Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu today said that he favoured minimum support price for farmers to be at least 50 per cent more than the average cost of farm production.
"I am of the strong view that slowly we must move to a system where farmers get adequate prices for his produces. We should keep in mind that recommendations made by National Commission on farmers headed by M S Swaminathan that farmers should be given minimum support price at 50 per cent more than the cost of production," Naidu said here at a book release function.
However, Naidu hastened to add, "It is my personal opinion. The country should move towards the recommendation. I know it is not easy but at the same time we should move in that direction and take steps."
The National Committee on Farmers has examined the causes of farmers' distresses and the rise in farmer suicides, and recommended addressing them through a holistic national policy for farmers.
Naidu also strongly advocated the removal of curbs in the movement of foodgrains saying "it will benefit farmers" and said all that is needed is to undertake necessary reforms to promote investments in farm sector, incentivise agriculture and to put in place required institutions."
The book "M S Swaminathan in conversion with Nitya Rao" was released by Naidu here in presence of Swaminathan.
Taking a dig at the selection of persons for "awards and rewards", he indirectly referred to the fact that Swaminathan, a renowned agriculturist, has not been conferred Bharat Ratna yet despite his glowing contribution to the food sector from "the bad days of early 1960s".
"It makes no difference to him. Some are honoured formally with such awards and some like Swaminathan grow beyond such honours. In my personal opinion, he deserves much more," Naidu said.
