Ansari moots 'Grow in India' to transform agri-sector

The VP says mere infusion of funds might not be enough unless underlying social gaps and divisions remain in place

Vice-President Hamid Ansari today stressed the need to take "bold steps" for putting in place a 'Grow in India' programme to transform the socio-economic fabric of country's agricultural sector.

"Time has perhaps come for us to consider putting in place a 'Grow in India' programme to transform the socio-economic fabric of our agricultural sector as much as we need a 'Make in India' programme," he said.

Mere infusion of funds might not be enough unless the underlying social gaps and divisions remain in place, Ansari noted , adding "We need a social corrective along with the economic correctives to redress these challenges in development of rural sector."

"We have the resources and the ability to bring happiness to the life of our farmers. It would take persistent, continuous action but it is not impossible. The government needs to take bold steps to translate the good intentions into action to tackle the deficiencies," Ansari said adding this would, however, require a strong political will and the need to develop a wide political consensus.

He was addressing the national seminar on 'Public Investment and Subsidies on Agriculture and Upliftment of Agrarian Economy' organised by All India Kisan Sabha here.

Barriers growing from caste and other identities, that have seemingly hampered progressive measures such as farmers cooperative movement in most parts of the country barring a few regions, need to be dismantled and ground created for collective action, the Vice President said.

Enhanced public expenditure in agriculture - in form of increased investments, rather than un-targeted subsidies- is thus required to bring about technical change in agriculture, and higher agricultural growth. In addition, concerted reforms are needed to achieve equity in terms of higher growth in disadvantageous regions like rain-fed and tribal areas and benefit small and marginal farmers, he added.

Quoting a survey commissioned by Bharat Krishak Samaj on 'The State of the Indian Farmer' in 2014 , Ansari said the survey reported that some 62% of agriculturists were willing to quit farming to move to cities and that only 20% of the rural youth was keen on continuing farming.

The survey found that more than 40% farmers were dissatisfied with their economic condition. The figure was over 60% in eastern India. These are disturbing trends, he observed.