PM calls for State specific strategies to spur agricultural growth

New Delhi, May 14 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today called for promoting State-specific Agriculture Strategies to spur farm sector growth from the present low level of two per cent to four per cent and said the State governments which evolve suitable strategies will be given incentives.

''Since agriculture is a state subject, it is important to evolve State level strategies tailored to the specific needs of the agro-climatic conditions prevailing in each State,'' Dr Manmohan Singh said in his opening remarks at the Full Planning Commission meet here.

The Prime Minister said he has directed the Planning Commission to work with the Ministry of Agriculture to work out specific proposals to promote agricultural strategy at the State level and ways of incentivising State Governments to adopt such strategies.

Dr Manmohan Singh said the strategies that are adopted must deliver results in the short and medium-term so that tangible benefits are visible to farmers, consumers and rural economy as a whole.

''This is important if we have to avert any crisis in the agrarian sector and fulfill the needs of a growing economy,'' he said.

The Prime Minister said the NDC's Sub-Committees Report on Agriculture, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, will become the basis of the Agricultural strategy for the Eleventh Plan.

Stating that there were substantial yield gaps in all States, Dr Singh said most of the action rests with the States even though the Centre has a role to play. This yield increase potential varies from 40 per cent to 100 per cent.

''Increased production in the next three or four years can only come from bringing this yield gap or expanding area,'' he said.

Talking about the legacy of stagnating growth rate which the UPA government inherited, Dr Singh said less than two per cent agricltural growth results in rural distress.

UNI