Pratibha Patil to discuss farm sector reforms with governors

NEW DELHI: President Pratibha Devisingh Patil will meet on Thursday the governors of states to study and recommend measures to revitalise Indian agriculture, reflecting the government’s reluctance to depend wholly on the state governments for reversing deceleration in agriculture and meeting food security targets.

The governors attending Thursday’s meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan are part of a special committee on agriculture appointed by the President earlier this month.

Headed by Shivraj Patil, governor of Punjab and Rajasthan, the committee will be updated on current policy measures by secretaries of various ministries, including agriculture, food processing, food and consumer affairs, panchayati raj, and rural development.

Industry bodies Ficci and CII have also been invited to propose ways for better corporate linkages in agriculture.

Agriculture has grown by 3.6% in first six months of 2011-12, marginally slower than the same period last year. The growth target for the current XII Plan is 4%.