Question

What are the main objectivies of the new Agricultural Policy?

Answer 1

1. Raising the productivity of inputs: One of the important objectives of India’s agricultural policy is to improve the productivity of inputs so purchased like HYV seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation projects, etc.

2. Raising value-added per hectare: Agricultural policy is to increase per hectare value-added rather than raising physical output by raising the productivity of agriculture in general and productivity of small and marginal holding in particular.

3. Protecting the interests of poor farmers: Agricultural policy is proposed to protect the interests of poor and marginal farmers by abolishing intermediaries through land reforms, expanding institutional credit support to poor farmers, etc.

4. Modernizing agricultural sector: Here the policy support includes the introduction of modem technology in agricultural operations and application of improved agricultural inputs like HYV seeds, fertilizers, etc.

5. Environmental degradation: Agricultural policy of India has set another objective to check environmental degradation of natural base of Indian agriculture.

6. Removing bureaucratic obstacles: The policy has set another objective to remove bureaucratic obstacles on the farmer’s co-operative societies and self-help institutions so that they can work independently.