Guwahati, May 28: The Assam government is hiring a group of agriculture experts to look into its agriculture policy in the wake of the food crisis across the world and its aftermath.

The principal secretary, agriculture, J.P. Meena said in the changed scenario, it has become imperative for the state government to take a fresh look at its agriculture policy.

He said a notification announcing the formation of the new group would be issued soon.

The expert group would suggest measures to be taken to deal with the challenges before the agriculture sector. The thrust of the new policy would be to enhance production and commercialise the sector, so that farmers can derive maximum benefit.

The objective of the new policy would be to increase productivity and provide market access to targeted farmers and community groups. Key indicators of success would be increased yield of regular as well as cash crops complemented by an increase in the proportion of marketed surplus.

“To achieve the objective, the group of experts would hold discussions with all the farmers, policy makers, bankers and the purchasers,” Meena said.

Based on the suggestions of the expert group, a new comprehensive agriculture policy would be prepared considering the flood problem and the recent drought in some parts of the state.

He pointed out that various initiatives have already been taken to increase the state’s market share in horticulture and floriculture.

“Organic farming is another area, which would be given special emphasis,” the principal secretary said.

Other sources in the agriculture department giving more details of the new initiatives said the new policy would try to address the problem of lack of capital in rural communities for productivity enhancing investments, focusing on private minor irrigation and farm mechanisation.

Infrastructure development will be another key area the new policy would try to focus by improving rural roads and markets.

“At present, the agriculture development in the state is undertaken through independent measures by different departments. This has resulted in dissipation of efforts and thin spread of surplus, if any, available to the farmers,” another official of the agriculture department said.

He said as agriculture encompasses various segments like irrigation, mechanisation, animal husbandry, plantation and horticulture, extension services and land reforms, the proposed policy would synthesise them into a firm and realistic state policy taking into account the developments taking place at the national and international level.