It will permit state governments to use their discretion while utilising funds as per requirement of districts and crops. Scheme meant for a crop could not be otherwise used and occasionally went unutilised. This would now be avoided. State governments would become more accountable for the broad programme of agri-development but Centre will have to assert and supervise more closely so that its policy directions are fully adopted.

Second item in the budget with regard to greater facility in rural areas for education, drinking water, housing, health and roads will help in enhancing agricultural activity as availability of farm labour will improve and marketable surplus will come to market from interior areas which are currently not having roads.

Two steps will further help. In the classification, we take cereals and pulses as food grains. We must now include oil seeds also as foodgrains and extend the benefit of agri-development scheme to oil seeds on the same priority as pulses and cereals. This will improve oil production. Secondly in rural areas more and more individuals are available as they stop worrying about house or drinking water. They should be trained in farm skills by running a special 3 month programme in summer vacation at agricultural schools. This will create a new cadre of skilled workers in the country side. Target age should be 15 to 25 years.

The third and the best decision of the finance minister is the formation of National Commission on Land Use Policy. The Minister said that commission will study land use pattern, forest preservation, water shed development, biodiversity, etc. The commission should now be quickly set up and made operative from April. First report should be expected by December 2000 so that next budget will reflect its recommendations.

The commission should consist of active result oriented persons who can travel extensively and practically see the situation rather than depend on data. Commission should also visit some of the thickly populated countries, notably China, who have put land resources to greater production. China cultivates 96 million hactares under cereals, pulses and raises 450 million tonne output. In India we have 123 million hactares under foodgrains with output of 203 million tonnes, although we have more irrigated land than China.

The Commission should consist of at least 2 experts in water use aspect because there cannot be any land use policy without water use policy. The emphasise must be on harnessing all rains that we get and guiding farmers to create their own reservoirs to tide over November to March period when there are no rains. Some agricultural universities have come out with practical suggestions.

In a typical rainfed belt with good soils, out of a holiday of 6,7 acres, half acre of low lying area can be used as reservoir to accumulate rain water. Fifty per cent of remaining holding can be used for regular crops for home use and remaining to be diverted to fruit crops, vegetables, flowers, fodder, etc., for getting better remuneration and ensuring a cushion if regular crops fail.

A study of the last 30 years data of land use pattern brings interesting though painful aspects. Against total area of 328 million hectares, we have arable land of 161 million hectares which is the highest. Of this 141 million hectares is net cultivated area and 3.5 million hectares under miscellaneous crops not included in the current fallows.

Andhra Pradesh (4.2), Rajasthan (4.0) Tamil Nadu (3.4), Bihar (3.0) Maharashtra (2.1) U.P.(1.8) Karnataka (1.6), M.P.(1.4) are the leading contributors to this fallow land. A critical analysis is necessary because progressive states are allowing this practice which also results in fertile soil being washed off for want of a crop. We must cultivate this land to boost our output or undertake forest or pasture development. Another sad thing is 14 million hectares of culturable waste land is there, mainly in Rajasthan, Gujarat, U.P. This needs to be utilised. The good examples are Punjab, Haryana, West Bengal were land use is much better.

Over the years, area under forests has remained steady between 66 to 69 million hectares. Can we increase the forests to attract more rains and preserve animal life which is complementary to our crop raising. Area under permanent pastures and grazing has declined from 12.6 to 11.0 million hectares partly due to town building and also due to crop use.

Area put to non-agricultural use has grown from 17 to 22 million hectares and further may go to 27 million hectares in another 20 years' time. The commission will have to consider this.

We have well developed multiple crop rotations for each area. We can take 6 crops in a year on the same piece of land. This practice can spread thereby adding to better land utilisation and production. Annual or biannual crops are proving a luxury which we can not afford. Bench mark will have to be defined for this purpose and farmers guided for raising more crops in the annual or biannual crops without hurting the yield of the main crop. This is particularly relevant in U.P.,Bihar, South Gujarat, North Karnataka, Rajasthan and M.P.

We have barren and unculturable land which has declined from 22 to 19 million hectares. We must work on this in a sound national manner and try and put this land to use by building up ecology. Some non official organisations of good reputation are interested in using this land for forest and ecology. Some non official organisations of good reputation are interested in using this land for forest and ecology development.

The commission must consider this. One expects the commission to come out with recommendations for policy for next 3 years, 10 years, and 15 years in a separate manner. The F.M. deserves high appreciation for taking this practical step.