NEW DELHI: The State Ministers for Agriculture and allied sectors have "broadly" endorsed the recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers, at a national conference organised here by the Union Ministry of Agriculture to discuss the report. However, there was no consensus on bringing agriculture to the Concurrent List.

The Commission, chaired by M.S. Swaminathan, submitted its fifth and final report to the Government in October.

The Ministers came up with their own list of suggestions, the main one being a call to re-orient agriculture research to address the problems of small and marginal farmers and to introduce minimum support price for milk, meat, eggs and horticulture products. The support price should be area specific depending upon the "limitations of productivity."

There was agreement that action should be taken to check diversion of agriculture land for non-agriculture use (Special Economic Zones) and that there should be a national policy for land use and for provision of electricity to farmers.

All States endorsed the need for higher investment in the farm sector and for insurance cover to farmers and their produce. They also sought development of suitable farm implements by premier institutes for use of small farmers.

At the conclusion of the conference here late on Friday, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said there was a broad agreement on the Commission's recommendations as enumerated in the revised draft National Policy for Farmers.

The Government would now "take action" to evolve a comprehensive approach on the implementation of the recommendations that would be placed before a special meeting of the National Development Council to be held in March next year.

Recommendations

The Commission chaired by M.S. Swaminathan had suggested evolving a National Policy on Farmers. Its recommendations covered the entire farming gamut including water management; use of Information Technology to improve returns to farmers; strengthening of extension services, marketing, infrastructure; provision of adequate power to farmers; need to protect soil and improve productivity, encouragement to non-farm employment and livestock; issuance of reasonable price to farmers and special focus on small and marginal farmers and mainstreaming gender into agriculture.

The Agriculture Ministers emphasised the need to minimise the middleman's share in farm marketing transactions and to target farm research to meet the needs of small and marginal farmers. Riverbeds should be cleared through dredging for free flow of water and to control floods.

Further, coastal shelterbelt plantation should be intensified to reduce the impact of cyclones.

They called for a differential rate of import duty, instead of a ban on agriculture exports.

The Central Government should undertake crop mapping once every 10 years. It should set up a Feed and Fodder Corporation for enhancing fodder output and to improve milk production. There should be a mechanism to certify or regulate the quality of fish seed and feed as well.

Marketing reforms should be introduced for horticulture and livestock products.

According to the Ministers, attention should be given to vegetables and fruits through formulation of special programmes for their development, commercialisation, linkages with value addition and marketing, both at the micro and macro levels.

Extension services should be expanded to cover the fisheries sector and fishermen should be provided accident and health insurance cover.

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