Wednesday, March 9, 2011

PM to talk to Pranab Mukherjee and Sharad Pawar on farmers' issues

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_pm-to-talk-to-pranab-mukherjee-and-sharad-pawar-on-farmers-issues_1517414

PM to talk to Pranab Mukherjee and Sharad Pawar on farmers' issues


Published: Tuesday, Mar 8, 2011, 20:57 IST

Place: New Delhi
Agency: PTI

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said he will convene a joint meeting with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar after the Budget session to discuss issues relating to farmers.

Singh told a delegation of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) which called on him that the government would bring out every year before the budget a report on the state of Indian agriculture.

Reiterating the government's deep concern for farmer's welfare, he said the farmers interests were paramount and will be fully protected at all times.

The government had already enhanced minimum support prices (MSP) very substantially over the past 5-6 years and it would continue to strive to protect farmers' interests through the MSP mechanism, he said.

Regarding land acquisition, he said a separate meeting would be organised with the ministry of rural development and farmers' organisations, Singh said.

The delegation raised a number of issues including remunerative prices for farm produce, amendment to the Land Acquisition Act, 4% rate of interest for loans other than crop loan and effective implementation of the MSP.

Health insurance for farmers, ensuring farmers' interests while framing the Seed Bill, separate budget for agriculture like railways, due consideration of sensitivities about genetically modified (GM) crops and protecting the interests of Indian farmers while engaging with WTO were other issues raised by the delegation.









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