Farm sector in distress under BJP government: Rohit Shukla

Members of the Lokshahi Bachavo Abhiyan on Monday alleged that the condition of agriculture and farmers under the BJP government in Gujarat is in a dismay.

Talking to mediapersons, Abhiyan member and an economist Rohit Shukla claimed that though agriculture and its ancillary fields are the largest employment generating sector in Gujarat, the farmers’ condition is pathetic as the government is focussed on industrialisation. “The average monthly income of the farming family is Rs6,426 only. On one hand, input cost is increasing and agricultural products are fetching lower prices and on the other hand the Minimum Support Price (MSP) is not enough to meet the cost. The Swaminathan Committee had suggested minimum support price should be based on input cost plus 50 percent amount,” he said.

Citing an example he alleged that the present government is anti-farmer. “If a farmer is having his field near an irrigation canal and if the water level increases in the well on the field, the farmer is liable to pay water charges of irrigation, even if he/she has not drawn water from the canal,” he said.

Taking it further, economist Hemant Shah alleged that 55% population is dependent on agriculture and ancillary sectors. “A farmer’s family earning is meagre Rs6,426 per month and out of that too, income from agriculture is just Rs3,078, rest comes from animal husbandry and labour activity. Farm loan scheme announced by the state government is an eyewash,” he said.

Social activist Mahesh lambasted the government alleging that it has failed to take the Narmada or any other irrigation scheme’s water to the farms.