New Delhi--   The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called upon the Government of India (GoI) to treat agriculture at par with national defence and not to throw the farmer at the mercies of the sharks in the free market econo Speaking at the Agriculture Policy Leadership Summit- 2013, after receiving ‘Policy leadership award’ in agriculture from Governor of Uttar Pradesh Mr. BL Joshi, Union Ministers Mr. Oscar Fernandes, Mr. Tariq Anwar and eminent agriculture economist Prof. MS Swaminathan, instituted by the leading national magazine ‘Agriculture Today’ in recognition of Punjab’s enormous contribution in national agriculture and food security, at an impressive ceremony held here in Hotel Taj this evening, Mr. Badal said, “With 70% of our people and 53% of our economy still dependent on agriculture, it does not require  an economist to know that food security is as important as national security from external threats. A hungry nation cannot defend itself. Therefore, agriculture must be given strong public sector support in the interest of long term

stability, growth, development and prosperity.”Warning the country against an alarming agriculture situation, Mr. Badal cautioned against what he called “the advocates of the tyranny of free market economy” and said that the economic planners must beware fake dreams sold by free market sharks. These sharks are already flourishing at the expense of the blood and sweat of the farmers and farm labourers. Big companies are spending   millions of dollars on a misinformation campaign to brainwash the planners and the people at large in order in favour of policies aimed not only at the exploitation of the farmers but at the virtual ruin of our domestic economy. There is a conspiracy against India’s farmers and against our self dependence in agriculture.”

Mr. Badal said not heeding the advice of farm-economists like Dr MS Swaminathan on covering farmers’ costs plus 50% , will  take us back to economic slavery. This is an extremely grave issue but unfortunately, I see it being treated with utter non-serious by those who matter, said Mr. Badal.The Chief Minister said that despite all the talk about diversification, nothing was being done to help the farmer to diversify. “It is not the planner’s research papers but farmers and assured market that can bring about diversification. How much is the government of India prepared to invest on diversification?” he asked.

The Chief Minster said that apart from remunerative prices for agricultural produce and assured markets, the centre must undertake a major initiative to promote agricultural-based industry, especially food, vegetable and fruit processing in Green Revolution States.For this, he called for an “economic package” from the Government of India. “The centre must immediately give Special Industrial Tax concessions for all agriculture related industry, especially food, vegetable and fruit processing units and textile units, in Green Revolution states. This industry must be given a tax holiday in these states for at least 15 years,” Mr. Badal demanded, adding that “this is the only way not only to save agriculture from stagnation but the entire economy from down-slide”.

Earlier, the citation read on the occasion hailed the Chief Minister as the architect of the modern agriculture in Punjab under whose visionary leadership and direction the State Government has formulated and implemented a number of policies and programs in agriculture, horticulture and livestock sector. His understanding of agriculture and rural economy and his political acumen has further helped the state in launching a series of initiatives to better management of farm resources and revival of farm economy by taking a slew of policy interventions, marketing support programs, diversification and marketing linkages of farm produce and enhanced budgetary allocations. As a result the state has achieved sustainably enhanced growth in diversified agriculture production, which have enhanced returns from farming and impacted the rural economy of the state positively.

Under his visionary leadership, the state government has prepared a comprehensive strategy to address the issues of the sustainability, water resource management, introduction of new technologies, promotion of conservation agriculture and Comprehensive Agricultural Diversification Plan. With emphasis being laid on increasing the area under agro-forestry and horticulture crops, Contract Farming Act, 2013 has been enacted to provide front end marketing linkages to the famers growing alternate crops. To build capacity of the small and marginal farmers, the state demonstrated the cultivation of vegetables under low cost net houses, motivated farmers to adopt commercial dairy farming by providing  subsidy on insurance premium, assisted cooperatives and private entrepreneurs in setting up Agricultural Machinery Service Centers, promoted banana cultivation and fish farming, improved milk yield of buffaloes by setting up  200 Integrated Buffalo Development Centres in 1398 villages to increase income of small and landless. Mr. Badal through policy interventions raised the bar of the state in agriculture matters and improved the living conditions of the farmers in the State.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Agriculture Commissioner Dr. BS Sidhu and Director Agriculture Mr. Mangal Singh Dhillon.