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Bharatiya Kisan Sangh seeks $20-b fund for
agri infrastructure Our Bureau
THE Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) has urged the Union
Government to set up a $20-billion fund to improve agriculture
infrastructure in the country.
Addressing newspersons here on Wednesday, Mr Babasaheb Takwale, BKS General
Secretary, said that the investment in agriculture is decreasing every year.
Of the more than 100 major irrigation projects envisaged during the tenure
of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, only 28 have been completed. The rest could not
be completed due to lack of finance.
He said that a chain of warehouses to prevent post-harvest loss of
agriculture crops and a chain of cold storage units to protect perishable
articles such as vegetables, fruits and dairy products are essential to
increase agriculture productivity in the county. These warehouses and cold
storage units should be properly connected to villages through a good road
network.
The Government should also give attention for the development of rural road
network in the country.
Stating that a huge investment is needed for taking up these activities, he
said the Government, in its 10th Plan outlay, has admitted the fact the
public investment in agriculture is decreasing every year. In such a
situation, it is essential for the Government to set up a $20-billion `Kisan
Vikas Kosh' for the development of agriculture infrastructure in the
country, he said.
Mr Takwale said that the Government's move to abolish Agriculture Produce
Marketing Committees (APMC) Act might give undue advantage to multinational
companies in the agriculture market. A limit should be fixed for MNCs on the
purchase of agriculture products.
He said the Centre has expressed its intention to withdraw minimum support
price for major agriculture commodities such as wheat and paddy, and urged
it not to withdraw MSP for any agriculture commodity.
Mr Takwale said that the amendment to the Patents Act will deny the rights
of farmers to save seeds for personal cultivation.
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