Question : POLICY FOR FARMERS

(a) whether the Government proposes to introduce a new policy for farmers;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether small and marginal farmers are likely to get special benefits under the said policy; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE(SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)

(a): The National Policy for Farmers 2007 has already been approved by the Government and was laid on the Table of the House in November 2007. This policy is based on the recommendations made by the National Commission on Farmers as contained in the “Revised Draft National Policy for Farmers”, submitted by the Commission to the Government.

(b)to(d): The National Policy for Farmers provides, inter-alia, for asset reforms in respect of land, water, livestock, fisheries and bioresources; support services and inputs like application of frontier technologies; agricultural biosecurity system; supply of good quality seeds and disease-free planting material; issue of soil health passbooks to the farmers and integrated pest management system; region and crop specific implements and machinery; support services for women like crèches, child care centres, nutrition, health and training; timely, adequate and easy reach of institutional credit at reasonable interest rates and modified farmer-friendly insurance instruments; use of Information and Communication Technology and setting up of farm schools to revitalize agricultural extension; coverage of farmers under a comprehensive national social security scheme; effective implementation of MSP across the country and establishing community.

foodgrain banks; development of agricultural market infrastructure and terminal markets for agriculture; curriculum reforms in agricultural universities; special categories of farming like organic farming and contract farming; rural non-farm employment initiatives for farm households; and integrated approach for rural energy, etc. The policy prescriptions are expected to benefit the entire community of farmers including small and marginal farmers, in improving the economic viability of farming by substantially increasing the net income of farmers apart from increasing the production and productivity in agriculture and allied sectors.

From the policy, the small and marginal farmers are expected to get the benefits which include provision of productive asset or market driven skills to farmer households in villages, distribution of ceiling surplus land and wasteland, availability of timely and adequate water for irrigation, pro-small farmer research strategy, provision of adequate inputs and services, timely and adequate farm credit at reasonable interest rates, introduction of a comprehensive national social security scheme for livelihood security of farmers, particularly small and marginal farmers and landless agricultural workers, establishment of community foodgrain banks, value addition to agricultural produce, introduction of cooperative farming, group farming through Self Help Groups, setting up of small holders’ estates, contract farming and farmers’ companies to improve the efficiency and economies of scale for small and marginal farmers and a rural non-farm employment initiative.