However, ever since the beginning of the UPA rule, while sectors like manufacturing and services are given a special thrust in one way or the other, the primary sector has been severely neglected. The agriculture sector has been witnessing downwards trends in the growth of production and productivity in a number of food-grains across the country. Considering a rampant rural-urban migration, one can easily say that it is the lack of development of rural and agro-based infrastructure which is the main culprit in the ongoing socio-economic divide between the rural and urban areas. The Budget 2009-10 has no new or innovative provision for the Indian Agriculture. This is why the dramatic change last year. Considering the gestation lag in the investment in the farm sector, accumulated and acute supply side constraints may not give the requisite thrust to the Indian Agriculture to score the planned growth rate. Here, I must refer to my State, Orrisa, the land of lord Jagannath. The State is endowed with rich natural resources in the form of vast minerals deposits, forest, productive land, bountiful surface and ground water resources, long coast line, and picturesque places and pilgrim shrines with tremendous tourist potential. However, it is a matter of great concern that effective, adequate and successful exploitation of these resources, the State has never had a chance to generate satisfactory income opportunities for witnesses the problem of poverty and destitution due to its socio-economic backwardness. Half of its population is estimated to be under the poverty trap. Large proportion of people in the state has very poor living conditions. Recently around 35 lakh people in Orissa were rendered homeless and pushed below the poverty line due to severe flood related instances, Nearly 4000 villages of 18 districts faced this fury while the Cuttack, Puri and Khurda districts.
