"Agriculture is a way of life, a
tradition, which, for centuries, has shaped the thought, the outlook, the
culture and the economic life of the people of India. Agriculture, therefore,
is and will continue to be central to all strategies for planned socio-economic
development of the country. Rapid growth of agriculture is essential not only
to achieve self- reliance at national level but also for household food
security and to bring about equity in distribution of income and wealth
resulting in rapid reduction in poverty levels.".
