States hold key to national farm policy
Consensus by states on the recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers is vital for ushering in a new policy toward the farm sector in the Eleventh five-year plan.
By Agencies |
NEW DELHI: Consensus by states on the recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers is vital for ushering in a new policy toward the farm sector in the Eleventh five-year plan.
Discussing the recommendations with state agriculture ministers here on Friday food and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said deliberations would be put before chief ministers for final approval before sending them to Planning Commission. “We will place today’s deliberations before state chief ministers’ conference in March 2007,” he said on the sidelines of the conference.
After approval from chief ministers, the policy document would be sent to the commission for inclusion in the Eleventh five-year plan, he added. The commission submitted its fifth and final report in October, spelling out future strategies to usher in a new wave of agricultural renewal and revolution.
The second green revolution should be based on science and technology, commission chairman MS Swaminathan said. He said a national policy focusing exclusively on farmers would be unveiled by August 15, 2007, coinciding with the 60th year of Independence.
On the commission’s recommendation on setting up a National Rainfed Authority, the farm minister said the authority would soon start functioning once an executive head assumes charge. Mr Pawar said the country clocked a 3.8% farm sector growth last year which now needs to be pushed higher to ensure a sustainable growth.
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The low level of capital formation in farm sector over a couple of years has manifested itself in declining growth rate, the agriculture minister said. “State governments are partners in our collective endeavour for the effective implementation of agricultural strategies,” Mr Pawar said, urging states to provide more funds to the sector. Mr Swaminathan advocated the MSP (minimum support price) should be calculated by adding 50% to the existing cost of production and procurement price should be the MSP plus cost escalation. He also said the credit cycle for farmers should be 4-5 years instead of one year and the ideal lending rate should be 4%.
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