National Commission on Farmers


The National Commission on Farmers is an Indian commission constituted on 18 November 2004 under the chairmanship of Professor M.S. Swaminathan to address the nationwide calamity of farmers suicides in India. The Terms of Reference reflected the priorities listed in the Common Minimum Programme. The NCF submitted four reports in December 2004, August 2005, December 2005 and April 2006 respectively. The fifth and final report was submitted on 4 October 2006. The reports contain suggestions to achieve the goal of "faster and more inclusive growth" as envisaged in the Approach to 11th Five Year Plan and are collectively termed the M.S.Swaminathan report for farmers.

Composition

The composition of the reconstituted National Commission on Farmers is as under
  1. Work out a comprehensive medium-term strategy for food and nutrition security
  2. Propose methods of enhancing the productivity, profitability, stability and sustainability of the major farming systems
  3. Bring about synergy between technology and public policy
  4. Suggest measures to attract and retain educated youth in farming
  5. Suggest policy reforms designed to enhance investment in agriresearch, increase flow of rural credit to farmers
  6. Formulate special programmes for dryland farming
  7. Suggest measures for enhancing the quality and cost competitiveness of farm commodities
  8. Recommend measures for the credit, knowledge, skill, technological and marketing empowerment of women
  9. Suggest methods of empowering members of elected local bodies to discharge effectively their role in conserving and improving the ecological foundations for sustainable agriculture