Amritsar: The Planning Commission today
said the amount being spend on power and fertilizer subsidies
can be better utilised to improve agriculture infrastructure
and raise farm productivity.
Public investment in the agriculture sector can be
stepped by diverting the electricity and fertiliser subsidies,
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia
said here while inaugurating the 69th Annual Conference of
the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics.
These funds, which run into thousands of crores, can
be used to improve the quality of land, enhance availability
of water and raise farm productivity, he said, adding there is
a pressing need to upgrade roads and extension services in
rural areas.
Ahluwalia further said that four per cent agriculture
sector growth rate as envisaged in the 11th Plan (2007-12) can
be achieved despite drought by improving the quality seeds and
adopting scientific methods of farming. Use of biotechnology
can double the agriculture output, he added.
The Plan panel head also underlined the need for
changing land laws to allow farmers to lease out land and quit
agriculture for better opportunities.
The conference is being attended by 300 agriculture
economists and policy-makers, besides ICRIER chairperson Isher
Judge Ahluwalia and government officials.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 23:56