Page 96 - DECO303_INDIAN_ECONOMY_ENGLISH

Unit 6: Agriculture in the National Economy

Notes
Table 6.4: Crop Production during Ninth and Tenth Plans
Crop Base Level Plan Target Actual Output
(1996-97) (2001-02) in 2001-02 2006-07
Output
All food grains (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
Notes: Tenth and Eleventh Plan figures are at 2006-07 prices.
Source: Indian Economy, Datt and Sundharam, S. Chand
The Planning Commission must have been obviously ashamed of its target projections in the
Ninth Plan. It is clear from Table 6.3 that the real production of food grains for the year 200 1-02
(final year of the Ninth Plan) was 212 million tonnes, as opposed to the planned target of 234
million tonnes – a great shortfall of 22 million tonnes. In the instance of oilseeds the real output
in 2001-02 was 21 million tonnes as against the targeted figure of 30 million tonnes. This was
also the instance of sugarcane and cotton.
What was actually pathetic was that the real production of oilseeds and cotton during the Ninth
Plan was not only lower than the target production but less than the base level (1996-97) output.
This was certainly negative rate of growth. It is unfortunate that we could not acquire Ninth plan
targets even at the end of Tenth Plan.
Table 6.4 gives agricultural accomplishment during 9th and 10th Plans. During the Tenth Plan
period (2002-07), food grain production had enhanced to 216 million tonnes – it may be stated
that the target of food grain production was set at 234 million tonnes for the Ninth Plan period
(200 1-02). There was, however, clear growth in oilseeds, sugarcane and cotton. Generally, it is
assessed that the annual rate of growth in agriculture was 2.3%, as opposed to the targeted 4 per
cent.

Notes Generally, it is the failure in the agricultural front that has led to failure of economic
planning in particular periods.

6.2.9 Agriculture in the Eleventh Plan (2007-12)

You must be aware that at the time of the 11th Plan also, the Planning Commission has fixed the
target of 4 per cent, rate of growth in agriculture, as if this is the initial time such a “high” rate
of growth has been fixed. The Planning Commission has appointed a special Agricultural
Commission to regulate this rate of growth.
The corporate sector is actively motivated to go for contract farming in vegetables, fruits and
other crops. It is motivated to offer seeds, fertilisers and assured marketing. Simultaneously, the
Government is encouraging the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) by buying huge
tracts of an agricultural land for establishing industries and service sectors. There is substantial
confusion in the agricultural sector in India.
The volatile variation in crop production from year to year depicts that there is very little
planning in Indian agriculture. The old proverb that “Indian agriculture is a gamble in the

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 91