The Hindu Business Line : NDC homilies

None can fault the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh's exhortation at the National Development Council meeting that tough decisions and concrete action have to be taken to achieve a 4 per cent annual growth in the agricultural sector. Deeply concerned about creeping unrest in the countryside following the gradual erosion of livelihood opportunities in recent years, he wants `inclusive growth' to be the main theme of the Eleventh Plan. For revitalising the farm sector, he has committed Rs 25,000 crore over the next four years, proposed the launch of a Food Security Mission and promised to focus on improving agricultural research and extension systems, expanding irrigation and credit availability.

So, what's new? The problems of the farm sector are known. There are ideas and suggestions aplenty as to what should be done to take the sector to a higher growth trajectory. Consolidation of fragmented landholding, expansion of irrigation facilities, strengthening the input delivery system, improving agronomic practices, building rural infrastructure, and assured markets and incomes to growers are some of the key deliverables. But the moot question is who will deliver these? There is no concrete, regionally-differentiated, action plan with specific targets to be achieved in specified timeframe. Also, there is complete lack of accountability for performance, resulting in tardy implementation of projects. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme is a classic example of money down the drain with no tangible result in terms of irrigated area expansion. There is no objective assessment of financial, technological and human resource needs for the farm sector. Agricultural development schemes have to be intrinsically coupled with rural development programmes and other efforts such as Bharat Nirman. Sans a holistic approach that generates a nation-wide consensus and commitment, the NDC deliberations may only yield homilies or motherhood statements and pious hopes.

It may be interesting to hear from the Prime Minister what the tough decisions are and who will take concrete action. A very clear, though not elaborately articulated, subtext of the NDC proceedings is that the Centre is slowly but surely distancing itself from promoting the farm sector. The NDC resolution clearly places the onus of agricultural production and growth on the State governments. They have been asked to prepare short- and medium-term targets and action plans taking into account local endowments, resources and constraints. Agriculture is a State subject, and if experience is any guide, it is unlikely to receive focussed and uniform attention of all the States for varied reasons including financial stringency and governance. There is little doubt that if the output of major crops (especially, wheat, rice, pulses, coarse cereals, and oilseeds) is allowed to stagnate, food security will be threatened sooner than many think, as demand surges rapidly ahead of production growth.

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