Centrality of Agriculture to Inclusive Growth in India

Inclusive growth refers to the growth process which will not exclude any section of society and will provide equal opportunity for all. The 11^th Five year plan and the draft paper of 12^th Five year plan both have set ‘faster and more inclusive growth’ as their prime objective. In inclusive growth strategy the growth in itself is not an end but a means to an end. India on the one hand is growing at the robust growth rate of about 8% since the 10^th five year plan but on the other hand still 27.5% of total population is living below poverty line as per the Planning Commission's official record of (URP) for 2004–2005.The position is much worst among the marginalized groups for example SC's, ST's, etc. Unemployment and inequality of income is also increasing in India. The inclusive growth is a myth until proper agricultural development is not met out for the role of agriculture in GDP and employment generation. Agriculture is the only sector on which mostly poor and rural population is dependent. The paper totally relied on secondary sources and will highlight role of agriculture sector in the achievement of inclusive growth and will enumerate problems faced by Indian agriculture and then government policies and measures suggested for proper agriculture development. The study has been done during the period of February to May 2013.