MS Swaminathan lauds Telangana Govt’s efforts for farmer’s welfare

CHENNAI: Renowned agricultural scientist and father of green revolution MS Swaminathan has lauded the steps taken up by the Telangana Government for the welfare of farmers in the last nine years. A delegation of agricultural department officials headed by Telangana Agriculture Minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy met Swaminathan at his residence in Ratna Nagar in Chennai on Wednesday.

During the discussions, Swaminathan expressed interest in visiting Telangana to witness the agricultural progress and development achieved in the past nine years under the leadership of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) following the farmer-friendly policies suggested by him. Niranjan Reddy accompanied by Telangana Agriculture Secretary M Raghunandan Rao, State Seeds Development Corporation Managing Director K Keshavulu and Digital Media Director Konatham Dileep also visited the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in Chennai.

Speaking on the occasion, Niranjan Reddy said that discussions were held with Swaminathan regarding Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, 24-hours uninterrupted free electricity supply, irrigation, mode of procurement of crops, necessity of cultivation of alternative crops and Rythu Vedika meetings. Apart from that, the agricultural scientist was also informed that the Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima schemes implemented by the Telangana Government were among the 20 major schemes that have affected humanity by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Minister said.

Niranjan Reddy said that after going through the agricultural achievements in Telangana, Swaminathan stated that he was aware of the matter as he had already worked as FAO Chairperson. “It is a blessing for people of Telangana as the 98-year-old Swaminathan expressed his interest in visiting the State soon after his health sounded good. Swaminathan was the pioneer of agricultural extension, education and technology in India,” Niranjan Reddy said. He also added that it was his fortune to meet Swaminathan who was the father of green revolution and brought agricultural reforms which have provided food for the crores of people in the country.

Expressing his concern over ignoring the implementation of Swaminathan’s report submitted in 2007, Niranjan Reddy claimed that the UPA Government in Centre kept sitting on the recommendations of the commission till 2014. He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also criticised the UPA Government for its inefficiency in implementing the recommendations of the commission and termed it as an insult to Swaminathan. Apart from that, Narendra Modi had also announced to implement the recommendations if he was voted to power in 2013. After the NDA came to power in 2014 and Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, they insulted the Swaminathan committee by forming another committee with Ashok Dalwai, the minister said.

Niranjan Reddy said that, based on the report from the Ashok Dalwai Committee, the NDA Government assured' of increasing the farmers' revenue till 2022. “Even now in 2023, apart from doubling farmers' income, Narendra Modi's promise has not been implemented. One of the key recommendations made by Swaminathan linking agriculture with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) remains unfulfilled. The NDA Government is misleading the country in the name of implementing the recommendations of Swaminathan. There is an urgent need to bring farmer centric policies in the country for the well-being of agriculture,” Niranjan Reddy said.