Manifesto

For
Agriculture Sector

Prepared by
Pradeep Kumar Kunche
Think Social Engineering, Think Me

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1. Introduction

Farming is the back bone of our Country. In India over 2/3rd population is living
in rural areas and 15% of GDP is from Agriculture Sector. With maximum
employment in Agriculture Sector, it is need of the hour to have an exclusive
Manifestos for Agriculture Sector in the larger interest of Farmers, Agriculture
Labour and all sections of the people and the country.
This Agriculture Manifesto is prepared after extensive research and discussions
and provides guidelines required for current and immediate future – to make
agriculture viable for all the farmers.

2. Summary

This Agriculture Manifesto covers various measures and issues like –

(i) Integrated Farming
(ii) Need for government to supply all agriculture inputs
(iii) Need for government to procure entire agriculture produce on
Notional basis
(iv) Need for all agriculture inputs and output payments through bank
transactions
(v) Banning cash trade
(vi) Need for Unique ID for traders and online bank payments to
government to procure the agriculture produce at MSP by registered
traders
(vii) Need for routing private finance for agriculture through government
(viii) Need to ensure all agriculture loans are utilised only for purchase of
inputs against bills
(ix) Need for Unique ID for all agriculture input suppliers
(x) Need for Unique ID cards for farmers owning land or doing
cultivation on lease
(xi) Need for uniform land lease agreements for cultivation
(xii) Need for bringing total agriculture into GST for ensuring all states
levy uniform taxes and cess
(xiii) Need for national uniform policy of procurement by all states
(xiv) Need for uniform policy for water generation and optimal water
utilisation for cultivation, water conservation and preservation for
use in cultivation
(xv) Need for streamlining water usage for beverage manufacturers,
tanneries etc

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(xvi) Need for mandatory share for farmers in food processing industry
using raw agriculture produce
(xvii) Need for uniform land compensation – for farm lands being acquired
by government or private
(xviii) Need for antidumping duty on raw material imported from abroad
for food processing if same principle raw material is available in
India.
And many more.

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3. Details
[1]. Integrated Cooperative Farming (Village Agriculture Cooperative
Association -VACA) : To be supported by Government by providing
incentives to farmers for adopting integrated cooperative farming to make
a sizable large holding by joining small holdings to make farming viable. In
the Integrated Cooperative Farming, Small farms join to farm (Village
Agriculture Cooperative Association -VACA) with different names/ numbers
with mandatory 1/4 of the combined holding for horticulture to raise
vegetables and fruits and remaining 3/4 holding for the conventional crops
that is suitable and viable in that soil as advised by Agriculture Experts.
Each VACA to be provided with Poultry, Dairy and Training in marketing.
MSME to ensure regular source of Income and marginalisation of need for
Farm Loan waiver and reduced work load due to work distribution among
VACA members to reduce farm distress and to allow quality time for family
care and reduce/eliminate Farmer suicides.

[2]. Accredited Agriculture Coordinators (AACor) in every Village in line

with ASHA for health care, trained in farm related activities to act as
messengers between agriculture experts and farmers, and collection of data
digitally for better farm management, with first preference to Farmers and
Farm labour youth in that territory locally.

[3]. Mandatory registration of all Stake Holders in Agriculture like seed,

fertiliser, pesticides manufacturers, importers, retailers in a single hub with
Unique Identity numbers for each category and create virtual private
network among all agriculture input providers. Making public real time stock
position of various agriculture inputs across the Country. Farmers Unique
ID cards to be linked to Bio Metrics / Aadhar whether they own a farm land
or on leased lands and government to ensure farmers get the majority
of benefits and not land owners of leased farm lands.

[4]. Mandatory Uniform Lease Agreements and all lease holdings should be
recorded online using bio metrices of the cultivators. The lease consideration
should be either percentage of agriculture produce in cash on realisation of
MSP or percentage of the produce itself in volumes. All lease considerations
be paid through bank transactions only. Mandatory uniform agreements for
contract farming with variable consideration.

[5]. Streamlining of Private Finance to Farmer and all private finance to

farmers must be routed through government either by depositing in Govt

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 Special Account created for this purpose or Disbursed to farmers
Cooperatives through online bank transfer routed through Govt. at a fixed
rate of interest determined by Government and government guarantee for
the agriculture private finance like Mudra Loans. With complete ban on
financing for individual farmers.

