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M. S. Swaminathan - Indian geneticist and also known as Father of Green Revolution in India |
The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) was constituted on November 18, 2004, under the chairmanship of Professor M.S. Swaminathan, with the primary objective of addressing issues related to farmers. Although the report was submitted in 2006, till date it has not been implemented, our Government were busy in renaming cities and places, increasing own salary and benefits, overlooking benefits of the agricultural workers of the country. Let us find out in details its findings, objective and recommendations of the commission popularly referred as Swaminathan Commission Report.
Prime objective of NCF (National Commission on Farmers, 2004)
(a) Medium-term strategy for food and nutrition security in the country in order to move towards the goal of universal food security over time
(b) Enhancing the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of the major farming systems of the country
(c) Policy reforms to substantially increase the flow of rural credit to all farmers
(d) Special programmes for dryland farming for farmers in the arid and semi-arid regions, as well as for farmers in hilly and coastal areas
(e) Enhancing the quality and cost competitiveness of farm commodities so as to make them globally competitive
(f) Protecting farmers from imports when international prices fall sharply
(g) Empowering elected local bodies to effectively conserve and improve the ecological foundations for sustainable agriculture
Why farmers In India are agitating? View on Youtube
Key Findings and Recommendations of Swaminathan Commission
The commission primarily focuses on the following issues related to farmers of India.
- Causes for farmers’ distress
- Irrigation
- Productivity of Agriculture
- Prevention of Farmers’ Suicides
- Employment
- Bioresources
- Land Reforms
- Credit and Insurance
- Food Security
- Competitiveness of Farmers
The Key Recommendations of the Report :
- Implement a universal public distribution system. The NCF pointed out that the total subsidy required for this would be one per cent of the Gross Domestic Product.
- Reorganise the delivery of nutrition support programmes on a life-cycle basis with the participation of Panchayats and local bodies.
- Eliminate micronutrient deficiency induced hidden hunger through an integrated food cum fortification approach.
- Promote the establishment of Community Food and Water Banks operated by Women Self-help Groups (SHG), based on the principle ‘Store Grain and Water everywhere’.
- Help small and marginal farmers to improve the productivity, quality and profitability of farm enterprises and organize a Rural Non-Farm Livelihood Initiative.
- • Formulate a National Food Guarantee Act continuing the useful features of the Food for Work and Employment Guarantee programmes. By increasing demand for foodgrains as a result of increased consumption by the poor, the economic conditions essential for further agricultural progress can be created. Prevention of Farmers’ Suicides In the last few years, a large number of farmers have
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