Designing a New Strategy

Strategy may be defined as a consistent well-articulated plan to achieve stated goals over a specified time frame. The stated goal is achieving an accelerated path of eco-friendly sustainable development, with a sharp focus on income and employment generation for the youth and the economically weaker sections of the population. Past strategy not only has not delivered the stated goals, but also is unsustainable. Thus, there is an urgent need for devising a new strategy.

The strategy design has to contain a clear delineation of the instruments to achieve these goals. Further, as already stated, the goal has to be achieved through a two-pronged approach of applying science and technology to economic activity and through government-private sector partnership. These instruments have to aim at promoting private sector initiatives in identified sectors, enhancing the application of science and technology in these activities, and empowering the people with appropriate skills for employment in the identified sectors. Such a strategy specifying the components of the vision or goals, the sectors that will act as thrust areas to these goals, and the instruments that will promote activities in the specified sectors to realise the vision are shown in the economic strategy matrix that follows. The last column of the matrix explains in brief how the instruments will help in the realisation of the goals.

 Horticulture (including the growing of fruits, vegetables, flowers, ornamental shrubs and trees), poultry and animal husbandry can help the state build on its existing strengths, generate employment and alleviate poverty. The sectors have languished without the application of modern science and technology (including improved seeds, feed and fodder, and modern farm practices), proper roads, smooth transportation and storage facilities, access to markets and remunerative prices, and veterinary facilities. Given the eco-friendly income and employment potential of these sectors, the government must redress these deficiencies.