New Delhi, October 5
The Draft Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-07) has identified agriculture as a major engine for growth and has laid down measures to “improve efficiency, unleash entrepreneurial energy and promote rapid and sustainable growth”.
The Plan document has recognised elimination of inter-state barriers to trade and commerce as a major reform area as also the Essential Commodities Act which need to be amended.
An amendment to the Agriculture Produce Marketing Act is another key reform area along with the liberalisation of agro-trading, agro-industry and exports.
The plan document has said encouraging contract farming and permitting leasing out of agriculture lands, replacement of various acts dealing with food by one comprehensive Food Act, permission of future trading in all commodities and removal of restrictions of financing of stock and trading as the other major key reform areas for the agriculture sector.
In order to improve the terms of trade in favour of the rural economy, the Plan gives a statewise break-up of the targets in order to provide the requisite focus.
A Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana giving special reform-conditioned assistance to 100 most backward districts, Bihar and Kalahandi-Balangir-Korapur (KBK) region of Orissa and a wider reforms agenda for all states has also been envisaged.
In addition state development reports will lay down road maps for developments and emphasis will be given in reform based initiatives in power, irrigation and urban development.
