Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am thankful to the honourable members for offering their views. Everybody expressed his sympathy for the farmers. There can be nothing more important than this for us. Some of our friends say that 70 to 80 per cent people depend on agriculture. I believe that 100 per cent people depend on it.
If the stomach is empty everything appears useless and nothing can be
done. Agricultural production is the very basis of bread. If there is
production, everything runs smooth. Some of our honourable friends are saying
that production has declined and food grains are not available. It is not that
there was no agriculture policy earlier and there is none now. It is also not
that we are running the work without any policy. Hat it been so, we would not
have commended the farmers. We would not have praised them that they have
shouldered the responsibility of the whole country. earlier the
population of the country was 34 crores whereas it has exceeded 86 crores now.
Earlier, we require more food grains. We are moving ahead and expecting increase
in agricultural production. On the other hand, nobody sees that production has
increased. People will complain that they are not getting sufficient food. It
is because every year there is an increase of 2 crore people in the country.
How can it be checked ? We shall have to think over it. There is no
expansion in the land area. It remains static. We shall have to consider all
these points. Everybody asked me as to what is the agriculture policy and what
I was going to do. A system is being followed right from the beginning and the
production increases at the same ration. There should
be co-operation from both sides. Nothing can be
single-handedly. Our scientists are busy in research. Has there been no
co-ordination and encouragement from the Government, perhaps we should not have
achieved that much progress. My efforts are also aimed at it.
During the course of the debate, there was a reference to Bhanu Pratap
Committee. It was alleged that the recommendations of the committee were not
implemented properly. They were discussed in the Cabinet but were not
implemented because of certain considerations.
It is the demand of everyone, including the honourable members, that the farmers should be paid remunerative prices for their produce. And, the same time. inability to pay remunerative prices is also expressed. I feel sorry at the burning of wheat during the protest staged on 6th. This pained me much because we equally concerned about the welfare of the farmers. You people persistently raise the demand for payment of higher prices to farmers for their produce as if we were against it. Agriculture is my only vocation which I did myself and did not pursue another profession. An honourable member inquired from me about the total land in my possession and whether I have distributed it or not. I would like to submit that I was the first person to have invited people for distributing land with ownership rights. You people can yourself witness how I have converted the barren land into the fertile land. The are which was once a desert now abounds in greenery and stands as a beautiful oasis. I love both nature and farmers. I love plants like my own off springs. That is why, I do not want to hurt the farmers sentiments, nor I am against payment of remunerative prices to farmers of their produce. However, besides this we also have to think of the interests of the nation while taking care of our farmers. Farmers have voluntarily done a lot for the country. Farmers have not got involved in any sort of corrupt practice, i.e. black marketing, hoarding and profiteering. But if the demand is made for excessive increase in prices of agricultural products, it is not correct. Decision to import wheat is also opposed. It is another matter whether the imported wheat has arrived or not. The Ministry of Food has stated that the wheat has not yet arrived. Can the purchasing of medicine for a patient, suddenly fallen ill, be postponed for the next day if the medicine costing Rs. 5 is available at Rs. 15 in the right ? You have alleged that as per our promise we could not roll back prices within 100 days. How can it be achieved that way ? We will have to see things in the right perspective and also to keep a proper check and balance between various things. If the farmers interests are to be watched, then we will have to watch the interests of the common man too. We will have to consider the conditions of the farmers and the poor both. Therefore, I announced the payment of bonus of Rs. 25 per quintal on wheat over and above the procurement price.