Agriculture Growth of India: Do it like Gujarat

In the 60 years since independence Indian agriculture has recorded an average growth rate of 2.7 percent. In last 30 years the rate has been slightly more than 3 percent, well below the target of 4 percent.

It is striking that the agriculture in seven sizable states (Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa) grew faster than four percent between 2000-01 and 2007-08. The star performer is Gujarat clocking eight percent, nearly triple the national average.

IIM Ahmadabad professor Ravindra Dholakia studied the trajectory of this growth. Broadly speaking Prof Dholakia lists six factors which helped Gujarat to grow faster:
• A sustained program of water conservation and management.
• A massive and well-coordinated extension effort
• A successful overhaul of rural electricity distribution
• A strong emphasis non-food crops like horticulture
• Sustained and comprehensive support to livestock development
• Major revamping of agriculture supporting infrastructure, including roads, electricity and ports.

This case study talks in detail about each and every initiative Gujarat government took in order to improve the agriculture output.

What is really striking is, a semi-irrigated state, where major part land is desert and land is not real fertile compared to few other states; it is really exceptional that the state government has done a complete overhaul of the situation.

It’s also important to note, Gujarat is also ahead in industry development, export business and it has developed itself as a transportation hub. It should be a good case study to other states; a sheer determination of the leadership can really change a state.

I see a big lesson of leadership and vision in this case.