The document proposes leveraging existing government schemes and educational institutions to boost agricultural productivity in India. It suggests implementing MNREGA such that labor is employed in agriculture under a larger government plan. Universities would provide expertise to efficiently manage MNREGA workers and conduct research to improve yields. Skills training through NGOs could reduce disguised unemployment and increase meaningful employment. Interlinking schemes in a coordinated effort could holistically address issues like unemployment, malnutrition and low productivity. Challenges include unskilled labor that requires training and strong administrative will to implement large-scale projects. Proposed solutions involve universities developing skills and regular audits of capacity to deliver training.

1. जय किसान, जय विज्ञान
Sowing Prosperity: Boosting agricultural
productivity
1

2. MNREGA + Interlinking Govt. Schemes + Research Driven Universities
= Increased Agricultural Production.
2
Food for thought: Some expected queries to our three
pronged model
Where to get the labor from?
What about the warehousing facilities?
Where will the agricultural surplus go, if the same is produced?
Can MNREGA experience longevity outside the monsoon period?
What do the Universities get out of it(support)?
Will this not encourage disguised unemployment already prevalent in agriculture?

3. 3
Problem Statement
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1950-51 2008-09
Falling agricultural growth
Causes: Over-regulation of
domestic agricultural trade
Government interventions in
labor, land, and credit markets
Reducing farmer population:
Farmer population has reduced
by 9 million in 10 years
Reasons: Disguised
unemployment, Not using High
Yielding variety seeds, Poor
Governmental support. High
Distress Migration: Due to lack of
any durable required
infrastructure for the poor.

4. 4
Proposed solutions
Efficient implementation of MNREGA such that a specific portion of MNREGA workers
are employed in the agricultural sector as per a larger Governmental plan of linking
MNREGA directly with agriculture.
:
By interlinking various Government schemes, there can be concerted coordinated
efforts at overall problem mitigation. MNREGA should’nt be viewed as a populist
scheme; as it has to guarantee employment. A part of the remuneration can be
provided as Food grains. Hence productive employment carries gainful remuneration.
To ensure the efficient management of MNREGA workers in boosting agricultural
production; the Educational Institutes in every State can be asked to provide the
necessary expertise. For instance, IITs can work towards researching on HYV seeds;
IIMs can work towards overall management, NLUs can work towards simplifying the
rules and procedures for such operation. Hence, tapping our inherent potential.
The mantra is to exploit the proportional relationship between improving the
productivity of workers viz. skill development. NGOs can be instrumental.
The MNREGA workers can contribute towards interlinking of rivers by rendering their
labor services. This will have a twin impact on our agricultural productivity as well as
in generation of meaningful employment.

5. No. High level description of
key steps involved in
implementing the
solution
Stakeholder(s)
involved at each
step
Leveraging
existing
government
infrastructure
Financial and
human
resources
required at each
step
Proposed
source(s) of
funding
1. Guardianship by the
universities: Such that
their expertise is utilized
in monitoring these
programmes for overall
welfare.
(IIMs(management
) NLUs (policies )
IITs (technology)
etc.) Over 600
Universities in India
are fit for the job!
Assistance from
UGC ;
scholarships for
Research driven
ideas
Scholarships
must be
provided to
those who
research and
innovate on path
breaking
techniques
The budget
severed from
the pay in
MNREGA (by
allocating food
grains in part)
can be put to
use.
2. Skill development of the
labor involved so that they
can make an informed
decision on whether they
want to continue with
agriculture. (To reduce
disguised unemployment.)
NGOs which look
into such
techniques in
detail.
Govt. funded
NGOs may be
specifically
called upon for
this purpose.
Grassroots level
programmes
need to be
organised.
NGO employees
and Students
from the
designated
Universities,
learned
Pachayat
members.
Projects can be
formed
clearlyand
budget can be
allocated by the
Central
Government.
5
Implementation of the solution

