MS Swaminathan Commission Recommendations On Farm Reforms

Table of Contents

The Commission

The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) was constituted in 2004 under the chairmanship of Professor M.S. Swaminathan.
The Terms of Reference included
- a medium-term strategy for food and nutrition security in the country
- enhancing productivity, profitability, and sustainability of agriculture
- policy reforms
- enhancing the quality and cost competitiveness of farm commodities
- protecting farmers from international impacts
- empowering elected local bodies
The NCF submitted six reports between 2004 – 2006 which were in line with the 11 FYP tagline “faster and more inclusive growth”.

The Broad stuff

Land Reforms

Distribute ceiling-surplus and waste lands.
Prevent diversion of prime agricultural land and forest land.
Ensure grazing rights and seasonal access to forests to tribals.
Setup a National Land Use Advisory Service.
- Set up a mechanism to regulate the sale of agricultural land, based on quantum of land, nature of proposed use and category of buyer.

Water Resources

Gross sown area: 192 million ha,
Rainfed area : 115 million ha
- Ensure sustained and equitable access to water to all farmers.
- Rainwater harvesting and recharge of the aquifer should become mandatory.
  - “Million Wells Recharge” programme, specifically targeted at private wells should be launched.
- Substantial increase in investment in irrigation sector under the 11^thFive Year Plan.

Agricultural Credit

Expand the outreach of the formal credit system.
Reduce rate of interest for crop loans to 4 per cent simple.
Establish an Agriculture Risk Fund
- To provide relief to farmers in the aftermath of successive natural calamities.
Issue Kisan Credit Cards to women farmers, with joint pattas as collateral.
Develop an integrated credit-cum-crop-livestock-human health insurance package.
Expand crop insurance cover to cover the entire country and all crops, with reduced premiums.
Institutional development services by forming and strengthening producers’ organisations.

Productivity

Substantial increase in public investment in agriculture related infrastructure needed
- Irrigation, drainage, land development, water conservation, R&D, road connectivity etc.
A national network of advanced soil testing laboratories.
Promotion of conservation farming
- Conserve and improve soil health, water quantity and quality and biodiversity.

Farm Competitiveness & Marketing

Promotion of commodity-based farmers’ organisations.
Improvement in implementation of Minimum Support Price (MSP).
- MSP should be at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production.
Promote spot and future exchange of commodities.
State Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Acts [APMC Acts] reforms needed.
- Move towards a Single Indian Market.

Bioresources

Preserve traditional rights of access to biodiversity
Conserve, enhance and improve crops and farm animals as well as fish stocks through breeding.
Encouraging community-based breed conservation
Allowing export of indigenous breeds and import of suitable breeds to increase productivity of nondescript animals.

Prevent Farm Suicides

Provide affordable health insurance and revitalize primary healthcare centres.
Provide for a Social Security net with provision for old age support and health insurance.
Set up State level Farmers’ Commissions
Restructure microfinance policies to serve as Livelihood Finance
Cover all crops by crop insurance
Ensure availability of quality seed and other inputs at affordable costs.
Need for focused Market Intervention Schemes (MIS)
Set up Village Knowledge Centres (VKCs) or Gyan Chaupals in the farmers’ distress hotspots.
Public awareness campaigns to make people identify early signs of suicidal behavior.