Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) chairman Prof. M. Kodandaram said that agriculture sector in the State was in deep crisis and demanded the State government to bring out a comprehensive agricultural policy.
He was addressing a seminar on ‘Agriculture crisis’ organised by Telangana Navanirmana Vedika here.
He said, though over 80% of people in the country depend on agriculture, there was no policy to steer the sector. “Despite our demand for a farmers’ commission, no effort is being made in that direction,” he said.
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He said over 95% in the country are small and marginal farmers with land holding of less than 5 acres, and the government is not taking measures to protect their interests. These small and marginal farmers should be ensured crop loans and other inputs, he said.
Accusing the State government of forceful eviction in the name of land acquisition for various irrigation projects, the TJAC chairman said that most of the farmers were Dalits and quite poor, and the loss of land deprived them of source of livelihood.
Prof Kodandaram faulted the proposal of the State government in forming farmers’ associations in every village to improve agriculture and providing them with a support system. “The farmers’ association will be of no use until the government provides help to farmers and brings pro-farmer policies,” he opined.
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The proposed associations would turn into vote banks for the ruling TRS but would be of no use to the farmers, he added.