IIM-L seminar on land policy and agriculture

Lucknow, May 25 (UNI) Experts of national and international repute in agriculture and economy-related issues today congregated in the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L) for a two-day national seminar.

The topic of the seminar, that went underway this morning, is 'Managing Land Resources for Sustainable Agricultural Growth and Diversification in India with Special Reference to Uttar Pradesh'.

The event is sponsored by State Land Use Board, Department of Planning, Government of Uttar Pradesh in association with IIM-L.

Prof Sushil Kumar, Head, Corporate Communication and Media Relations, IIM-L told UNI here today the seminar aims to deliberate upon issues related to proper management of land resources for diversified and sustainable agricultural development and poverty reduction.

''The seminar is also expected to provide inputs for designing an appropriate land policy and land use system to accelerate the pace of agricultural development and poverty reduction in the next five year plan,'' he added.

The major sub themes to be discussed are Land Resource Management: Trends, Issues and Opportunities; Dynamics of Land Market and Conversion of Agricultural Land; Land Leasing, Contract Farming and Agricultural Diversification; Access to homestead land and poverty reduction; and Future Issues for Sustainable and Diversified Agricultural Development.

About 60 participants from India and abroad are participating in the seminar.

Some of the prominent participants include Dr T Haque, Chairman, Agriculture Price and Cost Commission, Government of India; Prof R B Singh, Member, National Commission on Farmers; Dr Daniel Gustafson, FAO Representative for India and Bhutan; Mr Anis Ansari IAS, UP Agricultural Production Commissioner; Dr Tim Hanstad, President, Rural Development Institute, USA; and Dr B K Suri, VC, CSAUAT, Kanpur.

UNI