National desk
23 November
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
A Supreme Court-appointed committee has submitted its interim report on the agrarian crisis, highlighting issues such as stagnant production, rising debt, increasing costs, and inadequate marketing systems. The committee, chaired by former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Nawab Singh, was formed on September 2 to address the demands of farmers protesting at the Shambhu border.
The 11-page report points out that the agrarian crisis, particularly in Punjab and Haryana, began after the initial gains of the Green Revolution and has worsened over the past two decades. The report also notes a steep rise in farmers’ debt. According to NABARD, institutional debt in 2022-23 amounted to ₹73,673 crore in Punjab and ₹76,630 crore in Haryana. Non-institutional debt, which remains a significant burden, constitutes 21.3% of total debt in Punjab and 32% in Haryana, as per the National Sample Survey Organisation.
The report underscores the dire impact on small and marginal farmers and farm laborers. Among its recommendations, the committee has proposed exploring legal recognition for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and offering direct income support to farmers.
The committee, which also includes retired IPS officer BS Sandhu, agriculture experts Davinder Sharma, Professor Ranjit Singh Ghuman, and Dr. Sukhpal Singh from Punjab Agricultural University, has outlined 11 key issues for the Supreme Court’s consideration.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuiyan has taken the report on record and commended the committee for its efforts in addressing the ongoing crisis and pacifying the agitation.