5.1 Agriculture

Agriculture is the main stay of the state’s economy. About 75 percent of working force, as per 1991 census, depend upon agriculture in one way or other. Approximately about 49 per-cent of the geographical area is under cultivation. As per the Agriculture Census of 1995-96, the cultivated area of 165.78 lakh hetc. is divided into 66.37 lakh land holdings and area falling within various categories is as under :- 

The predominance of marginal and small land holders is evident from the above table which calls for sustained efforts for improving the living standard of such marginalised population.

Change in the cropping pattern over the years i.e. from 1956-57 is one of the positive factors of agriculture sector. 

During the year 1956-57 about 63 per-cent of the gross cropped area was covered under cereal crops and that remained more or less the same during the period of “Grow More Food” campaign. However, after the introduction of soyabean in 1980-81 some low value cereal crops have been replaced by soyabean and the percentage coverage of cereals declined to 41 per-cent of the cropped area in 1999-2000. Similarly the percentage coverage of oilseed crops increased during the period 1980-81 onwards.

The change in cropping pattern has borne fruit which is evident from the fact that in 1999-2000 the share of soyabean production to national production was about 70 percent and that of oil seed production was about 27 per cent.

Even with all these achievements agriculture in Madhya Pradesh is still traditional, even though the economy is basically agrarian. The undulating topography, unutilised irrigation potential, practice of keeping land fallow during khariff and taking only one crop in rabi make it imperative that the soil and water conservation, ground water development, crop diversification and substitution are to be undertaken on priority to accelerate growth in agriculture production.

Ninth Plan Progress

For enhancing the agriculture production the important strategies envisaged during the Ninth Plan are :-

Assigning highest priority to management of dry land and accelerating the pace of the utilisation of created irrigation potential.

Effective transfer of technology to farmers through an efficient extension net work.

Production and distribution of quality seed and fertilizers/pesticides to the farmers.

Encouragement to cooperatives and N.G.Os to take-up seed production programme in remote areas and incentive to societies for advance storage of fertilizer in these areas.

The approved outlay for the Ninth Plan for agriculture sector was Rs. 26264.00 lakh against which the expected expenditure was Rs. 57152.73 lakh. The enhanced expenditure compared to approved outlay was mainly due to increased budget allocation to the tune of Rs. 60528.65 lakh during Ninth Plan period. Group-wise details are shown below :-

The detailed estimate of production level achieved by the end of IX Plan as compared to VIII Plan is given below :-

From the above table it is clear that all the crop groups (except cotton) there was substantial increase in production during Ninth Plan period.

Tenth Plan, 2002-2007 and Annual Plan, 2002-2003

The policy approach to agriculture, particularly in 1990s  has been to secure increased production through subsidies in inputs such as power, water and fertilizer rather than building/capital assets. This strategy has run into serious difficulties as the subsidies have become financially unsustainable. Therefore, the proposed strategies for the Tenth Plan are :-

1. Focus on raising the productivity of land in a manner which is sustainable over a long period.

2. Bringing the uncultivated wasteland into productive use whether in Agriculture or Horticulture.

3. Increasing work opportunities and productivity of women farmers.

4. Raising cropping intensity of agricultural land which is at present 135%.

5. Enhancing rain water harvesting and increasing the irrigation potential through scientific watershed development.

6. Emphasizing ground water development.

7. Watershed Development Programme with peoples participation.

8. Rural and district road connectivity thorugh Mandi funds.

9. Strengthening of agriculture research and development system. A radical overhaul of extension. Specific measures will be taken to ensure that research, technology development and extension services meet the specific needs of women farmers.

10. An increased focus on subsistence crops and technologies in rainfed/dryland areas.

11. Concentrating on small and marginal farmers and on rainfed areas where returns to both capital and labour are high.

12. Diversification of agriculture to meet the enhanced food and nutritional needs.

13. Organic farming would be promoted in the state as organically produced products fetch premium prices in the international market.

14. Farm mechanisation would be given special thrust.
    

The approved outlay for the Tenth Plan and Annual Plan 2002-2003 is Rs. 81612.00 lakh and Rs. 14927.70 lakh respectively. The details are given below:-

Regarding physical aspects, the table below shows the important details :-

5.2 Horticulture

Horticulture crops are important as they generate extensive employment opportunities and income. Being perennial, these crops also help in checking soil erosion and provide high density green cover to the soil. Being tough, many of these crops can successfully be grown on waste land not suitable for traditional crop cultivation.

