Tuesday 11 June 2013
Save Agriculture – Save Nation
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Dr. Manmohan Singh headed UPA government, after permitting FDI in retail is bent upon adopting the employment degenerating development model without foreseeing its effects on agriculture, farmer and the village. Before this era of so called economic reforms, the expenditure on agriculture was 27% of total plan outlay which now has come down to 5%. Agriculture sector is now no longer on the priority of this government. This Rashtriya Sabha of Swadeshi Jagran Manch shows its serious concern about the present governmental policies of neglecting agriculture.
The government is conspiring to corporatize the agriculture sector by introducing the Seed Bill, Bio-diversity Act, Bio-technology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Act, New Water Policy, Food Security & Standard Act, Agriculture Produce Marketing Bill, Free Trade Agreements (FTA) etc. It would create the monopoly of large corporate houses including Multinational companies in this sector. The government is pushing hard the GM crops in the name of new technology, which in turn will bring the hazardous impact on environment, public health and bio-diversity of the country.
Everyone knows that India is primarily an agriculture based economy. This sector still generates the 56% of the total employment of the country. Today, when our economy is growing at the rate of 8%, the rate of increase in the agriculture sector is mere 2%. Agriculture and agriculturist both are under severe stress due to anti-farmmer government policies. Nearly 3 Lakhs farmers have committed suicide in last 15 years. Initially, the instances of suicides were limited to Vidharbha and Andhra Pradesh but now, this menace is spreading to the states like Punjab. According to the data available, approximately 1000 farmer have been committing suicide every year. The rising costs of cultivation and stagnant production are the main reasons which entangle the common farmer into vicious circle of high interest bearing loans.
Nearly 47% of children are suffering of mal-nutrition, which PM considers to be a matter of national shame. The average per capita availability of food has dropped to 437 grams from 510 grams twenty years ago. The per capita availability of pulses and edible oils has also been shrinking. But despite it, the government is un-moved to the plight of the agriculture and the farmers. The vast stretches of cultivable land are being forcibly acquired for the use in SEZ (Special Economic Zone), infrastructural and so called educational purposes to benefit the big companies, which in turn is destined to have a serious impact on the food security of the country. The food security of a country having population of 122 crores of people cannot be fulfilled through imports. The big companies are amassing vast pieces of cultivable land as “Land Bank” for earning the economic benefits in future and this is causing further stress to our food security.
Swadeshi Jagran Manch is of this considered opinion that the agriculture is the life line of Indian economy. Hence, this national council demands that:
1. The income of farmer is decreasing day by day due to non- remunerative pricing of agriculture produce due to governmental policies. Therefore, ‘Farmers’ Income Commission’ is constituted to ensure and guarantee the regular and stable income to the farmers to let them live their lives respectfully.
2. The model of India’s development be made and run based on its human resources, natural resources, environment, needs, weakness’ and strengths. There has been vast potential in the inclusive and sustainable development in the sphere of agriculture and cattle farming. Therefore, keeping in mind the importance of agriculture-farmer-village; “JAL-JUNGLE-JAANWAR-JANATA” is made the centre of development model.
3. There should not be any land acquisition for non agricultural use.
4. The proposed water management policy is withdrawn forthwith and the farmer be given ownership of the underneath ground water.
5. Keeping in mind the ill effects of present system of cultivation with pesticides based chemical, the use of bi-agriculture is promoted by subsidizing organic manure.
6. The various step attempts in the name of GM technology, harming the agriculture and food security of the country are banned.
7. The steps for an early payment of dues of farmers after sale of agricultural produce are made or otherwise, the provision of penal interest be made for late payments and bank loans be rescheduled till full payment is received by the farmer.
8. Dairy farming may be very effective in making the country a great economic power. Therefore, the pasture lands are restored, new pasture grounds be created and the development of cattle farming be made as priority.
9. The import and export policy of agriculture produce be made, keeping in mind the interest of farmers and it should be linked with the cultivation cycles.
10. The MNREGA should be linked with the agriculture.
11. Master plan is made for each village, including traditional artisans like weavers, black-smiths, carpenters, tailors, cobblers etc, fishermen, tribals, micro and small farmers. Arrangement be made for procurement of forest produce at the village level.
12. Future trading in agricultural produce of all types is banned forthwith, to stop speculation.
13. Agricultural loan be provided at zero percent throughout the nation.
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