(a) whether the Indian farmers are reeling under economic recession after the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) agreement;
(b) if so, whether Indian farmers are not getting even remunerative prices of their produce
after the WTO agreement;
(c) if so, whether the Government has conducted any survey in this regard; and
(d) if so, the details and outcome thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE(SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)
(a) & (b): The growth rate of agricultural GDP was below targeted level during the IX and
X plan periods.The wholesale prices of a number of agricultural commodities on the basis of
average of weeks in a year have by and large shown an increasing trend since 1994-95.The
Minimum Support Prices of major crops have recently shown an increasing trend.
(c) & (d): Government of India has not conducted any survey on the specific issue of
remunerative prices for farmers after the WTO agreement.However, a study by IIM,Ahmedabad on the
impact of WTO agreement on Agriculture was commissioned by Government.The report submitted by
IIM,Ahmedabad in 1999 for the study inter-alia,observes that the ex-post-gains accruing to
Indian agriculture so far seem to be very little since developed countries have used various
escape routes in the WTO agreements to minimize their reform commitments and India will have to
concentrate on non-price factors to improve welfare in the agricultural sector.