Gujarat tops agri-growth table at 9.6%

Gujarat has recorded the highest agricultural growth among states between 2000-01 and 2007-08, a report by US-based research body has said.     

Thanks to investment in agricultural infrastructure mainly irrigation, diffusion of new technologies and power reforms, Gujarat registered 9.6 per cent expansion in farm production, followed by Rajasthan at 8.9 per cent, according to the report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).    

A well-known economist and author of the report Ashok Gulati gave credit to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for "commendable job and turn around" in the state agriculture.     

However, Punjab, which was known as a front ranking agricultural state, has been left behind well below the national average and ranked at 13th position among 19 states reviewed by the IFPRI.     

The northern Indian state endowed with rivers could manage annual growth of mere two per cent in the last seven years."Punjab has lived on the glory of the past. For the last 5-7 years, its productivity has been nil. The state is hooked to literally the opium of support prices and subsidies," Gulati said.