The former Chairman of National Commission on Farmers and famous scientist Dr. M.S. Swaminathan has decided to give legal teeth to women farmers fighting for their rights. He has decided to move a Private Member Bill on Women Farmers’ Entitlements in Rajya Sabha by the first week of December this year.
The noted agriculture scientist Dr. Swaminathan is also a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha.
“The women farmers do not enjoy the same right as their husbands. The land records are in the name of male members of the family. Therefore, the women farmers do not have access to credit and insurance facilities. I have decided to table a Private Member Bill on Women Farmers’ Entitlement in the Rajya Sabha by the first week of December this year,” said Dr. Swaminathan while delivering his presidential address at the National Conference on Youth and Agriculture organised by IFFCO Foundation in Delhi on Thursday.
Dr. Swaminathan also suggested that agriculture curriculum should be restructured in such a way that every researcher becomes an entrepreneur.
On rising prices, he said food items like milk, pulses, eggs, poultry meat was the main cause of food price inflation. “This is due to the rising cost of feed. Most of the feed are exported and hence there is a scarcity,” he said and added that the 12th Five Year Plan should have a chapter on National Mission against Inflation.
He suggested setting up of agriculture transformation centres to give one stop services to farmers.
The former Union Minister for Chemical and Fertiliser and Environment and Forests Suresh P. Prabhu suggested that future agriculture policy should be tailored keeping in view the availability of water resources.
The Additional Secretary in the Union Agriculture Ministry Dr. Venkatachalam suggested creation of farmer’s institutions at local levels. He also suggested setting up of custom hiring centres at block levels run by rural youths for which subsidy and loans should be extended. The Deputy Director General (Extension) ICAR, Dr. K.D. Kokate, suggested integrated farming system for entrepreneurship.
The recommendations of the Conference will be submitted to the Union Agriculture Ministry and the Planning Commission for necessary implementation said the Managing Trustee of the IFFCO Foundation JNL Srivastava.