"Agriculture in India and Maharashtra-Issues and Prospects”

MEDC published it’s Special research publication on “Agriculture in India and Maharashtra-Issues and Prospects” in August 2002. This research studies publication reviewed the strategies on agriculture segment in Maharashtra.
This study focuses, on major issues and areas of concern such as price and food policies investment subsidies etc. It highlights reforms which still need to be initiated in the agriculture sector of Maharashtra. It also highlights the opportunities and challenges that the WTO regime is expected to pose.
This study about the status and performance of Agriculture in Maharashtra reviews the share of Agriculture in State Domestic Product. As Agriculture is a major employer in the State, it provides data of extent of land utilization, area under horticulture, irrigated area, food grain production, the yields of agriculture crops etc.
This study highlights the policy issues and areas of concern regarding agriculture. It highlighted the food policy, public expenditure on agriculture, subsidies in agriculture, issues related to sustainable land and water resources and also technology policies. This study highlights the initiatives taken by the Government and NGO’s to improve the agriculture scenario in Maharashtra, which includes Draft Agriculture Policy of 1996, Crop Insurance Scheme (National Agriculture Insurance Scheme) Watershed Development, Agriculture Education, Research and Extention Programs, irrigation-development. Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation, Tapi Irrigation Development Corporation, Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation, Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation, Kokan Irrigation Development Corporation, and the Horticulture Development linked to employment guarantee scheme. This study makes suggestions for initiating improvement in agriculture. It shows the necessity for greater investment in rural and agriculture related infrastructure.