New Delhi: The Consortium of Indian Farmers Associations (CIFA) on Tuesday suggested various measures to increase farmers income and bolster agrarian economy in a bid to address the challenges and issues faced by the rural sector.
CIFA was invited to participate in the pre budget discussions by the Finance Minister today.
“It is imperative for any government which seeks to achieve a high GDP growth rate to frame policy to assist the agricultural sector which employs 48.9 percent of the workforce of the nation while contributing only 15.2 percent to the GDP of the nation,” CIFA while stressing on increasing investments in agricultural sector said in an official statement.
Emphasizing that the lack of consistent agricultural policy due to political compulsions has led to constant state of penury among the stakeholders involved in the agricultural sector and the wholesale grab of the agricultural sector by few companies has also resulted in increase in income inequalities.
CIFA suggested a Long Term Irrigation Fund to provide lifesaving irrigation to rain fed areas of the backward regions of the country and also listed incentives to promote Farmer Producer Companies.
The farmers body called for removal of Essential Commodities Act as stock limits imposed under this Act curtain demand for farm produce and prices and also for the need to have an Income Security Act for farmers, tenant farmers and farm labourers.
There is a need for effective implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and for the zero percent GST on all agri inputs and equipment, CIFA added.
CIFA has also appealed to the government to convene a Special Parliament Session to study the implication of the various farm sector related reports and prepare required policy changes for time bound implementation . (ANI)