Buddha finally clears agro policy

After months of dithering, the LF Cabinet finally cleared the new agricultural policy at a meeting yesterday afternoon with a provision of seven days for any member of the coalition to seek clarification or amendments. Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya said with agricultural lands being so fragmented, the state will never introduce ‘‘contract farming’’ by large multinational firms. ‘‘We will never allow the nature of land holdings to be altered by multinational companies in the state,’’ he said.

‘‘We don’t want to hang ourselves in the multinational trap,’’ he added. The agricultural policy involves much more than just contract farming, he said, adding that it encompassed vital areas like land use pattern, irrigation policy, use of fertilisers, diversification of crops, horticulture and floriculture and food security.

There are several firms involved in producing high-yielding seeds and also hybrid variety of vegetables. But almost in the same breath, the CM expressed satisfaction that the state government has been able to rope in multinationals like Pepsi and ITC in several areas of fruit and fish production and marketing. Talks are also progressing with Dabur regarding marketing of medicinal plants, he added.

The initial objection to a new agri-business policy, which was documented by Mckinsey and Co about a year ago, was first raised by Left partner Forward Bloc. Agriculture Minister from Forward Bloc, Kamal Guha, said his party will not accept ‘‘contract farming’’ under any circumstances and asked for a review of the policy that was part of Mckinsey’s agri-business strategy for Bengal. The LF constituent even went to the extent of criticising CPI(M) and Mckinsey by saying in public meetings that such strategies should never be ‘‘drafted sitting in cold chambers’’.

The CM conceding to Bloc’s demand called for suggestions and asked Commerce and Industries Minister Nirupam Sen to draft the new document. Subsequently, Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta was asked to give the final shape.

Yesterday, the CM said: ‘‘The draft policy has moved several departments and hands before being finally accepted today.’’ When pointed out that the process took long though his government believed in ‘‘Do it Now’’ slogan, Bhattacharya quipped: ‘‘Still, it is a success story. We must take this forward.’’