Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian Economy. Almost 70% of India's population depends on agriculture. However its contribution to the GDP is less than 5%. This is a consequence of faulty and lop-sided policies of the Indian Government.Unduly influenced by the Soviet model of development the Indian Government and the Planning Commission ignored the ground realities and concentrated on massive industrial development for which we had neither the resources nor the man-power. This completely distorted the priorities of the nation and resulted in concentration of wealth and power in a few hands and massive poverty. The farmers because of inadequate remuneration were reduced to penury and despair. Indian farmers are extremely hard working and honest but because of lack of irrigation facilities and proper infrastructure have started selling their fertile lands to corporates and builders.
India has the potential to be the granary of the world. We have abundant sunlight,fertile lands,hard working farmers and a wide variety of crops. All the farmers need is low cost finance and latest know-how.
If India is to fulfill its dream of becoming a poverty free nation soon it has to invest heavily into agricultural development. Along with food grains,horticulture,dairy,poultry,life-stock and aqua farming also needs to be encouraged.Cooperative farming must be encouraged and local leaders must encourage farmers to pool in their lands and resources as was done in the case of Amul which is now a leading success story in the whole world. We have to create more world class brands like Amul. It was Sardar Patel who had the insight and the vision to build a strong and prosperous India by building the cooperative spirit in India.
Instead of building huge and massive dams which cause massive displacement of the rural and poor tribals, we must create small local irrigation facilities like ponds,small dams,drip farming,water harvesting and tube-wells.
Instead of using expensive chemical fertilizers which reduce the fertility of the land in the long run as has happened in Punjab, the farmers must be encouraged to use manure and other chemical free fertilizers.They must be encouraged to go in for water recycling and cons
ervation as Israel has done.
The Government should encourage farmers to export food grains,vegetables, dairy products,fruits,meat and marine products by giving them the necessary incentives and proper tariffs. We must also start growing cereals,pulses,soya bean, ground nuts and other necessary crops for making India self-sufficient in edible oils.
Our ideal should be to increase the contribution of Agriculture to GDP to 25% within the next 10 years.
India has the potential to be the granary of the world. We have abundant sunlight,fertile lands,hard working farmers and a wide variety of crops. All the farmers need is low cost finance and latest know-how.
If India is to fulfill its dream of becoming a poverty free nation soon it has to invest heavily into agricultural development. Along with food grains,horticulture,dairy,poultry,life-stock and aqua farming also needs to be encouraged.Cooperative farming must be encouraged and local leaders must encourage farmers to pool in their lands and resources as was done in the case of Amul which is now a leading success story in the whole world. We have to create more world class brands like Amul. It was Sardar Patel who had the insight and the vision to build a strong and prosperous India by building the cooperative spirit in India.
Instead of building huge and massive dams which cause massive displacement of the rural and poor tribals, we must create small local irrigation facilities like ponds,small dams,drip farming,water harvesting and tube-wells.
Instead of using expensive chemical fertilizers which reduce the fertility of the land in the long run as has happened in Punjab, the farmers must be encouraged to use manure and other chemical free fertilizers.They must be encouraged to go in for water recycling and cons
The Government should encourage farmers to export food grains,vegetables, dairy products,fruits,meat and marine products by giving them the necessary incentives and proper tariffs. We must also start growing cereals,pulses,soya bean, ground nuts and other necessary crops for making India self-sufficient in edible oils.
Our ideal should be to increase the contribution of Agriculture to GDP to 25% within the next 10 years.
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