New Delhi, May 23: PHD Chamber of Commerce has asked the new government to step up investments in the agricultural sector. "Necessary steps shall have to be taken by the state governments in particular to enhance government spending on agri-infrastructure as also to improve agriculture productivity and production," it said.
"NABARD may allocate funds exclusively for creating irrigation infrastructure." PHDCCI also proposed higher spending for R&D on non-traditional and cash crops like pulses, oilseeds, cotton, sugarcane, horticulture and animal husbandry. "Public sectors's gross capital formation (GCF) in agriculture and allied sectors has halved from 50 per cent in 1980-01 to 2000-01," according to an analysis of PHDCCI, which reflects a sharp decline in investments in the sector. Bureau Report