is to create scientific storage in rural areas to meet the requirements of the farmers for storing their farm produce. A credit linked back ended subsidy will be provided @ 25% of capital cost of a project in all States and @ 33.3% of capital cost of a project in case of North East States, Hilly areas and SC/ST entrepreneurs. The scheme will be implemented through NABARD, NCDC and by the Directorate of Marketing & Inspection.
Under the Development of Market Infrastructure, Grading & Standardization of Agriculture, the main objectives are (a) to induce large investments from private and cooperative sectors in the development of marketing infrastructure for agricultural and allied commodities including dairy, poultry, fisheries, livestock and minor forest products in the country and to strengthen existing agricultural markets, especially in tribal areas; (b) to strengthen AGMARK laboratories for their accreditation with National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration (NABL) and for harmonization of AGMARK standards with CODEX standards in terms of quality and safety parameters; and (c) to create general awareness among farmers, entrepreneurs and market functionaries on agricultural marketing including grading, standardization and quality certification. The scheme will be implemented through NABARD, NCDC and by the Directorate of Marketing & Inspection.
I must also mention here that due to below normal rainfall this year, the foodgrains production in Kharif was about 100 million tonnes against 112 million tonnes last year. My ministry has launched an all out effort to cover the gap during the Rabi Season and a major campaign has been taken up to provide farm inputs. We are expecting the total foodgrains production in the current year to be around 225 Million tonnes.
The Government has accorded the highest priority to Agricultural Research. You will be happy to know that the Government has increased the plan allocation of the Department of Agriculture Research and Education from Rs. 775 crore in the previous year to Rs. 1000 crore for the current financial year 2004-05.
A research programme on microorganisms at a cost of about Rs. 200 crores is being contemplated. The microbes are virtual gold mines for future agricultural development as there is no barrier to gene flow across the animal and plant kingdoms. The programme will help to develop varieties/species with desirable traits, as well as in soil enrichment, bioremediation of soils, bioconversion of organic waste, pharmaceuticals, post harvest processing, etc.
In order to provide the latest knowledge to the farmers, we have decided to establish at least one Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)in each of the 578 rural districts of the country. We had established 291 KVKs by end of IXth Plan. The number of KVKs in the country now is 426. The remaining rural districts would be covered during this Plan itself.
Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries activities play a significant role in generating gainful employment in rural areas, particularly among the landless, small and marginal farmers and women, besides providing cheap and nutritious food to millions of people. The employment in the livestock sector is approximately 19 million. India is endowed with the largest livestock population in the world with about 16% of cattle, 57% of buffalo, 17% of goats and 5% of sheep population of the world and ranks first in respect of cattle and buffalo, second in goats, third in sheep and sixth in poultry population. According to the provisional results of the 2003 Livestock Census, the country has about 187 million cattle and 97 million buffaloes. India is the biggest producer of milk in the world.
Dairy Development Programme has played a major role in increasing milk production, improving nutritional standards of the people, generating employment opportunities, and increasing income levels in rural areas, especially for small and marginal farmers. Dairying has become an important secondary source of income for millions of rural families. It is an important tool for bringing about socio-economic change among the farming community by providing subsidiary occupation and remunerative price for milk. The efforts of the Government are concentrated on promotion of dairy activities in non-operation flood areas with emphasis on building up cooperative infrastructure, revitalization of sick dairy cooperative federations and creation of infrastructure in the States for improving the quality of milk and milk products. We have decided to give the highest importance to rapid genetic upgradation of cattle and buffaloes and improvement in the delivery mechanism of breeding inputs and services to farmers as well as provision of adequate animal health services with special emphasis on creation of disease free zones.
A coastline of over 8000 km and immense inland water resources provide vast fishery resources. There has been significant growth in fish production in the country in the recent years. India is now the third largest producer of fish in the world, and the second largest producer of fresh water fish. There is tremendous potential for increasing fish production particularly from inland aquaculture. Strengthening of infrastructure for production of fish seed, berthing and landing facilities for fishing vessels, mechanization of fishing boats and development of deep sea fishing industry to exploit the vast potential of country’s exclusive economic zone are other aspects which need immediate attention. In order to give a push for the development of fisheries sector, we are considering a proposal to set up a National Fisheries Development Board.
