A second meeting on MSP, and natural farming at MANAGE on Sept 27.
On September 27, the government’s committee on minimum support price (MSP), natural farming, and crop diversification will have its second meeting in Hyderabad.
The committee, led by former Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agrawal, constituted three internal sub-groups to deliberate on the required themes at its first meeting on August 22 in New Delhi.
The panel includes 26 members, including the chairman, with three seats reserved for Samyukta Kisan Morcha delegates (SKM). However, the SKM has rejected the committee and has opted to boycott the conference.
Also Read | MSP committee at its first meeting discussed key issues, SKM absent
‘The second meeting will be conducted on September 27 at the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) campus in Hyderabad,’ one committee member said on condition of anonymity to PTI.
According to the member, the entire committee will most likely gather for a day-long deliberation on the mandated issues.
According to a July 18 statement from the agriculture ministry, the committee has been tasked with offering ‘suggestions to make MSP available to farmers throughout the country by making the system more effective and transparent.’
It will also make recommendations on ‘practicality to give the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) more autonomy and ways to make it more scientific.’
It will also make recommendations to ‘strengthen the agricultural marketing system in response to changing requirements in order to ensure higher value to farmers through remunerative prices for their produce by capitalizing on domestic and export prospects.’
The committee has also been tasked with suggesting five points regarding natural farming, in addition to programs and schemes for value chain development, protocol validation and research for future needs, and support for area expansion under the Indian natural farming system through publicity and farmer organization involvement and contribution.
Also Read | States demand NITI Aayog for effective implementation of MSP on oil seeds.
The committee has been asked to make recommendations on four crop diversification issues:
- Mapping of existing cropping patterns of agro-ecological zones of producer and consumer states.
- Diversification policy strategy to change cropping patterns.
- Agricultural diversification arrangement and system to ensure remunerative prices and,
- Review and recommendations on micro-irrigation schemes.
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