Noted agri scientist MS Swaminathan suggested setting up of the Indian Trade Organisation (ITO) to protect the farmers against fall in prices.
?The government has already announced food security mission. Now, it should take steps to protect the interests of farmers,? he said while delivering his address at a national consultation on ?What the Doha Development Round means for India?, organised by the Focus on the Global South here on Wednesday.
Swaminathan said that the National Commission on Farmers under his chairmanship had suggested setting up of ITO for regulating domestic trade in agriculture in the interest of farmers. He said that the panel had also suggested a new method for calculating the minimum support prices for various crops, keeping in view the prevailing market dynamics.
?About 93% of the food produced in the country are consumed locally and therefore there is a need to set up ITO for this purpose,? he said.
?The provider of food need assistance. Why do you call it subsidy? Call it life-supporting assistance under Livelihood Security Box, which I have already advocated,? he said. Swaminathan suggested that the government concentrate more on raising farmers? income. ?We must added human dimension to agriculture rather than looking at it at a commodity angle,? he said and added micro-retailers and small farmers? interests should be protected.
