Cong for better deal for farmers

New Delhi, Nov 24 (UNI) Congress member V Narayanasamy today called upon the Government to give a better deal to the farming community, reeling under indebtedness and low productivity, and sought remunerative prices and a larger role for institutional credit.

Introducing a private member's bill on the Agricultural Produce (Remunerative Prices) Bill 2006 in the Rajya Sabha, he sought remunerative prices for the agricultural produce of farmers by way of fixation of minimum support price and compulsory purchase of the produce through government agencies.

Mr Narayanasamy also demanded a compulsory market intervention by government agencies in cases of bumper crops to protect farmers from the middlemen and the traders, who squeeze huge margins from their produce by paying them meagre sums.

He said farmers were not being paid for their produce commensurate to their cost of production. The minimum support price for wheat, rice, pulses, edible oils and sugarcane was not being announced well in advance so that farmers could decide which crop to cultivate, he added.

In the absence of proper price of their produce and lack of other facilities to them, the farmers were committing suicide. They were facing hardships even after getting loans from the banks and were compelled to approach the private money lenders who charge exorbitant interest rates from them.

Mr Narayanasamy demanded the establishment of National Agriculture Produce Remuneration Board for the purposes and for matters connected to farmers.

He said that the Board should announce and fix the remunerative prices before the sowing season and allow the farmers to decide which crop to cultivate.

Remunerative prices should be announced differently for the four regions of the country according to the prevailing conditions.

Special packages were announced for Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh for bailing out the farmers from their hardships.

Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees and cooperatives should work for the welfare of the farming community, ensuring them a reasonable price for their produce.

He also demanded that quality seeds, timely supply of fertiliser and proper irrigation facilities be provided to the farmers so that they can get better yield of their products.

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