The task ahead
To sustain a growth rate on a long-term basis, cropping intensity and yields must rise substantially without further damage to ecology and environment, as has been the case in the past. It would require additional investment in rural infrastructure, irrigation, agricultural research and extension and institution building.
Marginal and small farmers are increasingly finding that their holdings are not viable. Promotion of allied activities, development of rural non-farm sector, easy provision for leasing out or leasing in land, organisation of small and marginal farmers through formal or informal collectives based on SHGs and cooperative models are some of the suggested initiatives.
Concerted efforts should be made to resurrect the rural credit delivery agencies in terms of their geographical spread as well as organisational strength, in order to ensure healthy delivery of credit for agriculture and rural enterprises.
(The author is a Chartered Accountant and can be contacted at gopalagarwal@hotmail.com)
