Raj agri minister assures farmers of taking up their issues

Over two dozen farmers' bodies today raised various issues, including implementation of the M S Swaminathan Commission recommendations, with Rajasthan agriculture minister Prabhulal Saini, who assured them of taking up their cause with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.
The outfits, represented by 'Kisan Mahapanchayat', held a meeting with the minister and officials and also raised issues like implementation of the Farmers Commission-2004 report from August 15, 2007, and pressed for passage of the Farmers' Security Act.
Taking note of the issues and suggestions of the farmers, Saini said, "We will put the issues with the Chief Minister for further perusal."
The minister said the state government was continuously making efforts to help farmers and agriculture.

Soil health card, water management, credit and crop insurance, processing and marketing of produce are some of the steps taken by the state government to strengthen agriculture, he said.
Meanwhile, the farmers' bodies held onto their demands and said they will hold a meeting on August 13 to decide the future course of their action.
"We want the government to fix 1.5 times value of every crop produce of the farmer, year-long purchase of crop produce at village level and a permanent mechanism for crop purchase.
"We will also take up the issues with the chief minister and will be holding a next meeting on August 13," said Rampal Jat, national president of the Kisan Mahapanchayat.