From Poverty to Prosperity

Net Sown Area > 150 Million Hectares

Primary source of Livelihood for > 50Crores
Among the top three global producers of many crops,
including wheat, rice, pulses, cotton, peanuts, fruits
and vegetables
Towards building a Healthy Workforce
Bulwark of Economic, Human and Social Development
 Boosting production
Irrigation & Drainage
Credit support
Research and Extension services

Protecting incomes
Free trade Failed to do right
Protection from excess competition
But Our Policies things and
Assured price support when needed
Insisted on doing
Preventing volatility and wastage wrong things
Insurance
Warehousing and storage
Promoting market access
Post harvest technology
Value addition
Selective Green Revolution
Confined to a few crops.
Irrigated areas are major beneficiaries
Social and Ecological Consequences

Irrigation
Monsoon Dependent Croplands
Only 1/3rd crop area has assured irrigation

Perversion of markets
Deliberate Price Distortion by Middlemen
State control of Retail trade
Systemic failures
PDS Leakages
Distorted MSP Regime
Improper Fertiliser subsidies
Poor storage facilities
Opposition to GM Crops
Land Reforms

Adhoc export policies

No Firm Long term Policy
Farmer Distress Suicides Social Unrest & Agitations

Resource Depletion Unemployment

Our Efforts should be towards
Making agriculture
Engine of Economic Growth and Development
Earner of export revenue

These should also include

Integration of
Farmers interests
Industrial growth
National prosperity

Synergy in the working of Ministries of

Agriculture
Water Resources
Commerce
Rural Development
Environment ministries
We need to act on several fronts

Trade Policies Price Support

Warehousing fValue Addition

Market Access Technology

Trade Policies
Free trade across the markets
Abolishing all trade restrictions within and across the national borders.

Result
Price stability,
Foreign exchange
Subsidy reduction

Ware housing
Massive investments in Cold Storages & Godowns
Enabling Proper Linkages

Result
Productivity gains
Price stability
Reduced wastages
Market Access and Price Support
Rationalising the taxes and cesses.
Credit Support
Control over unscrupulous private traders
Providing facilities at Market Yards
Democratisation of Market Committees
Abolition of APMC act
Increasing the number of Rythu Bazars
Value Addition
Food Processing Industries
Contract Farming

Technology
GM Crops
Farm Mechanization
Farming should be transformed into
A dynamic, globally competitive, fast-growing, job-creating sector.
A Stimulant to Growth and not a drag on Economy

We should choose
Prosperity Poverty

Opportunities Alms

Liberty State Controls

Once these hindrances are removed and the right incentives are provided, Indian
farmer can be globally competitive, and rural economy can be transformed.