National Commission on Farmers

Not to be confused with the Swaminathan Report on Silent Valley.

National Commission on Farmers

राष्ट्रीय किसान आयोग
Emblem of India
Commission overview
Formed	18 November 2004; 20 years ago (2004-11-18)
Jurisdiction	Government of India
Commission executive	M.S. Swaminathan, Chairman

The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) is an Indian commission constituted on 18 November 2004 under the chairmanship of Professor M.S. Swaminathan to address the nationwide calamity of farmers suicides in India.^[1][2] The Terms of Reference reflected the priorities listed in the Common Minimum Programme. The NCF submitted four reports in December 2004, August 2005, December 2005 and April 2006 respectively. The fifth and final report was submitted on 4 October 2006. The reports contain suggestions to achieve the goal of "faster and more inclusive growth" as envisaged in the Approach to 11th Five Year Plan and are collectively termed the M.S. Swaminathan report for farmers^[1][3]

The final report of the Commission was focused on causes of farmer distress and the rise in farmer suicides in India and recommended addressing them through a holistic national policy for farmers^[4]

The key recommendations from the Commission incorporated in Revised Draft National Policy for Farmers include asset reforms covering land, water, livestock, and bioresources farmer-friendly support services; and curriculum reforms in the agriculture universities ^[5]

Composition

The composition of the reconstituted National Commission on Farmers is as under:^[6]

• Chairman – M.S. Swaminathan
• Full-time Members – Ram Badan Singh, Y.C. Nanda
• Part-time Members – R. L. Pitale, Jagadish Pradhan, Chanda Nimbkar, Atul Kumar Anjan
• Member Secretary – Atul Sinha

Terms of reference

1. Work out a comprehensive medium-term strategy for food and nutrition security .
2. Propose methods of enhancing the productivity, profitability, stability, and sustainability of the major farming systems
3. Bring about the synergy between technology and public policy
4. Suggest measures to attract and retain educated youth in farming
5. Suggest policy reforms designed to enhance investment in Agricultural Research, increase the flow of rural credit to farmers
6. Formulate special programs for dryland farming
7. Suggest measures for enhancing the quality and cost competitiveness of farm commodities
8. Recommend measures for the credit, knowledge, skill, technological and marketing empowerment of women
9. Suggest methods of empowering members of elected local bodies to discharge their role in conserving and improving the ecological foundations for sustainable agriculture effectively

Implementation

Its implementation is not done yet due to lack of funds by government in these suggestions.

Further reading

• Mishra, Dheeraj (27 December 2020). "Reality Belies Modi Govt Claims of Implementing Swaminathan Commission's Report". The Wire.
• Swaminathan, M. S. (January–June 2016). "National Policy for Farmers Ten Years Later". Review of Agrarian Studies. 6 (1): 133–144.
• "Swaminathan panel report being implemented: Agriculture minister". The Economic Times. 8 August 2018.
• "Implement recommendations of commission on farmers". The Hindu. 12 March 2016. ISSN 0971-751X.
• Pradhan, Bijoy (29 December 2020). "Farmers ignorant of Swaminathan commission recommendations". The New Indian Express.

References

1. "Swaminathan Report Summary". PRS Legislative Research.
2. M.S. Swaminathan to head National Commission on Farmers
3. "National Commission on Farmers 3rd Report" (PDF). agricoop.nic.in.
4. "Home | PRSIndia". PRS Legislative Research. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
5. "India Budget | Ministry of Finance | Government of India" (PDF). www.indiabudget.gov.in. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
6. National Commission on Farmers All Reports