Agriculture
The future of agriculture in the state lies in increasing the growth rate in the agriculture sector and addressing productivity issues. Towards this end, the Government’s strategies include re-engineering the extension approach, empowering the farmer by introducing advanced agricultural practices, timely supply of quality inputs and promotion of self- reliance in seed production among farmers.
By 2020, Andhra Pradesh will be a powerhouse of Indian agriculture, with a well developed, efficient and productive allied sector and strong agro-industries. The agricultural sector will have shifted to a high growth trajectory and will be more than four times its current GSDP. All regions will enjoy agricultural development; and balanced regional development and equity will have changed the face of rural Andhra Pradesh. To achieve this vision, the State plans to aggressively pursue strong agricultural growth, including employment generation, and target the levels of investment needed. ♦
Growth: Agriculture will experience a quantum leap in growth, achieving an average annual growth rate of 6 per cent in real terms over the next 25 years. This will bring about a four-fold increase in agricultural GSDP from Rs.22,810 crore in 1995-96 to over Rs.90,000 crore in 2020-21.
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Employment: The strategy in each sector of the economy aims to generate employment along with growth. The strategy for agriculture will certainly create new jobs, especially in the allied sector. However, agriculture’s share of employment will actually reduce, from the current 70 per cent to 40-45 per cent, in line with a shift in Andhra Pradesh’s economy. As economies grow, the focus of economic activity shifts from primary activities to those that lead to greater value-addition. As Andhra Pradesh’s economy develops, it will follow the same pattern, shifting from a predominantly agrarian to an industry- and servicesled economy. As a result, more and more jobs will be created in industry and services as compared to agriculture. This process will be complemented by a shift of surplus labour from agriculture to other sectors as agriculture itself becomes more productive, efficient and technologyintensive, and moves from being a subsistence activity to an economic one.
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Investment: Achieving the growth envisaged for the agricultural sector will require significant investment. The State will need to invest around Rs.70,000 crore until 2010, while the total investment until 2020 will be roughly Rs.1,60,000 crore. In addition, a major element of achieving the vision for agriculture will be ensuring that women gain their share of the benefits of development. While the status of men and women is markedly unequal in all spheres of the economy and society, in agriculture, in particular, it is highly inequitable. Men are generally seen as more qualified and, therefore, are targets for extension and skill training.
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he vision of Andhra Pradesh, the first State in the country to develop it, is to build a prosperous, democratic, egalitarian, and cohesive rural society. Andhra Pradesh with its strengths in agriculture and food production has tremendous potential to emerge as a major power house. Agricultural performance is the key to economic growth and poverty alleviation since it is the dominant activity in rural areas. The key efforts would also include (a) constant upgradation of technology with an emphasis on reduction in unit costs and increase in benefits that would flow to the small farmers and (b) participation of beneficiaries in the designing and implementation of programmes. There is a need to shift the focus of Research and Development from a single input package technology for environmentally homogeneous regions (irrigated areas) to a portfolio of location specific technologies for dry lands and uplands, which are heterogeneous. Raising agricultural productivity in a sustainable and equitable manner through improvement of technology and institutions would help overcome food security. Attaining a sustainable growth of 4-5 per cent per annum from now to 2020 of gross domestic product from agriculture involves key reforms in agriculture trade, investments in post-harvest technologies of a huge order, raising the efficiency and quality of public service delivery, and a clearly stated policy for regulating the private sector to protect the natural resource base that agriculture relies on so that the growth is sustained over generations. The State has massive strengths in agriculture, including a varied climate, water resources and soil that make it possible to grow a variety of crops here, and a large coastline that facilitates exports. The State will build on these strengths to develop a strong and vibrant agriculture sector. 31
31 Andhra Pradesh Celebrations - 2009