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BJP salutes farmers for 5.3 pc agricultural growth

BJP lauds govt's swadeshi philosophy

The relative Wholesale Price Index for agricultural produce moved up by more than ten points in favour of farmers during 1998-99 compared to prices of agricultural inputs. The index was hardly four points during the preceding six years of the Congress and the United Front rule, the resolution noted.

''The party salutes farmers whose untiring efforts made it possible to achieve 5.3 per cent growth in agriculture in 1998-99 as against a decline by one per cent during the previous year. Foodgrain production crossed a record 200 million tonnes in 1998-99,'' the executive observed.

The executive also complimented the government for successfully bringing back prices under control with inflation rate in terms of WPI falling to about five per cent from more than nine per cent a couple of months ago mainly due to government's measures to control prices of primary articles, especially, vegetables and fruits.

''It is equally commendable that a number of strikes and lockouts decreased to half -- which indicates not only improved industrial relations but also, faith of both employees and employers on the BJP-led government,'' the resolution said.

Man-days lost due to strikes and lockouts came down from 17 million during April-September 1997 to 7.9 million during the corresponding period last year.

''With these achievements, the government should be in a position to tackle the remaining economic problems such as slowdown in industrial growth, widening trade deficit and fiscal deficit -- more so with the corrective steps taken to address these issues in the Budget,'' the resolution said.

The second Budget of the BJP-led government is not only an attempt to address the short-term economic problems without losing focus on long-term development, but also an effort to give new direction by empowering people, especially the weaker sections, and strengthening gram sabhas, the resolution emphasised.

The National Executive Committee welcomed the continued emphasis on agriculture and integrated rural development.

Measures such as 34.5 per cent rise in agricultural outlay, proposed Watershed Development Fund to cover 100 priority districts within three years, the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme to expedite the ongoing irrigation projects, 20 per cent increase in institutional credit to agriculture, rise in rural infrastructure from Rs 30 billion to Rs 35 billion and target to cover two million farmers under the kisan credit cards scheme within a year are bound to further strengthen the agricultural sector in the coming years.

Apart from attempting to increase agricultural output and productivity, the government has for the first time initiated measures for upgradation of farm technology. Every year, vegetables and fruits worth more than Rs 230 billion get destroyed due to lack of cold storage facilities, depriving farmers their just price and consumers paying almost double the normal rate.

The proposal to provide credit for setting up additional cold storage capacity of 1.2 million tonnes and modernising the existing ones will minimise wastage of perishable agricultural produce.

This along with measures such as setting up of micro enterprises to cover 50,000 self-help groups, targeting 100 rural clusters every year to promote rural industrialisation, and easy credit facilities to agro- and food processing industries on priority basis will encourage flow of capital towards villages.

These will also create demand with better prices for agricultural produce and generate employment in rural sector, facilitating a decisive forward step towards realising Gandhiji's dream of gram swaraj, the resolution said.

BJP commends govt's humanistic approach to economy building

UNI

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