Indian Agricultural: Growth, Generation, Policy & Problem Indian Agricultural | Page 18

Pg.no. 17
04. Government Initiative to agricultural reform
How the Modi government is shaping the future of farming and farmers
Under the agriculture minister Rajnath Singh, in 2004 for the first time in the history of independent as
well as colonial India, a National Commission on Farmers (NCF) was set up by the Government of
India for looking into the problems of farm families and suggesting methods for making farming more
remunerative as well as attractive to the younger generation.
This commission’s report in 2006 not only contained suggestions for the advancement of agriculture
but also for the economic wellbeing of farming families. An important goal set for farmers’ welfare by
NCF is to improve the economic viability of farming by ensuring that farmers earn a “minimum net
income” and that agricultural progress is measured by the advance made in improving that income.
Other significant goals include mainstreaming the human and gender dimension in all farm policies
and programme and giving explicit attention to sustainable rural livelihoods; completing the unfinished
agenda in land reforms and initiating comprehensive asset and Aquarian reforms; and developing a
social security system and support services for farmers.
Furthermore, protecting and improving the land, water, biodiversity and climate resources essential
for sustained advances in the productivity, profitability and stability of major farming systems by
creating an economic stake in conservation. Strengthening the biosecurity of crops, farm animals, fish
and forest trees would safeguard the work and income security of farmer families, and the health and
trade security of the nation. Likewise, fostering community-centered food, water and energy security
systems in rural India would help ensure nutrition security at the level of every child, woman and man.
In terms of the goal of attracting youth to farming, NCF suggests making it both intellectually
stimulating and economically rewarding, by conferring the power and economy of scale to small and
marginal farmers both in the production and post-harvest phases of farming. Emphasis is also put on
restructuring agricultural curriculums and pedagogic methodologies for enabling every farm and home
science graduate to become an entrepreneur and to make agricultural education gender sensitive.
Ramesh Kumar P