Launch of Food Security Mission,Rs 25,000 crore new agri-scheme

new Delhi, May 29 (UNI) The National Development Council(NDC) meeting here today took a number of key decisions to step up growth of agriculture, including introduction of a Rs 25,000 crore new scheme to incentivise States to draw up comprehensive plans for the sector, launch of a 'Food Security Mission' and restructuring of fertiliser subsidy.

It also agreed that there was need for provision of additional resources for irrigation under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme(AIBP).

The new scheme is basically for the Eleventh Plan period(2007-11) and entails Additional Central Assistance (ACA) to State plans. It is to be administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and will involve funding over and above the existing Centrally Sponsored Schemes to implement State-specific strategies taking into account agro-climatic conditions, natural resources and technology.

In his closing remarks at the event, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said: "There is a broad agreement on the approach to be taken for improving the condition of our farmers and the performance of agriculture. I am also confident that the goal of four per cent annual growth in agriculture and allied activities is certainly feasible." The NDC gave a call for restructuring the fertiliser subsidy programme and its delivery to the farmer and move to a system that provides balanced plant nutrition without adverse effects on soils.

The use of bio-fertilisers, organic manure and micro-nutrients to enhance soil health needs to be promoted, it said.

Briefing newspersons on the outcome of the NDC meeting, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said there was a consensus among the Chief Ministers to re-orient the agricultural strategy.

Dr Ahluwalia said the proposed 'Food Security Mission' would cover wheat, rice and pulses as a Central scheme aimed at producing over the next four years an additional eight million tonnes of wheat , ten million tonnes of rice and ten million tonnes of pulses over the base year (triennium ending 2006-07).

He said there was an agreement at the NDC meeting for providing additional reosurces for irrigation via the AIBP, including a component on modernisation, linked to adoption of improved participatory irrigation, management and Common and Area Development.

"Schemes involving linkages of rivers within a State could also be considered for AIB", Dr Ahluwalia said.

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