VINAY KOCHHAR.CHANDIGARH.
The farmer agitation continues in Punjab regarding the legal guarantee of MSP on crops. Meanwhile, a fresh report has been presented in Parliament regarding the economic condition of the farmers. In this, concern has been raised over the economic condition of the farmers. If we look at the report, 54.4 percent farmer families of Punjab have an average debt of Rs 2.03 lakh. However, it is not told whether this loan is agricultural loan or any other.
Punjab is among the top 10 states where the percentage of debt on farmers is the highest. The Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation had conducted this survey, the report of which was now presented in the Lok Sabha in response to the question of the economic condition of the farmers. In the report presented by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Bhagirath Chaudhary, it was told that this survey was conducted by the ministry in the last few years. According to this, the average monthly income of farmers in Punjab from crop production is Rs 12,597. If we talk about the total income, it is 26,701. This includes crop production, salary-allowances, leasing out of land, animal husbandry and non-agricultural business.
Efforts are being made to increase the income of farmers
The report said that many projects are being run by the central government to increase the income of farmers and give them economic incentives, which include PM Kisan, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, institutional loans for the agricultural sector, promotion of organic farming in the country, micro irrigation fund, agriculture infrastructure fund and central sector scheme Namo Drone Didi. These schemes have also benefited and after the survey, the income of farmers has increased to a great extent.
The Standing Committee has recommended legal guarantee of MSP
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing had recommended giving legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers by presenting the committee’s report in Parliament on December 17. Presenting the report on December 17, the committee’s chairman Charanjit Singh Channi had said that the committee has recommended increasing the budget of agriculture, animal husbandry, dairy farming and fisheries. Similarly, it was also recommended to bring a loan waiver scheme for loan waiver and increase the amount given to farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Scheme from 6 thousand to 12 thousand.