FDI in retail is pro-farmer; BJP opposing it due to 'politics': Balram Jakhar

New Delhi: Veteran Congress leader and former Union Agriculture minister Balram Jakhar today welcomed the government decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi- brand retail and said the opposition BJP should "stop playing politics on farmers issue."

"FDI in multi-brand retail would strengthen the earnings of farmers by removing middleman who are taking away a vast share during marketing of agriculture crops," Jakhar told PTI on the sidelines of 5th Agriculture Leadership Summit, 2012.

Jakhar said, he being a farmer himself, knows how the agricultural markets function. "While a poor farmer gets a paltry sum from growing a crop in field, the middlemen corner major share," he said.

The FDI in multi-brand, under which the retailer can buy the agri produce directly from farmers, would minimise the role of middleman, thus increasing the earnings of farmers.

The former Union Agriculture minister said the concept (of FDI in single brand and also multi brand in retail) has been a success worldover. "Indian farmers should not be deprived of this opportunity," he said, while hailing the UPA government's decision to approve FDI in these sectors.

Jakhar, a former Lok Sabha Speaker, alleged the BJP's opposition to FDI is "guided by politics".

He said the BJP should "stop playing politics on the farmers issue and support FDI in multi-brand retail which is pro-farmer".