National Agricultural Policy, 2004.

The long-term Vision of the present National Agricultural Policy is to bring about an improvement in the standard of living through a sustainable agricultural development to be achieved by transforming the current subsistence oriented farming system into a commercial and competitive farming system. Its Objectives are defined as follows: For the purpose of contributing to the task of ensuring food security and poverty alleviation by achieving a high and sustainable economic growth a commercial and competitive farming system: 1) Agricultural production and productivity shall be increased; 2) The bases of a commercial and competitive farming system shall be developed and made competitive in the regional and world markets; 3) Natural resources, as well as the environment and bio-diversity, shall be conserved, promoted and properly utilized.
Part 4 lays down provisions relating to Policies ensuring that the needs of farmers of both groups, that is farmers with access to resources and those with comparatively less access to resources and opportunities are covered. In particular, agricultural production and productivity shall be increased by utilizing the local potentialities, comparative advantages and special opportunities, and ensuring the development, extension and utilization of appropriate agricultural technologies. Besides, additional opportunities of income and employment shall be created by laying emphasis on the commercialization and diversification of agriculture. Furthermore, a scientific land-use system shall be used and the non-agricultural use of fertile agricultural land shall be discouraged. A scientific use of land shall be promoted by making use of appropriate technologies to manage steep land in the hilly areas and to develop agricultural land in the valleys. Also the system of collecting, analyzing and projecting data required for the formulation of plans, determining policies and carrying out monitoring and evaluation activities related to the agricultural sector shall be strengthened. Besides, monitoring activities shall be carried out on a regular basis in order to ensure favourable terms of trade relating to the agricultural sector.
Sub-chapter 2 of Part 4 concerns Special Facilities for Target Groups and establishes that they shall be adopted with a view to classifying farmers having less than half a hectare of land and lacking irrigation facilities, farmers belonging to Dalit and Utpidit classes and other marginal farmers and agricultural workers as target groups and providing them with special facilities. Sub-chapter 3 provides for Development of a Commercial and Competitive Farming System. In particular, large production pockets shall be developed to produce agricultural products in quantities and of qualities that match the demands of the market. In such pocket areas, priority shall be given to the production of such agricultural products as have comparative advantages. Besides, technologies and technical services, as well as such facilities as agricultural roads, rural electrification, irrigation, agricultural credit and marketing arrangements, shall be mobilized in an integrated manner. Sub-chapter 4 regards Conservation, Promotion and Utilization of Natural Resources and the Environment. The negative impact of the use of agro-chemicals on the condition of soil and reservoirs, and other environmental problems resulting there from, shall be minimized. Moreover, the production, use and promotion of organic fertilizers shall be encouraged. Also arrangement shall be made for gene banks and in situ conservation shall be encouraged in order to conserve biodiversity. Participatory biodiversity parks shall be established in feasible areas. Bio-diversity shall be conserved, promoted and utilized and the agro-forestry system shall be developed in such a way as to improve the condition of degraded forests and natural reservoirs.
Part 5 deals with Implementation and Monitoring arrangements establishing that for the purpose of ensuring the implementation of this Policy by having the agencies connected with agricultural sector formulate plans and monitor programmes in a participatory and coordinated manner, arrangements shall be made for the formation of a National Agricultural Development Board at the nation level. A Central Agricultural Development Committee shall be formed at the centre level and Regional Agriculture Development Committee at the regional level in order to assist the Central Agricultural Development Board. At the local level, Village Development Committees and District Development Committees shall be made responsible for such functions as to the formulation, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of plans in accordance with the Local Self-Governance Act.