The condition of farmers in India has changed little since the country gained independence. The Bharat Krishak Samaj (BKS) chairperson Ajay Vir Jakhar said this at the 38th national convention cum 60th anniversary celebration of the BKS here on Sunday. Speaking as the chief guest on the occasion, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat said India could not become a super power while ignoring the condition of farmers.
He said the various subsidies should be provided to strengthen the condition of farmers, increase crop production and motivate farmers. The farmers used to struggle due to landlords and loans sharks earlier but now are struggling due to policymakers. He spoke of the various measures being taken in the State for the welfare of farmers.
He also said the State Government is planning to introduce agriculture studies at school level and start the system of Soil Health Card to examine the health of soil. The CM also requested farmers from various Indian States attending the BKS programme to also visit the Char Dham shrines.
Agricultural expert Devendra Kumar Sharma spoke on the policies policies adopted by the government that ended up benefiting the industrialists without facilitating the welfare of farmers. Sharma elaborated on the differences between the farmers in Indian and those in developed countries. The Uttarakhand State cooperative federation chairman and IFFCO director Pramod Kumar Singh also expressed his views on the occasion.