Narendra Modi urged to look into farmers' woes

KAKINADA: The Consortium of Indian Farmers Association (CIFA) chief advisor P. Chengal Reddy appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to find out solutions for farmers who are facing hardships due to demonetization. Mr Chengal Reddy wrote a letter to the prime minister explaining the problems faced by the agriculture sector and sought solutions to them. He said the Prime Minister should restore the confidence among farmers by announcing moratorium on interest on farming loans.

The Food Corporation Of India, CCI, NAFED and other organisatios should procure every commodity that come to the market and provide money to cooperative banks, BC, SC, ST, Minority, Fishermen Corporations so that they can fill-up the vacuum created by private sector. He said that the Government of India should announce funding to all ongoing major and medium irrigation projects to be completed in three to four years and give incentives for mechanisation of the farm sector up to 50 per cent of subsidy and 4 per cent interest rate.

In every district, there should be a partnership with private sector for preparing production programme, providing extension services, preparing food processing and storage and mechanisation plans. He warned the Prime Minister that any neglect of the farming sector would lead to disastrous consequences like food shortage, unemployment, malnutritition and large numbers going under BPL rural unrest.

He said that the  cashless concept has turned out to be very difficult for the agriculture sector. In three weeks, consumption of poultry, meat, fish, pomegranate, capsicum, apple, peaches and carrots has come down by 40 per cent to 50 per cent. Prices of almost all items have crashed by 30 per cent. He said that it is time to implement M.S. Swaminathan's recommendations. He said that all leaders in power have been harping  on 10 per cent growth in industry and service sectors but no one speaks of the pathetic performance in the  farm sector.