On the occasion of World Food Day (October 16), prime minister Narendra Modi issued a commemorative coin of Rs 75 and dedicated 17 bio-fortified varieties of eight crops to the nation to celebrate the establishment of Food and Agriculture Organisa
Handholding domestic industries to develop domestic capacities should be a part of India’s economic strategy, not the entirety of it.
While rural India is poorer than its urban counterpart, in the COVID-19 crisis, it is the urban poor who are far more vulnerable with less social and government support.
The evolving situation around Covid-19 is becoming critical. Governments have already announced guidelines for citizens to keep themselves safe. Packages have also been declared to safeguard interests of various sectors.
In a rush to provide for the emergency, maintaining quality is needed. Hence, the effect could be counterproductive.
The finance minister, in her FY21 budget speech, announced a 16-point agenda to kickstart growth in agriculture and farmers’ income. While the agenda makes sense, following the money presents a disconcerting prospect.
Unless the government builds in right incentives for its agriculture action plan, things will not work. As has been the case with e-NAM and banana trains.
The idea of doubling farmers’ incomes by 2022, when the country completes 75 years of its independence, was shared by prime minister Narendra Modi at a kisan rally in Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh) in February 2016.