NEW DELHI: Concerned over the debt burden of small farmers, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said the Budget will tackle the issue even as he promised no hasty decisions on opening up the retail sector for FDI.

"We are committed to finding solutions to vexed problem of excessive indebtedness and dependence on money lenders. We will try to improve access to credit at a lower cost to farmers. The Finance Minister will be addressing this matter in his Budget speech," he told the Lok Sabha. Winding up the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, Mr. Singh said, the Agriculture Minister would come out with a package to deal with the problems of marginal farmers and consider the idea of giving fertiliser subsidy directly to farmers.

On concerns of members regarding FDI in the retail sector, he assured "we will not act in haste. We will examine this issue in all its dimensions including its effect on livelihood and discuss this widely before taking any decision. There is no hurry on this."

What have been allowed so far are single brand chains that are an extremely narrow category which was already present in the country through franchises, he said.

On concerns of rising prices, he said the Government was monitoring the situation closely and would continue to pursue judicious policy on petroleum pricing keeping in mind the needs of the consumer, the requirement of energy security and the health of PSU oil companies.

As of now, he said, the Government had been able to keep prices under check despite unprecedented pressure due to rise in global oil prices.

Regarding the decision to import wheat, the Prime Minister said it was a precautionary measure and to ensure that the minimum level of buffer stock was maintained.

"This decision will benefit consumers without hurting farmers. We do not need lessons from NDA on how to care for our farmers," he said referring to the concerns raised by V.K. Malhotra and other BJP members. Elaborating on the economic outlook, Mr. Singh said the Government has delivered eight per cent growth. "We are seeing the highest savings rate of 29 per cent and a record investment rate of 31 per cent."

"The country is on the verge of crossing eight per cent growth this year. If we sustain this for the next few years, it is possible that we can eliminate poverty, ignorance and disease which afflict millions of our people," Mr. Singh said.

This Government has revived investment and generated employment, he said adding the government has come to power on a pledge to care for the "aam aadmi and on a pledge to make India shine, but shine for all."

Listing out the major programmes of the government like Bharat Nirman, National Rural Employment Guarantee, Urban Renewal Mission, he said these along with other initiatives for infrastructure development, reviving manufacturing and agriculture, are aimed at ensuring that faster growth was "equitable, fair and just."

Turning to the Left parties' suggestion for universalisation of public distribution system, the Prime Minister said due to resource constraint and limitations of administration, this could be examined only after the Government was able to address the needs of the poor.

As far as food security was concerned, he said it was being addressed through Rural Employment Guarantee, the universalisation of mid-day meal and the ICDS programme besides expanding the Antyodaya scheme.

On the development of backward regions, he said Backward Regions Grant Fund which would be implemented through Panchayati Raj Institutions would come into operation this year to deal with the problem of regional imbalance.

The Bill to give land rights to tribals in forest areas, the filling of backlog of Government jobs for SCs and STs, the range of legal measures for women's rights were steps towards ensuring empowerment of marginal and weaker groups, he said.

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