It’s time to give priority to agricultural growth, increase in farmer”s income and rural development because principally agriculture is the engine of India”s economic growth and about 70 per cent of its population, directly or indirectly depend upon agriculture.
India has the potential to be a world leader in agriculture. Indeed, it is already the largest producer of pulses, jute and milk while ranking among the top 3 in production of wheat, rice, groundnut, rapeseed, vegetables, fruits, sugarcane, tea, cotton, tobacco and eggs.
Despite of all, farmer’s situation is in bad shape. More than 17,500 farmers committed suicide between 2002 and 2006. According to the latest statistics of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), number of farmers committing suicide in 2012 was 13,718. Indian farmers are facing many problems out of which lack of knowledge regarding farming and lack of awareness regarding government policies are the main.
—Bureau Report
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“The time has come to provide a guaranteed monthly income to farmers depending upon their production and the geographical location of the farm. Crop insurance, weather insurance and all input subsidies should be clubbed under it. The immediate need therefore is to set up a National Farmers Income Commission. A higher assured income to farmers will trigger a domino effect, boosting the overall economic growth.”–Devender Sharma, Expert on Agriculture
Immediate Tasks | Long Term Goals | Commitments of BJP |
-Immediately review and announce tapering off the subsidy for chemical fertilizers. -Restrictions on movement of agricultural produce in the country shall be removed. -The prices of agricultural goods should not be intentionally suppressed in comparison to the products of the industrial goods. | -To Expand irrigation. -Focus on Dry Land Farming. -Review counter-productive subsidies. -Review policy on GM technology. | -To increase public investment in agriculture and rural development. -Take steps to enhance the profitability in agriculture, by ensuring a minimum of 50% profits over the cost of production and linking MGNREGA to agriculture. -Focus on the quality, productivity and trade of spices. -Set up the “Organic Farming and Fertilizer Corporation of India”. -Promote horticulture, floriculture, pisciculture, bee-keeping, poultry, fish farming and aqua culture. -Will adopt a “National Land Use Policy”. |
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