The action plan is likely to suggest the implementation part of the new policy aiming at doubling foodgrains production within next 10 years as stated in the National Agenda for Governance. The plan, which is likely to be released next month, will concentrate on strengthening several centrally sponsored schemes aimed at agricultural and rural development.

Both the Planning Commission and the agriculture ministry are likely to add a note of caution in their document partially modifying the declaration in the National Agenda for Governance by replacing the word `foodgrains' by `food' which will include processed foods, livestocks and horticulture produces. The new agriculture policy has, therefore, defined agriculture as `an human enterprise to produce biomass through optimum utilisation ofland, water and other natural resources.'

Both the plan panel and the ministry have noted with caution the economic survey's views that foodgrains production has already reached a plateau in green revolution area. The only possibility of increasing production lies in harnessing the rainfed areas for increasing production through watershed management.

As the finalisation of the entire ninth plan document by the full bench of the National Development Council may involve a time consuming process, the centre is of the intention of pushing its agriculture agenda as early as possible.

In the meantime, the draft of the new agriculture policy is already prepared for vetting by the inter-ministerial group and the states. The agriculture minister Som Pal has stated that as several union ministries and departments are directly or indirectly concerned with agriculture and rural development through several centrally sponsored schemes under their ministry, inter-ministerial consultations has become necessary.Similarly, the states are also to be consulted as they are the implementing agencies as agriculture is a state subject under the constitution.

The ministry of agriculture is likely to hold consultations with the ministries of food and consumer affairs, rural areas and employment, chemical and fertilisers, water resources, food processing, environment and forests, non-conventional energy sources, science and technology, human resources development, health and family welfare and social justice and empowerment. The new agriculture policy is likely to embrace all necessary factors for a comprehensive rural and agricultural development.

Comparatively, the Planning Commission is studying various options for making several centrally sponsored schemes under agriculture ministry and other related ministries effective and viable. Options for merging several related schemes into a comprehensive scheme for avoiding duplication is also being pondered. The union ministry of rural areas and employment has alreadyinitiated the process of merging several welfare scheme with IRDP.

Sources in the Planning Commission said unlike the UF government, the present government at the centre is not thinking in terms of transferring the schemes to the states. It is of the intention of strengthening the schemes which can act as effective tools for implementation of the new policy in states under centre's surveillance.

The new agriculture policy has obviously left out the programme of development of cold chains and refrigerated transportation in rural areas to the industry and private sector. The minister has already invited the industry to invest in the sector. Another area is agricultural implements which has recently been dereserved from the small sector. The minister has also invited private sector participation for manufacture of improved and quality-based agricultural implements. He has assured that no levies, excise duties or taxes will be imposed on agricultural implements.

The new policy would seek to endeavour toincrease capital formation in agriculture which has already declined from 20 per cent to 9.4 per cent. Adequate flow of credit would be ensured. Modified comprehensive crop insurance scheme will be launched along with the Agricultural Insurance Corporation as a subsidiary of GIC.

Improvement of the marketing infrastructure under agriculture market produce committees is also in the agenda for the new policy so that the farmers get their due returns and these are not swallowed by middlemen.

Regarding optimum utilisation of land, the agriculture minister has stated that the government has already identified 143 million hectare cultivable land and 80 million hectare as fallow or degraded land.

Out of this 80 million hectare of degraded lands, 40 million hectare will be developed for agriculture and the remaining 40 million hectare will go under forestry programme.Afforestation and agriculture on watershed basis would be encouraged. There would be a national programme for watershed development.