Agricultural Policy Planning in India

Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. Problems, issues and failures. 3. Present status of agricultural systems. 4. Critical issues before agricultural policy planning 104. 5. New concepts, strategies, intervention mechanisms in agricultural sector. 6. Blue print for agricultural policy planning. 7. Conclusion. References.

"Agricultural policy planning is five decades old in independent India. The success of green revolution owes a lot to this planning initiative undertaken from experiences of different nations, works being undertaken in our country by nationalist leaders. Million of farmers gained from use of new technologies improving production and productivity. Food security has been achieved and the criticism of international press as "Food to mouth" situation has being changed within fewer years by generating exportable surplus. Many countries around the globe which achieved freedom during 1940s collapsed by the failure of food generation system. So the success of Indian democracy has green revolution at its fold. However, with changing priorities the shift has taken place from ensuring food security towards nutrient security in India. No longer production and productivity of agricultural produce aids in prosperity but successful marketing of produce increases producer's share in consumer rupee. Unlike earlier years wherein a socialist economy was in place today market economy with the diminishing role of state needs to find focus in policy planning. Unlike the earlier green revolution process where "haves" alone benefited the second green revolution should also include the "have nots" resource poor and vulnerable, disadvantaged sections of the society in its fold. Policymakers, administrators and researchers should study the available institutional infrastructure, resource availability, ground realities in planning process. "You can prepare many number of action plans, but the action has to be taken up by the farmers who are illiterate, unskilled resource poor. So planning should be done accordingly" said Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, the Father of Green Revolution process. Bottom to top approach, decentralized devolution of powers with elected representatives, access to farm technology, modern communication devices need greater." (jacket)