Swaminathan panel for policy changes
Source: IANS.

New Delhi, Apr 13: The National Commission on Farmers, headed by agronomist M S Swaminathan, in its report presented to Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Thursday has suggested major reforms to boost farm incomes and provide alternate livelihood opportunities.

Drawing attention to the present day situation wherein hundreds of farmers are in debt and at times face starvation or are even driven to commit suicide, the commission has suggested formulation of a comprehensive national policy for farmers.

In the fourth report presented since its formulation in November 2004, the commission has stressed the need to provide the farmer necessary advisory, technical, farm credit and marketing services to bring him out of the financial crisis.

The commission has also drawn attention to the need for diversifying sustainable livelihood opportunities on the lines of the Chinese model of Township and Village Enterprises (TVE).

For implementing this, the commission has called for a `rural non-farm livelihood initiative' in the form of agri-business centres, food parks and other rural non-farm employment programmes by restructuring agencies like the Khadi and Village Industries Corporation (KVIC).

According to the report, farming is both a way of the life and the principal means of livelihood for 65 percent of India's population of 1.1 billion.

"While our farm population is increasing annually by 1.84 percent, the average farm size is becoming smaller each year and the cost-risk-return structure of farming is becoming adverse, with the result that farmers are getting increasingly indebted," the report points out.

It highlights a recent finding of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) that nearly 40 percent of farmers would like to quit farming, if they have the option to do so.

The draft policy, as suggested by the Commission, calls for developing and introducing a livelihood security package for farmers by providing them the technology choice according to agro-ecological conditions and the market demand.

It has urged that farmers be given quality and affordable inputs like soil health enhancement and water conservation technology, credit and insurance and market tie-up, besides necessary health care facilities linked with the National Rural Health Commission.

In its pointers for achieving a four percent growth rate in agriculture, the commission urged a mix of technology, credit, insurance and marketing support and knowledge connectivity.

It has mooted the setting up of a Livestock Feed and Fodder Corporation to help boost dairy sector and extension of the National Land Use Advisory Service to cover aspects like climate change, science and technology inputs.

The commission also proposes a National Agricultural Biosecurity System and a National Agricultural Bio-security Fund in the wake of recent avian flu experiences.

Such a system would help to address the need for stronger sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures and upgradation of facilities for plant, animal and fish quarantine certification.

Establishment of an Offshore Genetic Screening Centre for animals has also been suggested to identify genes for resistance to serious epidemics arising from invasive alien species, such as avian flu.

The commission has called for a review of the policy and legal framework of the cooperatives and underlined the need for their professionalism in their operations.