Gujarat tops agri-growth table at 9.6%

Gujarat has recorded the highest agricultural growth among states
between 2000-01 and 2007-08, a report by US-based research body has
said.    

Thanks to investment in agricultural infrastructure mainly
irrigation, diffusion of new technologies and power reforms, Gujarat
registered 9.6 per cent expansion in farm production, followed by
Rajasthan at 8.9 per cent, according to the report by the International
Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).    

A well-known economist and author of the report Ashok Gulati gave
credit to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for “commendable job and
turn around” in the state agriculture.     

However, Punjab, which was known as a front ranking agricultural
state, has been left behind well below the national average and ranked
at 13th position among 19 states reviewed by the IFPRI.     

The northern Indian state endowed with rivers could manage annual
growth of mere two per cent in the last seven years.”Punjab has lived
on the glory of the past. For the last 5-7 years, its productivity has
been nil. The state is hooked to literally the opium of support prices
and subsidies,” Gulati said.