AGribusiness initiatives in Gujarat Parihar T. B., Kalamkar S. S., Swain M. Agro-Economic Research Centre (Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India), Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Anand, Gujarat Online published on 23 October, 2017. Abstract Gujarat state has made rapid strides in its agriculture sector including the agribusiness sub sector during recent past. The spectacular agricultural growth in Gujarat in recent times has been a result of a well thought out strategy, meticulously planned and coordinated scheme of action, sheer hardwork and sincerer implementation of programme, political will to take bold decisions and commitments to economic policy reforms by the state government. Agriculture in Gujarat has been transforming over time from traditional to high value added commercial crops which can be seen from a shift in its cropping pattern from food grains crops to high value cash crops. The trend in shifting of cropping pattern paved ways for many ancillary industries in the areas of processing, packing, storage, transformation, etc. Agricultural growth in the state is favored by the prevailing eight agro-climatic zones, enterprenuring farming community, policy support from the government, wealth of livestock population, extended coast line and contribution by the agricultural scientist and dedicated NGOs. The Gujarat government has aggressively pursued an innovative agriculture development programme by liberalizing markets, inviting private capital, reinventing agricultural extension (Krishi Motsav, ikisan portal), improving roads and other infrastructure (Jyotigram Scheme). The mass-based water harvesting and farm power reforms in dry Saurashtra and Kachchh, and North Gujarat have helped energise Gujarat's agriculture. These semi-arid regions have outperformed the canal irrigated South and Central Gujarat. For ensuring systematic and coordinated approach to all around development of its agriculture sector, the Government of Gujarat had prepared in the year 2000 a ten year plan called ‘Gujarat Agro-vision 2010’. A comprehensive New Agro-industrial Policy was also announced in 2000. In the new industrial policy, the state has indentifies agro-industries as the major thrust area. The policy aims to spur investment in agro-processing, agro-infrastructure and hi-tech agriculture by monetary incentives. Top Keywords Agribusiness, Agriculture Policy. Top |