National Commission on Farmers Report

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1.  NATIONAL COMMISSION ON FARMERS R EPORT EPORT:-

The National Commission on Farmers put forward five reports during the period  between December 2004 and October 2006. Headed by Prof. M. S. Swaminathan, Commission, in its final report, focused on causes of farmer ’s afflictions ’s afflictions and the increase in farmer suicides, and advocates issues of access to resources and social security entitlements through a holistic national policy for farmers. I will attempt to bring to light their key findings and recommendations under areas such as land reforms, irrigation, credit and insurance,

food

security,

employment,

productivity

of

agriculture

and

farmer

competitiveness.1 

2.1. BACKGROUND:The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) was constituted on November 18, 2004 under the chairmanship chairmanship of Professor M.S. Swaminathan. The Terms of Reference reflected the priorities listed in the Common Minimum Programme. The NCF submitted four reports in December 2004, August August 2005, December 2005 and April 2006 2006 respectively. The fifth and final report was submitted on October 4, 2006. 2006. The reports contain sugg suggestions estions to achieve the goal of " f aste asterr and more inclu sive growth"  as envisaged in the Approach to 11th Five Year Plan.

1.1.  TERMS OF R EFERENCE EFERENCE:The NCF was directed to make proposals on matters such as: 2    A medium-term scheme for food and alimentation security in the country in order to

move towards the goal of universal food security over time.   Increasing output, effectiveness, and sustainability of the major farming systems of the

country.   Policy reforms to substantially increase flow of rural credit to all farmers.   Enhancing the quality and cost competitiveness of farm commodities so as to enable

them to be competitive on a global scale.   Shielding domestic farmers from sharp falls in international prices.   Sanctioning elected local bodies to efficiently safeguard and develop the ecological

fundamentals of sustainable agriculture. 1. http://www.prsindia.org/parliamenttrack/report-summaries/swaminathan-report-national-commission-onfarmers--662. 2. National Commission on Farmers.   

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  Set up mechanisms to standardize sale of agricultural lands based on quantum of land

and the intended use of the land by the respective category of the buyer.   Distribute ceiling-surplus and waste lands.

1.2.  IN

ORDER

TO

ACHIEVE

HIGHER

GROWTH

IN

PRODUCTIVITY

IN

AGRICULTURE, THE NCF RECOMMENDS: 

Increases in public investment in agriculture related infrastructure especially in the areas of irrigation, drainage, water conservation, connectivity connectivit y by roads etc.

  A nationwide network of sophisticated soil testing laboratories with the ability to

detect micronutrient deficiencies.

2.4. SOME OF MEASURES SUGGESTED INCLUDE:  Setting up of State level Farmers' Commission with representation of farmers so as to

ensure a dynamic government response to farmers' problems.   Streamline microfinance policies to serve as Livelihood Finance, i.e. credit coupled

with support services in areas such as technology, management, markets, etc.   Changing the reference unit of covering crop insurance from a block to a village.   Promote aquifer recharge and rain water conservation. Decentralise water use

 planning and every village should should aim at Jal Swaraj with Gram Sabhas serving as Pani Panchayats.

2.5. WHAT AILS INDIAN AGRICULTURE?    Decline of growth of agricultural sector to 1.65% per annum in 1996-2005 from

3.69% per annum in 1990-1996.   Reduction of net sown area, gross cropped area, gross irrigated area, fertilizer use and

electricity consumption for agricultural usage.   Growth rate of terms of trade for agriculture declined from 0.95 per cent per annum

during 1990-96 to (-) 1.63 percent per annum 1996-2005.   The plight of farmers is apparent from the fact that the Punjab farmers with immense

average farm sizes of 3.79 ha, growing wheat and rice can only earn incomes which are less than the starting salary of a class IV employee.3  day  and Agriculture is the   77% of India’s population lives on less than Rs.20 a day  largest unorganised sector. 3. National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (2007).  

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  57% of India’s total employment and 73% of total rural employment come from this

sector.   Agriculture is getting feminised.   73% women as compared to 52% men.   Small and marginal farmer households accounting for 84% of all farmer households

are predominantly in financial debt. 4 

4. http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/association-news/sica/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=48601.  http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/association-news/sica/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=48601.   

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2.  AGRICULTURAL SITUATION IN R AJASTHAN AJASTHAN- MAIN FEATURES:-

It has been noted that agriculture in Rajasthan is characterized by the following features: 1. While the agro-climatic conditions in Rajasthan have a great deal of diversity which  permits crops of great diversity diversit y to be produced in different parts of the State, over 70% of tthe he cultivated land (net sown area is 24 lakh hectares) is not irrigated and is dependent upon unreliable monsoons. 3. The minor irrigation facilities of the State consist of over 36,000 community tanks and over ten lakh irrigation wells which jointly account for around 58 percent of the net irrigated area of about 30 lakh hectares.

4. More than 73% of the farmers fall into the category of small and marginal farmers with an average holding of less than one hectare of land.

5. The productivity of most agricultural crops in the State is significantly below the national average, however there is a prospective for additional improvement.

6. Cereal crops dominate the state’s agriculture with more more than  than 54% of the gross cultivated area, despite their existing favourable conditions for Horticulture crops, which cover only about 12% (16.30 lakh hectares) of net cropped area.

7. Livestock production and dairy farming constitute about 26 per cent of the State’s ASDP (State Domestic Product from Agriculture).

8. The Sericulture sector, which collectively employs over 10 lakh people, has remained stagnant in spite of there being a potential to t o grow.

