Medium Term Strategy and Business Plan.

The Medium Term Strategy and Business Plan is a national strategy with a sectoral approach, which covers a period of five years from 2012 to 2016. The main objectives are: a) to create an enabling environment for agricultural development, b) to enhance crop production, c) to enhance accessibility of affordable inputs and credit to farmers, d) to enhance land productivity and promote sustainable land use and environmental conservation, e) to promote access to markets.With a view to eradicating hunger and food insecurity, special food security programmes will be developed and implemented. Publications, meetings and workshops on food value and nutrition will be promoted for raising awareness on these matters. The public storage capacity and buffer stocks will be increased. The unbalanced diet particularly of the poor will be improved by increasing the growth of non-cereal food products. The Public Private Partnership will be encouraged to enhance supportive measures for food security. The Governments Country Investment Plan (CIP) for food security and National Food Policy and its Plan of Action will be implemented to ensure food and nutrition security.Further the strategy aims at making agriculture more productive and sustainable. The coverage of cultivable land will be increased and the cropping intensity will be raised through spread of short duration and hybrid multiple cropping. Rice production and yields will be enhanced through implementation of a breeding strategy. A balanced development of cereal and other crops will be pursued and pre-harvest and post-harvest crop losses will be reduced. Production of seeds tolerant to salinity, drought and water submergence will be increased. The minor irrigation coverage will be expanded by promoting optimal use of surface water. The arable land area will be increased through reduction of water logging and submergence, whilst the efficient management of water resources will be ensured. Conservation of groundwater will be ensured and pressure on underground water will be reduced. Agricultural activities in coastal areas will be promoted. The potential for diversification to higher value crops will be enhanced. More agriculture area will be brought under irrigation. The availability of quality seed will be ensured to increase agricultural production.Regarding rural poverty, it will be ensured that poverty reduction and gender issues in agriculture are at the mainstream. The access to agricultural credit at low interest rate through simple procedures will be ensured. Further measures concern rural cooperatives and extension services. Rural infrastructure, agro-based and food processing industries will be developed to generate employment in rural areas.The plan also aims at enabling more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. Research and development activities as well as research and extension linkages will be enhanced. In addition, the linkages between research institutions, extension services and their commercial applications by farmers, non-governmental organizations and local government bodies will be strengthened. Fiscal, monetary and other incentives for agriculture as well as trade and tariff policies will be promoted. Investments in agriculture and rural infrastructure will be promoted. Public and private partnership in agriculture will be strengthened. The supply of quality fertilizers and pesticides at affordable prices will be ensured and the use of organic and green fertilizers and microbe fertilizers among farmers will be promoted too. The access to agriculture credits at low interest rates will be ensured. An appropriate land use policy will be implemented. Market development will be provided through strengthening storage facilities, transportation and through improving supply chains for crops. The market infrastructure will also be developed. Support and technical assistance will be given to entrepreneurs. The coordination among government departments and private sector will be ensured to expand market reach for agricultural commodities. In addition, effective value and supply chain linkages for different agricultural commodities will be developed. Trainings for capacity development will be conducted. A seed bank will be established. The dependence on import of food items such as pulses and edible oils will be reduced. Measures will be taken to increase the export of non-traditional agricultural commodities.As regards resilience to disaster, a satellite-based awareness system will be developed to inform farmers on floods, cyclones and storms.