NATIONAL MISSION FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: A TIME BOUND PROGRAMME FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

Agriculture still plays a crucial role in India's economic development. About two-third of India's population is, by and large, dependent on agriculture and allied activities. The development of agriculture and allied sectors is necessary to achieve the objectives of equitable and inclusive growth with social justice. Agricultural development depends upon the availability of basic infrastructure such as power, roads, railways, irrigation, credit, marketing and warehousing facilities, communication and telecommunication facilities. The government launched various nationwide and time bound programmes and schemes for sustainable development of agriculture. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) is one of the eight missions launched under the National Action Plan on Climate Change. The NMSA aims at promoting sustainable agriculture through 17 deliverables and focuses on 10 key dimensions of agriculture. These dimensions were embedded during 12th Plan into missions or programmes through the restructuring and convergence. Major components of NMSA are: Rainfed Area Development, Soil Health Management, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Sub-Mission on Agro-forestry, Integrated Nutrient Management, Soil Health Management, Balanced Use of Fertilisers, Soil Health Card Scheme, organic farming, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Development for North Eastern Region, Natural Resource Management Development of Management Information System, Watershed Development Fund, World Bank Assisted Projects, Sodic Land Reclamation and Development Project, Crop Diversification Project in Himachal Pradesh and Reclamation of Problem Soils. Due to government support and provision of adequate funds, the progress of National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture has been satisfactory to achieve the objective of promoting sustainable agriculture.