The agitating farmers in the country got a shot in their arm on Friday as Prof MS Swaminathan, India’s top agricultural scientist declared his support to them.
This is the first time in his life, 93-year-old Prof MS Swaminathan expressing his solidarity with the farmers who are agitating in the National Capital for the last two days.
The genetic scientist, described by Time magazine as one of the top influential Asians of the 20th century said on Friday that the agitation by farmers was proof of the agrarian unrest that have been growing and farmers have come to the conclusion that only agitation and not reasoning would lead to action on their problems.
Prof Swaminathan, who headed the National Commission on Farmers (NCF) during the second NDA regime led by AB Vajpayee had recommended to the Union Government in 2007 that farmers all over the country should be given a minimum support price which include the cost of production of the crop and an additional 50 per cent.
There has been a nationwide demand for the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission Report. “It will make farming economically viable and attractive. The demand for loan waiver comes from the present non-remunerative nature of farming and is indicative of the fact economic viability is as important to farmers as to industrialists. Unfortunately, the then Government did not take action on the National Policy for Farmers when the report was presented in 2007,†Prof Swaminathan said in his statement released on Friday.
The farming scientist pointed out that farming was both a way of life and means to livelihood of nearly 60 per cent of the total population, a majority of whom are women and youth. “I only feel sorry that in the election politics solutions like loan waiver are given importance. The basic difficulties of farmers can be overcome only if integrated attention is given to pricing, procurement and public distribution,†said Prof Swaminathan.
Prof Swaminathan, who served the Rajya Sabha as a nominated member, also pointed out that climate change has compounded the problems faced by the farmers.
“The most unfavourable impact of climate change will be high temperature, wide variation in precipitation and rise in sea level. While looking at the problems of farmers there should be equal attention paid to the families living and cultivating in the arid zone, semi-arid dry farming areas, irrigated areas, groundwater farming and plantation crops in hilly areas. The support extended to farmers should be according to the requirements of those cultivating in these ecosystems,†he said.
According to Prod Swaminathan, the Kisan Mukti March was further proof of the fact that farmers have understood the truth that their woes would get the due attention only if they agitate. “The Kisan Mukti March has rightly called for a special session of Parliament to discuss the problem confronting those who provide us with sustenance. It is sad that farmers who are life givers are forced to take their own life due to economic reasons. I sincerely hope that the Kisan Mukti March will be a turning point in the history of public policy formulation in the field of agriculture,†said Prof Swaminathan.
