Swaminathan expresses disappointment over budget

Chennai, Feb 28 (UNI) Eminent Agriculture Scientist M S Swaminathan today expressed disappointment that the central budget failed to provide strategy for agricultural renewal.

Reacting to the budgetary proposals, Dr Swaminathan, in a statement here, said "having identified the problem in both human and statistical dimensions, the budget fails to provide a strategy for agricultural renewal." He said the budget proposal to bring 2.4 million hectares more under irrigation, to cover an additional 50 lakh farmers with a total credit availability of 225,000 crore were welcome steps, but such figures alone would not prevent farmers, affected by economic penury from committing suicides.

"The proposal for restoring local water bodies as well as for groundwater recharge is also a welcome one. Unfortunately there is no mention of steps to improve the efficiency of water use on the pattern of the proposal developed by the Union Ministry of Water Resources for increasing income and production per drop of water," Dr Swaminathan said.

He said the proposals to appoint a committee under Prof Abhijit Sen to review forward trading, as well as another committee to review the impact of climate change were timely.

But it was unfortunate that a Universal PDS system as recommended by the National Commission on Farmers, has not been introduced in the place of the targeted PDS which is riddled with corruption, he said.

Dr Swaminathan said he was glad that the Pulses Mission started during Rajiv Gandhi's period is going to be revitalized.

The Finance Minister has aptly quoted Jawaharlal Nehru's famous statement made in 1947, "Everything else can wait but not agriculture".

UNI