New Delhi: Even as the protesting farmers’ unions are unrelenting, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar reiterated that pro- farmers reforms were essential to uplift the agri sector, which he termed as the backbone of the economy. “Every effort is being made to create an eco system of farmer friendly policies to see that the sector goes from strength to strength,” the Minister said while interacting with members of the International media from the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia, here today.
He reiterated that the government was willing to continue the dialogue with the protesting farmers’ unions on “contentious issues, clause by clause, with an open mind”.
Tomar re-stressed that the government’s focus was on doubling farmer’s income by 2022. He explained that the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities Amendment Act 2020 were the biggest agricultural reforms in the country so far.
“The reforms will provide farmers market freedom, encourage entrepreneurship, access to technology and they will transform agriculture. He also said that India being a large democracy functions on the principle of ‘’sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas,” he said.
During the interaction officials of the Agriculture Ministry explained in detail the provisions under the Farm Acts and how they will benefit the farmers and lead to the betterment of Indian agriculture in the new eco system. Regarding Minimum Support Price, Tomar said that it was an administrative decision and “it will continue”. He asserted: “The Modi Government has shown its commitment to MSP very clearly with multiple hikes and multi-fold increase in procurement, including in the 2020-21 Kharif season. Modi government announced MSP hikes based on the formula that farmers will get at least 1.5 times the cost of production. This was a promise made and delivered.”
The Agriculture Minister outlined the various measures and reforms undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare during the last six years. He said that Indian agriculture had come a long way from food scarcity to food surplus.
Referring to the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), which was introduced by the central government in February 2019 under which Rs. 6,000 per year is transferred to the beneficiary farmer’s account per year in three instalments, he claimed that so far a total amount of RS. 95979 crore had been released under the scheme and 10.59 crore farmer families were benefitted.
The minister also referred to a special drive to provide concessional credit to PM-KISAN beneficiaries through Kisan credit card. He said that Neem Coated Urea was introduced since 2015-16 for reduced use of chemicals, improved soil health, overall increase in crop yields and reduction in the use of urea for non-agricultural purposes. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) was launched on 9th August, 2020. The aim of the fund is to provide medium to long term debt financing for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management.
Tomar also spoke about the Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). Scheme for Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs with a total budgetary provision of Rs. 6865 crore has been launched on 29.02.2020. Under the scheme, formation of 10,000 FPOs across the country is targeted in five years.
– global bihari bureau
