Fall in private investment in agriculture

New Delhi, Mar 9 (UNI) The government, quoting the Economic Survey 2005-06, today informed Rajya Sabha that the private investment in agriculture (at 1999-2000 prices) has gone down from Rs 38,215 crore in 2001-02 to Rs 30,532 crore (quick estimates) in 2004-05.

Minister of State for Agriculture Kanti Lal Bhuria in a written reply said that the share of public investment in agriculture gross investment rose from 18.2 per cent in 2001-02 to 29.2 per cent in 2004-05 according to the survey.

According to the Planning Commission, with an overall growth rate of 9 per cent per annum, the projected employment in agriculture would be about 24.5 crore in 2007 and 25.1 crore during 2012, he added.

On production of oilseeds, Mr Bhuria said that the annual production of nine oilseeds (groundnut, castorseed, sesamum, nigerseed, rapeseed and mustard, linseed, Safflowr, Sunflower and soyabean) in the country has been 27.98 million tonnes during 2005-06 and 23.62 million tonnes during 2006-07 (as per second advance estimates released on February 5, 2007).

During 2004-05 to 2006-07 the foodgrains production increased from 198.36 million tonnes to 209.17 million tonnes showing an increase of 5.4 per cent. On the other hand, the total oilseeds production decreased from 24.35 million tonnes during 2004-05 to 23.62 million tonnes during 2006-07 showing a decrease of 3 per cent.

The reasons for decrease in production of oilseeds is mainly due to reduction in area on account of fall in price parity with other competing crops and lack of pest and disease resistant, high yielding varieties and non-availability of hybrids.

Regarding decrease in cultivation area, the Minister informed that as per the latest available data on land use (2004-05), the total area under cultivation of various crops during the last three years has gone up from 154.3 million hectare during 2002-03 to 155.7 million hectares during 2004-05.

Mr Bhuria said the wastage of vegetables and fruits due to post harvest losses, has been estimated as 25 per cent to 30 per cent, valued at Rs 20,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore annually as reported in the fifth and final report of the National Commission of Farmers.

On prices of milk at Mother Dairy, Minister of State for Agriculture Taslimuddin informed that the increase in the retail price of milk and milk products by Mother Dairy, Delhi, was mainly due to increase in procurement prices of milk and the milk commodities.

Due to high price of milk in international market, there has been an increase in the export of skimmed resulting in an increase in domestic prices of milk and milk products.

The government has prohibited the export of milk power with effect from February 9, 2007 including skimmed milk powder, whole milk powder and Milk Food for babies which will remain in force till September 30, 2007.

UNI