[6]. Banks to provide separate accounts exclusively for Farmers useful

only for farming related activity using Farmer Unique ID. All payments for
inputs should be made by farmers through this bank account only. Complete
ban on cash sale for agriculture inputs and ban on sale of agriculture inputs
without Unique ID of farmers and need for explanation by farmers for cash
deposits in special agriculture accounts in case of farmers who do not join
cooperatives.

[7]. All Farm loans to be utilized only to purchase Inputs for agriculture
from registered retailers of agriculture inputs in that territory where the
farm land exists and farm loans are barred from drawing in cash.

[8]. Prohibiting applicability of Promissory Notes for Farmers and their

immediate family members. Also, prohibiting applicability of cheque bounce
in case of transactions for issue of loan, if it is not through bank transfer or
cheque by the person who provided loan. (This is applicable for all sections
of people, not just farmers). Mandatory online registration for issue of loans
against Gold by Pawn Brokers, and Criminal offence to render loan in Cash
or by Non Registered Pawn Brokers.

[9]. Criminal offence on private financers for providing loans to farmers

out of Govt System. No Civil or Criminal cases on farmers for non-payment
of any private finance obtained from any private people out of system
designed by the government.

[10]. Streamlining Farm Land Sale and Mortgage of all farmlands by

making it mandatory that all farm land sale agreements and mortgage
agreements be registered online and all considerations through online bank
transactions and details of such agreements should be made public for
transparency.

[11]. Mandatory 10% share in every Food Processing Industry to Farmers

from whom the raw material is sourced by the food processing industry,
especially the Ayurveda and herbal products by making it mandatory that
all food processing industry sourcing raw material above certain limit should

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 source from farmers’ cooperatives and not from traders – this will benefit
the end farmers for all their hardwork.

[12]. Mandatory 10% of profits to Farmers earned by Food Processing

Industries including Hotels and Restaurants be deposited in a consolidated
account to be used for farmers’ welfare across the country for providing
pension to retried farmers, and providing margin money for farmers’
Cooperatives for setting up MSME or buying farming equipment

[13]. Imposition of Additional Tax on Import of Raw Material by Food

Processing Industries, Traders for importing principle raw material, to
match the local Indian price to prevent cheap imports from foreign
countries.

[14]. Uniform Land Compensation Formula across India for land

acquisition for any purpose whether for private industry or government
industry or infrastructure development like roads, etc either in cash or same
worth of land for cultivation.

[15]. Mandatory percentage of share in turnovers or revenue obtained

to Farmers in infra structure project whether in Private or Government for
farmers who lost land due to land acquisition, in addition to one-time
compensation.

[16]. Government to create a special department for Water Management

for Farming Sector and GOI must attract private investment in supply of
water for cultivation on large scale through cloud seeding etc (artificial rains
near the river catchment areas), creation of earth dams to tap free flowing
rain water or flood waters, installation of solar pump sets to pull the ground
water for farming etc.

[17]. Creation of Water Boards in every Village for educating and practice
for ensuring better and optimal utilisation of water for farming

[18]. Ban use of River / Ground Water for manufacture of Aerated Drinks
and beverages and also for bottled water. GOI to make it mandatory that
all aerated drink manufacturers use desalinated sea water as these are not
basic necessaries, whereas agriculture is basic necessity providing food.

[19]. Mandatory creation of Earth Dams and Rain Water Harvesting by

all food processing units and other industrial units and RWA using fresh

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 water in excess of certain limits must contribute to creation of earth dams
and rain water harvesting in areas of less availability of water for cultivation.

[20]. Creation of Water Credits to ensure judicious use of Fresh Water

Incentivise people who use within the limits by penalising all residential
users and commercial users with above standard rate of water use (per
capita or per house hold or per unit production of that product etc). Payment
for additional use of water and Water credits for recycle and reuse of grey
water for flushing toilets etc. Water Credits for collecting and use of waste
water from Reverse Osmosis Plants and Air Conditioners etc for gardening
etc.

[21]. Mandatory permanent facility for sale of vegetables and fruits by

Farmers Cooperatives in all new Residential Welfare Associations (RWA)
and colonies, in case of existing RWA where the space is constraint, they
must create temporary space for mini trucks for sale by the farmers’
cooperatives, to eliminate middle men.