On the Food and Public Distribution front, the Government has recently taken a number of initiatives for implementation of items contained in the National Common Minimum Programme of the UPA. These include measures for strengthening of the TPDS, expansion of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana to cover all households at risk of hunger, decentralized procurement of foodgrains by States, enhanced movement and stocking of foodgrains in consuming States and the clearance of sugarcane arrears due to farmers.
We recently held a Food Minister’s Conference where important decisions were taken to further strengthen the Targeted Public Distribution System. We intend to revise the criteria for determining the BPL estimates. There is also a move to cover migrant labour, displaced persons and homeless population through ration entitlement authority slips. We intend to give priority in the allotment of Fair Price Shops license to Women Cooperatives and Ex-servicemen.
We intend to expand the Antyodaya Anna Yojana to cover an additional 50 lakh BPL families taking the total number of beneficiaries from 1.5 crores to 2.0 crores with effect from 1st August, 2004. Necessary instructions have been issued to the State Governments.
My Ministry is making efforts to encourage State Governments to take up procurement of foodgrains under the De-centralised Procurement Scheme. To enable this to happen, the transportation cost incurred by the State Government will now be reimbursed at full cost. All Societies engaged by the State Government for procurement operations would now be entitled to a commission of 1% of MSP. The full cost of freight including transportation from railhead to the procurement centres would be fully reimbursed. As a result, it is expected that during the current Kharif Marketing Season which commenced from 1.10.2004, an additional 20 lakh tonnes of foodgrains would be procured in the States which have adopted de-centralized procurement.
We have been paying special emphasis on the movement and stocking of foodgrains. During the period April-September, 2004, 147 lakh tonnes of foodgrains was moved, ex-north, compared to 130 lakh tonnes moved in the corresponding period last year. Due to this record movement, it has been ensured that in all the consuming States, two months stock of foodgrains is available, which has enabled all the State Governments to get their PDS requirements in time.
During the current season commencing from 1st October 2004-05, the FCI and State agencies have already procured 108.08 lakh tonnes of paddy. It is likely that the procurement during KMS 2004-05 in terms of rice will cross 220 lakh tonnes, which would be adequate to meet the requirement of TPDS and other welfare schemes including the various employment schemes.
The prospects for Rabi 2004-05 also appear good and the over all foodgrains position is comfortable. The stock of foodgrains in the central pool as on 30th September, 2004 was 60.92 lakh tonnes of rice and 142.23 lakh tonnes of wheat.
The Department of Consumer Affairs in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has been vested with the responsibility to protect and promote the welfare of the consumers, formulate standards for goods and services, monitor the prices of essential commodities and deal with all matters relating to consumer protection including establishment of consumer protection machinery and generating consumer awareness to strengthen the consumer movement in the country.
In order to reduce pendency of consumer related cases, a second bench of the National Commission was started from 24th September, 2003 and notification for facilitating holding of circuit benches was issued on 31.8.2004. Similarly, the States, with large number of cases were requested to constitute benches of their State Commissions and also to hold circuit benches. Most of the States have set up District Consumer Protection Councils at district level and others are also at various stages of setting up these Councils in their States, which is expected to strengthen the consumer movement at the grass-root level. With a view to promote and protect the interests of consumers, the Department of Consumer Affairs has set up six Working Groups to look in to different important areas of consumer protection.
A proposal for deletion of ‘Onion’ from the list of essential commodities has been approved by the Cabinet on 20.10.2004. Efforts are being made to delete more items to facilitate free trade and commerce.
Me and my team are well aware of that fact that this is only the beginning. A lot of work still needs to be done. We not only need to enhance budgetary support to the sector but we also need to provide policy interventions to accelerate growth. In order to achieve this task, I look forward to suggestions and inputs from an informed audience like this one.