'Agriculturist' FB group seeks representation in poll manifesto

'Agriculturist', a Facebook group of farmers and farming enthusiasts has put forth a few demands to political parties to include their aspirations in their respective election manifesto.

The Facebook group, 'Agriculturist', created in 2011, has more than 2.50 lakh members across the world. The group was formed to exchange views and technology, share information among farmers and also attract youth to the farming sector.

In the backdrop of the upcoming Assembly elections, the social media group of farmers want the political parties to include the aspirations and expectations of farmers in their manifesto.

In the list of 16 demands are incentives for educated youth who are willing to take up farming, construction of warehouses in each taluk to store agriculture produce and pension for farm labourers.

The list of expectations has been sent to political parties to be included in their respective manifesto. The demands were finalised after inviting suggestions from members, group administrators Mahesh Pucchapady and Ramesh Delampady said.

The expectations from the political parties are round-the-clock power supply for irrigation pump sets, not free of cost but at a nominal rate. Fixing rates for all farm commodities in advance during the sowing season itself. The government should take up the responsibility of purchasing farm produce by estimating the demand in advance and promoting mechanisation in farming.

According to the list of expectations, the government should provide suitable marketing facilities for the sale of farm commodities and bring all farm-related documents under one platform as a single document. It has also urged the political parties to announce incentives and technical guidance for youths who want to take up farming afresh.

It has also urged the political parties to announce incentives for value addition to the farm commodities at the village level. It said science graduates should be appointed as resource persons in each village to guide farmers and water harvesting should be made mandatory along with promotion of dairy farming and dairy products. Recharge of borewells should be made mandatory in villages.