Chandigarh October 11:
There is an overall consensus among the farming community that if the Center makes an offer to Punjab on debt waiver, subject to certain conditions, it should not be dismissed summarily.
A cross-section of farmers, who till their lands themselves, told reporters that the state could not do away with subsides completely, but there was a need to work out a formula by which the subsidies go to the people who need them. Pargat Singh of Pandori village, near Attari, is one of those farmers who feels that the state must be taken out of the debt trap, even if this means taking a harsh decision. Subsidies should be withdrawn from only those having more than five acres of land.
Rattan Singh Randhawa of Deo village in Amritsar district, however, feels differently. He says farming is no longer sustainable without subsidies. When the government has not framed any policy in respect of the price of the ultimate produce, how can it limit the subsidies when the input cost has shot up 32 times in comparison to the price of the produce which has been raised just seven times in 25 years?
Neela Singh, a farmer of Gehari Bhagi village in Bathinda district, said many farmers were ready to bear the extra burden of water and electricity bills, but the government must first ensure that the waiver would benefit those farmers, who were repaying the loan instalments regularly. An octogenarian farmer from Mehta Village, Teja Singh, says if the government ensures proper supply of power and water to farmers, there will be no opposition to the collection of revised rates. The debt waiver sounds beneficial to the sate.
“If the imposition of water charges and reduction of subsidies on power bills are the pre-conditions to get the debt waiver, then the state government should introduce fiscal reforms, keeping the interests of small farmers in mind,” Jeet Singh of Birbehman village said. Sukhraj Singh Maan of Maan village in Gurdaspur district has welcomed the offer saying that freebies should have stopped long ago. He added that farmers should instead be given quality and uninterrupted electricity supply.
JPS Gill, a farmer from Jaspal Bangar village in Ludhiana district, feels the scenario is unfavourable for the marginal farmers who depend on loans and subsidies. Pavitar Pal Singh Pangli, a progressive farmer from Panglian village, opines that the agricultural community should not vote for subsidies and loans. "The Central and the state governments should make joint efforts towards sustainable growth of agriculture.
Patiala farmer Gurjant Singh told reporters that farmers were getting subsidy on fertilisers, which is being given by the Union Government to the companies. Now, power tariff will have to be paid for agricultural tube wells. If the Punjab Finance Minister, Manpreet Badal’s views on the matter are “anti-farmer”, it will further worsen the situation of the farmers in the state, who are already under a huge debt.
Another Patiala farmer, Gurmail Singh, is of the opinion that subsidies should continue. He said subsidies on urea, agriculture tools, underground pipes and power are a must because agriculture is no more a remunerative occupation. The Finance Minister should understand that farmers are facing a lot of problems already without subsidy on power being withdrawn.
There is an overall consensus among the farming community that if the Center makes an offer to Punjab on debt waiver, subject to certain conditions, it should not be dismissed summarily.
A cross-section of farmers, who till their lands themselves, told reporters that the state could not do away with subsides completely, but there was a need to work out a formula by which the subsidies go to the people who need them. Pargat Singh of Pandori village, near Attari, is one of those farmers who feels that the state must be taken out of the debt trap, even if this means taking a harsh decision. Subsidies should be withdrawn from only those having more than five acres of land.
Rattan Singh Randhawa of Deo village in Amritsar district, however, feels differently. He says farming is no longer sustainable without subsidies. When the government has not framed any policy in respect of the price of the ultimate produce, how can it limit the subsidies when the input cost has shot up 32 times in comparison to the price of the produce which has been raised just seven times in 25 years?
Neela Singh, a farmer of Gehari Bhagi village in Bathinda district, said many farmers were ready to bear the extra burden of water and electricity bills, but the government must first ensure that the waiver would benefit those farmers, who were repaying the loan instalments regularly. An octogenarian farmer from Mehta Village, Teja Singh, says if the government ensures proper supply of power and water to farmers, there will be no opposition to the collection of revised rates. The debt waiver sounds beneficial to the sate.
“If the imposition of water charges and reduction of subsidies on power bills are the pre-conditions to get the debt waiver, then the state government should introduce fiscal reforms, keeping the interests of small farmers in mind,” Jeet Singh of Birbehman village said. Sukhraj Singh Maan of Maan village in Gurdaspur district has welcomed the offer saying that freebies should have stopped long ago. He added that farmers should instead be given quality and uninterrupted electricity supply.
JPS Gill, a farmer from Jaspal Bangar village in Ludhiana district, feels the scenario is unfavourable for the marginal farmers who depend on loans and subsidies. Pavitar Pal Singh Pangli, a progressive farmer from Panglian village, opines that the agricultural community should not vote for subsidies and loans. "The Central and the state governments should make joint efforts towards sustainable growth of agriculture.
Patiala farmer Gurjant Singh told reporters that farmers were getting subsidy on fertilisers, which is being given by the Union Government to the companies. Now, power tariff will have to be paid for agricultural tube wells. If the Punjab Finance Minister, Manpreet Badal’s views on the matter are “anti-farmer”, it will further worsen the situation of the farmers in the state, who are already under a huge debt.
Another Patiala farmer, Gurmail Singh, is of the opinion that subsidies should continue. He said subsidies on urea, agriculture tools, underground pipes and power are a must because agriculture is no more a remunerative occupation. The Finance Minister should understand that farmers are facing a lot of problems already without subsidy on power being withdrawn.
