Golden Jubilee convocation of the IARI

The annual farm growth rate was expected to be 3.5 % in the 12^th plan period ending this year. Prime Minister who was awarded a honorary doctorate by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute(IARI) said 3.5 % per annum growth rate is commendable. But we must improve upon it to reach 4 % or even higher in the 12^th plan. For this our Government is committed to raising Research and Development spending as a whole to at least 2% of the GDP by the end of the 12^th plan from the current level of about 1%.