The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday promised to carve the Food Corporation of India (FCI) into three separate units - for procurement, storage and distribution of grain. And assured farmers of a minimum support price (MSP) equivalent to 50 per cent more than their cost of production.
In its manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP also said it would create a common market for agriculture and set up a price stabilisation fund to shield consumers from spikes in food prices. And, start a Pradhan Mantri Gram Sinchayee Yojana to reduce farmers dependence on monsoon.
The proposal to unbundle the FCI was made during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's regime but his National Democratic Alliance government could not push it through.
Ashok Gulati, former chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, said the move would help FCI's procurement arm to buy cheap, while the storage arm should manage stocks better.
"Innovation is needed in all three operations of the FCI to ensure the unbundling is meaningful. The experience from state electricity boards has shown that merely creating three entities out one does not solve all the problems," Gulati said.
The BJP also intends to take a fresh look at commercialisation of genetically modified crops. The manifesto said genetically modified food would not be allowed without a full tests of the long-term effects on soil, production and humans.
"This a step in the right direction. We hope the BJP will not dilute its stand if it comes to power," said Rajesh Krishnan, co-convener of the Coalition of GM-Free India.
The BJP wants to link the outgoing government's rural jobs programme to farming, offer farmers 50 per cent profit over the cost of production, reorient pest management and set up a new Organic Farming and Fertilizer Corporation of India.
In its manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP also said it would create a common market for agriculture and set up a price stabilisation fund to shield consumers from spikes in food prices. And, start a Pradhan Mantri Gram Sinchayee Yojana to reduce farmers dependence on monsoon.
The proposal to unbundle the FCI was made during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's regime but his National Democratic Alliance government could not push it through.
More From This Section
"It is a good idea and will allow all three arms of the FCI to be more focused. It will also enable cost cutting," said Alok Sinha, a former chairman of the corporation, who had pushed the move earlier. Sinha said three separate units would also break the current monopoly over the grain trade.
Ashok Gulati, former chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, said the move would help FCI's procurement arm to buy cheap, while the storage arm should manage stocks better.
"Innovation is needed in all three operations of the FCI to ensure the unbundling is meaningful. The experience from state electricity boards has shown that merely creating three entities out one does not solve all the problems," Gulati said.
The BJP also intends to take a fresh look at commercialisation of genetically modified crops. The manifesto said genetically modified food would not be allowed without a full tests of the long-term effects on soil, production and humans.
"This a step in the right direction. We hope the BJP will not dilute its stand if it comes to power," said Rajesh Krishnan, co-convener of the Coalition of GM-Free India.
The BJP wants to link the outgoing government's rural jobs programme to farming, offer farmers 50 per cent profit over the cost of production, reorient pest management and set up a new Organic Farming and Fertilizer Corporation of India.