Report of the XII plan working group on natural resource management and rainfed farming
Spanning several agro-ecological regions constituting 60% of total cropped area, the rainfed areas represent the geography with the largest concentration of poverty and backwardness. The cumulative neglect of the rainfed areas over the earlier plan periods in terms of institutional development, support systems, availability of appropriate inputs, credit, market access, agricultural research and extension has caused widespread desperation amongst farming community. The Group welcomes the Approach Paper to the 12th plan articulating a strong case in favour of breaking the isolation and exclusion of rainfed agriculture within the agricultural policy mechanisms, research and extension systems, and credit and market support.