Question

(2)
National policy for
agriculture
Demands of Farmers' Movement​

Answer 1

Answer:

The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) under the chairmanship of Prof.

M.S. Swaminathan submitted its final report in October 2006. The NCF prepared, along

with its final report, a draft National Policy for Farmers incorporating its main

recommendations. Based on the draft prepared by the NCF and after consultations with

State Governments and the Central Ministries concerned, Government of India approved

the National Policy for Farmers, 2007.

The primary focus of this policy is on ‘farmer’ defined holistically and not merely

on agriculture. In that sense, it is much more comprehensive than an Agriculture Policy.

The objective is, inter alia, to improve the economic viability of farming through

substantially improving net income of farmers. Needless to say, there is emphasis on

increased productivity, profitability, institutional support, and improvement of land,

water and support services apart from provisions of appropriate price policy, risk

mitigation measures and so on.

The 53rd meeting of the National Development Council (NDC) held on the 29th

May 2007 was exclusively for addressing issues of the agriculture sector. Government of

India has recently taken several initiatives such as the National Horticulture Mission, the

National Bamboo Mission, reforms in agricultural marketing, the revitalization of

cooperative credit structure and setting up of the National Fisheries Development Board

and the National Rainfed Area Authority. More recently, the National Food Security

Mission and the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (Additional Central Assistance Scheme)

have been approved to substantially enhance investment in agriculture and increase

production and productivity. All these initiatives are in consonance with the intent,

direction and measures suggested in the National Policy for Farmers.

I am confident that the new policy, together with the initiatives already taken by

the government, would help accelerate the overall growth of the sector and improve the

well-being of millions of farmers in the country.

11 September, 2007

New Delhi.

JAI HIND.

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