In the year 1998-99 the horticulture related crops covered an area of 524.00 thousand hectare, out of which the fruit varieties were sown in 50.30 thousand hectare, vegetables covered 153.10 thousand hectare, spices 301.20 thousand hectare, medicinal plants covered an area of 20.10 thousand hectare and floriculture covered 1.30 thousand hectare. The total area, thus, covered under horticulture related crop was 2.58 per cent of total cropped area.

Ninth Plan Progress

The following strategies were envisaged during the Ninth Plan for the development of horticulture sector :-

Area extension under fruit, vegetable, floriculture, spices and medicinal plantation.

Proper selection of horticulture crops on the basis of soil type, climatic factors and available irrigation sources.

pularising development of nursuries among cultivators.

Development of better marketing, processing and storage support.

Introduction of non-traditional horticulture crops.

For meeting the aforesaid objectives, the outlay approved for the Ninth Plan was Rs. 6308.00 lakh, against which the expected expenditure is Rs. 7954.69 lakh. The excess expenditure is due to higher budget allocation (Rs. 8721.29 lakh) during Ninth Plan period.

The important physical achievements during the Ninth Plan are shown below:-

Tenth Plan, 2002-2007 and Annual Plan, 2002-2003

Strategies envisaged for the Tenth Plan are :-

Extensive fruit plantation on government and private fallow land and by the side of State Highways and irrigation canals.

Encouraging farm forestry

Popularising plantation of medicinal and aromatic varities.

Providing improved variety of vegetable seed to the cultivators and agriculture labour living below the poverty line.

Adopting cluster approach is selected villages for the development of vegetable and other horticulture produce.

The approved outlay for the Tenth Plan and Annual Plan 2002-2003 are Rs. 7743.80 Lakh and Rs. 1548.76 lakh respectively.

The important physical details   of the Tenth Plan and Annual Plan 2002-2003 are given below:-

5.3 Animal Husbandry & Dairy Development

An important component of agricultural diversification is animal husbandry including dairying and poultry which hold immense promise for improving the rural livelihoods by providing additional source of income and employment, specially to landless and small and marginal farmers. Proper development of this sector will require attention not only to technology, processing and marketing arrangements but also to issues of animal welfare. In particular, disaster management programmes for livestock need to be devised since such asset loss can drive the poor into destitution.

Dairying is equally important sector of rural economy providing not only the calory value but offering additional employment opportunities, particularly in the lean season of agriculture. With a view to directly involve the milk producers in organised dairy development activities, a World Bank assisted programme was launched based on the celebrated “Anand Pattern”. This programme envisaged dairy development on cooperative lines in 9 districts of Madhya Pradesh clubbed into three milk sheds viz. Bhopal, Indore and Ujjain. Based on the initial success of the World Bank assisted project, Operation Flood II Programme was initiated in the year 1980-81 in four milk sheds of Gwalior, Jabalpur, Raipur and Sagar covering 29 districts.

Of late, the dairy development functions have been merged with Animal Husbandry Directorate.

Ninth Plan Progress

The strategies envisaged in the Ninth Plan for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development were :-

Opening new dispensaries, up gradation of existing dispensaries, hospitals, providing diagnostic facilities and introduction of Gosewak Yojna in far-flung areas.

Conservation and preservation of indigeneous breeds, increasing production capacity of central semen bank, conservation of all liquid semen insemination units into frozen semen units.

Emphasis on making poultry programme  more viable.

Undertaking massive programmes for development of sheep, goat and pig.

Encouraging Fodder Development Programme.

Motivating SC, ST communities to adopt dairying and animal husbandry as one of the means of livelihood.

Consolidate the gains of Operation Flood Programmes.

To help the cooperative milk unions and government milk supply schemes to become commercially viable institutions to face open competition.

The approval outlay for the Ninth Plan for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development was Rs. 9479.00 lakh (Rs. 4792.00 lakh for Animal Husbandry and Rs. 4687.00 lakh for Dairy Development) against which the expected expenditure during the Ninth Plan is Rs. 13788.49 lakh for both Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development sectors.

