In a move to pacify farmers’ anger over various issues ahead of Haryana assembly polls, the Modi government opened a dialogue with farmers to discuss and resolve outstanding issues including anxieties around minimum support price.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday held his first dialogue with a delegation of 50 farmers and farm union leaders in the national capital, days after announced to meet farmers every week.
The meeting held at PUSA, where farmers’ delegation talked about at least four issues including the prices of their produce, issues related to Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, losses caused by stray animals, and the government decisions at the time of harvesting while where Chouhan emphasized the importance of open dialogue on major topics like import-export regulations, dumping duties, and other farmer-related concerns.
Bhartiya Kisan Union apolitical representatives from UP, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Maharashtra attended the meeting. The meeting seems to be important ahead of the Haryana assembly polls where the farmers have shown their displeasures towards the ruling BJP.
Talking to the media after the meeting, Chouhan said he met with around 50 farmer leaders and listened to their issues and concerns. He said, Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, and the farmers are its soul. Chouhan said the farmers’ union has given several suggestions related to crop rates and crop insurance. “Suggestions related to strengthening of the MSP regime have come. We will look into them,” promised Chouhan who has now decided to meet farmer delegations from all over the country on every Tuesday.Today was the first round of talks, Chouhan said, adding that farmers raised issues pertaining to crop insurance scheme coverage and MSP.
Chouhan said that continuous work is being done under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the overall development of the agriculture sector. Many schemes related to agriculture have been implemented in the last 10 years and this sequence is continuing. So far, 7 major schemes have been approved in the first 100 days of the third term of the Modi government. The central government will spend Rs 15 thousand crore on these schemes, which will benefit the farmers. Rs 2817 crore will be given for the Digital Agriculture Mission and agricultural reforms will continue through technology. Decisions are being taken in the interest of farmers and the country; efforts are being made to solve their problems by sitting together with the farmers. It has been approved to continue the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM - AASHA) with Rs 35 thousand crore.
