New Delhi, June 29: ASSOCHAM has sought a new social contract between public and private sector industries to help tap the potential of rural India and generate more jobs and increase productivity of foodgrains. Such a development would help foster micro-enterprises supported by micro credit making agriculture the engine of economic growth, the chamber said in a release.

According to the paper prepared by Assocham, small farmers should gain the advantage of scale, particularly in marketing and adopt precision in farming techniques which would make them cost-competitive and environment friendly.

On the lines of China, it suggested a similar movement designed to promote concurrently value-added on-farm and off-farm employment in rural areas.
To derive economic benefit from the untapped horticulture potential, ASSOCHAM suggested strengthening and streamlining the national horticulture development board.

It also called for establishment of an effective storage, processing, packaging, transportation and distribution system as these were vital for sustaining a dynamic and producer oriented horticulture industry.

Sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards and regulations should be developed, it said.
Bureau Report