(a) whether the percentage of agricultural product has decreased during the last five years;
(b) if so, whether the Government has reviewed the reasons for the decrease in the
percentage of agricultural products; and
(c) the findings of the review and the reasons for the decrease?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)
(a): The statistics of National Accounts compiled by Central Statistical Organisation reveal
that the figures of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Agriculture including forestry and fishing
as a percentage of overall GDP has shown a declining trend at current prices from 26.2% in
1999-2000 to 22.2% in 2003-04. The statement showing percentage of GDP in agriculture
(agriculture product) including forestry and fishing in overall GDP during 1999-2000 to 2003-
2004 is given below:-
GDP (Rs. in crore) at current prices
Year Agriculture All Sectors %age share of Agriculture, Forestry and (Overall GDP) Forestry and Fishing Fishing in overall GDP
1999-2000 461964 1761838 26.2 2000-01 468479 1902998 24.6 2001-02 521907 2090957 25.0 2002-03 509907 2249493 22.7 2003-04 560482 2523872 22.2
(i) Doubling of rural credit in three years, easing the burden of debt and high interest rates, and nursing cooperatives back to health.
(ii) Launching special programme for dry land farming in the arid and semi-arid regions of the country, and for horticulture and water management.
(iii) Stepping up of public investment in agricultural research and extension, rural infrastructure and irrigation.
(iv) Marketing reforms in the States aimed at promoting direct marketing of agricultural commodities from the farmers` fields without the intermediation of licenced traders and regulated markets.
(v) Providing investment subsidy to marketing infrastructure projects in States undertaking reforms.