(a) whether agriculture has recorded a negative growth in this fiscal year;
(b) if so, whether this has been attributed to a poor monsoon after thirteen years of normal rainfall; and
(c) if so, the steps the Government propose to take in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)
(a) According to the advance estimates released by the Central Statistical Organisation in the month of June, 2003 the growth rate in Agriculture, including Allied Sectors, in the year 2002-03 is (-) 3.2 per cent as compared to 5.7 per cent in the previous year.
(b) The negative growth of agriculture in 2002-03 is due to severe drought in several parts of the country. The year 2002 was the first all-India drought year after a continuous spell of 14 good monsoons that followed the previous all-India drought year of 1987.
(c) In order to mitigate the adverse effects of monsoon and ensure robust growth of agriculture in the face of drought conditions occurring over time and across regions, Government of India is implementing several long term programmes such as
(i) Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) launched during 1996-97 for expeditious completion of ongoing major & medium irrigations projects;
(ii) Drought Prone Area Programme(DPAP);
(iii) Desert Development Programme (DDP);
(iv) National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA);
(v) Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP); and
(vi) Integrated Afforestation and Eco-Development Project Scheme (IAEPS).