For a big boost to agriculture sector and in particular to the economic condition of farming community , the Central Government has decided to link 22000 Mandis across the country with the National Agricultural Market (e-NAM) by 2021-22. It is an on line trading platform for agricultural commodities. Since marketability is the core subject which is linked with the income of the farmers as also getting not only reasonable pricing but prompt and assured payment thereof too, this step is taken. Not that no initiative so far has been taken in this sphere as already as many as 585 mandis have been linked with e-NAM but looking to the favourable results of the initiative the Central Government is desirous to have more mandis and hence 22000 with this e-NAM linked.
The Government has been planning to take steps in order to address farm distress to have the incomes of the farmers doubled by the end of 2022 and the step under reference is a big one towards that end. It has to be ensured that farm distress needed to be addressed on a long term basis instead of on the flawed uneconomic and very short term basis or one time solution through waiving of bank loans . Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna is a good step towards ameliorating the condition of farmers but that needs to be made stronger in response and utility at the ground level. The concept of DBT needs to be streamlined and any benefit that is planned to reach the marginal and poor farmer must reach him by transfer through the DBT.
Besides interest free loans up to small amounts say Rs. 1 to 3 lacs as is heard likely to be the policy adopted towards farmers, let it be inquired into how to cater to those pressing needs of the farmers for which in majority of cases they take and spend loans , not on agriculture but for pressing domestic needs . That speaks for neither agriculture is improving nor the economic condition of the farmers. Taking care of reduced input costs, reducing wastages and preventing perishing of fragile agricultural items, purchase at reasonable or remunerative rates, marketing and ensuring liquidity of cash for urgent domestic needs would definitely go in a long way to improve the lot of the farmers and increase in their money incomes, never by political short term brownie points of “Karza muaf” for winning elections.
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