Economic Liberalization and Agricultural Policies in the Context of Planning Ray Prabuddha1,*, Chowdhury Sarthak2 1Subject Matter Specialist (Agricultural Extension), Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, P.O.-Sriniketan, Dist.-Birbhum, Pin.-731236, West Bengal, India 2Professor of Agricultural Extension, Former Head of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Statistics, Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, P. O.-Birbhum, Pin.-731236, Birbhum, West Bengal, India *Corresponding author: prabuddha_ray1@rediffmail.com
Online published on 3 December, 2015. Abstract Nearly seven decades after independence, still, various vulnerable areas are persisting in Indian Agriculture over the years like the problems of India farmers in many parts of the country as these areas are prone to low rainfall and drought, as the water level in reservoirs is going down. In case of poor or scanty rainfall, the contingency plan for the affected districts is dormant. Agricultural production and productivity of various crops are absurdly low in dry land areas, Eastern Indian States, Central Indian States and Hilly regions of North-eastern States. The problems of crores of landless agricultural labourers and marginal farmers doing subsistence agriculture are still to be solved. The main source of rural poverty is from these two categories of farmers. But the process of economic liberalization still bypasses these segmentswho arenearly themajority of Indianfarming community. ANationwide Skill Development linked Economic Empowerment of these battered sections of farming community is the need of the hour. Hopefully new Central Government is putting due importance on the aspects such as Skill Development, Economic and Financial Inclusion etc. There is a huge work to be done in the spheres of dairy farming, fishery, soil and water testing, integrated pest management and horticulture. Top Keywords Indian agriculture, economic liberalization, landless agricultural labourers. Top |