Observers feel India's ability to produce more food would be its litmus test to ensure a successful future. He said that it was unfortunate that seven year old reform process barely touched the agri sector. The country should have taken a leaf out of China's book where first reforms in agri sector were initiated and then industry and trade. Consequently they attained and sustained an overall growth rate of 9 per cent for over a decade.

The fundamental element was the good earth and land ceiling and tenancy laws promoted the proliferation of small and marginal holdings and powerand irrigation continued to be in short supply. Foodgrain storage facilities, monopolised by the government were hampered by wastage and lacked an effective grading system. The CII recommendations say that policy planners must realise that it "would be dangerous to relegate agriculture to the back burner because without agricultural growth, it would be difficult to sustain the forms in other sectors of the economy". The country must appreciate"bi-directional relationship between agriculture and industry and growth in agriculture would trigger off and spurn growth in industry with active involvement of corporate sector bringing in capital, efficiency and technology to bring in socio-economic change" says the CII agenda for reforms which is likely to be sent to union government and various state governments soon.