National Policy for Farmers 2007

This Policy is intended to help in rejuvenating the farm sector and bringing lasting improvement in the economic condition of the farmers.

Background                                                                                         Top

The Government had constituted National Commission on Farmers in 2004 under the chairmanship of Dr. M.S. Swaminathan. The terms of reference of the Commission included, inter alia, methods of enhancing productivity, profitability and sustainability of the major farming systems in different agro-climatic regions of the country and suggesting measures to attract and retain educated youth in farming and working out a comprehensive medium term strategy for food and nutrition security. The Commission submitted its final report in October 2006.                                        

Based on the recommendations made by the Commission in its Revised Draft National Policy for Farmers and the comments/suggestions received from various Central Ministries and Departments and State Governments, the “National Policy for Farmers- 2007 ”has been formulated and approved by the Government of India. The policy, among other things, aims to improve the economic viability of farming by substantially improving the net income of farmers in addition to improving productivity, profitability, land, water and support services and provide appropriate price policy, risk management measures.

Main provisions in the Policy:                                                          Top

Important provisions and features incorporated in the National Policy for Farmers, 2007 include the following:
(a) Human Dimension: Focus to be on the economic well-being of the farmers than just on production and productivity and this is to be the principal determinant of Farmers policy.
(b) Definition of Farmers: Expanded to include all categories of persons engaged in the sector so that they can be extended the benefits of the Policy.
(c) Asset Reforms: To ensure that every man and woman, particularly the poor, in villages either possesses or have access to a productive asset.
(d) Income Per Unit of Water: The concept of maximizing yield and income per unit of water would be adopted in all crop production programmes, stress on awareness and efficiency of water use.
(e) Drought Code, Flood Code and Good Weather Code: To be introduced in drought prone areas, flood prone areas and in arid areas respectively so as to maximize the benefits of monsoon and to be prepared for likely contingencies.
(f) Use of Technology: New technologies which can help enhance productivity per unit of land and water are needed. Biotechnology, information and communication technology (ICT), renewable energy technology, space applications and nano-technology to provide opportunities for launching an “Evergreen Revolution” capable of improving productivity in perpetuity without harming the ecology.
(g) National Agricultural Bio-security System: To be set up to organize a coordinated agricultural bio-security programme.
(h) Inputs and services-Soil Health: Good quality seeds, disease free planting material, including in-vitro cultured propagules and Soil health enhancement hold the key to raising small farm productivity. Every farm family to be issued with a Soil Health Passbook.
(i) Support Services for women: When women work in fields and forests the whole day, they need appropriate support services like crèches, child care centers and adequate nutrition.
(j) Credit & Insurance: Credit counseling centers to be established where severely indebted farmers can be provided a debt rescue package to help them out of debt trap. Need for both credit and insurance literacy in villages, Gyan Chaupals to help in the task.
(k) Setting up of Farm Schools in the fields of outstanding farmers to promote farmer to farmer learning and to strengthen extension services.
(l) Gyan Chaupals to be established in as many villages as possible to harness the help of Information and Communication Technology.
(m) A comprehensive National Social Security Scheme for the farmers for ensuring livelihood security by taking care of insurance needs on account of illness, old age, etc.
(n) Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanisms to be implemented effectively across the country so as to ensure remunerative prices for agricultural produce.
(o) Market Intervention Scheme to be strengthened to respond speedily to exigencies, specific crops to be identified.
(p) Community Foodgrain Banks: To be promoted to help in the marketing of unutilized crops.
(q) Single National Market: To develop a Single National Market by relaxing internal restrictions and controls.
(r) Expanding Food Security Basket to include nutritious crops like bajra, jowar, ragi and millets mostly grown in dryland farming areas.
(s) Farmers of the future: Farmers may adopt cooperative farming, create service cooperatives, undertake group farming through self-help groups, establish small holders’ estates, adopt contract farming and create farmers’ companies. This is expected to increase productivity, efficiency of small farmers and would create multiple livelihood opportunities through crop livestock integrated farming systems as well as agro processing.
(t) A Cabinet Committee on Food Security is to be constituted.

Mechanism for operationalising the policy:                               Top

In order to operationalise the Policy, the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation will constitute an Inter-Ministerial Committee for preparing a suitable plan of action for the purpose. Agriculture Coordination Committee under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister would oversee and coordinate the integrated implementation of the National Policy for Farmers.

National Policy for Farmers, 2007 was laid on the table of the Rajya Sabha on 23rd November, 2007 and the Lok Sabha on 26th November, 2007 by Agriculture Minister, Shri Sharad Pawar.

Source: PIB Release, 26 November, 2007

Latest News on NPF 2007                                                          Top

IMPLEMENTATION OF SWAMINATHAN COMMITTEE REPORT

 Rajya Sabha, Friday, March 14, 2008

Based on the recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers headed by Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, as contained in the Revised Draft National Policy for Farmers, submitted by the Commission, the Government has approved the National Policy for Farmers 2007 which has also been laid on the Table of the House in November 2007. Various recommendations made by the Commission for revival of agriculture and allied sectors, as accepted by the Government, have been incorporated in the National Policy for Farmers.

A very few recommendations of NCF contained in the Revised Draft National Policy for Farmers have not been incorporated in the National Policy for Farmers 2007. These include, inter alia, (i) fixation of Minimun Support Price (MSP) at least 50% higher than the weighted average cost of production-as MSP is recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP) on objective criteria considering variety of relevant factors and a mechanical linkage between MSP and cost of production maybe counter-productive; (ii) Public Distribution System (PDS) to be made universal-as PDS is a targeted scheme where even off take for BPL families is short against allocation for BPL categories; (iii) establishment of Indian Trade Organisation and National Livestock Development Council at the National level-as the concerned Departments of Government of India opposed to their establishment; (iv) setting up of Agricultural Risk Fund, Market Price Stabilization Fund and Gram Panchayat Mahila Fund-as Ministry of Finance opined that these should be proposed as schemes to be funded through the normal budgeting process.

Source: This information was given in the Rajya Sabha on March 14, 2008 by Shri Kanti Lal Bhuria, Minister of State for Agriculture in a written reply.