Kalam tells farmers not to sell fertile land for SEZs
Former President Kalam said instead of acquiring fertile lands, official agencies can make farmers their partners in SEZ projects. It's all about Green Investing
By PTI |
PUNE: "Do not sell your fertile land for any SEZ or for any economic activity" is the message from former President A P J Abdul Kalam to the troubled farming community in the country.
"I do not want to see any farmer landless. I know what it means as I too come from a farming family," he said on Sunday while addressing a national conference of 'World Foundation on Reverence for All Life' here.
While acknowledging the importance of SEZ for growth, he said instead of acquiring fertile lands at government rates, official agencies and industry can make farmers their partners in SEZ projects and give them equity share holding according to their land ownership at existing market value.
Farmers who were partners in the SEZ and their children can be trained for value addition tasks connected with the projects, the noted scientist said.
Citing an example from Pune where 120 farmers became part of a mega infrastructure project, Magarpatta City, creating and sharing the Rs 4,000 crore construction scheme, he hailed the courage and business acumen of both the land owners and their associates that contributed to mutual prosperity.
"Let us take this example forward to the whole nation whenever SEZs are thought of. Our inability to wean farmers away from suicidal path is a serious human rights challenge," he said.
Referring to cotton growers' achievements in Bhatinda, Punjab, he said their model can be replicated elsewhere by procuring quality farm inputs including seeds, fertilizers and pesticides from cooperative societies to ensure and fetch remunerative price for the produce.
"I do not want to see any farmer landless. I know what it means as I too come from a farming family," he said on Sunday while addressing a national conference of 'World Foundation on Reverence for All Life' here.
While acknowledging the importance of SEZ for growth, he said instead of acquiring fertile lands at government rates, official agencies and industry can make farmers their partners in SEZ projects and give them equity share holding according to their land ownership at existing market value.
Farmers who were partners in the SEZ and their children can be trained for value addition tasks connected with the projects, the noted scientist said.
Citing an example from Pune where 120 farmers became part of a mega infrastructure project, Magarpatta City, creating and sharing the Rs 4,000 crore construction scheme, he hailed the courage and business acumen of both the land owners and their associates that contributed to mutual prosperity.
"Let us take this example forward to the whole nation whenever SEZs are thought of. Our inability to wean farmers away from suicidal path is a serious human rights challenge," he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Referring to cotton growers' achievements in Bhatinda, Punjab, he said their model can be replicated elsewhere by procuring quality farm inputs including seeds, fertilizers and pesticides from cooperative societies to ensure and fetch remunerative price for the produce.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
