The Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) said it lauds and appreciates the series of initiatives introduced by the Government of India such as PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme and Eight-Point farm reforms announced in the third tranche of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan,
The organization also praised recently introduced ordinances like the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.
FAIFA is a non-profit organization representing the cause of millions of farmers and farmworkers of commercial crops across the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Gujarat, etc.
On behalf of farmers, FAIFA requests the government to take appropriate steps to ensure smooth implementation and execution of these progressive policies as well as undertake their periodic review in consultation with farmers.
“We are thankful for the series of initiatives and policy interventions introduced by the Government of India in the interest of the farming community. We pray for the smooth execution of these policies so that farmers across the country can benefit from these reforms and boost their incomes,” said Javare Gowda, President, Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA).
In order to enact the reforms, the government should spread awareness and education among farmers regarding the policies. This will help in preventing the spread of misinformation among the farming community and help to benefit from the measures introduced by the government, he added.
The NGO applauds the extremely bold policy changes promulgated by the government which has the potential to lift the Indian farmer’s distress and reap benefits for them over a long period of time. However, it understands that for the benefits of these policies to contribute to the growth of the farmer, the government needs to ensure speedier and smooth implementation.
In this regard, FAIFA would like to appeal to the government to take all necessary steps to put into place all the measures required to raise grassroots level awareness and education surrounding the policy changes for the welfare of the farmers. This step will benefit farmers across the country and prevent the prevalence of any misguidance and misinformation among them.
The body would also like to suggest that the government put in place a mechanism that allows a periodic review of these reforms from time to time. This will allow market-related dynamics to be accounted for and protection of the farmer’s interests.
For this function, FAIFA would also like to appeal to the government to include farmers and farming associations to be included in discussions for agriculture-based reforms so that they can be implemented without any disruption.
Speaking about doubling farmers income, Yashwanth Chidipothu, National Spokesperson of FAIFA said, “We appreciate the progressive nature of The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance 2020 and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 and see them as steps towards doubling the farmer income by transformation and up-gradation of existing agriculture production and marketing arrangement.”
The role played by farmer organizations in safeguarding interests of farmer play a significant role. “We also propose the greater integration of farmer organizations in the policy-making processes of the government to protect the interest of farmers in the long run and allow continuous refinement of reforms to hone them to their full potential,” he added.
