A government-appointed taskforce on tackling the agrarian crisis has mooted a two-pronged strategy of having a distress management relief plan and restoring agriculture extension services.
A government-appointed taskforce on tackling the agrarian crisis has mooted a two-pronged strategy of having a distress management relief plan and restoring agriculture extension services. The proposed distress management relief plan covers food security, health services improvement and provision of 100 per cent fresh farm credit and crop insurance cover to every farmer.
The Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavalamban Mission (VNSSM) headed by Kishor Tiwari was constituted by the state government for redressal of farmers’ grievances, and was asked to submit a report on measures needed to tackle the agrarian crisis in 14 drought-prone districts of Maharashtra.
The report submitted by Mr Tiwari to CM Devendra Fadnavis includes improving educational facilities in distressed areas, zero pendency and corruption-free local governance, livelihood management and job creation under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and Mudra scheme. The second lot of suggestions includes restoration of agriculture extension services; participation of Krishi Vikas Kendras (KVKs) in agro-counselling; reintroduction of food, edible oil and pulses crops; soil moisture management; long-term farm credit policy; and income-based resource mobilisation in rural economy.
The report also proposes that farmers of the 14 drought-prone districts be made to shift from rain-sensitive crops to cultivating edible oil seeds and pulses, and nalas and dead rivers be revived under the Jalyukt Shivar project. Mr Tiwari has also suggested that the government create post-harvest processing facilities, health care and educational facilities for farmers and their children, and ensure hundred per cent fresh farm credit and crop insurance cover to every farmer.
“There is urgent need to improve the public education system that will reduce dependence of farmers on costly private educational facilities,” Mr Tiwari, who has been accorded status of MoS, told reporters. “VNSSM has planned to provide free health care to every farm family,” he said.
