Hyderabad, July 12: Speaking at
the 37th Foundation Day ceremony of NABARD, Sri E.S.L. Narasimhan,
Governor of AP & Telangana said that there is a need to bring out a National River Policy and the
Centre as an arbitrator, should decide on the quantum of water each state gets
based on the area under cultivation. The Governor said such a policy will
ensure equitable distribution of water amongst the states and can prevent water
disputes between states. Sri E.S.L. Narasimhan participated as the Chief Guest
at the 37th Foundation Day programme organized by NABARD at its
office at Hyderabad on Thursday.
The Governor said nobody can
claim ownership to water as it is a precious natural resource and equitable
distribution of water only can prevent water disputes in the future. The
Governor said happiness index of the people should be considered as an
important parameter to be considered rather than statistical data. Governor
said profitability is an important issue when it comes to agriculture
cultivation. He said one has to look at the
food security, energy security health security, which are three
important things to be considered for happiness index of people rather than
economic growth or other statistical parameters.
Referring to the objective of
NABARD, which is to promote sustainable, equitable agriculture, and rural
development, participative financial and non-financial interventions,
institutional development etc. Governor said NABARD as an apex financial institution should
go for innovative measures. He said when we talk of agriculture we talk about
MSP and said he would rather talk about profitability of agriculture than MSP.
MSP is only one part of it profitability – making the quality seeds, storage
space, water, power available to the farmer brings him profitability. He said
dispersing the cultivation of agriculture produce is needed and it should not be
paddy alone and said the consultancy NABARD comes into in advising the farmers
in dispersive farming such as aqua
culture, horticulture, sericulture and other systems of cultivation. Governor
said we should not follow the Cafeteria approach, which is based on a certain
menu. He said farming should rather be based on demand based approach and diversification
of crops on demand is the need of hour and NABARD can play a great role of
consultancy in this aspect.
Technical solutions, have to be
beneficial to the farmer. If one crop fails his whole life comes to an end as
they do not have reserves like the RBI, said the Governor. Convince farmers, show them model farming,
pilot projects and convince into diversification of crops rather than set
pattern of farming. Governor said timely availability of credit is more
important and it should be made available to him when he needs it more by cutting
down the procedural delays. He said general perception is that access to credit
is involved with huge process which delays release of credit when it is needed
the most. Change the process of making credit facilities available to farmers
in time. Governor said NABARD has to really look at the interest of the farmers
in a big way. Rural industrialisation can increase profit margin and solve
unemployment problem. Governor said when someone sets up an industry in a rural
area, people come to set up tea stalls etc. NABARD should rather provide consultancy
to the rural people, upgrade their skills to make them get suitable employment
in those industries. The concept of Farmers Producers Organisations is very
good but needs to be modified to make it profitable to farmers with small
holdings. He said during his visit to Srikakulam he found farmers with small land
holding that the returns they get are very less. FPOs should come together and
combine the land holding, encourage joint cultivation. Governor said the
concept of SHG is very good and NABARD
has done really good job in that sector. Governor said minor irrigation should be
encouraged as major irrigation takes more time need lot of funds. He said there
used to be thousands of water bodies in and around the Hyderabad city which are
vanished now. NABARD should offer its consultancy in reviving these water
bodies and encourage minor irrigation as it more advantageous to the farmers.
R. Subramanian, Regional
Director of RBI, Dr. P. Radhakrishnan, NABARD Chief General Manager, Telangana
region, K. Suresh Kumar, Chief General Manager, NABARD, AP region, bank
officials, members of self help groups, farmers have attended the programme. Awards
were given to farmers with innovative practices, best performing FPOs of AP and
Telangana, on the occasion.
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