Consult genuine farmers bodies in budget preparation

Various forums of farmer's in Tamil Nadu today demanded that due consideration be given to farming sector while preparing the Union Budget.

A resolution adopted unanimously at a meeting of the forums said the Union Finance Minister and the state Chief Minister be pressurised to hold discussions with farming community to collate the real grass root level information and grievances before the preparation of the budget.

The meeting was attended among others by Indian National Farmer's Association, Bharatiya Krishak Samaj, Horticultural Crop Producers Association, Farmer's Forum of India, United Farmer Association, Anti Coca-Cola Struggle Committee.

The resolutions said certain "self-styled national level leaders" of the farming community were only invited by the Finance Ministry and therefore authentic information was not made available to them.

It pointed out the multi-terrain country like ours was following various crop patterns and food habits and therefore the respective state goverments should convene regional level meetings with farmers and outcome of the deliberations should be incorporated in the budget presentation.