Indian Agricultural: Growth, Generation, Policy & Problem Indian Agricultural | Page 19

Pg.no. 18
Finally, there is the goal of making India a global outsourcing hub for the production and supply of
inputs needed for sustainable agriculture, and products and processes developed through
biotechnology and ICT.
But although the NCF report was submitted in 2006 very little action was taken until the present
government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office. Fortunately, over the last four
years, several significant decisions have been taken to improve the status and income of farmers.
Designation of the agriculture ministry as the agriculture and farmers’ welfare ministry has stressed
keeping farmers’ welfare as the measure of agriculture progress. Issuance of soil health cards to all
farmers has been critical because soil health is basic to plant health and plant health is basic to
human health.
Both budgetary and non-budgetary resources have been allocated for promoting micro-irrigation
through the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. Conservation and sustainable use of
indigenous breeds of cattle is being encouraged through a Rashtriya Gokul Mission. The Prime
Minister also inaugurated the first ever International Agrobiodiversity Congress.
Promotion of the electronic national agriculture market is helping bring together different agriculture
markets. Likewise, the creation of Gramin Agriculture Markets will provide scope for direct sales to
consumers in both retail and bulk form. Notable in this context is also the introduction of the
Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Act, 2017 and Agricultural Produce and Livestock
Contract Farming Services Act, 2018 supported by electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipt system
for increased institutional credit to the farm sector.
Also notable is the determination of MSP on the basis of NCF recommendations and assured
procurement at MSP of more crops. Integration of protein rich pulses and nutri-rich millets into welfare
programme including PDS, mid-day meals and ICDS is important too.
Activities like apiculture, mushroom cultivation, bamboo production, agro-forestry, vermicomposting
and agro-processing are being promoted to generate additional jobs and income for farm families.
The prime minister has also suggested that we should develop methods by which farmers’ income
can be doubled within five years. Plus, several corpus funds are being set up to complete ongoing
Ramesh Kumar P