The Hindu : National Commission on Farmers set up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 11, 2004

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National Commission on Farmers set up

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 10. The Centre today announced the setting up of the first-ever National Commission on Farmers to review the status of agriculture and to assess the conditions of different categories of farmers in various regions. It will have a tenure of two years.

The former Agriculture Minister and Planning Commission member, Som Pal, will chair the Commission. He has been given the rank of Cabinet Minister.

Renowned farm scientist and former Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation Ram Badan Singh and an expert in rural and agriculture credit and former Chairman of NABARD Y.C. Nanda have been appointed full-time members.

R.L. Pitale, economist and Chilakarn Ramachandra Reddy and Kunverji Bhai Jadav, farm experts, are part-time members and the Secretary, Agriculture, R.C.A. Jain, member-secretary.

The Commission will identify factors responsible for imbalances and disparities and suggest steps to achieve sustainable and equitable agricultural development.

It will recommend policies, programmes and measures for accelerated and diversified agricultural development to alleviate rural poverty and impart viability and attractiveness to farming as a remunerative and rewarding profession.

The Commission will address the issues of farm technology and input delivery mechanism and suggest a farmer-friendly framework for the extension of new technologies such as agri-biotechnology and climate forecast applications with use of tools such as remote sensing technology, information technology and communication technology.

It will examine issues of the existing price and marketing policies and the legal framework to improve the incomes and welfare of farmers. It will also address changes taking place in the national and international economic and trade environment with a bearing on the livelihood sustainability and the viability of small agricultural holdings.

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