A group of farmers in Andhra Pradesh, calling themselves Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), recently staged a demonstration to draw attention to the issues facing the agriculture sector and to urge the Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, to increase the allocation for the sector in the Union Budget.
The farmers were led by SKM Prakasam district convenor Ch. Ranga Rao, who spoke about the importance of increasing subsidies for food, fertilizer, and petroleum products. According to Rao, the current crisis in the agriculture sector requires more support from the government, and the subsidies for these items should be increased to at least ₹5 lakh crore. The demonstration also highlighted the decrease in allocation for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme (MGNREGS), which provides wage employment for rural communities.
According to Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangam State secretary K.V.V. Prasad, the allocation for MGNREGS has been reduced from ₹1.11 lakh crore in 2020-21 to only ₹61,032 crore in the current fiscal year. Prasad believes that the allocation should be revised to ₹1.86 lakh crore, and that the scheme should be extended to the urban poor as well.
The farmers are also demanding that the government provide market intervention and a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. The current MSP regime is not adequately serving farmers, and the SKM is calling for the government to adopt the formula suggested by agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan (c2 plus 50%) and provide statutory backing for the MSP regime.
The farmers' demonstration was a call for increased support and investment in the agriculture sector, which is facing numerous challenges. The SKM is urging the government to take action and provide the necessary resources to help the sector recover and thrive.
