A day-long discussion on the focus of Union Budget 2023-24 on agriculture saw farmers from across the country raising environmental issues affecting crops and making a demand for more support to the agriculture sector from the government to make their task lucrative.
MPs participating in the 'Budget Charcha', organised by Rural Voice, a highly popular digital platform for exchanging farmers' issues, and Socratus Foundation, a growing NGO, at the India International Centre in New Delhi on Tuesday, took the opportunity to listen to the farmers and share with them their views.
The lively discussions were mostly on themes like rural economy, agriculture digitalisation and natural farming. The event was moderated by Socratus President Prachur.
BSP MP Danish Ali, BRS Lok Sabha member Nama Nargeswara Rao and JD(U) national General Secretary K C Tyagi said the budget should have more benefits for the farmers. Ali raised the plight of sugarcane growers in Uttar Pradesh and accused the government of helping the middlemen more than the farmers.
Rao sought higher allocation for the agriculture sector, while Tyagi highlighted the demands of the farmers that MSP should have legal guarantee and higher remuneration for MNREGA work.
Naresh Sirohi, former National Vice President, BJP Kisan Morcha, said the price policy of the government should be reviewed timely to make agriculture more lucrative.
At the outset, Dr Mahi Pal, a former officer of the Indian Economic Service, dwelt upon key aspects of the Budget for agriculture and rural India. In a frank talk, Dr Mahi Pal, who is presently President of Karpa Foundation, cited data to say that funds were being slashed or diverted from key areas. He asked farmers to raise their voice against this otherwise "a day will come when the ministry of rural development or panchayati raj will fold up or become a non-entity”.
Anima Minz, a woman agriculturalist from Odisha, felt that there was a need to improve marketing and processing of coarse grains, especially millets which the government was promoting as 'Shree Anna'. The woman, a tribal, acknowledged that cultivation of coarse grains was getting them better income.
Editor Rural Voice, Harvir Singh, drew attention of the participants to subsidy cuts on fertiliser and less support for Fasal Bima Yojana, the only insurance scheme for farmers against the vagaries of nature. At present, the premium has increased and some states like Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have opted out of the scheme saying they were preparing their own scheme, he said.
Singh suggested adequate support from the government, like payment of the entire premium by the government. On fertiliser subsidies, he said the rate has dropped in the international market as a result of which the government was saving foreign exchange.
Shyam Singh Mann, a farmer from Haryana sought good quality fertiliser, claiming that NFL products were not up to the mark. "The government is not sincere about promoting organic cultivation," rued another farmer, demanding that more encouragement should be given for organic farming. One of them wondered as to why genetically modified seeds were being promoted.
Twarko Devi, an apple grower from Himachal Pradesh, complained that cultivation of peas was not fetching enough profits.
Many participants referred to the importance of organic fertilisers which, they said, could be made from cow dung, jaggery and besan, while cow urine, neem leaf and curd could be used for making organic fertiliser.
There was a thorough discussion on budgetary provisions for farming, especially horticulture, dairying and pisciculture. The participants also highlighted the role of FPOs in boosting the agriculture sector.