An Approach Paper to the Thirteenth Plan (FY 2013/2014-2015/2016).

The Approach Paper to the Thirteenth Plan is a national document with a sectoral approach. The timeframe of the Paper is three years covering the period 2013/2014-2015/2016. The main objective of the Paper is to improve living standards and to reduce economic and human poverty by: a) increasing production in agriculture and livestock; b) ensuring the proper use of water resources and sustainable development of the irrigation sector; c) ensuring food security; d) ensuring sustainable management and conservation of forests, flora, fauna and other biodiversity; e) reducing and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
As mentioned, the document aims at ensuring food security. Increased production of agricultural and livestock products will be promoted in food-deficit and food and nutrition insecure areas, and a reserve of foodstuff will be stored in each district. Market infrastructures will be managed in a way that can effectively address food prices. The nutritional status of vulnerable groups will be improved. Nutrition rehabilitation centers will be established and nutrition services in hospitals will be expanded to improve child and maternal health. The document aims at reducing the proportion of underweight newborns and guaranteeing universal access to drinking water and sanitation. Sanitary sewerage systems will be established to ensure that only treated water is discharged into rivers. Traditional sources of drinking water will be preserved. A food security network will be established to monitor the food and nutrition situation in each district.
The Paper also aims at making agriculture more productive and sustainable. The production of high-value, low-volume commodities will be increased. Specific measures concern irrigation facilities and rainwater harvesting to provide year-round irrigation. Groundwater irrigation will be prioritized. Agriculture and livestock production will be increased by fully exploiting the available cultivable land. Artificial insemination, fodder and forage plantation will be expanded. The production of agriculture and livestock products which can be produced locally by using local resources will be increased. The production of good-quality seeds and high-yielding breeds will be promoted. Organic farming of high-value commodities and crops will be encouraged. The use and conservation of agrobiodiversity will be ensured. Watersheds will be managed through the basin approach. Flora species will be protected by in-situ and ex-situ conservation. Priority will be given to the protection of rare and endangered species. The cultivation of medicinal herbs will be promoted.
With a view to eradicating rural poverty, agriculture and livestock extension centers will be established at the local level. Marginalized farmers and food-insecure households will be encouraged to engage in contract farming by organizing them into groups and cooperatives. Programmes promoting capacity-building, empowerment and green employment will be initiated to improve the living standards of women and poor in rural areas and productive employment opportunities will be developed. Programs to build capacity, promote employment and generate income will be carried out targeting unemployed youth. Technical education and vocational training that can generate employment and self-employment opportunities will be promoted.
Further the document aims at enabling more inclusive and efficient agricultural systems. To this end, the use of appropriate technology in commercialization of agriculture, quality testing and monitoring will be enhanced. The infrastructure needed to increase agricultural and livestock production in rural areas, including wholesale markets, agro-roads, electricity, communications, warehouses, cold storage, collection centers, and animal fairs will be introduced. Seeds and breeds will be certified. Agricultural and livestock insurance, loans and subsidies for sector-related tools and equipment will be provided. Vaccines will be disseminated against communicable animal diseases. Credit facilities will be provided to small and marginalized farmers and forest entrepreneurs and traders. Quality standards will be set for agricultural and livestock products. Bio-pesticide technologies will be developed. Contract and cooperative farming will be promoted. Agro-roads, electricity, communications, warehouses, cold storage, collection centers, wholesale markets, and market networks will be developed and expanded in remote areas. Access to information about crops and livestock markets will be extended to the local level by developing a network of modern information technology. An integrated pest management system will be adopted. Capital grants and soft loans will be provided for agro-businesses. A land-leasing bank will be established to promote the use of uncultivated land and fragmented land plots for commercial agriculture. An Irrigation Development Fund (IDF) and a Forest Development Bank will be established. The private sector investments in small irrigation schemes will be encouraged. An integrated central land information system will be established.
As regards climate change and the impact on agriculture and food security, the Paper provides for the implementation of the Clean Development Mechanism. To reduce and mitigate the risks and impacts of disasters, the disaster management will be at the mainstream of the development process. Capacity building will be done to improve disaster preparedness and response activities. A specialized search and rescue team will be established.
The Paper provides for the elaboration and implementation of an Agriculture Market Act, a Food Sovereignty Act and an Irrigation Act will be formulated and implemented. A Forest Products Authority will be established. A National Land Policy will be formulated and implemented. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment will serve as a focal agency to coordinate all the activities related to environmental conservation and climate change. A National Disaster Management Agency will be established.