Dismantle hurdles to empower farmers: Venkaiah

New Delhi, Dec 1 (INN): Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu has called for serious consideration of paying cost of production plus 50 per cent as MSP (Minimum Support Price) to farmers as recommended by the National Commission on Agriculture headed by Dr.Swaminathan.

He stated this while addressing the 10th National Conference of Farmers organized by Consortium of Indian Farmers Associations (CIFA) here on Monday. He has expressed serious concern over the adverse economic and policy environment in which the farmers of the country are toiling to meet the food security requirements of the country.

Venkaiah Naidu observed that, 'Over the years farmers of the country have been betrayed by the policy makers, exploited by the organized sector, neglected by the intellectuals and orphaned by the media. They neither have security nor growth'.

He lamented that farmers are at the mercy of monsoon, markets, middlemen and monetary institutions. Calling for dismantling of hurdles that come in the way of empowering farmers with assured incomes, Naidu stressed that implementation of Dr. Swaminathan Commission's recommendation on MSP need to be seriously considered keeping in view the overall economic implications.

The Union Minister denounced perception in some quarters that the farmers are being pampered with subsidies of various kind. He said that vis-'-vis the farmers of developed countries, the Indian farmer is receiving much less support from the governments and hence, the central government took a tough stand at the WTO on the issues of subsidies and food security needs.

He noted that, 'It is regrettable that farmers' concerns are not being articulated as effectively as it should be to influence policy making. Farmers need to organized themselves for better reflection of their concerns'.

Venkaiah Naidu said that the Central Government was keen about interlinking of rivers, enhancement of investments in farm sector, enabling free movement of farm produce, increasing access to bank credit for farmers, enhancing productivity and modernization of agriculture, high value farming like horticulture, floriculture and fisheries for increased incomes to benefit farmers.

He complimented former Chief Minister of Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa, who was also present on the occasion for introducing separate budget for agriculture, which he said is now being emulated by some other states.

Naidu called for a second green revolution to meet food security requirements with states like Punjab, Haryana, parts of UP and Andhra Pradesh reaching saturation point with regard to food grain production. He appreciated the strides being made by states like Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Odisha in increasing food grain production.