Hyderabad: All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) leaders on Wednesday said the Union government launched Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM) with a total outlay of nearly Rs 14,000 crore for the agriculture and allied sectors is part of a well thought out plan for corporatisation of agriculture. They said that once incorporated the predatory corporations can dominate the entire agricultural production and ruin the livelihood of the peasantry.
Addressing a press meet in Hyderabad, Sikar MP and AIKS vice president Amra Ram said, “This project to give a so-called “boost” to farm incomes is coming at a time when “Doubling Farmers’ Income", Modi’s infamous agrarian jumla stands thoroughly exposed. According to the Cabinet decision, the schemes are for digitalisation of agriculture - branded as Digital Agriculture Mission, crop science, agricultural research, livestock management, horticulture, soil health management and agricultural extension is nothing but a jumla to manage the accumulating anger of the peasantry.”
The AIKS reiterated that the much-hyped project for digitalisation of Indian agriculture is completely in tune with the demands of international finance capital. The ruling class perspective is significantly shaped by the World Bank report titled “What’s Cooking: Digital Transformation of the Agrifood System”. The World Bank model envisages market clout of the digital corporations by acquiring more data of farmers.
The MP said the AIKS is demanding the Union government increase public investment in agriculture on a war footing to ensure MSP. He further sought reduction of the production cost by withdrawing GST on all agricultural inputs, waive the debt burden of farmers by prioritising small and middle peasants and agricultural workers and support State Governments to ensure protection from the agribusinesses in the processing and marketing sectors through promoting farmers' collectives and cooperatives aided by the public sector, government departments and research institutions. The meeting was also attended by Telangana Rythu Sangham state general secretary T. Sagar and its state joint secretary Mood Shoban.
