Indian farmers to get global lessons

NEW DELHI: Even as the World Trade Organization (WTO) is discussing liberalisation of agriculture trade and political leaders are expressing concerns over suicides by farmers, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is considering establishment of a special organisation to help small farmers tackle the local implications of global trade in agri products. The PMO has received a proposal to this effect from the commerce & industry ministry and the proposed initiative also has the backing of leading experts like M S Swaminathan.

The new initiative aims at updating Indian farmers about WTO rules, implications of regional trade arrangements and domestic regulations. They would also be informed of subsidies, import tariffs and pricing trends. It is felt that such an organisation would help farmers in planning their activity in tune with international as well as domestic climate so that situations leading to distress sale –– that often affects Indian farmers –– does not arise.

Highly-placed government sources said that the proposal was submitted to the PMO by Mr Jairam Ramesh, minister of state for commerce. The PMO would taken its final decision on the proposal after getting inputs from the agriculture ministry and other relevant departments, it is understood. Mr Ramesh is focussing on agriculture and plantations –– along with infrastructure as well as employment-intensive area like handicrafts and leather –– ever since he joined the government.

Issues related to agriculture are considered significant in view of the apprehesions over the impact of free trade pacts. Recently, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has also written to Dr Manmohan Singh about the implications of the Asean free trade agreement and the need to safeguard the interests of farmers.

The proposed organisation is to act as a trade advisory body for small farmers. Ramesh’s proposal includes setting up of an information bank on global trade rules that have an impact on the livelihood of farmers. It would also act as a forum for dialogue between farmers and the government, says the proposal. To safeguard the interests of Indian farmers, the advisory body would also act as a strategic think-tank to secure deeper market access for Indian farmers and protect them from uneven import competition.

Ms Swaminathan, who heads the National Commission on Farmers, had recommended setting up of an advisory body on similar lines that Mr Ramesh has proposed now. In its third report on 2006 as the year of agricultural renewal, the Commission had stressed on the need to set up Indian Trade Organization and specify India’s own version of blue, green and amber boxes outline by the WTO.

“The Indian Trade Organization (ITO) can be a virtual organisation, specialising in WTO affairs. It can serve as a brain and information bank for enabling Government to take informed and proactive decisions,” the report had said. Mr Swaminathan’s is keen to ensure that the proposed organisation maintains ‘trade watch’ to provide timely inputs to farmers on crop palanning. The inputs would include advice on potential surplues and shortages in major agricultural commodities at various parts of the world.

Trade literacy would help farmers and the proposed organiation could work with the ministries of commerce, agriculture and food. While advisory on national as well as state-level land use can be provided in co-ordination with the ministries of agriculture and food, issues related to WTO regulations could be handled in partnership with the ministry of commerce & industry.

Market intelligence and early warning would improve livelihood security as farmers would be educated about topics like quantitative restrictions on imports, special products and special safeguard mechanism which are now under discussion at the WTO. (end)