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Home / IAS Preparation / National Commission on Agriculture

National Commission on Agriculture: Transforming Farming in India

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The National Commission on Agriculture (NCA) has played a pivotal role in shaping India's agricultural landscape. This comprehensive article explores the NCA's significance, its evolution, and the key findings and recommendations that have influenced Indian agriculture.



 National Commission on Agriculture

The National Commission on Agriculture, often referred to as NCA, is an instrumental body in India's agricultural development. Chaired by the eminent agricultural scientist, Professor M.S. Swaminathan, the NCA garnered national attention for its profound insights into the agricultural sector. This article sheds light on the NCA's historical significance, its impact on Indian farming, and the critical reports submitted by the commission.

Evolution of NCA

The NCA was established on November 18, 2004, with a mandate to address pressing issues in Indian agriculture. It was formed under the chairmanship of Professor M.S. Swaminathan, in line with the priorities outlined in the Common Minimum Programme. Over time, the NCA has submitted several vital reports, each addressing specific aspects of agriculture.

Terms of Reference

The NCA's mission was defined by its Terms of Reference, which encompassed a wide array of critical areas in agriculture. These included:

  • Formulating a medium-term strategy for food and nutrition security.
  • Enhancing the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of farming systems.
  • Proposing policy reforms to increase rural credit access.
  • Crafting specialized programs for dryland and hilly regions.
  • Enhancing the quality and competitiveness of agricultural commodities.
  • Safeguarding farmers from the impact of falling international prices.
  • Empowering local bodies for sustainable agriculture practices.
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Key Findings and Recommendations

The NCA's reports have been instrumental in shaping India's agricultural policies and practices. Let's delve into some of the key findings and recommendations that emerged from these reports.

Addressing Farmers' Distress

Farmers' distress has been a significant concern, leading to unfortunate incidents such as farmer suicides. The NCA identified several root causes, including:

  • Incomplete land reforms.
  • Issues related to water quantity and quality.
  • Technology stagnation.
  • Challenges in accessing institutional credit.
  • Problems in marketing agricultural produce.
  • Adverse weather conditions.

The NCA emphasized the need for farmers to have assured access and control over essential resources like land, water, credit, technology, and markets. It even recommended including "Agriculture" in the Concurrent List of the Constitution.

Land Reforms

Land reforms play a crucial role in addressing land inequality in India. The NCA highlighted that in 1991-92, the bottom half of rural households owned a mere 3% of the total land, while the top 10% controlled a staggering 54%. To rectify this, the NCA proposed:

  • Redistribution of surplus and waste lands.
  • Prevention of prime agricultural land diversion for non-agricultural purposes.
  • Ensuring grazing rights and seasonal forest access for tribals and pastoralists.
  • A National Land Use Advisory Service.
  • A mechanism to regulate agricultural land sales based on factors like land quantity and proposed use.

Irrigation

Rainfed agriculture significantly contributes to India's agricultural output. The NCA recommended:

  • Comprehensive reforms for equitable water access.
  • Mandatory rainwater harvesting and aquifer recharge.
  • Increased investment in irrigation, including groundwater recharge programs.

Productivity of Agriculture

Low productivity levels significantly impact farmers' income. India's per unit area productivity lags behind other major crop-producing countries. The NCA suggested:

  • Substantial public investment in agriculture-related infrastructure, including irrigation, research, and road connectivity.
  • A national network of advanced soil testing laboratories.
  • Promotion of conservation farming.
  • Adoption of low-cost, high-impact technologies.

Credit and Insurance

Timely and adequate credit is vital for small-scale farmers. The NCA recommended:

  • Expanding formal credit system outreach to the poor.
  • Reducing crop loan interest rates with government support.
  • Debt recovery moratorium during distress.
  • Establishing an Agriculture Risk Fund.
  • Issuing Kisan Credit Cards to women farmers.

Food Security

India's struggle to achieve Millennium Development Goals related to hunger highlighted the need for food security measures. The NCA proposed:

  • Implementation of a universal public distribution system.
  • Reorganizing nutrition support programs with Panchayat involvement.
  • Combating micronutrient deficiencies through fortification.
  • Community Food and Water Banks operated by Women Self-help Groups.
  • A National Food Guarantee Act.

Prevention of Farmers' Suicides

The alarming rise in farmer suicides necessitated immediate action. The NCA recommended:

  • Affordable health insurance and primary healthcare center revitalization.
  • State-level Farmers' Commissions.
  • Restructuring microfinance policies.
  • Comprehensive crop insurance.
  • Social security net creation.
  • Aquifer recharge and rainwater conservation.
  • Availability of quality inputs.
  • Low-risk, low-cost technologies.
  • Market intervention schemes for life-saving crops.
  • Swift action on import duties.
  • Village Knowledge Centers.
  • Public awareness campaigns on suicidal behavior.

Competitiveness of Farmers

Enhancing the competitiveness of small landholding farmers is vital. The NCA recommended:

  • Promoting commodity-based farmers' organizations.
  • Improving Minimum Support Price implementation.
  • Availability of commodity price data.
  • Shifting from APMC Acts to promote marketing and grading.

Employment

Structural changes in the workforce underscore the need for productive employment opportunities. The NCA recommended:

  • Accelerating economic growth.
  • Focusing on labor-intensive sectors.
  • Enhancing labor market functionality.

Bioresources

The NCA emphasized the importance of bioresources in rural livelihoods. It recommended:

  • Preserving traditional rights to biodiversity.
  • Conserving and improving crops, farm animals, and fish stocks.
  • Encouraging community-based breed conservation.
  • Promoting export of indigenous breeds.

Conclusion

The National Commission on Agriculture, under the guidance of Professor M.S. Swaminathan, has been a driving force in shaping India's agricultural policies. Its reports have provided invaluable insights and recommendations to address the challenges faced by Indian farmers. The NCA's contributions remain crucial in the ongoing quest to transform Indian agriculture into a sustainable, profitable, and farmer-centric sector.

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National Commission on Agriculture FAQs

The National Commission on Agriculture is a significant body in India responsible for addressing key issues in agriculture. Chaired by Professor M.S. Swaminathan, it has submitted reports with recommendations to improve various aspects of Indian agriculture.

The NCA was established on November 18, 2004, with Professor M.S. Swaminathan as its chairman.

The NCA's Terms of Reference include strategies for food security, enhancing productivity, rural credit access, dryland farming, improving commodity quality, protecting farmers from falling international prices, and more.

The NCA identified various causes of farmer distress, including issues related to land, water, technology, credit access, and marketing. It emphasized the importance of providing farmers with assured access to essential resources.

The NCA recommended measures such as redistributing surplus and waste lands, preventing
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