Expressing need of making agriculture viable, profitable and sustainable, the Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu has said that loan waivers are not a permanent solution and it would affect the agriculture sector and hurt the farmers in the long-term. He also underlined the need to increase the income and the purchasing power of the farmers.
Naidu further listed solutions to make agriculture economically viable including need to identify the gaps in policy formulation, make policies more pro-farmer and need to streamline implementation processes keeping the end consumer- the farmer- always in view. He also emphasized that irrigation, infrastructure, investment and insurance sectors need to be strengthened for an integrated development of farm sector.
Besides, Vice President said that populist programs like loan waivers and free power would not provide lasting solutions and added that there is need to provide timely credit to the farmers at affordable interest rates. He also said that the farmers have to be given the latest know-how and trained in the do-how to improve farm productivity.
While, calling for enhancement in Lab-to-Land transfer of technologies and diversification of crops, Naidu said that farmers should be encouraged to cultivate high value crops like fruits, vegetables, condiments, pulses, spices and sugarcane and it is important to encourage farmers to take up allied activities like poultry, dairy, fisheries and aquacultures to not only enhance farmers income but also to provide a cushion against the adverse impact of failed crop.