INCLUSIVE GROWTH
Agriculture
Improved performance in agriculture holds the key
to Inclusive Growth. The last decade saw the State
achieving milestones which have never been visualized
in the past. The gross area sown in the year 2000-01
was 108 lakh hectares which increased upto 145 lakh
hectares in the year 2010-11.The expansion in
irrigation and water management with the spread
of drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation, provision of
Soil Health Cards for all land holders, preparation
of village wise soil fertility maps (including
micronutrients) as well as several others innovations
and initiatives like Krishi Mahotsav has resulted in
Gujarat achieving 10.8% agricultural growth during the
last decade. Food grain production in the State rose
to 100 lakh MT.
Horticulture
Gujarat’s horticulture and vegetables production has increased 300% in the last decade.
After West Bengal, Gujarat produces the maximum vegetables in the country. The State
Government has taken up a massive programme for net houses, green houses, poly
houses, trellis systems etc. It is planned to set up more than 500 trellis, poly houses and
green houses during the current year. The State Government has extended National
Horticulture Mission to all districts of Gujarat. It has also extended small perry urban
vegetable cluster scheme to 45 towns of the State. The State intends to make Gujarat
the horticulture hub of India.
Anti–Farmer Policy
in Cotton
Policies in agriculture should be consistent and pro farmer. Uncertainty
and agitation in the mind of the farmer is not in the national interest.
Prosperity in the rural economy is essential for a healthy growth rate of
the economy as a whole. I am constrained to draw the attention of the
Deputy Chairman to anti farmer policies and decisions of the Central
Government which has led to widespread distress, agitation and anger
amongst farmers in Gujarat.
Gujarat contributes 1/3rd cotton production in the country. More than 40%
cotton seeds and 50% cotton export from India is from Gujarat. Frequent
changes in policies by the Textile Ministry have lowered the confidence of
cotton growers. The cotton farmers of Gujarat have incurred more than
Rs. 14,000 crore loss in 2010-11 and also huge losses in 2011-12 due to
arbitrary banning of export of cotton. Government of India and its agency
Cotton Corporation of India have failed to mop up even 3% of cotton from
Gujarat. The prices of cotton crashed from Rs. 62,000 per candy to Rs.
34,000 per candy in this season.
The Central Government went to the extent of taking away the cotton
seed price control power from the states and reserved it for the Union
Government under Essential Commodities Act. This action has resulted in
the private seed companies arbitrarily charging high prices and also selling
cotton seeds at a premium, putting farmers under further pressure.
This year the Textile Ministry has taken upon itself to control the entire
cotton trade and introduce license raj – cotton farmers, traders and
ginners have to account for bales under the threat of punishment.
Cotton farmers of Gujarat have got no help from either the Textile
Ministry or the Agriculture Ministry.
