Public Policies and their Evaluation in India

Abstract

Political administration plays the key role in implementation of public policies. Indian government has introduced several schemes for public development. Agriculture is the main source to survive human life. Agriculture in India has achieved significant progress in the last five and half decades of planned development efforts. Since agriculture is a state subject, this State’s policy programmes, schemes, campaigns and actions have been critical for the growth and development of the sector. Several agricultural policy programmes, schemes and packages have been announced from time to time to achieve it. Provision of the core agricultural inputs and support services, considered essential for undertaking farming, has been the primary objective of the policy. It seeks to promote socio – economic well-being of farmers through agricultural development. The significance of agriculture in the State’s socio-economic life persists even after six decades of thrust on industrial development. Performance of the State’s agricultural policy by aggregate output is remarkable in view of the prevalence of adverse agro-climatic conditions in India especially in Andhrapradesh for crop cultivation. However, it has been found to be unsatisfactory and led to uneven distribution of benefits. The policy of liberalization of agricultural sector seems to have not made much difference either. The State’s farmers continue to face multiple constraints in accessing inputs and support services essential for undertaking farming, in spite of an elaborate policy framework in place. The problems associated with the policy have brought back the issue of long-term outcomes of agricultural policy, that is, satisfaction of needs and interests of farmers.