The important physical achievements during Ninth Plan were as follows :-

Tenth Plan, 2002-2007 and Annual Plan, 2002-2003

The basic functions of animal husbandry sector are :-

To look after health of the livestock through various veterinary health infrastructure.

Breeding of cattle through natural and artificial means.

Development of goat, sheep and pigs.

Undertaking fodder development programmes.

Poultry development, particularly by arresting various diseases.

Acquainting the personnel with latest techniques of animal husbandry devices through continuous training.

To perform the aforesaid functions efficiently the strategy envisaged during the Tenth Plan are :-

Improving livestock health by establishing new hospitals/dispensaries and augmenting the existing one. The present status of one veterinary health institution for 15125 lviestock against the G.O.I recommendation of one institution for 5000 livestock shall have to be improved.

Making sufficient provision for purchase of medicines and instruments.

Making available sufficient stock of liquid nitrogen for artificial insemination.

Sufficient provision for purchase of cario-canes for keeping liquid nitrogen.

Recommencing the subsidy programme for purchase of animal feed cutters by the cultivators.

Initiating the programme of extending subsidy for constructing silege pits by the cultivators to popularise stall feeding.

To initiate providing of ‘Goat Units’ to persons living below the poverty line.

The approved outlay for the Tenth Plan and Annual Plan 2002-2003 for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development sectors in Rs. 16244.00 lakh and Rs. 3201.00 lakh respectively.

Important physical details for the Tenth Plan and Annual Plan 2002-2003 are given below :-

5.4 Fisheries

Inland fisheries is an integral component of rural development programmes in Madhya Pradesh. It is gaining importance for its potential for employment and income generation. It is one of the important aspects of agricultural diversification which hold promise for imporving not only the rural livelihoods but urban as well.

Madhya Pradesh possesses 2.84 lakh hectare of water area in the form of large, medium and small irrigation reservoirs, village and private ponds, out of which 2.37 lakh water area, at present is under fish culture.

Besides, the state has  major rivers viz. Narmada, Tapti and Mahi and their tributaries forming a network of 17088 kms. Fishing in rivers is free for the members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribe communities. The fishing in these waters is on decline due to lack of any regulation.

Out of 2.03 lakh hect. of water area of the reservoirs brought under fish culture, ten reservoirs having a water area of 1.21 lakh hectares is with M.P. Fisheries Federation Ltd.

A total of 0.11 lakh hect. water area is with the Fisheries Department for research, training and seed production purposes. The fishing in these water bodies is done on royalty basis for which Fisherman Cooperatives pay a nominal royalty to the department and the fish is marketed by the society. About 0.27 lakh hect. area has been leased out to the fisheries cooperatives by Panchayats on 7 to 10 years lease for fish culture and fish production as per guide lines laid down by the department.

Ninth Plan Progress

The following strategies were proposed for the Ninth Plan :-

Bringing additional water area under fish culture.

Enhancing fish seed productivity and reducing mortality of fish seed in rearing.

Increasing fish production

Generating additional employment and increasing the income.

Promote activities through fishermen cooperative societies.

Emphasis on fishermen’s training.

Promote welfare activities.

To achieve aforesaid objectives, the outlay approved for the Ninth Plan was Rs. 3084.00 lakh, against which the anticipated expenditure is Rs. 2666.91 lakh.

The main targets and achievements during Ninth Plan (after division of the state till the end of 2000-2001) are given below :-

Tenth Plan, 2002-2007 and Annual Plan, 2002-2003

The following strategies are envisaged for the Tenth Plan period :-

Stocking all the water bodies with genetically improved seed and using village ponds for seed rearing.

Encouraging fish seed production in private sector.

Popularising Pen and Cage culture for raising fingerlings

Acquarium fish breeding and seed raising will be encouraged

Introducing prawn culture in private sector.

For the purposes of fish culture all tanks and reservoirs of Forest Department, Local Bodies and Boards will be developed by Fisheries Department.

Fishermen housing will be promoted and a new scheme-saving-cum-relief will be introduced.

Fish Seed Farms and rearing ponds owned by the Department will be leased out to un-employed graduates, fishermen cooperative societies etc. for seed production.

