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Ahead of the forthcoming general elections, farmer organisations have demanded that the new Government ensure income guarantee and promote ecological sustainability in farming.
In their charter of demands being placed before all political parties for inclusion in manifestos, over 100 farmer organisations, including the Bharatiya Kisan Union, said there should be a guaranteed minimum living income for all farm households.
“The new Government should set up a Farm Income Commission to oversee and ensure minimum living incomes accrue to all farm households,” said Saroj Mohanty of Paschim Odisha Krushak Sanghatan Samanvay Samithi. There should be a revamp of the current price support system with correct valuation of costs incurred by farmers, reasonable margins over such costs and to include living costs, with procurement made effective and expansive.
“The average monthly income of majority of the farmers is far less than their average expenditure, making it difficult for most farm households to make their ends meet,” Mohanty said, adding that around 2,300 farmers are quitting agriculture on a daily basis, triggering migration to cities. As a result, the country’s food security and livelihood security for the farmers are at a risk.
Support price Stressing the need to make farming more profitable, Kavita Kuruganti of the Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture, said the Government should intervene when prices go below the minimum support price (MSP) levels. “ What is the point in increasing food production if the farmers are not benefited by it. The MSP should have a statutory basis. Any trading below the MSP levels should be considered illegal,” she added.
Kuruganti said the Government should also focus on promoting ecological farming to make agriculture more sustainable. The current intensive agriculture practice, using high chemicals, water and energy cannot be sustained for long and was leading to high indebtedness and turning risky, she added.
Rohtas Rathee, National Secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, said acquisition of fertile land for setting up industry should be stopped. “We are not against industry, but we don’t want farmers to give away their fertile land” he added.
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