The ball is now in the government’s court with respect to ensuring that farmers get remunerative prices for their crops as the Karnataka Agriculture Prices Commission (KAPC) on Saturday submitted its much awaited report, prescribing scientifically calculated “cost of cultivation” for 17 major crops.
In the report submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by KAPC, headed by agricultural economist T.N. Prakash Kammardi, the commission indicated that the present level of minimum support prices (MSP) prescribed by the Centre are inadequate as they would not meet the actual expenses of farmers.
The scientific cost of cultivation has been worked out by studying the cultivation pattern of about 650 farmers and by also taking up consultations with farmers in 60 taluks in the last six months. It is learnt that the commission has taken into consideration various factors such as rental value of land, farmers’ contribution in terms of labour, in addition to regular expenses. It is also learnt to have recommended to the government to take up the matter with the Centre to get MSPs for even horticultural crops.
Pointing out that only 41 per cent of the major crops are presently sold through Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs), the report suggested the government take measures to encourage farmers to sell their produce through APMCs to get remunerative prices. To compliment such plans, the commission is said to have urged the government to take stringent measures to prevent sale of crops below MSP in APMCs by giving statutory status to MSPs.
Source : The Hindu
No comments:
Post a Comment