Farmers’ concerns can’t be put on back burner: Dhankhar

New Delhi, Jan 16: Vice-President, Jagdeep Dhankhar Thursday said that resolution of farmers’ issues need timely resolution and emphasised that the nation cannot afford to put concerns of farmers on back burner.
Delivering his address as Chief Guest at the Inaugural event of Amrut Mahotsav and Alumni Meet of College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad, Dhankhar said that, “ Distress of farmers calls for urgent national attention. Farmers need economic security. We cannot afford in this nation, that is rising and the rise is unstoppable and the rise is as never before, to put concerns of farmers on back burner. Time is the essence of resolution of all issues. But I would say time is of absolute essence when it comes to finding resolution of farmers’ problems. The government is working. We want everyone to be in synergetic mode, to converge with a positive mind to find solutions”.
Highlighting the larger impact of the farm sector on the economy of the nation, Dhankhar stated, “Agro based industries, agriculture produce based industries, textile, food, edible oil and many more. They are prospering, they are earning profits. Our farmers should equally share the profits. These institutions must commit their CSR fund for welfare of the farmer, for research of the farm sector. They must think liberally in this direction because farm produce is their lifeline and that heartbeat is controlled by the farmer. We have to do 3 things: One, keep our farmers happy. Two, keep our farmers happy. And three, keep our farmers happy at any cost”.
“We must also keep in mind, when the farmer is economically fine, economy gets driven, because that’s the spending power of the farmer. When farmer spends, economy is automatically driven. And therefore, we will have another positive impact. There will be no non-performing assets in the farm sector if the farm sector is vibrant, greased, lubricated, taken care of, attended. We must pay attention to the farmer as we pay attention to our patients in ICU”, he added.
Underlining the need to relieve farmers of the primary stresses like inclement weather and unpredictable market conditions, Dhankhar said that, “ Time has come to analyze and relieve the farm sector of primary stresses. The government is doing much, but the farmer is dependent on inclement weather, unpredictable market situations. If there is scarcity, he suffers. If there is plenty, he suffers. And therefore, we will have to devise methods to see that our farmers keep good economic and mental health.”
Advocating for direct transfer of all types of farm sector subsidies, Dhankhar said that, “ I would want and strongly commend that any subsidy that is given to the farm sector in any form be your fertilizers or otherwise, it must directly reach the farmer. Let the farmer decide, even fertilizer subsidy which is huge… .economists in agronomy must think if this assistance has to go directly to the farmer it will initiate the farmer into alternative to chemical fertilizers. The farmer can utilize these funds for going organic and natural”.
Praising the government for the creation of the turmeric board, VP said, “I was so happy when I heard an announcement from the Minister of Commerce, Piyush Goyal. Turmeric board, national turmeric board, a great step for turmeric. The production will be doubled in five years. Interventions will be there in an affirmative stance to generate export market. Farmers will benefit. Farmers will add value to that also…..Government of India has given healing touch to Turmeric by creating turmeric board. What an achievement. I strongly urge the government to have more such boards so that every agro-produce gets value additions and special treatment.”
Drawing attention towards the need of the farmers to adopt technology, Dhankhar said that, “ The farm sector needs transformation. Transformation is continual. Technology integration. Technology is changing fast. But the farmer still clings to the old tractor. Tractor is one area in which government subsidy is the highest. The farmer must adopt technology. Should be persuaded to adopt technology. And for that, Krishi Vigyan Kendras must be the nerve center. Every Krishi Vigyan Kendras normally caters to 50,000 farmers. Just imagine if those 50,000 are actually connected to the Krishi Vigyan Kendras There will be a positive revolution in agriculture for the farm sector
“Agriculture reform is imperative because we are changing every day. There is a paradigm shift. Much is being done. But Indian Council of Agriculture Research and Institutions like yours will have to be now farmer-centric. Every scientific development must correlate to the ground realization. The impact must be felt on the ground…….Indian Council of Agricultural Research has unparalleled reach. That reach must be reflected on ground, that reach must resonate in the ears of every farmer”, he added.
Reflection on the recent economic upsurge and the rising aspiration in the country, the VP stated, “ We have exponential economic rise, economic upsurge. We are the largest global economy growing so fast. We are going from one milestone to another. We are heading from fifth largest global economy to the third largest global economy in two years. We have phenomenal infrastructure growth. We have deep digitization, technological penetration. Our national image, image of the Prime Minister, is highest ever in the history of this country. World’s fastest growing economy has converted the nation into a nation of aspirations. We are the most aspirational nation in the world today because after road, after rail, after air, after digital connectivity, you want more. After toilets, after pipe water, after gas connections, you want more. After affordable housing. You want more. After massive banking inclusion, you want more. Because these things were beyond our dream. We never thought our ordinary people will get these benefits in the villages. A toilet, pipe water, gas connection, affordable housing, road connectivity, internet connectivity. We never thought of it and therefore, “Yeh Dil Maange More” .”