JORHAT, Nov 22 - Participating at the 76th annual conference of the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics (ISAE) at the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) campus here on Monday, member of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Ayog Dr Ramesh Chand said that the country requires an annual growth rate of 10.4 percent in agriculture to double the income of farmers by the year 2022, as per the directive of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said that the Central Government changed the name of the Union Ministry of Agriculture to Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to pay special attention to the plight of the farmers.
�The Prime Minister referred to doubling farmers� income by the year 2022, which is seven years away from the base year 2015-16. And, if anything is to be doubled by the year 2022-23, it will require an annual growth rate of 10.4 percent,� justified Dr Chand.
Stressing on the importance of proper implementation of Government policies for effective growth in agriculture and farmers� welfare, the NITI Ayog member said that if the well coordinated efforts are successfully made effective by the Centre and the States, then the country can achieve the goal of doubling farmers� income within a period of 7 to 10 years.
�Some recent development initiatives of the Central Government aims to raise output and reduce cost. They include Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Soil Health Card Scheme and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana. Another major initiative that provides insurance against crop and income loss is Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana,� he said.
Expressing optimism on the possibility of achieving the targeted growth rate through effective implementation of the Government schemes and innovative measures, the Vice Chancellor of Assam Agricultural University(AAU), Dr Kamal Malla Bujarbaruah said that he is confident of making various positive changes in agriculture.
Through the innovations of six regional agricultural research stations, five commodity research centres and 23 KVKs, the university has been playing a significant role in agricultural development and extension of scientific services to various remote agrarian pockets of the State.
Along with him, several dignitaries, including the chairperson of the Indian Statistical Commission Dr RB Barman, ISAE president and former member of Planning Commission, Dr Abhijit Sen, former adviser to the World Bank, Dr Uma J Lele, several senior officials of NABARD and Reserve Bank of India, besides a galaxy of agricultural economists of the country participated in the programme which will continue till November 23 next.
