What farmers want from Union budget?

As Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her team prepares the Union Budget-2021 amid the tumult sparked by pandemic and farmers' agitation in some States over the three farm laws, The Hans India spoke to farmers on their expectation from the Union Budget. Most of the respondents, urged the Centre to ensure that MSP is fair, timely and implemented strictly. They also want a reduction in input costs like seeds, fertilisers and pesticides

Besides providing adequate and timely MSP for crops, the Centre should take measures in Budget to reduce input costs by cutting down on taxes on fertilisers, pesticides, seeds and agriculture implements.

N Hemachandra, farmer, Iruvaaram, Chittoor

Even though MSP is there for paddy crop in the country, it is practically not helpful to the farmers. It is meaningless announcing MSP to the crops without taking stringent measures for implementation. There should be strict enactment for the protection of the interests of farmers. A similar situation needed in the case of seeds, pesticides, and fertilisers. The state governments shouldn't engage millers and others for purchasing paddy which has been the main reason for losses to farmers.

AVR Naidu, paddy farmer, Jagadevipet, Indukurpet Mandal

When compared to the last decade, there has been a huge decline in paddy prices. It was earlier Rs. 13,000-14,000 per putti (850 kg) of paddy in 2010-11 and now it is only Rs 10,000 in 2021 which indicates the poor implementation of the MSP. Strict control over the quality of seeds, pesticides, and fertilisers needs to be exercised. NREGS works should be integrated with the agriculture more for more benefit to the people and also reduce the shortage of manpower. Infrastructure for the agriculture sector should be improved.

Vetagiri Mallikarjuna, paddy farmer, Patel Nagar, Vidavaluru mandal

E-marketing should be implemented in agriculture similar to sericulture and others. Cold storage and other facilities should be provided. Farmers enrolled for support from the Centre should be filtered on the basis of the eligibility criteria for avoiding misuse. A drainage system for excess rainwater should be developed in all regions for preventing flooding that damages standing crops.

Nellore Narasaiah, aqua farmer, Kothapalem, TP Gudur mandal

The Union government must assure MSP to the farmers, and implement it in time. Also, it must suspend the middlemen system and should see the government agencies procure the produce and transfer the maximum profit to the farmers. For example, the farmer who invests months of hard work and money receives Rs 60 per kg as MSP for black gram, but the consumer pays extra Rs 60 to middlemen who just processes and packages it and sells them at Rs 120 per kg. This should be avoided and the government should support the small farmers so that they get the maximum benefit.

Paluri Srinivasa Rao, farmer, Kothapalli village in Peddaraveedu mandal, Prakasam district

Besides encouraging organic farming, the government should reduce the expenditure on agriculture by limiting the price of fertilisers and other chemical nutrients. It should try to provide the insurance cover for the crops throughout the season, by taking the responsibility of the collection of the premium from the state governments. If it really wants to provide marketing opportunities to all farmers at markets throughout the country, it should also provide transport facilities at a nominal price.

Javvaji Ramanjula Reddy, Darimadugu village in Markapuram mandal, Prakasam district

Agricultural cultivation should be made a profitable profession and measures are required in the Union Budget to achieve it. Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development - the three sectors are most important and inter-linked. Entire nation is mostly dependent on these three sectors and government should allot lion's share in the Budget for the healthy growth of these three sectors. Agricultural credit limit needs to be increased up to Rs 20 lakh crore to cover more farmers across the nation and to prevent private money lending.

G Simhachalam, farmer of Gotta village in Hira mandal, Srikakulam district

Farmers are badly in need of help in the entire country. I hope the Central government would fulfil some demands being made by the farmers who are agitating in Delhi make provisions in accordance with them in the Union budget. Direct benefit to the farmers in the form of cash transfer will not give long time benefits. The government should take responsibility to supply seeds and fertilisers at low prices. Tenant farmers should be sanctioned loans on par with the landlords.

P Mahesh, farmer, Guntur district.

Farmers suffering massive crop loss need to get assured assistance from the government. We hope that at least in the ensuing Union Budget, there is a provision for Minimum Support Price (MSP). Given the health issues, organic cultivation too should gain larger significance than ever.

Appalaraju Pavada, a mango grower from Kothavalasa mandal, Visakhapatnam

Supply of quality seeds and their easy access to farmers will go a long way in following good production practices. We need a reliable platform that guarantees the MSP for our produce. This apart, livelihood of farmers should also be considered while drafting the Budget.

B Srinivasa Rao, paddy farmer, S Rayavaram village, Visakhapatnam

We, the farmers, expect only three things from the Centre. Support price with statutory guarantee, infrastructure development and uniform subsidy or incentives. There should be uniform incentives or subsidies for agriculture loan, in purchase of implements or equipment irrespective regions, small or big farmers. The government should provide sufficient allocations for infrastructure development including for promotion of farm mechanisation to reduce cost of agriculture and also post-harvest facilities like storage which is very much lacking resulting in huge loss to farmers in the country .

Reddyvari Sreenivasulu Reddy, farmer, Kalikiri, Chittoor district.