Union Agriculture Minister Shri Ajit Singh has
called for reforms in the agriculture sector in keeping with the
changing times. Inaugurating the National Seminar on Methodological
Issues in Fixation of Minimum Support Prices here today, he said
that the State Governments should take an initiative in this direction.
Shri Singh said that an extensive support system should be developed
to protect farmers and fixing of minimum support prices should
only be a part of this system. Referring to the changed agricultural
scenario in the country, Agriculture Minister said that India
is no longer a scarcity economy and has emerged as an agricultural
power yet the farmers continue to live in pathetic conditions.
Although it has been realized that agriculture is the backbone
of our economy, still much remains to be done to improve the lot
of farmers, he added. Lauding the role of cooperatives, Shri Ajit
Singh said that farmer’s cooperative can play an important role
in providing inputs and marketing.
Earlier in his keynote address distinguish agricultural
economist Prof. Y.K. Alagh advocated the need for a new model
on agriculture pricing. He said that the Commission for Agricultural
Costs and Prices (CACP) should become a tariff commission and
suggest the monitory and tax policy changes for the transition
to a trading agriculture. Prof. Alagh also stressed the need for
harmonizing various policies relating to pricing, costs, credit,
marketing and technology.
Shri J.N.L. Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of
Agriculture in his address dispelled the notion that the Government
does not agree with the recommendations of CACP. He said that
normally these are accepted save in exceptional cases because
of certain good reasons.
Chairman of CACP Dr. T. Haque in his welcome address
outlined various issues to be discussed during the two-day seminar.
He said the Indian agriculture and farmers are facing a number
of challenges because of natural calamities like droughts and
floods as also because of the falling prices of output and rising
prices of inputs. He said the farmers’ need to be properly guided
and supported by the technology and infrastructure to diversify.
The two-day Seminar has been organized by the
Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) to discuss
modalities of fixing the minimum support prices. A number of leading
agricultural economists and experts, Members of Parliament, representatives
of farmers’ organizations and senior officials of the Union and
State Governments are taking part in the Seminar.
