Syllabus: GS-III
Subject: Economy
Topic: Agriculture and Allied
Issue: Swaminathan Committee Report
- In 2004, the Ministry of Agriculture constituted a National Commission on Farmers (NCF) under Prof Swaminathan.
- The 10-point terms of reference of the commission, included suggesting a
- “comprehensive medium-term strategy for food and nutrition security”, and
- ways of “enhancing productivity, profitability, and sustainability of the major farming systems” in the country.
- The Commission did not recommend either a legal guarantee for MSP.
Highlights/ Recommendations of the report:
- Setting up of a National Board for New Deal for Women in Agriculture.
- Farm Schools should be established in the fields of innovative farmers, in order to spread their message and methods.
- Establishing a grain bank and community food and fodder banks, promoting insurance, and setting up a national network of advanced soil testing labs.
- A code of conduct for contract farming.
- Futures and options trading in agricultural commodities, with supervision and regulation by a “SEBI like autonomous body”.
