Agri reforms important; repeal of 3 farm laws a setback for doubling farmers' income: Niti member Ramesh Chand

Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand on Sunday said the repeal of three farm laws has come as a 'setback' to higher price realisation by cultivators

Stressing that reforms are necessary for the agriculture sector, Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand on Sunday said the repeal of three farm laws has come as a 'setback' to higher price realisation by cultivators and could be a factor in achieving the goal of doubling farmers' income by 2022.

He also suggested starting fresh consultations with the States for resuming the agriculture reform process, adding some people have already approached Niti Aayog with a call for effecting the reforms.

"You see, reforms are important for the agriculture sector. Some farmers were opposing it (three farm laws)...I think immediately what needs to be done is restarting fresh consultations with the States," the Niti Aayog member, who oversees farm policies at the government think tank, told PTI in an interview.

"Already people are approaching us that reforms are needed. But in what way, in what form, in what shape, that I think we need to wait for some time," he added.

Mr. Chand was replying to a question on whether the stalled reforms for India's farm economy will get another push after BJP's victory in four States — Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur — in the recently held assembly elections.

Asked if it was possible to double farmers' income by 2022 without implementation of the three agriculture laws, he said reforms were needed to enable cultivators to get better prices, so if reforms do not happen, that is a setback for higher price realisation by the farmers.

"So upto that extent there will be a setback to that goal (doubling farmers' income by 2022)," he opined.