[22]. Incentives for Unemployed Youth for taking up Farming by

providing free land especially adjacent to National Highways and State
Highways where excess rainwater is collected. Also provide incentives to
youth for establishing terrace Gardening in RWA with restricting Terrace
gardening only for Leafy vegetables, and use of Hydroponics (Soil less
culture with raising crops in water medium under controlled conditions)

[23]. Mandatory Terrace Gardening in all Residential Welfare

Association (RWA) in all urban habitations, and every RWA should employ
unemployed youth from farmers families for terrace gardening and
Mandatory for every RWA or Group of RWA’s (in case of small size) in Urban
Areas to employ a Gardener who is either a migrated small farmer or farm
labour or a trained youth in gardening

[24]. Retirement for Farmers at 65 years age and Govt. provide pension
for Farmers with lifelong free health care and free PDS for Farmer and
spouse.

[25]. Mandatory 10% reservation for Small & Marginal farmers’

children in all educational institutions and Employment (Govt. &
Pvt.), also minimum of 25% of jobs at entry level in all food processing
industry including hotels and restaurants for farmers’ children.

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[26]. Govt. supply Cows, for every Farmer and Farmers’ Cooperative,
creation of community fodder centres for cultivation and utilisation of
fodder. Govt establish Veterinary Hospitals in every village depending up on
the strength of the Bovine and Govt maintain the data of periodic
vaccination and Govt provide free Vaccination to all bovine in Cooperative
Farming. Also Govt. Standardise norms for sale, transportation of Cows and
Protect the Farmers, Dalits and Muslims from Pseudo Gau Rakshaks

[27]. Government buy Back Aged/ Ailing Holy Cows for certain
consideration from Farmers via Direct Benefit Transfer to contain farmers
selling non milk producing aged cows for slaughter houses or leaving on
streets

[28]. Government create Exclusive Slaughter Houses in every village/

ward in appropriate number for meat goat/ chicken, complete ban on
slaughter of any animal for meat in homes or on public places or near water
bodies.

[29]. Govt. to fix responsibility on Farm Input Suppliers and make them
accountable for crop failure through Crop Insurance in case of crop failure
on account of supply of substandard inputs in providing Crop Insurance.
Part of Crop Insurance premium (for Farmers’ Cooperatives and Farmers)
be paid from the Consolidated CSR fund created by input Manufacturers and
part of crop insurance premium from Govt for covering Natural Calamity
Risk. All farmers to be relieved from the burden of paying Crop Insurance
premium from their hard earnings.

[30]. Mandatory Certification of own Seeds produced and used by farmers

from Local Agriculture labs for quality of the seeds and to make it eligible
for claiming crop insurance

[31]. Establishment of Mass Kitchens by Farmers Cooperatives in every

Village / Ward for supply of Cooked Food to Anganwadies, Mid-day Meals,
Social Welfare Hostels by Farmers’ Cooperatives. Govt. to provide
subsidised food for all agriculture Labour, MNREGA workers during the
cultivation period/ guaranteed work period.

[32]. Govt to ban manufacture, sale and use of GE/GM seeds made by
MNC, for farming. Allow indigenously developed GE/GM seeds for use in
certain crops. Complete Ban on use of GE/ GM seeds especially in Contract
Farming

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[33]. Uniform National Policy for Disposal of Crop Residues and best
utilisation of crop residues like creation of bio fuel, ethanol etc.

[34]. Incentives for establishment of Units Waste to Wealth using crop

Residues in like establishment of Vermi Compost units in appropriate
numbers in every village in Govt. allocated land with first preference to
Famers and Farmers Children.

[35]. Govt provide loans for purchase of Farm Machines and Tractors in
Cooperative farming under MUDRA Yojna loans to operate tractor/
equipment in that Village/ Mandal at standard rates fixed by Govt. to further
reduce dependence on labour where labour availability is shortage and also
places where the mechanisation reduces labour fatigue.

[36]. Govt to create Agriculture Labour Board (ALB) in every Mandal for
supply of Labour for Agriculture at Fixed Rate, using the MNREGA etc to
ensure all labour get fixed rate determined by government; ensure labour
availability during agriculture season; Mandatory for all farmer cooperatives
to use agriculture labour provided by the ALB; make payments online to
ALB; fix the dates and time depending up on the type of work and size of
the crop for optimal use of Labour force.

[37]. Mandatory to source from Food Corporation of India (FCI) All

traders, all bulk buyers, all exporters, all Food Processing industries to get
the buffer stock from FCI. Standard norms for clearing buffer stock every
year end once the new crop arrives, especially for buffer stock of grains,
pulses are concerned either by selling the year-old buffer stock to all traders
in India to clear maximum stock rather than allowing traders to take fresh
stock from farmers.

