Page 300 - DMGT509_RURAL MARKETING

Unit 15: Marketing of Agricultural Produce

bio-diversity parks, etc., will receive a high priority to prevent their extinction. Specific Notes
measures will also be taken to conserve indigenous breeds facing extinction. There will be
a time bound programme to list, catalogue and classify country’s vast agro bio-diversity.
Sensitisation of the farming community with the environmental concerns will receive high
priority. Balanced and conjunctive use of biomass, organic and inorganic fertilizers and
controlled use of agro chemicals through integrated nutrients and pest management (INM
& IPM) will be promoted to achieve the sustainable increases in agricultural production. A
nationwide programme for utilization of rural and urban garbage, farm residues and organic
waste for organic matter repletion and pollution control will be worked out.

Agro forestry and social forestry are prime requisites for maintenance of ecological balance
and augmentation of biomass production in the agricultural systems. Agro-forestry will
receive a major thrust for efficient nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation, organic matter
addition and for improving drainage. Farmers will be encouraged to take up farm/agro-
forestry for higher income generation by evolving technology, extension and credit support
packages and removing constraints to development of agro and farm forestry. Involvement
of farmers and landless labourers will be sought in the development of pastures/forestry
programmes on public wastelands by giving financial incentives and entitlements to the
usufructs of trees and pastures.
The history and traditional knowledge of agriculture, particularly of tribal communities,
relating to organic farming and preservation and processing of food for nutritional and
medicinal purposes is one of the oldest in the world. Concerted efforts will be made to
pool, distill and evaluate traditional practices, knowledge and wisdom and to harness
them for sustainable agricultural growth.
Special efforts will be made to raise the productivity and production of crops to meet the
increasing demand for food generated by unabated demographic pressures and raw
materials for expanding agro-based industries. A regionally differentiated strategy will
be pursued, taking into account the agronomic, climatic and environmental conditions to
realize the full growth potential of every region. Special attention will be given to
development of new crop varieties, particularly of food crops, with higher nutritional
value through adoption of biotechnology particularly, genetic modification, while
addressing bio-safety concerns.
A major thrust will be given to development of rainfed and irrigated horticulture,
floriculture, roots and tubers, plantation crops, aromatic and medicinal plants, bee-keeping
and sericulture, for augmenting food supply, exports and generating employment in the
rural areas. Availability of hybrid seeds and disease-free planting materials of improved
varieties, supported by network of regional nurseries, tissue culture laboratories, seed
farms will be promoted to support systematic development of horticulture having emphasis
on increased production, post-harvest management, precision farming, bio-control of
pests and quality regulation mechanism and exports.

Animal husbandry and fisheries also generate wealth and employment in the agriculture
sector. Development of animal husbandry, poultry, dairying and aqua-culture will receive
a high priority in the efforts for diversifying agriculture, increasing animal protein
availability in the food basket and for generating exportable surpluses. A national livestock
breeding strategy will be evolved to meet the requirements of milk, meat, egg and livestock
products and to enhance the role of draught animals as a source of energy for farming
operations and transport. Major thrust will be on genetic upgradation of indigenous/
native cattle and buffaloes using proven semen and high quality pedigreed bulls and by
expanding artificial insemination network to provide services at the farmer’s doorstep.
Contd...

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