To
The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
South Block, Raisina Hill,
New Delhi-110011.
Subject: Revival of agriculture growth in the country.
Respected Sir,
I would request your good self to revive agriculture growth in the country. For this purpose the Govt. should accept the recommendation of the Swaminathan committee that the minimum support price for a crop should reflect a 50 per cent profit for the farmer. It will directly protect the interest of the predominantly agricultural states. The UPA’s one-time loan waiver scheme was a great help to the farmers but this was not enough. The real & all time help of the farmers will be adopting this report.
The new government should have a fresh approach to the issues pertaining to agriculture, which has become an occupation with diminishing returns. The NDA Govt. should be open to pragmatic solutions. Shrinking land holdings, deteriorating quality of soil, declining water table, post-harvest produce management like warehousing of food grains etc and market/industrial linkages are some of these issues that require attention. If farmers are given input costs plus a 50 per cent profit, there would be an impact on food prices which can be contained through subsidy, cutting waste and eliminating bottlenecks in the supply chain. The Aadhaar card can enable a foolproof transfer of benefits. The government should also encourage better water management and make rainwater harvest mandatory, given the precarious condition of the water table. The road map for agricultural revival is available in the Swaminathan report. What is required for its implementation is the political will.
I would also request you to protect the farmers’ interest in case of natural calamity, low production and other adverse situations. The compensation for these losses already exists but that is very meager. In the existing national policy of compensation, in case of loss of crop of the farmer less than Rs. 1000/- per acre is provided to the farmer where as Haryana Govt. provides Rs. 10000/- per acre. So this also needs drastic changes and compensation should be linked directly to the value of losses caused or at least Rs. 20000/- per acre.
I would again request your good self that the crop loans to the farmers’ from all the Banks may be provided at the 2% rate of interest if the borrower pays back the loan amount in time. This policy exists already in Haryana where such farmers are provided crop loans at the rate of 4% interest.
I am hopeful that you would address these burning issues of farmers at the earliest which are essentials to revive agriculture growth and to which you are already committed.
With thanks and regards.
Yours Sincerely,
Sampat Singh
MLA, Nalwa Hisar
Date: 09.06.2014