Serving Farmers and Saving Farming

A farmer must be the co-chairman of the NCF and it must also have a female member. iv). Groundnuts resistant to pests must be developed. xxxvi) Research should be done on wilting pest. xxxvii).

Credit and Insurance

Our Embassies should identify export potential and the information should be passed on to the farmers along with quality requirements. xiv) Farmers' expenses increased geometrically but income only grew arithmetically. xv) Farmer must pay stamp duty which must be reduced. The norms for relief from natural calamities should be relaxed as and when necessary, especially when crops are affected by repeated adverse weather conditions.

Marketing, Distribution and trade

In addition, the farmer should receive a fair share of consumer prices after covering his cost of production. xv) Millet etc. should be included in the PDS. Cooperative service system can be very useful instead of contract farming. xix) Millet etc. should be brought under MSP. xx) Middlemen should be avoided in the marketing system and farmers should be provided PMM support for their crops. xxi) Farmers should be provided reasonable price for their produce through promotion of exports and construction of warehouses/cold storages. xxii) Government should provide PMM support along with market intelligence. xxiii).

Dry Land Farming

Unless bona fides of contracting firms are established, Govt. must have a third party role. xiii) Farmers did not get premium price for organic products. After the consultation session, Members of the NCF ensured that the suggestions and written representations made by the State Government and participants were fully considered.

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF ASSAM AND NORTH-EASTERN STATES FOR FEEDBACK ON THE

Introduction
General Observations and Suggestions
Land
Water
Livestock
Research Technology & Training
Credit & Insurance
Market & Price
Fisheries
Ariculture
Labour & Inputs
Dissemination

There should be thread banks. v) Farmers end up selling at low prices to buyers from outside the region. There should be a conscious policy to shift the population to non-agricultural activities. iv) Farmers in the region need special consideration like in Vidharbha.

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF BIHAR FOR FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY FOR

Soil Health Care
Irrigation
Research, Technology & Extension
Credit and Insurance
Market and Investment

It was reported that about 50% of agricultural work was done by women; ..they should get special treatment by forming a women's group. Banks must provide pawn loans to prevent “distress sales” by farmers. ix).

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF CHHATISGARH FOR FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY

Technology / Extension/Research
Quality seed and Inputs
Marketing
Suggestions made by the State Government

Subsidy on improved implements, irrigation works, to the extent of 50% is made available to the farmers for adopting hi-tech agriculture. vii) Farmers should be taken into confidence by the government during the implementation of projects/schemes. viii). Even a graduate farmer with 12 hectares of irrigated land farming for 20 years left it this year due to increased costs compared to the prices of products. vii) “Mandis”/markets for agriculture should be well equipped and connected with other markets to maximize returns to farmers. viii).

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF GUJARAT FOR FEED BACK ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY FOR

Livestock
Research and Technology
Inputs
Cooperatives
Marketing
Women in Agriculture

In the interest of farmers, the time of broadcasting programs on agriculture should be shifted from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Demand-driven, export-oriented mega-markets need to be established to increase farmers' income. xii).

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF HARYANA FOR FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY FOR

Land
Water
Livestock and Fishery
Technology
HRD and Education
Market

No trader should be allowed to buy in "mandi" at a price less than approved MSP. xii). A law to ensure MSP at full economic cost of production and profit should be enacted by Parliament.

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF HIMACHAL PRADESH FOR FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL

Climate Change and agro meteorology
Livestock

Livestock Feed

Fisheries

Fish seeds

Research and Extension
Organic Farming
Horticulture
Inputs 1 Seeds

Implements and Tools
Soil

Other Support Services
Marketing
Women Farmers
Agro-tourism
Youth and Agriculture
Animal Human Conflict
Suggestions Made by the Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture, Govt

The government should be responsible for them and treat them as a resource. ii) Scientific management of pasture land is required. iii). Soil mapping should be done with proactive advice to farmers on the crops to be planted. iii).

