The Hindu Business Line : We want to make Indian farmers global players: Pawar

The Union Minister For Food and Agriculture, Mr Sharad Pawar, with the Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Praful Patel, addressing a press conference in Mumbai on Saturday. - Paul Noronha

Mumbai , May 29

MR Sharad Pawar, Union Minister for Agriculture, said the new Government wants to ensure that Indian farmers become global players in areas where the country has surplus produce.

``Since we are in surplus in many areas, it is the responsibility of the State to see that the farmers become global players by providing them necessary infrastructure support,'' Mr Pawar said at a press conference in Mumbai on Saturday.

He said the most important thrust would be to ensure adequate credit to farmers. In its Common Minimum Programme (CMP), the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government has indicated that its plans to step up public investment in agricultural research and extension, rural infrastructure and irrigation.

Mr Pawar,reiterated the CMP's intention to double the flow of rural credit over the next three years. ``At present, rural credit stands at Rs 73,600 crore.Another Rs 30,000 crore will have to be mobilised this year,'' he said.

``The biggest challenge facing us is the per hectare yield drop in some areas across the country. We will tackle this by increasing availability of agricultural credit and water,'' he affirmed.

Mr Pawar said that the Central Government, State Governments and the banking industry would have to be involved in this resource mobilisation.

According to him , the industrial sector has gone through reforms while the agricultural sector has not witnessed any reforms. ``A new direction is essential,'' he opined.

The Minister promised that the situation of small farmers would be looked into under UPA's regime. The CMP had also indicated that steps would be taken for easing the burden of debt and high interest rates on farm loans.

Responding to a question on the World Trade Organisation (WTO), he said, agriculture would be discussed in detail at the next WTO meet. He also pointed out, `` There are indications that certain powerful countries will pressurise developing nations to safeguard their interests."