The outlays envisaged for the Tenth Plan and Annual Plan 2002-2003 are Rs. 2989.00 lakh and Rs. 589.00 lakh respectively.

The table below shows the important physical targets earmarked for the Tenth Plan and Annual Plan 2002-2003 :-

5.5 Forest

Out of the total geographical area of 308.24 thousand Sq.Km, the forest area covers 95.20 thousand sq.km., constituting 30.90 per cent of the total geographical area of the state. However, its productive capacity and actual production nowhere compares with its proportion or extent. About 40 per cent of these forests support economically important species such as teak, sal and bamboo. Forests are prime source of non-tax revenue of the state which is evident from the fact that in the year 1998-99 the gross revenue earned was Rs. 369.96 crore which increased to Rs. 442.09 crore in the year 2000-2001.

The state has the large tribal population along with the substantial population of marginal farmers and landless labourers whose dependence on forest for employment, small timber, fuel, fodder and food is an acknowledged fact. The cattle population of the state estimated to be about 3.49 crore is largely dependent on forest for grazing. Large fuel wood removal and heavy grazing (even by hoards from neighbouring states like Rajasthan, Gujrat) caused denudation of forests, seriously affecting their renewability and productive capacity.

Ninth Plan Progress

The activities of the forestry sector mainly related to forest conservation, preservation, scientific management and development through various afforestation programmes. The strategies proposed for the Ninth Plan were :-

To give highest priority to protect and preserve the existing forest.

To adopt holistic approach in forestry planning and identification of Forest   Development Programmes.

To integrate the modern technology and concepts in the forest planning, project formulation, monitoring and evaluation with application of remote sensing techniques.

To integrate forest development programmes particularly in the field of watershed development, rehabilitation of degraded forests, fuelwood plantation and pasture development with programmes of animal husbandry and dairy development.

To lay emphasis on soil and moisture conservation through watershed projects based on integrated approach in afforestation and regeneration activities.

To suitably expand the research activities specially in the spheres of applied forestry.

To conduct refresher courses, organise field visits, regional seminars for in-service personnel in order to acquaint them with recent advances made in the forestry sector.

To evolve suitable package and work norms for various plantation programmes in different agro-climatic zones.

To strive for composite development of forest villages.

To evolve most acceptable and practical grazing control regulations, specially in regeneration areas with ultimate objective of doing away with fencing or like operation.

To undertake all round development of existing national parks and game sanctuaries.

To implement the content of various objectives as stated above, the approved outlay for the Ninth Plan was Rs. 44943.00 lakh against which the expected expenditure is Rs. 46432.78 lakh.

Regarding physical performance the table below shows the important details :-

Tenth Plan, 2002-2007 and Annual Plan, 2002-2003

The problems and constraints in forestry development include :-

Lack of awareness about multiple roles and benefits of forests, especially its role in drought proofing and prevention of soil and water run-off.

Inadequate linkage between management and livelihood security of the people.

Low level of technology

Inadequate research and extension

Weak planning capability

Wastage in harvesting and processing

Market imperfections

Over emhasis on government involvement and control

Low level of people’s participation

Unwanted restrictions on felling, transport and marketing of forest produce grown by the people.

Lack of inter-sectoral coordination and weakness and conflicting roles of public forest administration.

To plug such constraints, the thrust areas identified for the development of forestry sector during Tenth Plan period are :-

Implementing all the prescriptions as prescribed under various working plans and micro plans.

Empowering both Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCS) and staff of the forest department for holistic development of forestry sector.

Application of modern advanced electronic media for efficient management of forestry affairs.

Emphasis on development of forest villages and villages within the five kms of forest boundaries with the help of other concerned departments.

The outlay envisaged for the Tenth Plan for forestry sector is Rs. 35720.00 lakh, while for Annual Plan, 2002-2003 is Rs. 7144.00 lakh. These outlays include provision for soil and water conservation.

The table below shows few important physical details for the Tenth Plan and Annual Plan, 2002-2003.

5.6 Cooperation

Cooperative movement, bsically, aimed at improving the socio-economic status of the weaker section of the society and, in turn arrest the tendency of their exploitation. Besides economic will being, these vulnerable group of the society get a sense of confidence and respect which help in furthering their endeavour in much faster manner. The following table shows the functional level of the cooperative sector in the state as compared to all India levels :-