Farmer Organizations Voice Concerns to Agriculture Minister on Pesticide and Seed Availability
02 October 2024, New Delhi: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, held a productive discussion with representatives of farmers’ organizations in New Delhi. The Minister encouraged these groups to meet with him weekly to discuss pressing issues and concerns affecting the agricultural sector.
During the meeting, farmers’ organizations presented several key suggestions aimed at reducing agricultural costs, ensuring profitable pricing, protecting crops from water-logging, and improving the availability of pesticides and quality seeds. They also sought solutions for safeguarding crops against animal damage.
Chouhan highlighted that farmers are increasingly worried about soil health deterioration due to the excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers. He emphasized the need for better dissemination of information regarding government schemes to ensure that all farmers can benefit. Many farmers reported that a lack of information often prevents them from accessing available support.
While farmers praised the crop insurance scheme, they noted that not all farmers have been able to secure coverage. They also proposed improvements related to the Kisan Credit Card system. Additional concerns raised included the timely replacement of transformers to prevent irrigation disruptions and the impact of contaminated water from factories on crops and underground water sources.
The Union Minister acknowledged that while some of these issues may seem minor, resolving them could boost farmers’ incomes by 10 to 20 percent. He assured that the Central Government would consider enhancing regulations to prevent the distribution of spurious seeds and would communicate relevant suggestions to state governments.
Chouhan reiterated the importance of addressing issues related to maintaining records through manual surveys and expressed a commitment to collaborating with state governments to implement the practical solutions proposed by farmers.
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