[38]. Fixing Minimum Maximum sale price of Agriculture Raw Produce,

by fixing mark-up price /percentage for every type of products based on
shelf life and transportation and handling charges for each territory / zone;
ensure Minimum Sale Price for any raw agriculture commodity should not
be less than the Cost of Production either in retail or wholesale in India to
protect the interest of farmers; Maximum sale price should be determined
based on each type of product and their shelf life, like in addition to cost of
transportation, storage etc (eg onion’s, potato etc has more or less same
formula, whereas for tomatoes, bananas etc has some other formula) to

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 protect consumers. The Maximum Sale Price should be made applicable for
domestic consumption only and not for Export
[39]. Mandatory that all Organised Markets adhere to this Minimum Sale
Price Fixed by Govt, applicable for all Organised Markets like Whole Sale
Markets, Super Markets and Hyper Markets and Online supply / App based
suppliers selling in that territory even while offering so called discounts,
weekend sales etc to protect the Farmers Cooperatives selling in RWA and
urban habitations.

[40]. Provision for Write Off Wastage of Perishable Farm Products on

actual basis or a maximum of 20% of the total value of the raw perishable
goods such as vegetables, fruits by the organised traders while GOI fixing
Minimum Sale Price and Maximum Sale and where payments were received
through bank transaction by individuals in the organised markets like
exclusive stalls by farmers, super markets etc.

[41]. Mandatory that all bulk users of perishable goods above certain
limit must source from Farmers Cooperatives Only. Bulk users like
Food Processing Industries, Mass Kitchens, Hostels, Mid-day Meals, Hotels,
Restaurants, Caterers, Railways Air lines and even Stevedore should source
from Farmers cooperatives only within Minimum price limit as fixed by the
Govt. with ban on sourcing from traders.

[42]. Govt. establish Fruit Ripening Chambers in All Market Yards where
fruits are sold to completely eliminate artificial ripening and stringent laws
for sale of calcium carbide, and there should be uniform costs for ripening
of same type of products based on the period of ripening etc

[43]. Establishment of Market yards in every 5 Km Radius as per

“Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices 2013” recommendations with
total number 41847 from current Seven thousand Odd.

[44]. Mandatory creation of establishments/ agents to collect the used

Containers and disposables of the fertilisers and pesticides in every
village and ward for safe disposal and it should be mandatory that farmers
should return empty packs and containers.

[45]. Mandatory for Manufacturers of Hazardous Pesticide to provide

Free Safety Apparatus along with the material sale and all farmers
and farm labour should be taught about safe use techniques and ways to

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 identify health disorders in case occurred due to use of poisonous health
hazard causing pesticides and immediate first aid and further care through
AACor and ASHA

[46]. Mandatory Periodic Health Check-up for all Farmers and Farm
Labour - Govt to collect Blood samples and conduct test for those who are
using the hazardous pesticides in the Farm in every crop season.

[47]. Mandatory Contribution to CSR fund by all pesticides and fertiliser

manufacturers by contributing percentage of turnover to create a
consolidated CSR fund for using their products under the CSR activity.

[48]. Declaring Crop Holidays depending up on National consumption, buffer

stock, exports, international production, etc rather than allowing excess
production and then compelling farmers to sell below the production cost,
and during crop holidays Govt. to pay the minimum amount to each farmer
in the Farmers’ Cooperative for survival of the family of the farmers along
with supply of PDS for farmers family irrespective of income group. And the
Crop Holidays should be applied first to the Corporate Farming, then largest
to smallest farm land cooperatives, each region wise on lottery bases to
contain excess production

[49]. Minimum Support Price (MSP) be fixed locally based on the local
input costs so that different MSP for Different regions or MSP be standard
across the country and the difference of input costs in different regions be
compensated by the government to ensure farmers are not at loss and every
farmer get standard profit as per MSP.

[50]. Government take entire Agriculture Produce from Farmers on

notional basis and all traders must pay to government through online
banking to take the agriculture produce from the farmers from the market
yards and Govt to transfer the money obtained from trader to the farmer
cooperative or farmer to ensure guaranteed MSP for the farmers.

