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Revitalization of Rivers in India Draft Policy - Isha Guru Jaggi Vasudev

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<strong>Revitalization</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Rivers</strong> In <strong>India</strong><br />

<strong>Draft</strong> <strong>Policy</strong> Recommendation<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>digenous breeds with better adaptability, disease-resistance and feed-use<br />

efficiency is decl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g. Conservation and improvement <strong>of</strong> such breeds are to<br />

assume foremost importance.<br />

DIVERSIFICATION OPTION<br />

The agriculture development <strong>in</strong> the past has been means <strong>of</strong> food and raw<br />

material, which has to be seen now as means <strong>of</strong> employment- led economic<br />

goals, alleviation <strong>of</strong> poverty and self–reliance through its l<strong>in</strong>kages and a<br />

multiplier effect. Globalization <strong>of</strong> agriculture has opened new opportunities<br />

and also the challenge <strong>of</strong> stiffer competition. The challenge thus, demands for<br />

adjustment <strong>of</strong> the structure <strong>of</strong> the economy to resonate with <strong>in</strong>ternal stipulation.<br />

To address the challenges <strong>in</strong> agriculture, diversification has emerged as the<br />

best option, to address nutritional adequacy, employment opportunities, farm<br />

<strong>in</strong>come enhancement and use <strong>of</strong> natural resources. Among various options for<br />

diversification, horticulture has proved, beyond doubt, its potentiality for ga<strong>in</strong>ful<br />

diversification.(Chadha et al., 2013; S<strong>in</strong>gh, 2014).Any develop<strong>in</strong>g economy need<br />

to take care <strong>of</strong> availability <strong>of</strong> food, nutritional security, susta<strong>in</strong>able livelihoods<br />

and health care for ensur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>clusive growth. In this scenario, horticulture has<br />

emerged as one <strong>of</strong> the most important sub-sectors <strong>of</strong> agriculture <strong>in</strong> the country<br />

mak<strong>in</strong>g the onset <strong>of</strong> ‘Golden Revolution’(D<strong>in</strong>esh,2017).<br />

The role <strong>of</strong> horticulture <strong>in</strong> enhanc<strong>in</strong>g productivity <strong>of</strong> land, generat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

employment, value addition, improv<strong>in</strong>g economic conditions <strong>of</strong> the farmers and<br />

entrepreneurs, <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g exports and above all provid<strong>in</strong>g nutritional balance to<br />

the people has been well acknowledged. The sector <strong>in</strong>cludes a wide variety <strong>of</strong> crops<br />

under different groups such as fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushroom,<br />

floriculture, medic<strong>in</strong>al and aromatic plants, nuts, plantation crops <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />

coconut and oil palm. The horticulture sector has emerged as a promis<strong>in</strong>g area<br />

for diversification <strong>in</strong> agriculture on account <strong>of</strong> high-<strong>in</strong>come generation per unit<br />

<strong>of</strong> area, water and other farm <strong>in</strong>puts and environmental friendly production<br />

systems. Government <strong>of</strong> <strong>India</strong> accorded high priority for the development <strong>of</strong> this<br />

sector, particularly s<strong>in</strong>ce the VIII Plan and beyond (S<strong>in</strong>gh, 2014).<br />

The impact has been visible <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> production and productivity<br />

<strong>of</strong> horticultural crops. Over the last decade, the area under horticulture grew by<br />

Annexures<br />

537

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