This refers to the report, “MP CM reaches out to farmers” (June 9). In his Budget speech this year, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley signalled achche din for the rural economy. He said, “The Government will continue to work closely with the farmers and the people in the rural areas to improve their life and environment. This is a non-negotiable agenda for our Government”. Jaitley backed his words with increased allocations under the Fasal Bima Yojana, computerisation and integration of primary agriculture credit societies, expansion of coverage of e-NAM with enhanced agricultural credit target and modernisation of milk processing units to raise the productivity of primary sector. Further, the Modi Government announced the creation of an online national agriculture market platform to end monopoly of agricultural produce.
It is unfortunate that with such a robust policy framework in place, India is yet to rid tillers of farmers’ distress and indebtedness. Also, its silence on the selection of base year to judge the progress of its reforms and calculation of augmented farm earnings raises concerns over the efficacy of its policies. Instead of farm-loan waivers, the Government must encourage investment by State Governments to reduce layers of intermediaries. The Government must ensure the schemes go hand-in-hand with addressing the widening gap between the actual performance and potential.