Strategy in Ninth-Plan S N Mishra Free market advocates argue for removal of all government interventions from agricultural commodities and factor markets so as to improve allocative efficiency of resources in agriculture, induce higher private investment leading to higher growth of output, income and exports. But, looking at agricultural policy from the perspective of social objectives, this paper finds that there is no blanket case for removal of all interventions. Instead, in case of market failure such as national food security and food security for the poor, intervention in the market is necessary and desirable. AIso, there is no need for removal of ceilings on land ownership to achieve maximisation of agricultural output and employment.
