You should keep in mind that the Tenth Plan accepted the prescriptions of the National Agricultural Policy, 2000 (NAP, 2000). The Tenth Plan, particularly, stressed the following types of growth envisaged by NAP, 2000:
(i) growth that was based on effective use of resources and conservation the soil, water and bio-diversity of the country;
(ii) growth with equity that is growth which was widespread across areas and covered all farmers;
(iii) growth that was demand driven and met domestic markets as well as maximised benefits from exports of agricultural products in the face of the challenges brought about by economic liberalisation and globalisation; and
(iv) growth that was sustainable environmentally, technologically and economically.
The NAP, 2000 envisioned a growth rate more than 4 per cent per annum in the agricultural sector. The Tenth Plan also aimed a 4 per cent rate of growth. Towards this motive, the Tenth Plan visualised:
(a) the estimated food grains need at the end of the Tenth Plan: 230 million tonnes.
(b) the estimated supply position is anticipated to be between 225 and 243 million tonnes.
The Tenth Plan planned to acquire this volume of production of food grains via:
(i) sufficient thrust on maize cultivation which has good scope for enhancing production of minor cereals to 43 to 48 million tonnes; and
(ii) thrust on commercialisation of hybrid rice on a huge scale and enhanced technologies in wheat.
