National agriculture policy on cards

The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) will submit a draft national policy to the Union agriculture ministry in April 2006 and launch 'Year of Agricultural Renewal' movement with the support of state governments, farmers' organisations, industry, academia, panchayati raj institutions and mass media.

The draft policy, after an extensive debate, would be finally adopted by the Parliament before August 2007, the 60th anniversary of India's Independence.

Outlining the key features of the 'Year of Agricultural Renewal' on the second day of the Indian Science Congress here, M S Swaminathan, NCF chairman, said, "The time is ripe for initiating an integrated programme for agricultural renewal to usher in an evergreen revolution "� one that would increase productivity in perpetuity without ecological or social harm."

The movement would be launched on the Baisakhi Day (April 13, 2006) and will span the two sowing seasons, kharif and rabi, he said.

The five major components of the policy include soil health enhancement through issuance of a 'Soil Health Card', which would contain integrated information on the physics, chemistry and microbiology of the soil, supply augmentation and demand management of irrigation water, credit and insurance, farm technology and market services.

An Indian Trade Organisation (ITO) on the lines of World Trade Organisation (WTO) is also sought to be established under the new policy. The ITO would function through two specialised wings under the ministry of commerce and the ministry of food and agriculture.

While the wing under the ministry of commerce would deal with farm commodities consumed nationally, the wing under the ministry of agriculture would look into enlarging the basket of farm and non-farm commodities for the export market.

"At present, the commodities consumed nationally constitute 93 per cent and those being exported about 7 per cent," Swaminathan said.

A 'National Land Use Advisory Service' based on the 'hub and spokes' model would also function as an arm of the ITO to ensure proactive advice on land and water use based on ecological, meteorological and marketing factors, and on the best available assessment of home and external trade opportunities.

"The National Land Use Advisory Service would predict both shortages and surpluses to prevent a public hue and cry, such as the one that occurred due to the failure of onion crop in Maharashtra," Swaminathan said.

These form some of the recommendations presented to the Union agriculture ministry by the National Commission on Farmers in its third report on December 29, 2005.