Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

PM's meeting with representatives of major farmers organizations

Representatives of major farmers organizations, animal husbandry, horticulture and acquaculture sectors met Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh to apprise him of the issues agitating rural India. Detailed representations were submitted to the Prime Minister, the Union Food & Agriculture Minister, the Union Minister of Rural Development and the Union Minister of Water Resources. The farm leaders hailed the rural orientation of the Common Minimum Programme and the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh's assurance of a new deal for rural India. Prime Minister assured the farmers and their representatives that the Government would give the most serious attention to the problems of the farmers and the farm economy.

The Prime Minister assured that concrete steps are already being taken to address the problem of agricultural credit, agricultural prices and technological and marketing support for farmers. The Government will soon bring forward a bill to address the needs of acquaculture sector. The Government will also give priority to the revitalization of the cooperative credit system.

Dr. Manmohan Singh assured the farmers' representatives that he would seek their advice from time to time. He said, "I attach great importance to interaction with farmers and people in our villages. There is no monopoly of wisdom in Government. We will seek inputs on policy from the grassroots and there is a need for a constant flow of information between the Government and the farmers." The Prime Minister said that the Common Minimum Programme is a five-year programme but urgency will be given to the problems of farmers.