Long on farm sector, short on PDS reforms

The Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) promises protection to farmers against imports and a jump in public investment on agriculture and irrigation.

But it does not propose any radical reforms in the public distribution system, evoking some adverse comments from the Left parties, which are supporting the government from outside.

It merely proposes to "move towards universal food security over time, if found feasible". But the UPA manages to mollify the Left by promising to work out a comprehensive medium-term strategy for food and nutrition security in three months.

Significantly, the CMP guarantees to maintain the terms of trade in favour of agriculture and clearance of all dues of farmers, including those of sugarcane growers, at the earliest.

It vows to lift all controls that depress farmers' incomes and give greater say to them in the farm input supplying organisations. Besides, it promises adequate protection to farmers from imports, particularly when international prices fall sharply.

The CMP envisages doubling of the flow of rural credit in three years and coverage of small and marginal farmers by institutional lending.

It also proposes to take steps to reduce the burden of debt and high interest rates on farm loans. The programme stipulates a new law for all agricultural workers and amendment to the Constitution to ensure autonomous functioning of co-operatives.

On agriculture insurance, the policy only speaks of making the crop and livestock insurance schemes more effective, dropping the Congress manifesto's proposal of examining the possibility of introducing direct income support to farmers through the agriculture stabilisation fund.

Regarding investment, the CMP ensures highest investment priority to the irrigation sector and completion of all on-going irrigation projects on time. The Congress manifesto had, however, proposed to complete these projects in three-four years.

It also envisages introduction of special programme for dryland farming and taking up of watershed and wasteland development programmes in a big way. Public investment in farm research and extension and rural infrastructure is to be stepped up at the very earliest.