Implement six-point agenda of NDC to achieve 4% agri growth: FM

New Delhi, Sep 14 (UNI) Finance Minister P Chidambaram today asked state Chief Ministers to give a thrust to agricultural growth and implement the six point obligation chartered out during the recent National Development Council (NDC) meeting to pull back agriculture to a four per cent growth rate.

''The last NDC meeting talked of a resolution where the state and the centre discharge six obligation each in ariculture sector to pull it back to a four per cent growth,'' Mr Chidambaram said.

Replying to suggestions of various CM's in the India Today Chief Ministers Summit, Mr Chidambaram said money was not a problem for growth and it is goodwill and good governance that is needed.

It is however, not clear as to what was set out as the six point obligation in the NDC meet.

The NDC had recommended a grant of Rs 25,000 crore at its meeting in May 29 when the states had sought incentives for boosting agriculture.

Emphasising on the need for structural change where the products reach from farmers to retail, thereby eliminating the middle-man, Mr Chidambaram said there was resistance from the people and the proposals find little acceptance.

''We need to give more to our farmers but consumers have to be willing to give more,'' he said.

Mr Chidambaram added that the government has increased the procurement price of wheat by as much as Rs 220 to Rs 850 in its four years in power.

He stressed on the importance of implementation of the programmes and underlined that the implementation of the schemes lay with the state governments to achieve an inclusive growth.

He also said the states with historically low human indicators can overcome their problem through logic, reason and good economics.

''If the law of economics have worked the world over, India cannot be an exception,'' Mr Chidambaram said.

UNI