India's growth robust, irreversible: W Bank

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Thursday , May 15, 2008 at 1740 hrs India's growth, despite current crisis of spiraling inflation, was robust and irreversible, a top World Bank official said in Mumbai.

"However, to sustain and improve it further, the country will have to increase agricultural productivity by moving towards two crops per year, improved irrigation processes and recharge of groundwater," he said.

"The growth path (of India) was robust and irreversible ... in the crisis situation growth can reduce but has the capacity to spring back," World Bank South Asia Region Vice-President Praful Patel said.

India can undertake several interventions like managing flood, prevent drought, improve storage of water and expanding irrigation by bringing in technologies.

Since the average farmland is reduced and cannot be expanded, it is appropriate to use efficient technology, high-yielding seeds, right kind of fertilizers and promoting public-private partnership.

Patel said that India has to work in coordination and cohesiveness within the country as well as the region.

Stating that the early arrival of monsoons was good sign for crops, Patel said India was expected to produce 10 million tonnes of wheat which would make it self-sufficient and may provide surplus for exports.