Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday asked Centre to fix minimum support prices of crops like wheat and paddy in sync with rising input costs, while calling for implementation of the recommendations of Swaminathan Committee in this regard.
"In Punjab alone, farmers are under heavy debt to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore. If the Swaminathan formula is not implemented, there could be more suicides. "Further, agriculture being the backbone of economy, I would request Centre to have separate Budget for agriculture like Railways and Defence, which should be discussed and passed," Badal said after inaugurating CII Agro Tech 2014.
Further, he said, there is urgent need to develop and modernise water irrigation facilities like canals, while renewing focus on developing technologies and research. He asked Centre to fund all agricultural universities that are all financially starved.
Recommending a concession on loans given to small and marginal farmers which should be set at nearly 2 per cent, Badal said this would help make farming more lucrative and bring latency to the sector. He said it is heartening to see the new government at Centre having focused policies for agriculture.
"To encourage diversification which would save the burden on soil and water, Centre must start procuring the certain commodities like maize for which it has just fixed the MSPs," stated the Punjab Chief Minister. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar noted that the Indian economy will progress if agriculture sector advances, while asserting the need for a second 'Green Revolution'.
"Hence, it is the time for a second Green Revolution which calls for an urgent cooperation of various stakeholders including the state & central governments, scientists, universities and institutes," he added. He laid emphasis on the need to promote agro-processing industry and setting up of required logistics and supply chain requirement including the cold chains.
Industry body CII's President Ajay S Shriram highlighted the challenges faced by farmers. "Although farmers are now able to meet growing demands of food, but still structural barriers remain in the growth of the sector," he stated.
Pawan Goenka, Chairman, CII Agro Tech 2014, said Indian agriculture has come a long way since 1960, with the Green and White revolution paving the way for greater success. As many as 162 companies, including 36 overseas exhibitors are taking part in 11th edition of CII Agro Tech.
About 50,000 growers from several states including Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal are expected to participate in this four-day event.
There would also be delegations from Pakistan, Gambia, New Zealand. Exhibitors from 10 countries such as Canada, Italy, Israel, Germany, Spain, France, Poland, South Africa, The Netherlands and Russia will also take part.
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