It was a difficult time for Indian rural population during lockdown. On the one hand, a bumper crop (both grains and horticulture) were nature's blessing to farmers the challenge to make it available for customers was also present. Additionally, the huge migration of workforce in metropolitan cities back to rural areas made it more difficult to revive the rural economy. BW Businessworld's Prabodh Krishna spoke to Pushpender Singh, President of Kisan Shakti Sangh, an influential farmers union of Northern India regarding challenges faced by the farming community.
Excerpts:
How do you look at quick response of union government regarding dispersal of installment of PM Kisan fund?
It is indeed a great step by government but I propose the revival of fund from Rs 6, 000 to Rs 24,000 annually. The current amount is not sufficient to address the problem and also I would request the Government to double the limit of credit for Kisan Credit Card along with interest rates down to 1% for KCC holders.
What about the loans to farmers and do you have demands related to input items for crops keeping in mind the huge fall in crude oil and LNG?
Of course, loans to marginal and small farmers should be given at least one more years time period for repayment without any further interest. Diesel should be given to farmers in Rs 10 per litre concession and fertilizers are also dependent on petroleum prices therefore there must be a relaxation on fertilizer prices for Potassium and DAP by 25%, these are chemical fertilizers and this can be done by the government.
What about losses during lockdown?
Farmers have suffered huge losses during lockdown, many of horticulture producers are forced to throw their produce on roads or in the open. Government must ensure procurement of grains and horticulture produce on Rs 250 to Rs 500 per quintal bonus. As most of rural workforce are facilitated with Jandhan account, government should also ensure Rs 1,000 amount to such account for the next three months.
What about migrant labour and there immediate relief?
I think government should engage MGNREGA for farming purposes also and if Aadhar card can be treated as ration card such people must be entitled with ration quota from PDS counters.
How about dairy farmers and also the need of electricity for upcoming sowing season along with current harvesting season?
Dairy also is very common and parallel practice for farmers in northern part of country so their dairy produce must be procured on the popular rates of February. Electricity should be given at 50 per cent concession to farmers.
Will that be sufficient to address the huge problem that may arise from migration?
It is difficult for such population to get livelihood and I request union government to raise the amount of both PM Rural Roads scheme and PM Rural Housing scheme from Rs 19,500 crore each to Rs 40,000 crore respectively. This will engage migrant labour in development projects and will address their employment needs as well.
What about sugarcane farmers in the region and the rural people engaged in fisheries and poultry?
First of all retail related confusion must be cleaned and government must ensure a smooth supply chain management of both fisheries and poultry. Sugarcane farmers have critical issues of pending payments. Addressing pending payments and ensuring purchase of sugarcane from such farmers may very much handle improve their situation. Also it is our demand from government to clear the falsehoods related to spread of pandemic so that farmers' remuneration can't be manipulated by others.
