Exclusive: Farmers are fighting like warriors amid Coronavirus pandemic, says Tomar

In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat, Union Agricultural Minister Narendra Singh Tomar talked extensively on the relief package of Rs 20 lakh crores that was announced by the Prime Minister on May 12. He also said that farmers are fighting like warriors amid this pandemic.

Bhopal/Delhi.AsPrime Minister Narendra Modi announced a relief package of Rs 20 lakh crore on May 12, Union Agricultural Minister Narendra Singh Tomar talked extensively about it to ETV Bharat. He also said that farmers are fighting like warriors amid this pandemic.

The Minister said that in the present circumstances it is necessary for the country to move forward. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the message of a self-reliant India as farmers and the poor have always been the priority for him, the Minister said.

During lockdown 1.0, the Prime minister had announced a poverty welfare package of 1.7 lakh thousand rupees for the poor. We can say that even in such a condition it was made sure that no one stays hungry in the country, Tomar said.

He further said that agriculture is very important for the country as India is an agrarian economy.

Despite the best of efforts, this makes the country weather-dependent, and therefore the country has to bear losses sometimes. But the best thing is that, at this moment of great peril, our farmers have emerged as a warrior in the war against coronavirus.

They are ready to sow and reap amid the pandemic. There has been 45 per cent more cultivation of the Kharif crops. Greater care has been taken of the agricultural sector in the lockdown period. Buying of crops on Minimum Support Price, the Farmer Insurance Scheme, the PM Kissan Samman Nidhi, and other schemes have given to farmers around 1 lakh crore rupees.

He further said that a large part of the current package has been given to the agriculture sector after deep though by PM Modi. He has a plan to fulfil all the gaps created in the agriculture sector over the 70 years.

In such condition, whether it is the question of base and structure of farming, subsidy in interest, milk trade, animal husbandry, the Mandi Act, taking all these in purview, a package of Rs 1 lakh crore has been announced.

"When the package actually gets effective in practical terms many structures will see the changes. Cold storage warehouses will be built, farmers will get adequate prices. Announcement of Aid of Rs 10 thousand crores has been made for the food processing industry, Rs 17 thousand crores have been announced towards animal husbandry, Rs 20 thousand crores have been announced for fisheries. The Top Scheme has been launched for vegetables, there are talks also of making the Mandi Act a central law. A subsidy of 4 per cent has been allowed on interest for loans taken by milk traders and co-operative societies," he added.

The minister also said that it is very necessary for a self-reliant India to break the trend of the last 70 years. All farmer associations should consider this.

"Last year itself, the PM Kisan Yojnahas seen Rs 75 thousand crores transferred into the pockets of farmers. People are enjoying the benefit of the crop insurance scheme. Funds totalling to amounts over 6 lakh crores have been transferred and purchases of around 75 thousand crores have been made. 273 lakh tons of wheat, 60 lakh tons of paddy, and over 8 lakh ton of pulses have been purchased," he added.

The excerpts are:

Q.Like Haryana and Rajasthan, why crops of other states' farmers are not being sold?

Ans.I would like to say this to all farmers and states that there are two agencies, who buy crops. The dalhan-tilhan(Chaff)is taken by NAFED, while rice and wheat grains are purchased by the FCI(Food Corporation of India). Both have an adequate amount of funds, to ensure submission of payment within two days. The state government makes a report to the Union government after the purchase, after which payment is made to the branch of the government dealing with NAFED. The Centre completes payment within two days and no state has reported dissatisfaction. In case any state has a problem, it can get in touch with us directly. Payment would be made within 48 hours of receiving a complaint from the agency.

Q. Can a farmer go anywhere to sell his produce?

Ans.The Union government had issued an advisory to the states regarding giving exemption of three months through the APM App. The Niti Aayoghas sent the model act to the states too. In awarding the relief package, it has been stressed that the inter-state agricultural trade too should be improved. There should be no impediments to farmers, no legal restraint should be applied, neither should tax liability be applicable upon them, after these steps farmers can sell their produce in whichever state they may desire to.

Q. Can an agreement be arrived between the Non-BJP governments regarding this reform?

Ans. I would like to say to all states that for the government, the farmers and the poor are the only people that matter. For everyone else, it is easily regulated by law, but the government should think about these two class of people. The DBT, which at a time faced heavy opposition, is very successful now. Through this, the nexus of middlemen, corruption and commission has ended. 9 crore farmers have been sent Rs 18000 Rs through the PM Kisan Samman Nidhiand Rs 75 thousand crores have been paid to them through Direct Benefit Transfers.

Q. Labourers have left for their homes. Will this create problems?

Ans. There has not been too much of a movement of workers in the agricultural sector. The labour groups are of three types.

First, those who are steadily employed in a far off factory, the second, those who work on daily or periodical remuneration and the third, those who irrigate saplings and harvest crops.

Only a small part of the labourers have commuted during the lockdown. Transport and movement have been at a complete stop in the time of harvest. The Prime Minister had exempted the agricultural sector labour and machinery from the lockdown.

At that time farmers and workers could travel, but not to other districts and states.

Q.The farmers have been given aid by the central and the state governments, but what are the conditions around the country?

Ans.Onthe point of food grains and livestock, we are not only independent but rather surplus to needs. We have the necessary stocks of grains and foods. The Kharif crop too shall grow well in this weather.

Q. How will the wheat crop be exported to other countries and how will it be imported from there?

Ans. India is a humanitarian country. We gave medicines when they were required, if edibles will be required we would certainly give that too. As a country, India is currently in a position to make food grains available for other countries too.

Q. Are we in a position to double farmers' income by 2022, will we reach this target?

Ans. At first, due to the lockdown, it was felt that there would be diverse problems, but the way the farmers have shown up and fought against the pandemic is commendable. The Prime Minister has correctly said that one must discover opportunity in adversity. Therefore, we have to search for the opportunity in this situation., this alone can build a self-dependent India.

Q.The farmers of Haryana are currently facing problems in the export of Basmatirice, what is your take on this?

Ans.The government is fully aware of the trade of agricultural produce. The administration, in association with the commerce ministry, is trying to make sure that there is no impediment whatsoever.