New Delhi, Aug 15: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today announced a national farmers commission would soon be set up and called for a "fertiliser revolution" aimed at doubling the income of peasants. Announcing a slew of measures for uplift of farmers, artisans, fishermen and weavers, Vajpayee said during his Independence Day address, "Harit kranti aur shwet kranti ki tarah up khad shrinkala kranti ke jaroorat hai (there is a need for fertiliser revolution on the line of Green Revolution and White Revolution)."
Setting the objective of doubling farmers' income by 2010, Vajpayee said, "a national commission for farmers will be set up soon." Attainment of such a target would also require reduction and elimination of huge foodgrain and fruits wastage, he said.
Citing the success of 'kisan credit cards', Vajpayee said that similar cards would be issued for artisans, weavers and fishermen to provide them credit at 9 per cent in tandem with a focused insurance scheme for them. He said India was today running the biggest food security scheme by providing upto 35 kg grains to poor at the rate of just Rs 2 per kg under the "Antyodaya scheme".
Despite the severe draught last year, there was no starvation death as the Centre rushed in food supplies in sufficient quantity while taking care of livestock, added the Prime Minister. Bureau Report