Can’t push Centre to implement Swaminathan report: Dhankar

Sumedha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, February 27

State Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar today expressed his helplessness in getting the recommendations of the Swaminathan report implemented. Dhankar, who was in Gurgaon today to announce and elaborate on the upcoming agricultural summit said he was not a Union Minister and thus could not do much about it.

“I am all for the implementation of recommendations in the report but my hands are tied. I am not in the Union cabinet and thus can’t push the Union Government, whose duty it is, to implement this. I will however do whatever best I can,” Dhankar said, in response to a question.

The reply was in stark contrast to his aggressive pre-poll promises. He had then blamed the previous Congress-led UPA government for neglecting farmers and promised the implementation of report if the BJP came to power in the state.

The National Commission on Farmers, chaired by Prof MS Swaminathan, submitted five reports from December 2004 to October 2006. Following from the first four reports, the final report focused on causes of farmers’ distress and the rise in farmer suicides. It recommended addressing them through a holistic national policy for farmers.

Meanwhile, putting to rest apprehensions of farmers over the Food Corporation of India deciding not to lift wheat from grain market, Dhankar declared that state’s entire produce would be purchased by state agencies such as HAFED, CONFED , Food & Supplies Department at the minimum support price.

“We are there for our farmers and wish to take our agriculture to new progressive heights. A major step in this direction is the Agri Leadership Summit-2015 which will be hosted by the state in Gurgaon. Around 20,000 agricultural experts will be here to motivate and inspire others on agricultural input and outputs,” said Dhankar.

The summit will be held in Gurgaon from March 13 to March 15.