FDI will help farming sector in India: Farmers body

JAMMU: A farmers body today batted strongly for FDI in the retail sector, saying it will help create better marketing opportunities for agricultural products in the country.

"Marketing was the biggest problem confronted by farmers in the country leading to phenomena like crop holidays and farmers suicides. FDI will help in creating better marketing prospects for their products and better income opportunities for them," National Advisor Consortium of Indian Farmers Associations (CIFA) Thakur Randhir Singh told reporters here.

Singh said farmers are unhappy that most political parties and city based intellectuals are opposing FDI in retail which to a large extent is part of the liberalisation process in the agriculture sector.

"However, farmers will support the liberalization process in agriculture sector including FDI in retail", he said.

Singh, who is also UPA ally NCP's J & K unit chief, said, "We believe competition among Indian and foreign retailers will lead to better price and services to farmers."