There is a disconnect between the agriculture growth and the farmer well-being in Andhra Pradesh. There is gap between one farmer and another and also between the farmer on the one side and the government, the marketing set-up, the government schemes and the institutional set ups on the other. These are the findings of the Dr. R. Radhakrishna Commission on inclusive and sustainable agriculture development.
The Commission set-up under the aegis of the Centre for Economic and Social Studies has been initiated by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to study the crisis in the agriculture sector and the farmer well-being. Headed by eminent economist Dr R. Radhakrishna, the team comprising Prof. Duvvuri Narasimha Reddy, Prof. S.R. Hashim, Prof. Sheila Bhalla, Prof. S. Galab, Prof. K. Hanumantha Rao and T. Vijaya Kumar, has submitted a report but it appears to be gathering dust.
Disclosing the details, Prof. Galab says the Commission has organised about 10 sub-committees looking into various aspects such as rain-fed farming, tribal farming models, credit plan, tenancy farming, marketing and pricing, irrigation, climate change and the role of agricultural institutions. “This apart, we had a drafting and technical committee and a task force committee. We also invited paper from experts,” he says.
According to Prof. Galab, among others, the Commission has recommended modification to the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra area) Tenancy Act 1956, design agriculture crop and method in tune with climate change and area specific climatic problems and redefining the role of institutions aiding farmers.
Land banks
“The pricing and marketing of farm produce need a proper look and we have recommended the establishment of an autonomous body - Andhra Pradesh Society for Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment (APSAFE), creation of land banks and encouraging Kerala type panchayat initiatives for identification of lands for lease and banning land sale to non-agriculturists,” said Prof. Galab.
Prof. Hanumantha Rao says along with agriculture, the farmers must be educated to focus on livestock and other agri business such as fish ponds. “Farmers need a sustained and continuous flow of money and such a model might help,” he said.
