FARMERS

The farmers’ agitations ring the alarm bells to the deep crisis in the agriculture sector.
The BJP/NDA government’s response has been callous and brutal. Farmers do not get fair and remunerative prices for their produce; nor do the producers have adequate avenues to market their produce. Export controls have debilitated farmers. The plight of farm labourers is worse; the work available is irregular and the wages have stagnated for nearly four years.

Agriculture

Congress is the only party that has lent its ear to the distress call of the farmers and farm labour and we are determined to do everything possible to alleviate their pain and make agriculture a desirable livelihood.

1. Congress will give a legal guarantee to the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) announced by the government every year, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission.
2. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) will be made a statutory body.
3. MSP payable to the farmer-seller at the procurement centres and APMCs will be directly credited digitally to the bank account of the farmer.
4. We will appoint a Permanent Commission on Agricultural Finance that will report periodically on the extent of agricultural credit and the need for loan forbearance.
5. Crop insurance will be made farm and farmer specific. Premium will be charged from the farmer according to the sum insured and all claims will be settled within 30 days.
6. In consultation with farmers’ organizations, we will make available to farmers three avenues for sale of agricultural produce:
   (a) Regulated Market under the prevailing APMC Act.
   (b) E-market that will be operated by an autonomous body with representation of farmers’ organizations, Farmer-Producer Organizations (FPOs) and individual progressive farmers.
   (c) Freedom to the farmer to sell agricultural produce at the farm-gate or at any other place of choice with an option to upload the sale-and-purchase agreement on a digital ledger.
7. We will establish farmers’ retail markets in large villages and small towns to enable the farmers to bring their produce and sell the same to consumers.
8. Congress will formulate and implement a sound import-export policy for agricultural commodities, which will give paramount importance to protecting the interests and concerns of farmers.
9. We will revive the system of Agricultural Extension Services to disseminate the best knowledge and best practices to every agricultural holding. We will increase the number of Krishi Vigyan Kendras and appoint more scientists to each Kendra.
10. We will launch a major programme to install solar panels connected to tube wells to generate energy.
11. Congress will implement a major initiative to promote horticulture, pisciculture and sericulture, and encourage farmers to diversify into these activities and increase their income.
12. We will double the value of the output in dairying and poultry in five years.
13. In co-ordination with state governments, we will ensure that one agricultural college and one veterinary college is established in every district of the country.
14. We will double the funding for R&D in agriculture in five years.

FISHERIES AND FISHING COMMUNITIES

1. We will restore the subsidy for diesel for sea-going fishing communities.
2. We commit to expeditious search for fisherfolk missing at sea. If presumed dead, death certificates will be issued within 3 months.
3. We will direct insurance companies to provide insurance cover for sea-going fishing boats.
4. Fishing communities will be issued credit cards (like Kisan Credit Cards) by banks and extended credit.
5. Fishing communities will be enumerated in the caste census and given identity cards by the Central Government.
6. Inland fishing and aquaculture will be recognized as ‘agriculture’.
7. Congress will promote phytosanitary standards and the exports of marine products that meet such standards.
8. Fishing harbours will be developed along the coast line for the use of the fishing community.
9. We will create cooperative banks for fishing communities.
10. Congress will establish mechanisms with neighbouring countries to resolve the problems faced by fishing communities, to eliminate conflict, arrests, seizure of boats and loss of lives, and to improve livelihood opportunities for our fishing communities.