Himalayan Times (1962)

August, ZQ, 1962

Himalayan Times

Seven

sible will be made finan-
cia'iy feasible. The State
Governments have been
asked to draw up larger
programmes for minor

I irrigation and soil con-
servation go that wherever
neoeasary more funds may
be made available to them
even outside the State

j Plan oiling.

It is true that cii-
i roatia faotors play havoc
| with our eropB, and be-
yond a certain limit no-
body can help the pea-
sants against natural ca-
lamities lika drought or
i floods. Even so, it is
our duty to build up the
agricultural potential on
an adequate basis through
essential supplies of ferti<
lisers, pure seeds, insec-
ticides and improved im-
plements. If we go ahead
with these essential pro-
grammes in & systematic
manner, there is no doubt
that Indian agriculture
would achieve higher pro-
duction over the five year
period. Evan though the
production may fluctuate
from yuar to year owing
I to unfavourable climatic
j conditions, our planned
' efforts must be able to
show a rising curve over
the Third and the subs-
j squent Plans.

Needless to mention
that the f dfilment of ag-
ricultural programmes
1 need mueh gruatt-r effort
j on a very wide basis as
j compared with industrial

programmes with imported
machinery and personnel.
In the sphere of agricul-
ture we have to reach
millions of oir.r farmers
and comrnunieata to iheui
improved method? of scien-
tific agriculture and ani-
mal husbandry. '1 ha main
purpose of the Community
Development movement
which will cover the whole
country by October 1963
is to carry on this exten-
sion work in a vigorous
and organised manner.
The Planning Commission
will not allow any worth-
while programme in the
agricultural sector to suf
fer for want of funds.
But it should be bcrne
in mind that what is re-
quired in the imp'eroea-
tation of agricultural pro-
gramme i« not merely
larger money but also
muoh better organisation
and administration. We
roay provide all the funds
necessary for various pro-
grammes, but if the essen-
tia! Supplies of credit,
seeds, fertilisers and insec-
ticides do not reach the
farmers in time all enr
financial allocations wit]
prove infructucus and
wasteful It is, therefore,
essential to streamline our
administrative machinery
in the agricultural depart-
ment of the State Govern-
ments so that millions nf
our agriculturists are able
to secure "he vit?l sup-
plies in accordance with
tirna ,ched -.ies.

The Ministry of Food
and Agriculture,, the Plan-
ning Commission and the
btate Governtueiits art.
of course, trying to dp
their best for the fulfil-
ment of the agricultural
targets laid dowr: ia the
Third Plan. But we can-
not afford to become
complacent. Vi e must not
rest on our oars. There must
ba full awareness on she
part of everybody in re-
gard to the crucial and
pivotal importance of
agriculture in our national
economy. Generally, when
a factory is closed down
on account o: shortage
of coal or po*er, there
is a hue and cry *)< jT..r
the country But when
the agriculturists in a
particular rtgi< n do not
get adequate tv\ r.iias of
fertilisers ir wi»n their
crop? wither away owing
to defective t<sut«tict: of
irricat co»! ftc itiva. &
sense of u'rgsccy on the
part of the sdmitiittra-
tion is hardly vicibl»: If
there is ►Jiorfcige of elec-
tric supply, the geuftal
tendency is to restrict
supply to the farmers for
their irrigation*! puosjss,
while the irdiiitrisl »M1';u
art allowed to fuiicticu
a* npuai. Th;*e iiistarjceR
only »htsw hew wt mc
not suiTiruent y cor-ec:6»ft
of the vital rote that u t
agricultural fcee.tcr a-vei
T)la.y in raiding t-ut w».
tional economy to * highcit