Lok Sabha Question No. 342 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-01
Subject: Recommendation of Swaminathan Commission
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 342

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 1 ST  DECEMBER, 2015

## RECOMMENDATION OF SWAMINATHAN COMMISSION

## 342.   SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the date on which Swaminathan Commission was set up to safeguard the interests of the farmers;
- (b) whether the Commission has submitted any report to the Government;
- (c) if so, the details of the recommendations of the Commission;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  accepted  the  recommendations  of  the  Swaminathan Commission, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्राऱय में राज्य मंत्री (SHRI  MOHANBHAI  KUNDARIA)

(a) to (e): The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) under the Chairmanship of Dr. M. S. Swaminathan was set up vide Resolution No. 8-2/2003-Policy (ES) dated 18.11.2004 by the then Department  of  Agriculture  &  Cooperation.  The  Commission  submitted  five  reports  to  the Government. The major recommendations of the Commission contained in the five reports were included in the 'Draft National Policy for Farmers'; that they submitted on 4.10.2006.

Based on the 'Draft National Policy for Farmers', the Government approved the 'National Policy  for  Farmers,  2007'  (NPF  2007).  The  NPF-2007  aims  to  improve  economic  viability  of farming and increase net income of farmers. The Policy provisions in NPF-2007 include, interalia,  (i) asset reforms in respect of land, water, livestock, fisheries and bio-resources; (ii) supply of good quality seeds and disease-free planting material, (iii) issue of soil health passbooks to the farmers and integrated pest management system; (iv) region and crop specific implements and machinery; (v) support services for women; (vi) timely, adequate and easy reach of institutional credit  at  reasonable  interest  rates  and  farmer-friendly  insurance  instruments;  (vii)  support services and inputs like application of frontier technologies; (viii) agricultural bio-security system; (ix) use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and setting up of farm schools to revitalize agricultural extension; (x) coverage of farmers under a comprehensive national social security  scheme;    (xi)  effective  implementation  of  Minimum Support  Price (MSP)  across  the

country  and  establishing  community  foodgrain  banks;  (xii)  development  of  agricultural  market infrastructure  and  terminal  markets  for  agriculture;  (xiii)  curriculum  reforms  in  agricultural universities;  (xiv)  special  categories  of  farming  like  organic  farming  and  contract  farming;  (xv) rural non-farm employment initiative for farm households; and (xvi) integrated approach for rural energy, etc.

The  Ministry  has  adopted  various  schemes/programmes  based  on  the  NPF,  2007. However,  this  Policy  did  not  incorporate  some  of  the  recommendations  of  NCF  as  given  at Annexure.

## RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY NCF BUT NOT INCORPORATED IN THE NATIONAL POLICY

|     | Gist of Recommendations                                                                                                                                     | Remarks                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (a) | To permit farmers to protect crops by killing wild boars, nilgai and to curtail free grazing of cattle in rabi season                                       | These are not policy issues and may be taken up separately with the Ministry of Environment and Forest for appropriate action by them to protect the crops                                                                                                                |
| (b) | MSP should be at least 50% higher than weighted average cost of production                                                                                  | MSP is recommended by CACP on objective criteria considering variety of relevant factors. Hence, prescribing an increase of at least 50% on cost may distort the market. A mechanical linkage between MSP and cost of production may be counter-productive in some cases. |
| (c) | Formation of All India Agricultural Council                                                                                                                 | Mandate of ICAR can be expanded to discharge this function (This has been suggested in the policy).                                                                                                                                                                       |
| (d) | To set up an Agricultural Risk Fund                                                                                                                         | DEA has expressed reservations and stated that subsidizing agriculture insurance premium is a better option.                                                                                                                                                              |
| (e) | A Food Guarantee Act shall be enacted                                                                                                                       | NREG Act & revamped PDS should take care of food security of BPL families.                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| (f) | To establish an Indian Trade Organisation to help Government to operate Livelihood Security Box for farmers and to link global policies with local action   | Department of Commerce (DOC) has expressed reservation on this proposal and has stated that DOC alongwith DAC are recommending necessary steps to safeguard farmers' interests from time to time.                                                                         |
| (g) | Every State should set up a State Farmer Commission                                                                                                         | State Government will have to take necessary decision in this regard. Hence this may not be incorporated in National Policy for Farmers.                                                                                                                                  |
| (h) | To include Agriculture under Concurrent List under Article 246 of the Constitution                                                                          | Some of the State Governments have opposed this recommendation. It may not be incorporated in Policy as a Constitutional amendment is required for which separate action may be needed.                                                                                   |
| (i) | National Livestock Development Council to be established at the National level. Livestock Feed & Fodder Corporations to be set up at the State level.       | Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries have decided not to establish National Livestock Development Council. Livestock Feed & Fodder Corporation can be considered separately.                                                                              |
| (j) | National Agricultural Biosecurity Council, National Centre for Agriculture Biosecurity and National Agricultural Biosecurity Network would be put in place. | This is implementation issue and can be considered by Government subsequently. Hence, it is not incorporated in the Policy.                                                                                                                                               |
| (k) | PDS would be made universal                                                                                                                                 | In view of reservations expressed by Ministry of Finance and Department of Food and Public Distribution, this may not be incorporated in NPF.                                                                                                                             |
| (l) | Gram Panchayat Mahila Fund to assist women SHGs.                                                                                                            | Existing schemes implemented by Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj can take care of women livelihood and capacity building issues.                                                                                                                          |
| (m) | MSP and Procurement operations should be treated as two separate initiatives                                                                                | Department of Food and Public Distribution has reservation on this, since it will be difficult to implement.                                                                                                                                                              |

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