Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured the Lok Sabha today that every effort will be made to achieve the envisaged four percent growth rate in agriculture during the 12th Five Year Plan. Intervening during the question hour, he said the Plan targets will be matched by adequate resources.
Replying the main question, Minister of State for Planning Ashwani Kumar said the Plan is intended to ensure a balanced growth of the economy. Referring to the shortfall in the production of edible oils, he said their demand by the end of the 12th Plan has been estimated at 59 million tonnes. He added that any gap in the supply of edible oils during the Plan period will be met by imports.