Agricultural activities in Punjab is progressing but farmers are not getting the benefits. In its report titled ‘Addressing the Farmers’ Problems-2005 to 2009′, the Punjab State Farmers Commission (PSFC) has highlighted this bitter truth.
The report dwells on the initiatives taken by the commission to address the problems faced by farmers. GS Kalkat, chairman of the commission, has observed that it has tried to focus on three major issues–sustainability of agriculture, low income of small farmers, and environmental pollution.
The commission has also emphasised the need to address the problem of marketing of vegetables. Kalkat has pointed out that since vegetables are highly perishable; there is a need to open private markets for the purpose. The commission has recommended that big companies should be encouraged to open markets under the existing Mandi Board laws. This, observes the commission, will enable the purchase of fruits and vegetables at competitive prices near the growing centres where cleaning, grading, packaging and cooling facilities, etc are available.
Kalkat has also suggested that these purchase centres should be developed as service centres for providing quality seeds of the recommended varieties, hybrids and other inputs. These should also provide effective extension advice to farmers, with regard to the technologies of vegetable cultivation, including raising of nurseries.
The report has observed that there should be incentive for prices of rice as well as other crops. ?The system should not leave out important alternatives like hybrid maize, where the price incentives and assured marketing system are far short of the farmers’ expectations,? he said.
PS Rangi, consultant with the PSFC, has pointed out that a major thrust for the commission is to enhance the income level of small farmers and rural landless workers through buffalo breed improvement and management programme.
According to the report, there are about 6.4 lakh farmers in Punjab, who cultivate land up to ten acres. Of these, more than three lakh cultivate up to five acres only. These farmers are producing high yields of wheat and rice as any other large farmer, yet the net income available with them to meet the expenses on education, health and other social obligations is inadequate.
The report has noted that practically all the small and marginal farmers and a large number of landless families, keep one or two buffaloes as a supplementary source of income. But there income from milk is too low, because these buffaloes have low milk yield. The commission has highlighted that with upgrading and better management, the milk yield can be increased appreciably. The commission has recommended that in order to increase their income, small and marginal farmers must take up either vegetable farming under low-cost net houses, or commercial dairy farming.