Modi government likely to approve farmer relief package today

In the wake of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Modi cabinet is is likely to approve a major relief package for farmers, to boost their income and address distress in the agrarian sector.

Farmer (Source: Representational Image)

New Delhi: In the wake of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Modi cabinet is is likely to approve a major relief package for farmers, to boost their income and address distress in the agrarian sector. "The cabinet meeting is scheduled tomorrow (Monday) and the agriculture ministry's proposal on addressing income deficit syndrome of small and marginal farmers is on the agenda," a highly placed source said. To provide both short and long term solutions to address agrarian distress, the agriculture ministry has recommended several options. As a huge cost is involved, a final call will be taken in the cabinet meeting, the sources added. The government would announce an agriculture package before the 2019-20 Budget (to be presented on February 1), indicated Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, recently. One of the options proposed is waiving interest on crop loans for farmers who pay on time, costing an additional ₹15,000 crore to the exchequer, the sources stated. There is also a proposal to completely waive premium for taking insurance policy for food crops. The centre is also evaluating the scheme followed by the Telangana and Odisha governments wherein a fixed amount is transferred directly into the bank account of farmers, the sources added. Experts said the government has less time to implement any new scheme. The measure has to be such that it can be implemented faster to reap the political gains during the election. It may be noted that the central government has taken farmers' issues seriously after the ruling BJP was defeated in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh in the recent state polls, where rural distress was a key factor. Farmers are in distress owing to fall in prices of most crops in view of bumper crop. (With PTI inputs)