Executive Committee Meeting
Proceedings of the first Meeting of the Executive Committee of National Rainfed Area Authority held on Thursday 29th November 2007 at NASC Complex, New Delhi

After welcome, the Chairman introduced the subject and appreciated the efforts made by Sh. Prem Narain, Joint Secretary, DAC, MoA in the setting up of NRAA from the beginning. Representation of all the concerned five ministries was a good beginning. Major decisions which emanated after elaborate and intensive discussions are as under.

Agenda Item I: Discussion on mandate and broad road map for achieving mandate

  1. While preparing the perspective plan, analysis of the major differences between development processes of irrigated areas versus rainfed areas may be taken into account.
  2. Latest resource inventories and maps on desertification / land degradation may be effectively utilized as base line data.
  3. Perspective plan should also internalize the emerging policies, demands, supplies, urbanization, changing food habits, opening up of economy, challenges and opportunities of bio-fuels and climatic changes.
  4. Different schemes like NREGS, BRGF, RKYY, RGGVY, AGWRS, and CAMPA which are in operation through various Ministries are to be effectively networked for bringing in convergence to harness complementarities.
  5. An innovative scheme may be prepared to incentivize convergence of resources of different schemes/programmes to create critical mass of investments for under invested rainfed regions.
  6. Integrated management of crops, horticulture, livestock, fisheries, agroforestry and micro enterprising is necessary to minimize risks and realize robustness.
  7. There is a need to coordinate, network and harmonize with animal husbandry schemes especially in districts where livestock based livelihoods have relative advantages.
  8. Supply of inputs is not the mandate of NRAA. However gaps in the availability and marketing of most appropriate inputs may be analyzed to advise all concerned.
  9. Disbursement of credit, insurance and relief is not the role of NRAA. However most appropriate delivery systems compatible to uncertainties, with IT enabled prompt estimation of losses are called upon. Waivers of repayment may be specified in the scheme itself.
  10. Pilot studies on multicriteria priority setting in terms of areas, allocation of resources and suitable location specific interventions need to be initiated.
  11. Brain storming workshop for prioritization of interventions, and to come up with a regionally differentiated package of practices may be organized.
  12. In view of the paradigm shift in the planning process, innovative schemes and policies there is urgency for strong capacity building of all the stake holders at different levels. A cascaded system of capacity building has to be a continuous process.
  13. A directory of capacity building institutions both at the National and State level may be undertaken. It was also suggested to organize a Brainstorming workshop on capacity building to discuss training gaps, training needs and capacity building plan.
  14. IT enabled weather based insurance service is necessary for managing risks and distress. Threshold values of weather parameters triggering crop losses and their subsequent rate for various commodities may be worked out.
  15. It was suggested that the Director of Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI) may be included in the Executive Committee of NRAA after seeking approval of Governing Board.
  16. In view of the new derivatives of programmes and schemes model guidelines for monitoring and evaluation are necessary. MANAGE, Hyderabad, NCAP, New Delhi and other appropriate organizations be involved in developing suitable methodology and indicators for M&E. Resource persons both at national as well as International level may be identified.
  17. Very advanced and interesting technologies and other developments are happening in many countries. A mechanism of international partnership, exchange of experts, participation in workshops/Seminars, organizing of international workshops, conferences etc may be built into the scheme.


Agenda Item II: Discussion on Common Guidelines

Significant clauses, points and paras of circulated guidelines were highlighted by the Chairman. It was felt that for doing full justification on an important aspect like developing Common Guidelines, considerable time is needed to examine and debate all the relevant aspects before finalizing the guidelines. In view of this, a decision was taken for holding a separate meeting exclusively to discuss this issue. The Chairman requested all the members to critically look in to the draft guidelines which were already circulated to the members and provide their comments/ suggestions in writing before 15th December 2007 for their discussion in the meeting to be held shortly for this purpose.

Agenda Item III: XI Plan EFC Memo

Dr. V. V. Sadamate, Advisor (Agriculture), Planning Commission informed that the Member, Planning Commission would shortly call for a joint meeting of the Secretary, Agriculture, MoA and CEO, NRAA to discuss about the budgetary allocation to NRAA. Dr. Sadamate suggested that in view of this, discussion on EFC memo may be deferred, which was agreed upon by all the members.

Agenda Item IV: Arrangements with states for operational mechanism

It was decided that the issue of placing one consultant in the predominantly rainfed State Nodal Agency for facilitating all the processes in approval, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the projects may be put up to the Governing Body for approval.

Agenda Item V: Modalities for nomination of Subject matter Specialists

It was agreed upon to have subject matter specialists in the areas of Socio economics, Horticulture and agriculture related aspects in the Executive Committee of NRAA. These specialists should be appointed for two years term. The modalities of nomination may be worked out after the approval of the Governing Body.

Agenda Item VI: Organization of National Level Consultative Workshop

It was agreed upon for organizing a National Level Consultative Workshop. Dr. Y.S. Ramakrishna, Director, CRIDA, Hyderabad offered to host the National Workshop at Hyderabad. The date and details of the workshop may be worked out subsequently.

Agenda Item VII: Any other item with permission of the Chair

Dr.K.S.Ramachandra, Technical Expert (animal husbandry & fisheries), NRAA submitted that in spite of realizing the importance of livestock interventions in watershed projects and the need to dovetail the schemes of Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Government of India, provision of representation from the Department has not been made in the Executive Committee. The members agreed to the need for having representation from the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Government of India and suggested that till this matter is approved by the Governing Body, one representative from the above department may be invited to attend the Executive Committee meeting as a Special Invitee.

The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the Chair