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF JAMMU &

Hill Farmers and Hill Farming: Agro-Ecologically Differentiated Approach
Natural Resource Management
Technology
Credit and Other Institutional and Policy Support
Marketing, Distribution and Trade

A State Biodiversity/Biosafety Council should be established, which should also deal with the protection of plant varieties and farmers. Every district should have at least one soil testing laboratory and mobile soil testing should also be encouraged. The diagnosis of fish diseases and better management practices should be promoted. iv) Livestock, especially goats and sheep, play a special role.

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF JHARKHAND FOR FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY FOR

Research, Technology and Extension

A vegetable export zone should be established in Jharkhand. ix) Market development without the help of government. is extremely difficult in the state. There should be free movement of lac to strengthen the lac market across the country. xiv) MSP of the lac should also be announced. He stressed the need for a policy for agricultural development in the state, which should be implemented in both letter and spirit and not remain a mere document.

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF KARNATAKA FOR FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY FOR

Inaugural Session

Welcome address by Shri Bandeppa Kashempura, Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture, Government of Karnataka
Address by Shri Doreswamy, Freedom fighter

General Observations and Suggestions i) Investment in agriculture sector should be increased
Land
Research, Technology, Inputs and Extension
Marketing Distribution and Trade
Dryland Agriculture
PRESENTATION BY SUBJECT COMMITTEE EXPERTS

Subcommittee on Soil Health & Productivity Enhancement
Sub-committee on Credit & Insurance
Subcommittee on Agriculture Market Reforms and establishing Indian Trade Organization

Subsidies should be given to small farmers to buy oxen and carts (now big farmers get benefits to buy tractors). Technical support should be provided to SHGs to disseminate knowledge on agricultural development. xxiii). Information about agriculture should be given as main news in newspapers and other mass media. xxxviii).

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF KERALA &

LAKSHADWEEP FOR FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY FOR FARMERS AT

Livestock & Fishery
Issues specific to major crops 1 Coconut

Pepper
Rubber
Cardamom and Ginger
Vanilla
Paddy

Organic Farming
Issues related to Import Policy
Rural Energy
Suggestions and Observations made by the Honourable Minister for Agriculture, Cooperation, Finance and Fisheries

He demanded that the stand taken by the Swaminathan Committee be reflected in the Policy. He also requested that there be a separate paragraph on the lack of public investment in agriculture. He suggested that centrally sponsored Schemes should be suitable for decentralized planning at the local level.

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF MADHYA PRADESH FOR FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY

Livestock and Fisheries
Research, Extension Technology and Input
Market, Distribution & Trade
Youth and Farming
Rural Energy

Aid to farmers in countries where there have been no cases of suicides should be provided to prevent suicides. xxviii). Improved varieties required a calf rearing subsidy. ix) Livestock insurance should be expanded. It is necessary to develop a market information policy and a support system for organic production. vii) PPN should be differentiated.

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF MAHARASHTRA FOR FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY

General Suggestions and Observations
Cotton Farming
Inputs
Market and Price

It should be ensured that agricultural workers are paid the legal minimum wage to promote workforce retention. There must be safeguards in the Seed Bill to ensure that farmers are allowed to use their own seed. There should be a lending window with provisions for personal consumption loans for farmers. i) The Purchasing Center established by the government was not functioning.

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF MAHARASHTRA &

Land – Livestock
Research, Technology & Training
Input Supply
Price and Market
Extension and Dissemination
Governance

Pani Panchayat model should be promoted in drought prone areas to conserve water. ii) The energy supply component is crucial for effective irrigation and requires attention. iii). In the name of public property, the ownership of water is hijacked. iv) Water consumption should be determined according to agro-climatic conditions. There should be at least one successful model in each block. ii) Effective innovations should be given high priority. iii).

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF ORISSA FOR FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY FOR

Livestock & Fisheries

Research, Extension, Technology & Inputs

Therefore, current MRP should be written and quality of fertilizers/pesticides should be ensured. vi). But the benefit is not available to the farmers as most of the banks and cooperative societies have higher interest rates. ii) To simplify the procedure of processing documents for plant credit. In Science and Technology from laboratory to soil and from scientists to farmers should be the main focus.

