New Delhi, Mar 13, (KNN) The agriculture and food industry of the countryhas shown a healthy growth owing to a slew of government measures such as modernising agriculture and providing better seeds to farmers.

Thanks to various measures taken by the government, the average annual growth rate achieved in agriculture and allied sectors during the 11th Plan improved to 3.3 per cent as against 2.5 per cent and 2.4 per cent in the 9th and 10th Plan periods, according to a recent statement by the Minister of Agriculture.
However, despite increase in agricultural productivity, the untapped potential of the sector remains very high.   Farmers continue to suffer on account of poor technology, small land holdings,and inadequate irrigation facilities.
The biggest impediment to agricultural productivity is the sale of spurious seeds which has contributed to wasting a whole farming year.  Despite the existence of laws to check the sale of spurious seeds, it continued unabated. 
“In order to curb the sale of fake or sub ¬ standard seeds, the State Governments have the power under the Seeds Act, 1966, the Seed Rules, 1968 and the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983, to take action like issue of warning, show cause notices, stop sale order, trial in the court etc against suppliers of fake or sub-standard seeds,” said Tariq Anwar, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries recently.
Yet, fake seeds, especially of Bt cotton remain in circulation and many gullible farmers are cheated, preferring to buy them as they come cheap.
Apart from contemplating strict laws for checking the sale of fake seeds, the government has taken many other measures for enhancing agricultural productivity.  The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was launched with an aim to increase production of rice, wheat and pulses by 20 million tonnes by end of the 11^th Five Year Plan during the Rabi season 2007-08.
 
Further, to boost agriculture, the government has launched a campaign to increase area coverage under pulses through its promotion as intercrops with Kharif crops and as relay crop, and catch crop in Rabi and summer seasons.   To encourage new farm practices, nearly 8.19 lakh demonstrations of improved varieties of rice, wheat and pulses were made from 2007-08 to 2011-12.
The official statement also stated that nearly, 174.56 lakh quintals of seeds of rice (high yielding variety and hybrids), wheat and pulses have been distributed and more than 122.90 lakhs hectare area has been treated with soil ameliorants like gypsum, lime and micro nutrients to restore soil fertility.
Also, about 49.53 lakh hectare of cropped area has been covered under Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and 74.70 lakh hectare where improved farm machineries and water saving devices including sprinkler, pumpsets and pipes have been distributed.   Significantly, through the organization of 49182 Farmers’ Field Schools, capacity building of farmers has been enhanced.

In addition the National Commission on Farmers (NCF) has come up with various proposals to promote, encourage and assist self-help groups, cooperatives, and farmer-producer companies, etc. to enable farmers to avail benefits of on-going schemes and policies and improve their collective welfare. Those suggestions were also incorporated suitably in the National Policy for Farmers (NPF), 2007.

“For the purpose of skill development, providing self-employment opportunities, technology transfer etc., the Government is providing training to various individuals and organisations under its various schemes like Swaranjayanthi Gram SwarozgarYojana (SGSY), ATMA (Agricultural Technology  Management Agency) scheme, National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH) etc.” the Ministeradded.
The government is in the process of disseminating the knowhowof modern technology throughout the country with emphasis on rural and remote areas. Various innovative schemes like Agriculture Technology Management Agencies (ATMA), Kisan Call Centers and KisanVigyan Kendra have been established for modernising agriculture.
The Minister also listed various agricultural technologies which are being disseminated through a network of Doordarshan National Channel, 18 Regional Kendras and 180 Narrowcasting Centres apart from 96 FM Radio Stations.
The agriculture sector remains vital and critical because nearly 58 per cent of the population still depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Thus, growth of the agriculture sector is imperative not only for ensuring food security of the nation but more importantly to achieve inclusive growth. (KNN/SK)