Lok Sabha Question No. 291 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-07
Subject: Migration of Agricultural Labourers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: ARUN KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 291

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 7 TH  AUGUST, 2018

## MIGRATION OF AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS

*291.    DR. ARUN KUMAR:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  migration  of  agricultural  labourers  is  taking  place  due  to  the  support prices for the agricultural produce not being fixed by the Government in a proper manner and if so, the facts thereof;
- (b) whether the farmers are unable to pay proper wages to the agricultural labourers as they are not getting remunerative support prices for their agricultural produce and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  likely  to  provide  remunerative  support  price  to  the farmers for their agricultural produce; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण ½ãâ¨ããè (SHRI RADHA MOHAN SINGH) (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 291    DUE FOR REPLY ON 7 TH  AUGUST, 2018.

(a):          Migration  of  agricultural  labour  from  rural  to  urban  areas  is  a  general phenomenon and is a natural part of the development process. Migration itself is not an abnormal phenomenon and is common all over the world since growth centres which generate demand for labour often tend to concentrate in certain areas. Migration may happen due to other factors also on account of uncertainties associated with agriculture and livelihoods dependent on it like failure of monsoon and drought like conditions in certain  parts  of  the  country.  There  is  no  direct  link  between  the  price  policy  of agricultural crops and migration owing to the levels of agricultural wages. The minimum wage is fixed from time to time by the State Government under the Minimum Wage Act, 1948. MSP is announced every year by the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP) recommendations.

(b): Cost of production is one of the important factors in the determination of MSPs. While recommending its price policy, the CACP considers all costs in a comprehensive manner. As such, the cost of production covers paid out cost such as value of hired human labour and also imputed value of family labour. The methodology of computing cost  is  recommended  by  Expert  Committees  from  time  to  time.    The  cost  of cultivation/production  include  all  paid  out  costs  such  as  those  incurred  on  account  of hired  human  labour,  bullock  labour/machine  labour,  rent  paid  for  leased  in  land, expenses incurred in cash and kind on the use of material inputs like seeds, fertilizers, manures, irrigation charges, depreciation on implements and farm buildings, interest on working  capital, diesel/electricity for operation of  pump  sets  etc.,  miscellaneous expenses  and  imputed  value  of  family  labour.  Hence  the  costs  considered  are  very comprehensive and farmers are able to pay proper wages to the agricultural labourers.

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(c) & (d):      Farmers are getting remunerative price for their produce. Government has announced the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for kharif crops 2018-19 on 4 th July 2018.    This  decision  of  the  Government  of  India  is  a  historic  one  as  it  redeems  the promise of the pre-determined principle of fixing the MSPs at a level of at least 150 per cent of the cost of production announced by the Union Budget for 2018-19.

MSP is in the nature of minimum price offered by the Government to farmers to procure their produce when market prices tend to fall below MSP, to protect them from distress sales. However, farmers are free to sell their produce to Government agencies or in the open market as is advantageous to them. Cereals like Paddy and Wheat are procured by Food Corporation of India and other designated agencies including by the States  under  the  decentralized  procurement  system  mainly  for  distribution  under  the public distribution system (PDS), which takes care of the basic consumption needs of the poor.

The  Budget  for  2018-19  had  announced  that  NITI  Aayog,  in  consultation  with Central  and  State  Governments,  will  put  in  place  a  fool-proof  mechanism  so  that farmers may get adequate price for their produce. NITI Aayog had held consultations on 9 th March,  2018  with  State  Governments  and  Central  Government  Departments concerned.  The  Budget  for  2018-19  has  also  announced  the  development  and upgradation of existing 22,000 rural haats into Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs) to take care of the interests of more than 86 per cent small and marginal farmers. These GrAMs, electronically  linked  to  e-NAM  and  exempted  from  regulations  of  Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act is expected to provide farmers facility to make direct sale to consumers and bulk purchasers.

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