Standing Committee of Parliament on Agriculture

• The Standing Committee of Parliament on Agriculture, chaired by Charanjit Singh Channi, has proposed major reforms to enhance the welfare of farm workers in India. The recommendations focus on renaming a key ministry, wage reforms, budget allocation, MSP for organic crops, and crop insurance.

Key Recommendations:

• Renaming the Agriculture Ministry: Proposes changing the name of ‘Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare’ to ‘Department of Agriculture, Farmers and Farm Labourers Welfare’ to recognize the role of farm labourers.
• National Commission for Farm Labourers: Recommends setting up a ‘National Commission for Minimum Living Wages for Farm Labourers’ to address wage disparities and improve their living standards.

Declining Budgetary Allocations

• Highlights a drop in the agriculture budget from 53% (2021-22) to 2.51% (2025-26) of the total central outlay.
• Urges increased funding to support agricultural sustainability and farmers’ welfare.

Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Organic Crops

• Calls for a dedicated MSP for organic crops, ensuring higher prices than conventional crops to encourage organic farming.
• Advocates legal backing for MSP, following the Swaminathan formula.
• Free Crop Insurance for Small Farmers: Proposes a free and compulsory crop insurance scheme for small farmers (up to 2 hectares), similar to Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, to protect against crop losses and financial distress.