Pal flays Plan panel; farm policy ready

NEW DELHI, July 1: The Union agriculture minister, Som Pal severely criticised the Planning Commission's target for foodgrains production fo...

NEW DELHI, July 1: The Union agriculture minister, Som Pal severely criticised the Planning Commission8217;s target for foodgrains production for 1998-99 at 210 million tonne as 8220;unrealistic and unpragmatic8221;. He alleged that the Planning Commission had not taken into consideration the ground realities while working out the target. The agriculture ministry has, therefore, suggested that the target should be scaled down to 203 million tonne. The annual growth rate of agricultural production is expected to be 3 per cent in 1998-99.

Minimum support prices for all other agricultural crops will be announced by July 15. Addressing a press conference in Capital on Wednesday, the minister announced that the new agriculture policy has already been drafted and will be circulated for inter-ministerial discussion as apart from his ministry there are other ministries and departments which are directly or indirectly concerned with agriculture and rural development.

These are ministries of food and consumer affairs,chemical and fertilisers, rural areas and employment, water resources, food processing, environment and forests, non-conventional energy sources, science and technology, health and family welfare, human resources development and welfare.

After inter-ministerial approval, the draft policy will be discussed at a meeting of state chief ministers and agriculture ministers, which would soon be convened, before giving a final shape.

Son Pal assured that the new agricultural policy will aim at strengthening the consolidation of land holdings by offering incentives like Centre bearing the administrative expenses for the purpose. Care should be taken that the farmers were not displaced from their legitimate holdings by way of fraud or by any ill-motivated offers.

He categorically made it clear that foreign direct investments FDIs could only be invited in cases of wasteland development or strengthening the agro-based industries.

Apart from optimum use of land, the new policy would aim at effective use ofwater and genetic resources and improvement of human resources development through introduction of modern technology, improved machinery and implements and adequate flow of credit and finances.

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The minister stated that the Agricard8217; system for farmers will be introduced soon as Nabard has already circulated model scheme to commercial, cooperatives and regional rural banks. The modified comprehensive crop insurance scheme MCCIS will soon replace the existing comprehensive crop insurance scheme CCIS and the experimental crop insurance scheme ECIS for the ensuing rabi season. A new institution by the name of Agricultural Insurance Corporation will also be launched for the purpose.

MCCIS will incorporate payment of premia by farmers based on crop production. However, there will be concessional schemes for small and marginal farmers.

Som Pal stated that a model cooperative law would be enacted to strengthen the multi-sate cooperatives. The states would also be urged to modify their laws relating tocooperatives on basis of this model Act. The prices of controlled and de-controlled fertilisers have been maintained at previous year8217;s level despite increase in cost of production. Low analysis nitrogenous fertilisers are also proposed to be brought under subsidy scheme.