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF PUNJAB FOR FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY FOR

Technology

Beekeeping and mushroom growers should be included in the definition of the farmer and these activities should also be financed. Contract farming would not be effective unless market prices were fixed. iii) Better market facility should be created ensuring remunerative price to the farmers. iv) A niche market for crops like “Basmati” should be encouraged. How an Indian product can be competitive in the international market should be stated in the policy.

Views of State Govt. representatives

Other major suggestions of the State Government

Small farmers should own land of 4 ha instead of 2 ha. 70% of farmers were small with unviable holdings. These farmers are trained for occupations outside the farm at state expense. iii) Procedure of banks should be farmer friendly. Diversified crops should be procured under MSP and Price Stabilization Fund created for this purpose.

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF RAJASTHAN FOR FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY FOR

Fishery

Research and Technology

It is necessary to ensure the use of urban waste water, waste water from industry; after treatment, the water could be used for feed development. xiv) Farm clinics and farm enterprises should be encouraged and incentives should be provided for such schemes to become popular. xv) Theoretical and practical trainings were essential to use mustard crop in winter season for beekeeping. xvi) A strategy should be planned to deal with shortage of fodder and fodder at the onset of drought. xvii). Medicines and vaccines for most diseases were not available commensurate with the country's animal population. Weather forecasting stations should be available at every KVK. xix) Trainings conducted by KVKs should be job oriented. xx) Obtaining solar energy was essential.

Inputs

Weather forecasting stations should be available at every KVK. xix) Trainings conducted by KVKs should be job oriented. xx) Obtaining solar energy was essential. viii). The unit for crop insurance schemes should be the individual farmer's field and not the tehsil or panchayat. iv) Interest rate on agricultural loan including cooperative loan should be reduced. v) Interest on the shares of farmers in the cooperative should be provided. you). The defaulting farmer is arrested, his family is also charged for the cell rent and food bill, and even his land is auctioned off.

9 Marketing

Technical Manpower

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF TAMIL NADU, PONDICHERRY AND ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS,

Livestock, Poultry and Fisheries
Technology and Training
CPR, NRM and Biodiversity Conservation
Food and Nutrition Security
Plantation crops
Labour & Inputs
Island Farmers
Market and Price
Policy and Governance

There should be restoration of Panchami lands and grazing of cattle in hilly areas. xii). On the contrary, incentives should be provided to conserve land for growing food crops. ii) Without compromising on food production, the cultivation of horticultural products should be promoted. To allow for proper implementation, this should be changed to 90% in the first tranche and 10% in the second tranche.

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF UTTARANCHAL FOR FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY

Fisheries
Technology
Inputs
Credit
Marketing

However, the case could be carefully examined in view of the possibilities of lawsuits and corruption. xii). Seed bags should indicate the recommended seed quantity for guidance to farmers. ix). There was an unfavorable credit deposit ratio in Uttaranchal then and people's savings were moving out of the state as there was not much industrial activity in the hills either. vi).

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF UTTAR PRADESH FOR FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY

Livestock and Fishery
Organic Farming
Training and Extension
Market and Infrastructure
Suggestions and observations made by the Honourable Ministers for Agriculture, Cooperation, Fisheries and

Agriculture graduates should be employed as dealers. v) Some pumps can save up to 40% electricity with the same efficiency for irrigation. Intermediaries such as brokers must be eliminated from the market. ix) UP The government had not yet agreed to contract agriculture. No restrictions should be imposed on the export of agricultural products. vii) The state government has decided to set up an Agriculture Advisory Council. viii).

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION OF WEST BENGAL FOR FEEDBACK ON DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY FOR

Inputs
Price and Market
Information Dissemination
Suggestions from Ministers

The government should become a party to the contract as a third party, mainly for the resolution of disputes. vii). The media should be well equipped and come to the fore for the interest of our farmers. viii). There should also be insurance schemes for fisheries; there is a ban on the import of litter stock.