Page 132 - DECO502_INDIAN_ECONOMIC_POLICY_ENGLISH

Indian Economic Policy

Notes however, clear growth in oilseeds, sugarcane and cotton. In general, it is estimate that the annual rate
of growth in agriuclture was 2.3 per cent, as against the targeted 4 per cent.
Agriculture in the Eleventh Plan (2007-12)

During the 11th Plan also, the Planning Commision has fixed the target of 4 per cent, rate of growth
in agriculture, as if this is the first time such a “high” rate of growth has been fixed. The Planning
Commission has appointed a special Agricultural Commission to monitor this rate of growth.
Table 7 : Crop Production During Ninth and Tenth Plans

Crop Base Level Plan Target Actual
(1996-97) (2001-02) Output
Output in 2001-02 2006-07
All foodgrains (m. tonnes) 199 234 213 216
Oilseeds (m. tonnes) 24 30 21 24
Sugarcane (m. tonnes) 278 336 297 345
Cotton (m. bales of 170 kg.) 14 16 10 23

Source : Five Year Plan documents and Economic Survey, 2008-09 and Ministry of Agriculture.
*3rd Advance Estimates

Table 8 : Some key Indicators of Agriculture Progress
Ratio
between
1950-51 1964-65 1990-91 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 1950-51
& 2009-10

1. Foodgrains (m.tonnes) 51 89 176 216 231 234 218 4.27
Rice “ 21 39 74 93 96 99 89 4.24
Wheat “ 6 12 55 75 78 81 81 13.5
2. Oilseeds “ 5 9 19 24 29 28 25 5.0
3. Sugarcane “ 57 122 241 345 341 274 278 4.88
4. Cotton * (m.bales) 3 6 7 23 25 23 24 8.00
5. Jute & (m.bales) 3 4 8 11 11 10 11 3.67
mesta **
6. Potato (m.tonnes) 3 4 15 24 n.a 29 n.a 9.67@

Source : Economic Survey, 2009-10. Note : * Cotton : million hales of : 170 kg @ for 2008-09
Agricultural Statistics At a Glance, 2010 ** Jute : million hales of : 180 kg
The corporate sector is actively encouraged to go for contract farming in fruits, vegetables and other
crops. It is encouraged to provide seeds, fertilisers and assured marketing. At the same time, the
Government is encouraging the setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) by buying large tracts of
a agricultural land for setting up industries and service sectors. There is considerable confusion in
the agricultural sector in India.
The volatile variation in crop production from year to year shows that there is very little planning in
Indian agriculture. The old saying that “Indian agriculture is a gamble in the rains” holds good even
today, after nearly six decades of planning. In simple terms, agricultural planning has been a failure.
The data pertaining to 2007-08 reveals that renewed efforts to boost agricultural production has
shown concrete results. Total foodgrains production will be of the order of 231 million tonnes – a

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