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Working Group for the formulation of Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-2007).

Agriculture Infrastructure Warehousing/Rural Godowns / Marketing /Post Harvest Management, Processing and Cold Storage, Trade and Export Promotion

Dated 13th November 2000

Composition

Terms of Reference

Infrastructure /Warehousing /Godowns

1. To assess the total capacity of storage, warehousing (Centre and State), cold storage, onion storage, rural godowns and arrive at projections for Tenth Plan, giving due emphasis to the factors like growth of agricultural production, need of the buffer stocking for public distribution system etc.
2. To identify the infrastructure facilities in the remote and inaccessible areas and suggest special measures to expand these facilities in such areas.
3. To study the existing status of post harvest handling and processing, post harvest losses and suggest ways and means to improve the facilities and minimize the losses.
4. To review the ongoing programmes for research and development and popularization of improved techniques of storages, pre-cooling, cold storage, cold chain, controlled/modified atmospheric protocols, required for durable and perishable commodities and suggest suitable packages for improvement and modification in the policies and programmes to increase shelf-life and maintain quality of agriculture commodities for home consumption and export (farm level, mandi level, major markets).
5. To review the research and development efforts of various agencies working in the development of post harvest technology management and identify the gaps in the technologies with reference to internal standards and suggest measures for intensification of R and D efforts, develop cost effective technologies to meet domestic and international standards.
6. To review the existing status of the basic infrastructure facilities essentially required at the Farm level, at Sea port and Airport and assess the requirement of investment for strengthening such infrastructure.
7. To study the existing storage capacity and bulk handling facilities of the food grains and suggest ways and means for strategically locating scientific storages in different parts of the country and along the trunk railway routes.
8. To assess and study the traditional methods of food processing such as rice and suggest ways and means to document such knowledge and other areas of Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK).
9. To study and explore the possibility of participation of the private sector in a big way to expand storage capacity on a large scale.

Marketing

1. To review the working of the agricultural markets, wholesale mandies and suggest measures to improve their functioning to safeguard the interest of farmers and consumers.
2. To study and assess the functioning of existing marketing facilities and new concept in marketing introduced by the Andhra Pradesh Government; namely Rythu Bazar and similar pattern in Tamil Nadu and suggest scope and extent for emulation of this pattern elsewhere in the country.
3. To study and review the ongoing programmes, aimed at post harvest management, technology development and transfer, market information service and dissemination through media etc. and suggest appropriate measures to the benefit of farmers and consumers.
4. To assess the financial resource position of-the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) and Agriculture Marketing Boards and assess adequacy or otherwise for the facilities provided by them for : efficient functioning of the marketing structures.
5. To study and assess the existing regulations arising from Essential Commodities Act (Inter-state/lnter-district movement controls, stock and storage limits, levy) and assess its impact on the production, pricing and distribution and suggest measures for improvement of efficient functioning of markets to the benefit of both producers and consumers.
6. To provide an overview of Futures' Trading of agriculture commodities and suggest a suitable framework, so as to minimize the price volatility across the regions during different seasons and to bring in collective wisdom of all (producers, intermediaries, commission agents, wholesale and retail traders etc.).

Export

1. To review the export performance of agriculture commodities and plantation crops, identify constraints and suggest remedial measures for increasing quality and competitiveness and efficiency with least cost of production and work out realistic and achievable targets for the Tenth Plan, taking into account domestic demand supply situation, World Trade Organization regime and the international market scenario.
2. To study the possibility of exploring new products, new markets and non-traditional areas for export.
3. To study and assess the performance of organizations dealing with export promotion such as APEDA, MPEDA, and other cooperative organizations ( NAFED, TRIFED etc.) and stud/ the issues concerning their linkages with the farmers/growers organizations and suggest suitable measures for increasing supply of quality products
4. To study the export potential of value added agriculture products, identify constraints, estimate required investment for necessary infrastructure and processing facilities and suggest suitable package of incentives for encouraging exports.

In order to assist the forking Group in its task, separate Sub-Groups on specific aspects may be formed by the Chairman of Working Group. These Sub-Groups will furnish their reports to the Working Group.

The Chairman of the Working Group may co-opt experts as he considers necessary.

Non-officials shall be entitled to TA/DA as permissible to Grade-l officers of Government of India and the expenditure will be borne by Planning Commission. The TA/DA of Government and Public Sector officials will be borne by their respective organizations.

The Working Group will submit its report to the Planning Commission latest by 31st March, 2001.