Farmers want separate budget from 2005

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">NEW DELHI: More than forty farmers'' associations from across the country, in a joint declaration, have demanded a separate agriculture budget starting financial year 2005-06.<br /><br />They have asked the Centre to include agriculture in the concurrent list, which is now a State subject. Hundreds of farm leaders, influencing over 50 million agriculturists, met in New Delhi to chart out a roadmap to liberate farm sector from the clutches of the government.The farmers'' conclave have participation from federation of farmers'' association in AP, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat, UP, Tamil Nadu besides associations representing <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">amla</span>, apple, banana, grapes, guava growers.<br /><br />They have also made a plea to integrate all agriculture-related issues dealt by commerce & industry, food processing and water resources under the umbrella of agriculture ministry. They have also asked the government to disinvest in public sector (especially oil and telecom) and reinvest in irrigation.<br /><br />The farm leaders have met finance minister P Chidambaram and appraised concerns from farm community.<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal">"We have demanded for a separate agriculture budget since 65 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. We can make the sector self-sufficient. It should be given the same importance as Railway or Union Budget," said P Chengal Reddy, who heads the Indian Farmers & Industry Alliance. "The state governments have no money to spend on agriculture. It''s time for the Centre to intervene and bring agriculture under concurrent list."<br /><br />Farm leaders representing associations from various states said they have no political affiliation and that their aim is to make participation of "real farmers" in the decision-making process of policy-related agricultural issues.<br /><br />The government''s talk in last six months has not convinced farm leaders. While they appreciate government voicing concern over agriculture, nothing much has changed. Many complain that nothing has been done about doubling farm credit. Also, the promise that farmers will get cheap loans has no come into effect till date.</div> </div>