Second Five Year Plan Agriculture

Abstract

The Second Five Year Plan places significant emphasis on agriculture as a foundation for economic stability, food security, and industrial growth. Building upon the achievements of the First Plan, which prioritized agricultural expansion to counter shortages and inflation, the Second Plan aims to ensure adequate food supply for a growing population, provide raw materials for industry, and generate exportable surpluses. Agricultural production showed notable progress during the First Plan, with substantial increases in foodgrains, expansion of irrigated areas, higher fertiliser consumption, and significant land reclamation and development. These gains contributed to economic stabilization and reduced dependence on food imports. Recognizing the limitations in expanding cultivated area, the Second Plan shifts focus toward increasing productivity through improved yields, scientific land use planning, irrigation expansion, fertiliser use, and adoption of better cultivation practices such as the Japanese method of rice production. It calls for systematic agricultural planning at district and village levels, setting realistic production targets based on regional conditions and resource availability. The Plan also emphasizes diversification beyond cereals to include supplementary foods and commercial crops, addressing nutritional deficiencies and supporting industrial requirements. A coordinated approach integrating land use planning, production targets, development programmes, extension services, and supportive price policies is proposed to ensure balanced agricultural growth. The overarching objective is to double agricultural production within a decade, enhance rural incomes, and strengthen the interdependence between agricultural and industrial development for sustained national progress.