6. 6
3. Diversion of disguised
labour from agriculture to
the manufacturing sphere
pertaining to agriculture
production
The local
Government
official, the
Universities in
charge can look
into such
allocations.
Encouragement
; Using media
like., Krishi
Darshan,
Doordarshan,
AIR
R & D (by the
Universities) is
required to
bring up
innovations.
Revenue form
NABARD can be
put to use.
4. Reducing the dependency
on monsoon by Providing
the irrigation facilities
Supervision can be
done by the
universities and
implementation by
the concerned
ministry
Assistance form
ministry of new
and renewable
energy
Concerned
Ministry and
the university
officials.
Allocation of
budget for
reviving the idea
of interlinking of
streams
5. Status quo has money
payment for the work
done in MNREGA this
should be replaced by
25% direct provision of
food
Local authorities
for
implementation
and University for
supervision
Rs. 1, 25000
Crores (From
the estimated
Food Security
Bill Budget)
Local
government
employees and
University
personnel
From the budget
of cut down
from the
MNREGA

7. 7
IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED
SOLUTIONS
CRITERIA TO MEASURE
THE IMPACT
SCALIBILTY OF THE
SOLUTION
SUSTAINABILTY OF
THE SOLUTION
APPROPRIATE
MONITORING
MECHANISMS
USING MNREGA TO
BOOST
AGRICULTURE
Monthly assessment of work
through social audits
Carries the potential to
change the landscape of
our agricultural
production.
It is durable & meant for
the long run as these
reforms will take years
to translate into double-
digit agrarian growth
rate.
The universities
concerned must along
with appropriate
governmental
authority should
conduct surveillance.
TAPPING OUR
EDUCATION
POTENTIAL
By the no. of innovations
and inventions being carried
out.
Can change our
universities’ academic
oriented approach to a
research driven pursuit.
A long run measure to
pump life into a slogging
agricultural sector
through our educational
institutions.
The UGC should be
authorised to look into
the solutions along
with the HRD ministry.
INTERLINKING
GOVERNMENT
SCHEMES
A group of ministers may
specially monitor
coordination among
different schemes.
A planned approach can
at one-go strike at the
roots of unemployment,
malnutrition as well as
low agricultural
productivity.
The five-year plans can
be modified to include
such features
permanently.
The performance of
the group of ministers
can be supervised by a
standing committee in
parliament.
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8. 8
Problems in implementing the
proposed solutions
• UNSKILLED LABOUR- A vast majority of our labor force is
highly unskilled and would require a lot of training to make
them employable.A.
• STRONG ADMINISTRATIVE AND POLITICAL WILL- To even
think of projects of such vast magnitude(interlinking of
schemes etc.) needs political and administrative will.B.
• CAPABILTY OF OUR INSTITUTIONS- The quality and ability
of local educational institutions which would be given the
task of skill building, as such institutes are irregularly
funded and lack requisite expertise.
C.
8

9. 9
• UNSKILLED LABOUR- Our institutes to help
and develop the skills of our farmers such as
by educating them on the right kind of
farming practices, correct use of fertilizers
etc.
A.
• CAPABILTY OF OUR INSTITUTIONS- It has to
be constantly checked that the institutes
getting the task of skill building are capable
enough to deliver the same eg- through
social audits etc.
B.
Proposed ways to tackle these
problems
9

10. 10
At the outset, there was some food for thought
pertaining to the applicability of the proposed
three-pronged model . Having discussed at
length each facet in detail and with relevant
statistics, it can be concluded that:

11. 11
MNREGA can be an adequate source of labor to incentivize agriculture. The excess
labor can be used in order to expand warehousing facilities.
The agricultural surplus, if any, must be the domain of the Universities concerned,
i.e., they must plan production pattern such that surplus in the domestic market is
in response with the international demand.
Labor from MNREGA can be employed to increase the available stock to agricultural
capital by boosting the manufacturing sector.
Agriculture in India is monsoon dependant and such a mechanism will remain lead
to sustenance.
They will be certified or accredited regarding the same.
Such a mechanism will train MNREGA workers to specialize in agriculture. Hence,
the problem of disguised unemployment will be converted to gainful and
meaningful employment.
11

12. 12
APPENDIX
MNREGA- MAHTAMA GANDHI NATIONAL RURAL
EMPLOYMENT GURANTEE ACT
IIT- INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
IIM-INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT
NLU-NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY
UGC- UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION
NGO- NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISTAIONS
HR- HUMAN RESOURCES
HYV- HIGH YIELDING VARIETY
R&D- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

13. REFERENCE
• Census Data 2011.
• Planning Commission Report on the 11th five
year plan.
• Parliamentary record of the Minister’s
(Agriculture Minister) reply on distress
migration.
• Ministry of Rural Development notifications.
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