Clocking a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of over nine per cent, Madhya Pradesh (MP) has ranked on top with highest growth in agriculture and allied sector during the decadal period of 2004-05 and 2013-14, according to a recently concluded ASSOCHAM study.
“Besides, MP’s economy is most dependable upon agriculture and allied sector, which contributed about 29 per cent to MP’s gross State domestic product (GSDP) as of 2013-14 which is highest in any State,” according to a study titled ‘States Emergence: A comparative analysis of growth and development,’ conducted by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
While releasing the findings of the chamber’s study in Bhopal, National secretary general of ASSOCHAM DS Rawat said, “However, with a share of about nine per cent, MP has emerged as second biggest contributor to India’s agriculture and allied sector as of 2013-14 and has ranked after Uttar Pradesh (UP).
Promoting non-crop activities like poultry, dairying, fisheries, horticulture, floriculture, animal husbandry and others in the agriculture and allied activities’ sector, ensure adequate and timely credit supply at reasonable cost and ensure social security on a short-term basis together with other such measures would spur job creation in agriculture and allied activities' sector in MP.”
“Agriculture productivity in MP can be further strengthened by providing good quality crop seeds through credit linked subsidy schemes and exempt all perishable fruits and vegetables from the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) ambit,” he added.
Suggesting certain long-term measures to further promote the agriculture sector in MP, ASSOCHAM has recommended the State Government to provide effective, solution oriented services and innovative ideas to farmers, introduce agriculture knowledge based program at village level, develop canal facility for irrigation, conduct extensive training programs for organic farming, set up top-notch infrastructure based on public-private partnership (PPP) mode, provide credit to food processing industries at lower interest rates and set up committee to review and reform the APMC Act.