Bhubaneswar CC Meet

On Crisis In Agrarian Sector

THE Central Committee of the CPI(M) expressed its strong opposition to the Vajpayee government’s agrarian policies. Ever since quantitative restrictions on 714 items of imports were removed in April 2000, the prices of agricultural commodities have fallen drastically. This is due to the opening up to imports of agricultural goods. The price of cotton have fallen from Rs.2,500 to Rs.800 per quintal, the price of paddy has declined from Rs.650 to Rs.350 per quintal, of groundnut from Rs.1,500 to Rs.460 per quintal; rubber has fallen from Rs.60 to Rs.23 per kg, coconut prices from Rs.8 to Rs.2 per nut, and so on. By April 2001, the restrictions on the rest of the regulated imports will be lifted.

The farmers’ plight is made more miserable with the FCI not undertaking procurement of rice and wheat due to overflowing godowns. The stocks of foodgrains procured have accumulated to four crore tonnes since the BJP-led government hiked up prices under the public distribution system so steeply that there has been a steady fall in the offtake of foodgrains by the states.

The depression in the agrarian economy has hit hard the agricultural workers who are not getting sufficient employment or subsistence wages. Drought in five states, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Orissa, has worsened the conditions of the rural poor.

The remedy suggested by the BJP and the Vajpayee government is still worse. It wants to privatize the procurement, storage and distribution of foodgrains. This will spell the end of state-run procurement and the public distribution system.

The Central Committee demanded that the Central Government immediately publish what its stand will be regarding the review of the WTO terms for agriculture. It should check cheap imports of agricultural goods by imposing the maximum tariffs on such goods, some of which can be up to 300 per cent.

The Central Committee demanded of the centre that it reduce by half the public distribution issue prices of rice and wheat in all categories. Food-for-work programmes must be initiated so that employment-generation and infrastructure works can be created.

The Central Committee extended its full support to the joint call of the kisan and agricultural labour organizations for a Three-Day Mass Picketing on February 5,6, and 7, before central government offices all over the country. The demands include stopping imports of agricultural commodities and providing minimum wages for agricultural workers. It called upon all its Party units to make this programme a success.