(a) the major recommendations made by the National
Commission on Farmers (NCF);
(b) the status of implementation of the recommendations;
(c) whether the main problems of the farmers still
persist in spite of the followup action by various stakeholders
on the recommendations of the Commission;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(e) the comprehensive measures taken by the Government
to resolve the various problems being faced by the farmers?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE(SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 281 DUE FOR REPLY ON 23RD AUGUST, 2011.
(a) & (b): The major recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers
(NCF) were contained in the Draft National Policy for Farmers submitted by it. The
accepted recommendations figuring under National Policy for Farmers, 2007 (NPF)
inter alia include Asset Reforms to Empower Farmers with regard to Land, Water,
Livestock, Fisheries & Bio resources; Support Services including Science &
Technology, Agricultural Bio Security, Agro-Meteorology, Climate Change, Inputs &
Services, Credit Insurance Cooperatives, Extension Training & Knowledge
Connectivity, Marketing & Processing; Specific Initiatives for Special Categories of
Farmers such as Tribal Farmers, Plantation Farmers etc.; Institutional Support for
Encouraging Organic Farming, Green Agriculture etc.; Special Attention to Areas
Experiencing Agrarian Distress and Enhancement in Income of Small & Marginal
Farmers through Cooperative Farming, Group Farming, Contract Farming etc.
Final Plan of Action for Operationalization of National Policy on Farmers, 2007
was circulated to all concerned. This Plan identifies further steps/actions that need to
be taken. Out of 201 further steps identified in the Plan of Action,action on 111 points
has been completed.
(c) to (e): Problems faced by farmers are multi-dimensional and dynamic which are
being resolved gradually with joint efforts of the Government of India and the State
Governments. NPF, 2007 provides roadmap for mitigating problems of farmers.
Comprehensive initiatives of Government of India to resolve the problems faced
by farmers include Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and National Food Security Mission
with outlays of Rs.23027.98 crore and Rs.5550 crores respectively during the 11th Five
Year Plan. In addition to this, schemes like National Horticulture Mission, Support to
State Extension Programme for Extension Reforms, Micro Irrigation, National
Agricultural Insurance Scheme etc. have been continued from the 10th Plan period. In
recent years, Minimum Support Price (MSP) of various crops has been increased
substantially to ensure that farming continues to be remunerative vocation.
Besides this, the Government of India has tried to ameliorate condition of
farmers facing agrarian distress by launching Rehabilitation Package for Distressed
Farmers with an outlay of Rs.16979 crore and Agricultural Debt Waiver & Debt Relief
Scheme benefiting 3.69 crore farmers involving a relief of Rs.65.318 crore. Interest
rate on agricultural loans has been reduced to 4% for farmers repaying their loan in
time. There has also been substantial growth in credit availability to farmers.
These initiatives have resulted in desired outcomes as evidenced by record
production of 241.56 million tones of food-grains during the year 2010-11. The
agricultural sector has achieved a cumulative growth rate of 3.2% during the first four
years of the 11th Plan, with a 6.6.% growth rate in 2010-11.
During 2011-12, new initiatives including Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern
Region, Rainfed Area Development Programme, Integrated Development of 60,000
pulses villages in rainfed Areas, Promotion of Oil Palm, Initiative on Vegetable
Clusters, Nutri-cereals, National Mission for Protein Supplements and Accelerated
Fodder Development Programme have been introduced, which will further boost
growth of agriculture sector to enable it to play its desired role in economic growth and
development of the country and simultaneously in improving income and quality of life
of farmers.