Agriculture growth dips: Economic survey

The state agriculture sector is seeing some unhappy times. As per the Maharashtra economic survey 2012-13, state agriculture and its allied sector growth has declined by 2.1%.

The sector contributes almost 12.4% in the state GDP growth, with nearly 55% people dependent on it. The survey was tabled in the legislative assembly on Wednesday.

“The agriculture sector growth is to decrease by 1.4%, pulling down the growth of agriculture and its allied sectors by 2.1%. While industry sector will grow by 7%, service sector will grow by 8%,” the survey stated.

Due to scanty rainfall, production of foodgrains, pulses and sugar has gone down. The production of foodgrains in 2012-13 has decreased by 18%. “This year, 104.39 lakh metric tonne (MT) production was reported as against last year’s 127.30 lakh MT. Production of sugarcane has decreased by 33%, that of cereals by 21% and pulses by 5%,” stated the survey.

The forestry and fisheries sector too has registered negative growth in 2012-13 — -6.3% and -0.2% respectively.

The price rise and wage inflation is leading to higher cost of inputs resulting in higher cost of production. Subsequently, industrial production based on agriculture has reduced.

In 2011-12 as well, the economic survey had painted a dismal picture, with the agriculture sector dragging the growth down. The GDP growth was reported 8.5% as against 11.3% in 2010-11.

Agriculture and allied activities had shown a negative growth of 5.1% in 2011-12; industry and services had grown at a slower rate of 9.1% and 10.1% respectively. The production of foodgrains in 2011-12 was expected to decrease by 23% with a production target of 118.09 lakh tonnes. Production of oilseeds and cotton (lint) also decreased by 8% and 15% respectively. In 2011-12, monsoon came late to Vidarbha and Marathwada region which affected the sowing season and production.

CM Prithviraj Chavan had hinted earlier that the growth in agriculture sector has declined and the state wants to reduce its dependency on it.

Govt keeps mum on irrigation data

After last year’s controversy following the claim that land under irrigation in the state had increased by just 0.1% in a decade, the Maharashtra Economic Survey for the present year has kept mum on the irrigation data, preferring not to give any information on the alleged multi-crore irrigation scam which had forced NCP leader Ajit Pawar to resign earlier as deputy chief minister.

The report says a special investigation team (SIT) was appointed in December 2012 for assessing irrigation potential and irrigation area. “This data will be available once the report and the recommendations of the committee are accepted,” stated the survey report. The SIT probe has been headed by Madhav Chitale, an irrigation expert.

Last December, during the winter assembly session, the state government had announced a SIT probe, bowing to pressure from the Opposition and public. However, the SIT is not empowered to probe officials who are connected to the scam.

Activist and lawyer YP Singh said the state government wants to tone down the scam by not giving the details. “The SIT has no legal standing. It is just an eyewash. It was not constituted under commission of inquiry act,” Singh said.

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