Acknowledging that farmers are not getting minimum support price (MSP) for their produce in many parts of the country, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today said a private agency will be roped in for procuring various crops.
"Farmers in many parts are not getting the MSP decided by the Centre for various agri-commodities. In the eastern part of India, farmers are not getting the MSP of paddy despite our best efforts," Singh said here.
The minister added that the government has decided to rope in a private agency for procurement of various crops.
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Singh was speaking at 'AMAETHON-2016', a three-day international food, agri-business and rural development summit organised by the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIMA).
He further said the Centre's existing efforts to boost agriculture sector will succeed only when entrepreneurs and state governments work effectively alongside farmers.
Singh called for more discussion and coordination among key stakeholders for achieving the targets of farm development amid the challenges of rising population, climate change and limited natural resources.
Stating that the government has made concerted efforts for the farm sector's development, Singh said the focus is on making agriculture a "more sustainable and profitable occupation by raising production and encouraging entrepreneurship, cooperativeness and crop innovations."
Extensive awareness is being created among farmers about agri-businesses, profitable production systems, research findings, programmes, schemes of agriculture departments, domestic and global markets, the Minister added.
Singh said the Centre has introduced schemes like 'Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture' to curb rural migration, 'Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana' for better irrigation coverage, 'Soil Health Card' to improve soil fertility and 'Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana' for bringing more area under organic farming.
The government has also set up an 'Agri-tech Infrastructure Fund' and is working on establishment of a 'National Electronic Agriculture Market' for providing remunerative prices to farmers, he added.
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Singh also listed programmes like 'Rashtriya Gokul Mission', launched to conserve and develop indigenous bovine breeds in a focused and scientific manner as well as initiatives on 'Blue Revolution' to take forward the fisheries sector.
Later, during his interaction with reporters, Singh defended the government on the issue of MSP offered on cotton.
"Gujarat has become the first state which has offered additional bonus on the existing MSP on cotton. Centre also stepped in and started purchasing cotton through various centres when MSP dipped lower than the market price," he said.
On the issue of sowing scenario in the wake of drought like situation in several parts country, Singh said climate change is adversely affecting Indian agriculture.
"Climate change is definitely playing its role. India is facing the wrath of nature in the form of droughts and climate change. As a result, sowing remained 6 to 7 per cent lower in this season," he said.