9. There has not been an adequate development of the agriculture marketing sector to ensure stable and remunerative prices for agricultural produce.

 

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10. Though the contribution of agriculture in the State GDP is declining (it has come down from about 30% in the beginning of this century to about 20% currently), a large percentage 5

(about 66%) of the total population is still dependent on agriculture.  

For improving the productivity of Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Animal Husbandry etc., with a view to maximizing the incomes of farmers‟ households and situation.   mi ni mi si ng the ri sks faced faced by them them in the context of Rajasthan’s agricultural situation.

Th e state gover gover nme nm ent mu st adopt adopt the th e str ategy ategy of of diversif i cation of agri cul tu turr e as a

major element of its policy. The motto of diversification shall be „no field with one crop, and no  farmer with one one income‟. 

5.  5. http://www.barcjaipur.org/admin/ca http://www.barcjaipur.org/admin/cat-images/catImg_1321097184.pdf t-images/catImg_1321097184.pdf  

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CONCLUSION 

Agriculture has always been considered as the primary sector in India. India is an agrarian economy, meaning that agriculture is the pre-dominant sector of the Indian economy. True to this, even to this day, notwithstanding the Indian economy opening out to the world and globalization, close to 70% of the population still depends on agriculture for its livelihood. The secondary and tertiary sectors in India are growing at rapid rates, still a vast majority of Indians continue to depend on agriculture. Every plan for the t he growth of the Indian economy aims at agricultural development, which is justified because to achieve the growth rates that the economy aims at, it is important to first address the growth rate of the major sector of the economy. Since the first Five year plan, India's focus has been on agriculture and after 50 years of Five year plans, where does Indian agriculture stand? Thanks to the Green Revolution, India is now self-sufficient in food production, gone are the days when India had to import even food grains for daily consumption. Indian agriculture has been making technological advancement as well. Today, a visit to the villages will reveal that more and more farmers are adopting mechanization for their farming, there is an overall improvement in the agricultural trends in India.

For upliftment of the farmers there is need for a joint initiative by State Government, Central Government and Financial Institutions. There is need of,   Timely and adequate support by way of credit to farmers with focusing small and

marginal farmers to have them modern equipment for improved agricultural  productivity.   To issue Kisan Credit Cards to all the eligible farmers to have them access to get ST, MT and LT loan from all the banks.   To form the SHGs of Tenant farmers/ share croppers & agricultural workers and give

them micro-credit through banks.   Encourage the farmers to adopt allied activities like dairy, fishery, poultry etc. with

farming activities.   Diversification/crop rotation in agricultural production in changed scenario.   Adoption of upgraded technology inputs along with provision of infrastructure inputs

like power at subsidized cost, supply of inputs like seeds, fertilizers, tractors and credit provision through all nationalized banks.  

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  Adoption of Non-Farm activities with allied agricultural activities. activit ies.   Arrangements of marketing /forward linkages /contract farming to sell their produce

at remunerative prices. If these facilities are given to farmers they may achieve self-sufficiency in agricultural  production. There is need for major review of agricultural a gricultural policy to meet the changing needs of both producers and consumers.

“The problem cannot be solved through economic packages alone. What is needed i s social and spir spir i tual i nterventi ons so that the far mers r eali ze that suicide sui cide is not th e way

ut…they should understand that they need to develop self confidence. The future ut…they o   generation should should have the mental mental strength to face face life's challenges.” challenges.” Amma

As has been mentioned earlier, there cannot be one single and most effective solution to prevent the suicides of farmers. The trend can be reversed through active participation of the Government in addressing the real issues of the farmers that are driving them to suicides. Social responsibility also goes a long way to help the farmers. The big land owners in most  places do not lend a helping hand to struggling farmers, in most cases, they grab the benefits which are otherwise meant for the poor farmers. General public, NGOs, Corporate and other organisations too can play a part in helping farmers by adopting drought affected villages and families and helping them to rehabilitate. The solution to the farmer's plight should be directed towards enabling the farmers to help themselves and sustain on their own. Temporary measures through monetary relief would not be the solution. The efforts should be targeted at improving the entire structure of the small farmers wherein the relief is not given on a drought to drought basis, rather they are taught to overcome their difficulties through their own skills and capabilities. The Government needs to come up with pro-active solutions and the nation has to realize that farmers' suicides are not minor issues happening in remote parts of a few states, it is a reflection of the true state of the basis of our economy. "Give a man a fish, he will eat for a day but teach him how to fish, he will eat for the rest of his life", so goes the popular saying, the case of our Indian farmers is similar to this, what they need is a means to sustain throughout their lives without having the face the desperation that adversity drives them to. If India has to shine, it is these farmers that need to  be empowered.6 

6. http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Essay/farmer-suicides.html  

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3.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

  http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/association-news/sica/newsdetails.aspx?news_id



= 48601.  48601. 

 



http://www.prsindia.org/parliamenttrack/report-summaries/swaminathan-reportnational -commission-on-farmers--662.

  http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd16/PF/presentations/farmers_relief.pdf. http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd16/PF/presentations/farmers_relief.pdf.  



  http://www.stwr.org/food-security-agriculture/one-farmers-suicide-every-30-



minutes.html.   minutes.html.

  http://www.macroscan.org/anl/mar08/pdf/farmers_suicides.pdf



 

http://www.barcjaipur.org/admin/cat-images/catImg_1321097184.pdf

 

http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Essay/farmer-suicides.html

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/40-year-old-farmer-commits-suicide-







in-Rajkot village/article show/15375639.cms?

 

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