The Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers Welfare, and Rural Development held a high-level review meeting with senior officials from the Agriculture Ministry to address critical issues facing the farming community. This meeting was held on January 13, 2025 and a press release was issued on the same day.
The meeting focused on farm produce, agricultural product marketing (including imports and exports), and prevailing weather conditions.
The Minister announced a multi-pronged approach to address farmer concerns:
- In addition to weekly internal meetings, the Minister will periodically convene meetings with State Agriculture Ministers to foster greater collaboration and address ground-level challenges.
- Ministry officials will maintain consistent communication with state governments to ensure coordinated efforts in tackling farmer issues.
- Discussions will cover a wide range of topics, including fair pricing for produce, addressing farmer distress, sowing practices, marketing, sales, import-export dynamics, and weather patterns.
A review meeting with state governments is scheduled for January 14, 2025 to specifically address:
- Prevailing lentil prices.
- Procurement prices for all lentil varieties, including Arhar, Chana, and Masur, for both Kharif 2024 and Rabi 2024 crops.
The Minister also outlined plans for improved data analysis and monitoring:
The Trade Division will compile weekly comparative analyses of the need for lentil and oilseed imports, considering domestic production and consumption patterns. A similar analysis will be conducted for agricultural exports. These analyses will include detailed information on Chana, Arhar, and Masoor, assessing costs, benefits for both farmers and consumers, and potential interventions by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW).
A detailed protocol for pest management and pesticide distribution, including MRP (Maximum Retail Price) issues, will be regularly monitored through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). Reports will be submitted regularly, comparing prevailing market rates with government-notified rates.
