The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Food Processing has presented its first report on the ‘Demands for Grants (2024-25)’ for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to the Lok Sabha.
This report was submitted by Charanjit Singh Channi, a former Punjab Chief Minister and current Member of Parliament (MP) from Jalandhar, who also chairs the committee. It provides an overview of the financial allocations and budgetary proposals for India’s agricultural sector for the upcoming fiscal year.
The report is a vital part of the parliamentary process, as it offers recommendations and observations on the budgetary provisions for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
These suggestions are crucial as they will be reviewed and debated in the Lok Sabha. Several key recommendations made by the committee highlight the pressing issues faced by India's agricultural sector and propose solutions to address them.
One of the committee's primary recommendations is the need for an increase in the budgetary allocations for agriculture. Despite receiving higher allocations in absolute terms from 2021-22 to 2024-25, the department’s share in the total central plan outlay has been steadily declining.
In 2020-21, the department's share was 3.53%, but this has dropped to 2.54% in 2024-25. The committee has urged the government to enhance funding for agriculture, with a particular focus on improving agricultural productivity.
The committee has also suggested a change in the nomenclature of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It has recommended renaming it the Ministry of Agriculture, Farmers, and Farm Labourers Welfare.
This change is aimed at recognising the significant role of agricultural labourers and reflecting a more comprehensive focus on their welfare, alongside that of farmers.
The report also includes a proposal to increase the support provided under the PM-KISAN scheme. The committee has suggested raising the annual amount from Rs 6,000 to Rs 12,000.
In addition, it has recommended extending seasonal incentives to tenant farmers and farm labourers, ensuring broader support for those involved in agricultural work.
Another important recommendation is to make the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops a legal guarantee. The committee has emphasised that a legally binding MSP could help mitigate financial instability, market volatility, and the burden of debt on farmers.
This move is seen as essential to reducing the distress faced by farmers, potentially lowering the rate of farmer suicides that are often linked to financial pressures.
The committee has also proposed the introduction of Universal Crop Insurance for smallholder farmers. It has suggested a model similar to the Union Government’s Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), which provides health insurance.
This scheme could offer compulsory crop insurance for small farmers with landholdings of up to 2 hectares, ensuring that they are better protected against the risks associated with agriculture.
Additionally, the report advocates for the establishment of a National Commission for Minimum Living Wages for Farm Labourers.
This commission would aim to ensure that farm labourers receive a minimum standard of living through fair wages. This is seen as a critical step towards improving the conditions of those who work in agriculture but do not own land.
Another recommendation concerns the rising levels of debt among farmers. The committee has suggested the introduction of a government-backed debt waiver scheme to alleviate the financial burden on farmers and reduce the incidence of suicides linked to agricultural distress.
This measure aims to provide farmers with relief and prevent further escalation of the debt crisis in rural areas.
These recommendations are intended to inform policy decisions and financial strategies for the agricultural sector in the coming year.
The committee’s suggestions cover a broad range of issues, including irrigation, soil health, agricultural productivity, and rural development, all of which are vital to the long-term sustainability of India’s farming community.
In the midst of these discussions, ongoing farmers' protests continue to gain attention. On December 18, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher called for a ‘Rail Roko’ in Punjab to protest the central government’s handling of agricultural issues.
Pandher urged the public to support the farmers' cause, highlighting the serious concerns that have been raised during the ongoing protests, which have now entered their 309th day.
The protests have also been marked by the hunger strike of Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur). Dallewal’s health has deteriorated, and there have been calls for the central government to intervene and address the concerns of the farmers.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Manickam Tagore moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, urging the government to engage in a meaningful dialogue with farmers’ representatives. The situation remains tense, with farmers continuing to demand urgent action on their key issues.
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