Question : AGRICULTURAL REFORMS

(a) whether some States are lagging behind others in the implementation of agricultural reforms in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government to implement the agricultural reforms in such States?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)

(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 292 DUE FOR REPLY ON 3RD SEPTEMBER, 2007.

(a) to (c): The major reforms initiated by the Government of India for the Agriculture Sector relate mainly to agricultural marketing, Short term rural Cooperative Credit Structure and agricultural extension.

The States of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh have notified the amendments in their Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Acts and the amended Act of Punjab is applicable in the Union Territories of Chandigarh also. The APMC Act implemented by the State Government of Tamil Nadu is believed to be providing for the reforms suggested in the model Act. The Government of Bihar has repealed its APMC Act with effect from 1st September, 2006. There is no APMC Act in the States/UTs of Kerala, Manipur, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu and Lakshadweep and hence they do not require any amendments. The State Governments of Haryana and NCT of Delhi have undertaken reforms partially, by amending their APMC Acts. Many of the States which have amended their APMC Acts, are yet to notify the amended APMC Rules thereunder. Only the States of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Orissa have notified such amended Rules so far.

The Government of India has formulated a Revival Package for strengthening/revitalizing Short Term Cooperative Credit Structure based on the recommendations of the Task Force headed by Prof. Vaidyanathan, and sought participation of all the State Governments in implementing the package.

So far, 18 States and one Union Territory have agreed to implement the Package, out of which, 12 States viz Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Orissa, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have signed the MoU with GoI and NABARD.

The Scheme `Support to State Extension Programme for Extension Reforms` was launched in May, 2005. Its objective is to support State`s efforts in revitalization of the Extension System by promoting decentralized and farmer friendly extension system. An autonomous body by the name Agriculture Technology Management Ageny (ATMA) is set up at the district level for implementation of the scheme. It is being implemented in 321 districts of 27 States and 2 Union Territories as on date. The States namely – Delhi, Meghalaya, Jammu & Kashmir and Kerala have not submitted their State Extension Work Plans since inception of the scheme except for the work plan of 3 suicide affected districts of Kerala which was approved during 2006-07.

Efforts are on by the Central Government to get these reforms implemented in all the States.