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Agri-concerns

A. Jacob Sahayam, e-mail

In the article, `Where are the jobs, Mr Sinha?' (Business Line, April 6) the author has stressed the need to give a big push to agriculture, rural development and small-scale industries to boost growth and employment. The Government's several policy init iatives and strategies have not made much headway in this regard. Recently, the Industries and Commerce Minister, Mr Murasoli Maran, mooted the idea of Agricultural Export Zones (AEZs).

The editorial, `Farm export package' (Business Line, April 4) has explained the various requirements and the issues to be addressed for the successful functioning of AEZs. The State governments will have to act fast. It has been suggested that they attra ct the participation of the private sector to ensure the flow of investments and the requisite marketing efforts.

Educating the farmers, providing basic infrastructure and primary processing facilities and ensuring regular fund flow are basic necessities. Some of the crops are seasonal. To ensure regular income to the farmer and provide employment, proper planning s hould be done so that the rotation of crops is smooth.

The State governments should take the initiative to form agricultural cooperative societies with required facilities so that the farmer and the labour at the grass-roots level reap their due benefits.