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Swaminathan calls for policies to safeguard interests of farmers

Staff Reporter

Mar Thoma Church Award presented to Swaminathan

PATHANAMTHITTA: Chairman of the National Commission on Farmers and noted agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan has stressed the need to develop appropriate institutional instruments and policies to safeguard the livelihood and security of farmers.

Mr. Swaminathan was delivering the keynote address after receiving this year's Mar Thoma Church Award at the Church headquarters in Thiruvalla on Friday.

He said, ``farmers need appropriate institutional support to enhance their agricultural competitiveness. Multiple livelihood opportunities are essential for ensuring the income security of poor farmers, especially in rainfed semi-arid, arid and hill regions. Mixed farming and improved post-harvest technology leading to value addition to primary products can help to achieve this goal.''

As a national empowerment measure, we should consider establishing an Indian Trade Organisation (ITO) and our own boxes for domestic agricultural support on the model of World Trade Organisation's Gren, Blue and Amber Boxes,'' Mr. Swaminathan said. He said that the ITO could be a virtual organisation, specialising in WTO affairs and it could serve as a brain and information bank for enabling the Government to inform proactive decisions.

He said the National Commission on Farmers had recommended the Centre that the year 2006-'07 be designated as the Year of Agricultural Renewal. During this year, an integrated package of measures should be introduced in every part of the country to increase farm productivity and profitability without causing any ecological harm, he said. Mr. Swaminathan said that the unfinished agenda in land reform, such as enforcement of ceilings on land holdings and distribution of ceiling surplus land among the landless should be addressed with a sense of seriousness and urgency.

He said, ``privatisation of water supply distribution was fraught with dangers and could lead to water wars in local communities and increasing supply through rainwater harvesting and recharge of the aquifer should become mandatory.''

Mar Thoma Metropolitan Philipose Mar Chrysostom presented the Attumalil Georgekutty Merit Award instituted by the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar to Mr. Swaminathan on the occasion.

The award carries a cash of Rs.1 lakh and a citation.

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