Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association today gave a call to all participating countries for supportive policy framework for sustained agriculture growth and impressed for collective efforts to implement comprehensive policies in support of farmers.
Speaking on the role of parliamentary agricultural committees (PAC’s) in Asia region, Mr Tony Worthington of University of Greenwich (UK) said that for Asian countries, agriculture could act as a catalyst of growth and poverty reduction. Opposing the policy statement of G-20 focussing on capacity strengthening of institutions, Mr Worthington said that unless and until we do not work on grass-root individual extension work no permanent solution for growth was possible.
Describing agriculture as engine of growth for Commonwealth countries he said that agriculture was the most labour intensive profession for Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Malaysia and it was imperative to focus on this sector to tackle the growing pangs of unemployment. He said that half the labour force of Bangladesh, Pakistan, and over 60 % population of india was engaged in agriculture sector and Commonwealth countries have to focus on increasing agricultural productivity to keep pace with increasing population growth in this sub-continent.
Underlining the need for diversifying agriculture sector, Mr Worthington emphasised the need for effective diversification for keeping population engaged in agriculture sector. Giving a call for focussing on policy framework, Mr Worthington said that the committee should seek expert advice in drafting the legislation to tackle the core issues at the grass-root level. He called upon policy makers to focus on effective seed policies, supply and distribution of fertilisers, improvement in staple food market, building small farmer’s resilience to climate change and for working out innovative financial initiative keeping in view unsupportive commercial banks.
Dr Charanjit Singh Atwal, speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, welcoming the initiative of committee on agriculture sector said that organisation of CPA’s Workshop on Agriculture in the food bowl of india emphasises on importance being given to agriculture sector by CPA. He said that Commonwealth countries can learn a lot from Punjab Agricultural University and farmers of Punjab that heralded the green revolution making a country of 125 crore self sustaining on food security front.
