Study heaps praise on Gujarat’s farming model

Gujarat has emerged as India's leading state in agricultural production – outstripping neighbouring Maharashtra, its nearest rival.

Gujarat has registered the highest agricultural growth in real terms during the past decade, leaving other states far behind, according to a study conducted by Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Assocham).

The state stood first with a decadal compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.97 per cent between 2000-01 and 2009-10 among 15 non-special category states. Maharashtra stood second with a growth of 10.50 per cent during the period.

Other states too have shown positive growth in the agriculture sector. Chhattisgarh ranked third with 6 per cent agricultural growth, followed by Orissa at 5.28 per cent and Andhra Pradesh, fifth with 5.2 per cent CAGR, the study released on Tuesday said.

The study notes that Gujarat showed noticeable progress on the agriculture front when it made around 1.5 million hectares of semi-arid land regions of the state productive for farming. This led to a systematic and scientific development of farm sector in the state, it says.

"Revolutionary steps like investment in agricultural infrastructure to improve the irrigation system, employment of latest technologies and establishment of a dedicated power grid to ensure regular power supply for the sector, and a committed leadership are significant reasons behind the high agricultural growth rate,'' said Assocham secretary-general D S Rawat.