In February 2016, Gol had announced that it will double the farmers income in 6 years by 2022. Despite passage of over 5 years, no specific or structured programme has been initiated towards this direction.
Contrary to your policy of doubling of farmers income, to the dismay of one and all input costs are doubled in last five years and the income of farming community is declined, causing distress to farmers. Government of India has turned a blind eye to the increasing prices of fertilizers in the last 6 years while encouraging states to take up campaigns to reduce Urea and DAP consumption. It is sad to note that the prices of two most consumed fertilizers 28.28.0 and MOP (Muriate of Potash) have increased by more than 50% and 100% respectively in the last 90 days itself.
Govt. of India instead of bearing the increasing import costs of raw materials and maintaining the prices of fertilizers at an affordable level to the farmers, has chosen to pass on the burden to the farmers. You are also aware that the fuel consumption in agriculture sector has increased manifold due to promotion of farm mechanization by the States. Even in the case of petrol/diesel prices indiscriminate imposition of Cess across the board despite no increase in import price of crude oil has added great distress to the
ne farmers. Due to faulty policies of Government of India in both the cases of petrol/diesel pricing and fertilizers pricing the farmers are bearing the brunt. It is pertinent to highlight that these steps are causing great deal of anxiety to the farmers that the seven decade old fertilizer subsidy regime under the purview of Government of India is being modified against the interest of farming community of India. Telangana State legislature has passed unanimous resolution to integrate MGNREGA with agriculture activity so that cost of labor is partially borne by the Governments along with farmers, so far Government of India chose not to respond.
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Similarly, while accepting the Prof MS Swaminathan headed National Commission on Farmers’ recommendations to peg MSP for farm produce at 50% more than the weighted average cost of production, essential costs of farm rentals and cost of fixed capital assets were deliberately excluded while calculating cost of crop to farmers. Hence the claim that MSP is pegged at 150% of the costs of crop is misleading. Further, apart from announcing MSP and procuring small quantities of crops.
