Free power and farm loan waivers cannot be a permanent solution to the problems in the agriculture sector, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu said on Friday, warning that populist poll promises could be damaging in the long term.
“We have a clamour for populism to win over people during elections. That is not going to solve the problem,” he said at an event organised to award the first World Agriculture Prize to agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan.
The prize, instituted by the private think tank Indian Council for Food and Agriculture (ICFA), includes a $100,000 cash award. Policy-makers should look for long-term solutions, as citizens were more interested in quality than in freebies, he said. “Free power means first, low power and afterwards, no power… People want assured and quality power 24X7.”
Mr. Naidu said one-time waivers would offer only short-term solace, as farmers required credit every year.
“Are there banks that lend money and never ask for repayment?” he asked.
