• Background
The need for integrated local area plans, based on specific endowments and needs of each area, was stressed from the beginning of planned development. However, despite several reports and studies, only sporadic efforts and isolated cases of such planning could be located. It has therefore been decided by the Govt. of India that the 'District Plan Process' should be an integral part of the process of preparation of State's NEXT Five Year Plan. This was emphasised by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in his address to the National Development Council (NDC). Concerned by the slow growth in the agriculture and allied sectors, the National Development Council (NDC), in its meeting held on 29 May 2007 conceived a special Additional Central Assistance Scheme (ACA) and passed a resolution to that effect.

NDC Resolution
"GoI will introduce a new Additional Central Assistance scheme to incentivise States to draw up plans for their agriculture sector more comprehensively, taking agro-climatic conditions, natural resource issues and technology into account, and integrating livestock, poultry and fisheries, etc. This will involve a new scheme for Additional Central Assistance (ACA) to State Plans, administered by the Union Ministry of Agriculture over and above its existing Centrally Sponsored schemes, to supplement the State-specific strategies including special schemes for beneficiaries of land reforms. The newly created National Rainfed Area Authority will, on request, assist States in planning for rainfed areas".

To rejuvenate agriculture during NEXT Plan, the National Development Council has reaffirmed its commitment to achieve a growth rate of 4 % per annum. As agriculture growth is an essential element of the strategy to make growth more inclusive, the NDC in its resolution advised the State Governments to prepare Comprehensive District Agriculture Plan (C-DAP) that will fully utilise available resources and will include allied agriculture sectors. For this purpose Government of India has issued an Office Memorandum given in Annexure I (No.Q-11050/52/2006- Agru Planning 2 Commission (Agriculture Division) dated 11 October 2007) regarding constitution of Technical Support Group (TSG) for developing a manual of guidelines on Comprehensive District Agriculture Plan (C-DAP). The composition of the Technical Support Group is furnished in Annexure II.