The Hindu Business Line : Contract farming mooted to counter global threat

BRINGING agriculture and related subjects like water resources, fertilisers and rural development under the umbrella of a single ministry and encouraging contract farming are some of the suggestions made at the national seminar on "Developing Indian Farmers' Competitiveness to Face Global Challenges - Building Consensus on Policies and Strategies" held by the Federation of Farmers Associations (FFA) at the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management here.

After consulting the farmers' representatives and others through video conferencing and personal discussions as a part of the two-day seminar, a panel comprising of farmers leaders, economists, agricultural scientists and others held a "brain-storming" session to identify issues and suggest strategies that would help the farming community to meet the emerging global challenges.

The members of the panel included Mr Mohan Guruswamy of the New Delhi-based Centre for Policy Alternatives, Dr K.P.C. Rao of Icrisat, Dr Yerram Raju, a financial consultant, Dr M. Rama Rao, Editor of Ryte Raju and Mr Shankari Koppa, President of Karnataka FFA.

The Co-Chairman of Indian Farmers and Industry Alliance, Mr P. Chengal Reddy, the President and Vice-President of FFA of Andhra Pradesh, Dr M. Sitarama Swamy and Mr A. Bhavani Prasad respectively and Mr Malle Gowda, former Member of Parliament and a farmers' leader in Karnataka also took part in the meeting.

Mr Mohan Guruswamy suggested more direct investments into the agricultural sector by squeezing out "misdirected subsidies". He also wanted the Government to encourage consolidation of agricultural land holdings, as cultivation of fragmented holdings would be unviable for the farmers.

Stating that the number of farming accounts with commercial banks in the country have declined from 22 million in 1995 to 19 million at present, Dr Yerram Raju suggested that the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development should monitor the credit flow into the agricultural sector.

Mr Bhavani Prasad suggested extension of market intelligence and survey support to the farmers. He felt that easy access to investments and working capital for farmers "is a must".

Identifying 13 issues that " are most important for sustainable development of agriculture", Mr Chengal Reddy appealed to the farmers and farmers associations to write to the Central and State Governments to adopt "farmer friendly policies". The issues identified by Mr Reddy pertained to irrigation, mechanisation, reduction of crop losses, development of wastelands, rationalisation of import duties and promotion of consumption of processed foods.

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