The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) is an Indian
commission constituted on 18 November 2004 under the chairmanship of Professor
M.S. Swaminathan to address the nationwide calamity of
farmers suicides in India.
The Terms of Reference reflected the priorities listed in the Common Minimum Programme. The NCF submitted four reports in December 2004, August 2005, December 2005 and April 2006 respectively. The fifth and final report was submitted on 4 October 2006. The reports contain suggestions to achieve the goal of "faster and more
inclusive growth Inclusive growth is economic growth that raises standards of livings for broad swaths of a population. Proponents for inclusive growth warn that inequitable growth may have adverse political outcomes.
The definition of inclusive growth implies dire ...
" as envisaged in the Approach to 11th Five Year Plan and are collectively termed the M.S. Swaminathan report for farmers
The final report of the Commission was focused on causes of farmer distress and the rise in
farmer suicides in India
Farmer suicides in India refers to the national catastrophe of farmers committing suicide since the 1970s, due to their inability to repay loans mostly taken from private landlords and banks.
NCRB data shows that the incidence of farmer suicides ...
and recommended addressing them through a holistic national policy for farmers
The key recommendations from the Commission incorporated in Revised Draft National Policy for Farmers include asset reforms covering land, water,
livestock
Livestock are the domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to provide labor and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The term is sometimes used to refer solely to ani ...
, and bioresources farmer-friendly support services; and curriculum reforms in the agriculture universities
Composition
The composition of the reconstituted National Commission on Farmers is as under:
National Commission on Farmers All Reports
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* Chairman – M.S. Swaminathan
* Full-time Members – Ram Badan Singh, Y.C. Nanda
* Part-time Members – R. L. Pitale, Jagadish Pradhan, Chanda Nimbkar, Atul Kumar Anjan
Atul Kumar Anjaan is a senior CPI leader and national secretary of the Communist Party of India. He is the General Secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha.
He did his schooling from Lucknow in state board school and graduation, post graduation a ...
* Member Secretary – Atul Sinha
Terms of reference
# Work out a comprehensive medium-term strategy for food and nutrition security .
# Propose methods of enhancing the productivity, profitability, stability, and sustainability of the major farming systems
# Bring about the synergy between technology and public policy
# Suggest measures to attract and retain educated youth in farming
# Suggest policy reforms designed to enhance investment in Agricultural Research, increase the flow of rural credit to farmers
# Formulate special programs for dryland farming
# Suggest measures for enhancing the quality and cost competitiveness of farm commodities
# Recommend measures for the credit, knowledge, skill, technological and marketing empowerment of women
# Suggest methods of empowering members of elected local bodies to discharge their role in conserving and improving the ecological foundations for sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture is farming in sustainable ways meeting society's present food and textile needs, without compromising the ability for current or future generations to meet their needs. It can be based on an understanding of ecosystem ser ...
effectively
Implementation
Its implementation is not done yet due to lack of funds by government in these suggestions.
Further reading
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References
{{Indian commissions
Indian commissions and inquiries
Agricultural organisations based in India
Indian farmers
2004 establishments in India
Government agencies established in 2004