New Agriculture Strategy in India
Nagarjuna N
Horses, all the King's Men
Food Policy Group - http://www.groups.google.com/group/foodpolicy
Buniyad Group - http://www.groups.google.com/group/buniyad
Dear Devinder Ji,
1. I saw your interview on DoorDarshan regarding the New Thrust to
Agricultural Policy and Prime Minister directives to Planning
Commission for next 5 Year Plan.
2. I was happy to note that the rhetoric of Second Green Revolution
was not being bandied about even though the suggestions of pushing
ball into the court of states was seemingly indicative of the humility
of the Emperor's courtiers, in the face of twin failures of presiding
over agrarian crisis and falling production levels.
But what essentially are the details of this new strategy ?
And what role is Sharad Pawar playing in all this ?
This needs to be closely followed.
Humpty Dumpty Sat on the Wall and all the Kings Horses and all the
King's Men ----- couldn't put Humpty together again.
3. The focus now seems to be on empty agricultural productivity
targets and how falling agricultural production is seen as a gaping
hole in the Strategies of the Urban Economists like Montek Singh
Ahluwahlia and Chidambaram.
So who will do the farming, mahila kisans ? The Left was conspicuously
silent. They have no role to play ?
I think time is ripe for building political networks of youth
leadership, who can take on such facile arguments.
4. No mention was made of separating Food Ministry from Agriculture
Ministry, much as I would like to see this development. In my opinion
this is essential.
http://foodminister.blogspot.com/
I would also like to see the concept of a separate Kisan Budget taking
shape. - http://www.kisanbudget.blogspot.com/
5. I was also extremely disappointed to see the quality of arguments
of Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices Prof
T. Haque.
Was this luminary really serious about propagating the theory of
interlinking of national rivers and canals ?
Such patently absurd theoreticians are in charge of agricultural
research, extension and praxis ? Six Blind Men of Hindoostan ....
No wonder Americans are being invited to reinvent Indian agriculture.
Just a few comments !!
Nagarjuna
Editor - IFP
Indian Food Policy
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