Easing of agrarian distress is highly important for the Bharatiya Janata Party before India goes into polls. The government is learned, through people familiar with the matter and seeks to remain anonymous, to be weighing options like cash handout for farmers, monthly income support program for them and revamped crop insurance program.
The source said final program could a combination of the three or just one of these.
The income support program could benefit about 150 million farm households and this could influence the election outcome to a great extent.
The Narendra Modi-led government raised support prices of crops earlier this year in July to ensure farmers get fifty percent more than estimated production costs, but the scheme failed to shield the farmers from distress sales and the blame was on lack of sufficient state procurement. Now the implement would be a bit different and government to pay cash if the produce sells at a discount.
Under crop insurance program the government could reduce premium paid by farmers. More crops would be covered under this and tenant farmers too expected to benefit.
It is important for Narendra Modi to win over farmers while he is seeking a second term. The rising input costs and falling crop prices have lately forced the farmers to hit the streets demanding waiving of debts. Opposition Indian National Congress too has put pressure on the government by waiving off farm loans in the states recently won.
Meanwhile, poor farmers would benefit from income support program.
The post Cash handout, monthly income support for farmers on card before polls appeared first on Newspack by India Press Agency.
