Incentives for states to raise agro output

15 May 2007

New Delhi: The Centre plans to offer incentives to states that implement strategies to raise agricultural output, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday.

The Prime Minister said whatever strategies were chosen by the states, they must deliver tangible benefits to farmers, consumers and the rural economy as a whole.

He said this was a must if the country had to avert any crisis in the agrarian sector and fulfil the needs of a growing economy.

The department of agriculture has said that a draft national farm policy was being considered by a committee of secretaries and a broad consensus among states has emerged.

The draft policy involves setting up of Rainfed Area Authority with a budget of Rs300 crore, bringing additional area under irrigation, launching of special wheat production programme with investment of Rs841 crore and an action plan for increasing pulses'' production.

Under the horticulture mission, a public-privatisation model has been suggested by the ministry of agriculture.