Plight of farmers evoked strong reactions from Lok Sabha members today as parliamentarians from various parties urged government to take immediate measures to make farming profitable and sustainable.
Prahlad Singh Patel (BJP) said farmers can no longer live with dignity and daily wagers earn more than them.
Speaking on a Private Member's resolution introduced by Raju Shetty, Patel asked government to encourage those conserving old seeds as the so called developed seeds are many times more expensive and ruin farmers if the quantity of produce is not good enough.
The resolution called upon government to "take effective steps to implement the recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers, also known as Swaminathan Commission, to overcome the crisis in agricultural sector".
B Mahtab (BJD) said there was a need for policy reform which should be pro-small farmers or the "enigma" of India's widespread scientific achievements sitting side by side with extensive under-nutrition, more so among the families of farmers, would continue.
Noting that input cost in agriculture is more than minimum support price offered by government, he said investment in the sector has been on a decline in the last two decades.
Prem Singh Chandumajra (SAD) drew the attention of House to woes of farmers in Punjab and said over 89 per cent of its farmers are in debt. Punjab was behind green revolution but its farmers are now committing suicide, he said.
Patel also lamented absence of most MPs from the Lower House and said a serious debate as this required more comprehensive discussion.
