Amritsar, December 18 (BNI)- The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, said here today that public investment in the agriculture sector could get a boost by diverting power and fertiliser subsidies to agriculture and rural infrastructure.He was here to inaugurate the three-day 69th Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics (ISAE) being organised by the Punjab School of Economics of Guru Nanak Dev University here. Ahluwalia said 4 per cent agriculture sector growth rate as envisaged in the 11th Five Year Plan could be achieved despite drought that had hit majority of areas in the country this year. He said during the previous financial year, the agriculture growth was pegged at 3.2 per cent, adding that the government would do its utmost to achieve the target of 4 per cent in the next fiscal year. He highlighted the need for land quality improvement, input management, improving access to water, watershed management, improved road connectivity and extension system in agriculture besides urging to bring out structural changes in seed industry and the growth of biotechnology and optimisation of crop-mixes. Dr DK Marothia, ...
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