[51]. Govt to Create Quality Standards System for Farm Produce and
trained manpower in place for every agriculture produce quality inspection
from sowing to cutting to brining it to market and these quality inspectors’
grade under the watch of farmers cooperatives to ensure they do not act
biased or become corrupt to promote substandard products into the market.
This will enable Traders Bidding Products based on the quality of the product
above MSP so that the farmers who produce better quality will get more

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 Profits above MSP or those with normal quality will get MSP and those with
below normal quality will be warned by the Govt and second time if they fail
to achieve quality production, then they should be put on compulsory crop
holidays.

[52]. Entire Agriculture should be brought under GST to ensure Uniform

taxes and levies across India in all States as far as agriculture produce
is concerned and ban any additional incentives by states. And GOI should
ensure those states which lose revenue on account of lower taxes and levies
be compensated for certain period.

[53]. Mandatory law to ensure every Agriculture Produce is Consumed

in that State First and only when the state production is not catering the
state demand then the nearest distance neighbouring state excess
production can be taken, else from the Central Ware House, to eliminate
anti-dumping in states from other mass production states and zero bill
trade.

[54]. Govt. Establish Agriculture University in almost all Districts across the
Country with Special Research and Development centres pertaining to each
type of Agriculture produce in that region with more focus on developing
low Water Consumption High Yield variety development.

[55]. Separate agriculture budget should cover 10% of GDP - to ensure

Food for all, Sustainability of Agriculture and for Farmers to get their
righteous due and to prevent wastages.

A) This Agriculture Budget is required for creation of Infrastructure for

Agriculture like Storage Godowns, Silos, Cold Storage, Logistics like
Railway Sliding’s, Roads connecting Existing Railway lines and Main
Roads
B) For providing incentives for doing Cooperative farming by Small and
Marginal farmers
C) For creation of systems for Issuing Unique ID for Farmers,
Manufacturers and suppliers of inputs, traders and real time stock
movement of the inputs
D) For training Accredited Agriculture Coordinators (AACor).
E) For establishing Soil testing labs in every village in required numbers
F) For establishing Farm Markets
G) For establishment of Ripening chambers.
H) For establishing MSME Food Processing by Farmers’ Cooperatives

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I) For establishing Vermi compost units and raising fodder for Cows
J) For establishing Veterinary Hospitals and trained manpower in all
Villages
K) For buy back of aged / ailing cows from farmers.
L) For creation of exclusive slaughter houses in every village/ward.
M) For financing for vehicles to carry agriculture goods for markets and
for selling perishable goods in urban areas by Farmers Cooperatives
N) For financing youth to and providing incentives for unemployed taking
farming as profession and MSME food processing
O) For providing Pensions for farmers
P) For providing PDS to small and marginal farmers families and retired
farmers and farmers on crop holidays
Q) For providing monthly income for farmers who were given crop
holiday.
R) For creation of Digital infrastructure for cashless trade in Agriculture
S) For compensating states for few years in the event of GST applicability
and fixing uniform taxes and levies by all states on Agriculture
T) For providing compensation for farmers in case of land acquisition
U) For paying part of Crop insurance for each farmer to cover Natural
calamity
V) For adjusting in Budget, the loss if any occurred due to yearly
clearance of Buffer Stock at Govt Warehouses
W) Funds for taking left over stock in the Market yards to pay to farmers.
X) For establishing waste to wealth units from farm residues and
collecting and safe disposal of farm input containers and recycling.
Y) For creation of Water Management boards for ensuring judicious use
of water for Farming through training in farm techniques.
Z) For R&D in Agriculture

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4. Conclusion

Till date the measures announced and initiated by various government and
political parties (like Farm loan waiver, Income Support etc) are temporary in
nature and does not solve the core problems of the farmers. The above
suggested guidelines and measures covers all the aspects of agriculture and
farmers and ensures sustainability of farming, enhances dignity of farmers,
ensures the farmers get their righteous due, eliminates the need for farm loan
waivers and income support from government (which are otherwise bad
economy and deterrent for sustained development)

Most of these Suggestions are in my vision documents prepared from year 2011,
which were circulated to UPA-2 GOI from 2011 to 2014 and shared with NDA
GOI from 2014 onwards. My Documents are available in Social Media platforms.

Hope all the Political Parties who are exhibiting their concern for farmers’ welfare
will work towards implementing the spirit of these basic requirements for
betterment of farmers and sustenance of farming sector.

***

Pradeep Kumar Kunche

Think Social Engineering, Think Me

kunchepk@gmail.com
www.pradeepkunche.blogspot.in
www.scribd.com/pradeep_kunche
Tweet @pradeepkunche

JAI HIND

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