Year of review 2006 (Agriculture Ministry) - 2006: Year of challenges,
responses and new initiatives in Agriculture
Horticulture, Dryland farming and Credit get boost
fisheries board, innovation project launched
Rs. 16979 crore package for suicide-prone distts
The year 2006 threw up a number of challenges in the agriculture sector, which needed
immediate as well as long-term responses. The year also ended with a number of new
initiatives
taken
by
the
Government
in
agriculture
and
allied
sectors.
Agriculture received special attention at the highest levels in the Government. Two meetings of
Agriculture Coordination Committee were held under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister. A
meeting of Ministers of Agriculture and Allied Sectors of all States was called on December 22,
2006 to discuss the recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers. The
Commission
has
proposed
a
National
Policy
for
Farmers.
A National Bamboo Mission was set up to promote development of bamboo sector. The Rs
568.23 crore scheme will work for increasing area under bamboo, promoting marketing of
bamboo
products
and
generating
employment
in
the
bamboo
sector.
Funds for the National Horticulture Mission, launched last year, have been increased by over
30% to Rs. 1000 crore. Significant progress has been achieved by the Mission in one year of its
operation towards envigorating horticulture sector in the country. A Central Institute of
Horticulture
has
been
established
in
Nagaland.
Considering the importance of rainfed areas in India’s agriculture, a National Rainfed Area
Authority was created in November 2006. The Authority will support upgradation and
management of dryland and rainfed agriculture. It will also converge the various schemes being
operated
by
different
Ministries
in
the
area
of
watershed
development.
A micro-irrigation scheme was launched this year to promote water efficiency in farming
activities.
Agriculture Ministry has taken initiatives to promote modern terminal markets in important cities
for fruits, vegetables and other perishables. These markets would provide modern facilities for
electronic auction, cold chains and necessary logistics to farmers to sell their produce.
An Agri-marketing Summit was held in September in collaboration with CII, aimed at creating
awareness on the agri-marketing reforms and catalyzing private sector investment in agrimarketing business. The North-East Agri Expo 2006 was organsised at Dimapur, Nagaland
involving
all
north-eastern
States
and
Sikkim.
Agricultural credit from institutions had already crossed Rs. 1.14 lakh crore by October 2006
(i.e., in the first seven months of 2006-07) as compared to Rs 1.68 lakh crore in 2005-06). The
target of Rs. 1.75 lakh crore set for this financial year is likely to be fully achieved by March
2007.
As against the target of bringing in 50 lakh farmers every year into the institutional credit fold,
over 48 lakh new farmers had availed of loans from banks and cooperatives by October itself.
Starting Kharif 2006-07 the rate of interest on crop loans up to Rs 3 lakh has been reduced to
7%. Government has also finalized a package for revival of the short-term rural cooperatives
credit structure. The Rs. 13596 crore package will usher in reforms in the cooperatives sector
and help the cooperatives to provide easy credit for farming and allied activities.
The scope of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) has been enlarged to include term loans and also to
meet consumption needs. By September 2006, more than 6.25 crore KCCs have been issued
to
farmers.
An Agriculture Summit 2006 was organized jointly with FICCI for promoting public-private
partnership in various areas of agriculture. Besides industry and trade representatives, a large
number of farmers from across the country participated in the Summit.
A constitution amendment bill has been introduced in the Lok Sabha in May 2006 for
empowering cooperatives. The bill is presently under consideration of the parliamentary
Standing
Committee
on
Agriculture.
The Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister visited Vidarbha in Maharashtra in June-July to
have a first-hand look at the distress of farmers in the region. The Prime Minister announced a
special package on 1st July for six districts of Vidarbha region. Subsequently, the Government
approved special rehabilitation package for affected districts of other States. Taken together,
the package covers 31 districts of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala and
involves a sum of Rs. 16978.69 crore. This comprises subsidy/grants of Rs. 10579.43 crore and
loans
to
the
tune
of
Rs.
6399.26
crore.
Animal
Husbandry,
Dairying
&
Fisheries
The National Fisheries Development Board was set up in September 2006. The Board has
started promoting, supervising and coordinating developmental activities in the fisheries sector.
It activities cover the entire range of fisheries including aquaculture, brackish water fisheries,
deep-sea
fishing,
seaweed
cultivation,
and
processing
and
marketing.
The Department has allocated over Rs. 800 crore to States for promoting livestock, dairy and
fisheries sectors. The focus of dairy sector has been on rapid genetic upgration of cattle and
buffaloes
and
provision
of
health
cover
and
fodder.
A Dairy/Poultry Venture Capital Fund has been started. Assistance from the Fund is provided
for
dairy/poultry
projects
and
is
supported
further
by
NABARD.
Livestock Insurance has been started with the aim of providing relief to farmers in case of death
of their cattle and buffaloes. The scheme to this effect is being implemented initially in 100
selected
districts
across
the
country.
Over 53 thousand fishermen have been extended financial assistance for construction of
houses under the welfare programme for fishermen till October 2006. Under the scheme over
12
lakh
fishermen
are
provided
insurance
cover
every
year.
From 15 December, 2006 Government has started on-line registration for obtaining Sanitary
Import
Permit
for
livestock
products.
A number of steps were initiated during the year to control avian influenza (bird flu). A
contingency plan has been prepared and a Joint Monitoring Committee regularly monitors the
ground situation. Following outbreak of bird flu in some parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat and
Madhya Pradesh in February this year, strict control and containment operations were initiated.
This also involved culling over 10 lakh birds and destruction of 8546 tonnes of feed and feed
ingredients. A package was also announced to provide relief to the poultry industry affected by
bird flu. The package included credit relief and provision of maize at concessional rates.
In
2006,
Agricultural
India
was
declared
Research
a
rinderpest
and
free
country.
Education
A World Bank funded Rs. 1190 crore project, National Agricultural Innovation Project, was
launched in July, 2006. The project aims at enhancing livelihood security by involving farmer
groups,
Panchayati
Raj
Institutions
and
private
sector.
Added thrust is being given to taking research to the farmer’s field. Forty-three new Krishi
Vigyan Kendras were opened this year, taking the total number of KVKs in the country to 589.
Besides realising a number of plant varieties, including a wheat variety `Dicoccum’ suitable for
diabetic
patients,
ICAR
developed
a
vaccine
against
bird
flu.
The year 2006 also saw launching of a number of projects in agricultural research including
those on seed production, fisheries, exploiting of macro-organisms, transgenics, climate change
and
intellectual
property
management.
MP:CP:Agriculture(year end review)26.12.2006