Tenure of National Commission on Farmers extended

New Delhi, Oct 16 (UNI) The Union Cabinet today extended to October 31 this year the tenure of the National Commission on Farmers, headed by agricultural expert M S Swaminathan to recommend a medium-term policy for food and nutrition security in the country.

The Cabinet also approved the Retention of core supporting administrative staff consisting of nine officers, including the Member Secretary, up to a further period of 15 days from November 1 to November 15, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

The National Commission on Farmers was constituted on February 10, 2004 to recommend policies, programmes and measures for accelerated and diversified agricultural development that would alleviate rural poverty and raise standards of living of the farming community.

The Commission was later reconstituted under the chairmanship of Prof Swaminathan and assigned revised terms of reference with the approval of the Cabinet, notified through a resolution on November 18 the same year.

The reconstituted Commission was required to submit a medium-term policy for food and nutrition security in the country in order to move towards the goal of universal food security over time within three months of its constitution, and submit its recommendation on other terms of reference as soon as practicable and in any case on or before October 16 this year.

The Commission has till date submitted four Interim Reports covering different aspects of the terms of reference assigned to it.

UNI YJ AK BS1428