AGRI-VENKAIAH 2 L(BES38)

(REOPENS BES33) (REOPENS BES33) Venkaiah said the media, which lays stress on breakingnews, cinema and political activities, should give equalimportance to developments in the agricultural sector. He suggested that the Centre and the states shouldcome out with a comprehensive policy on how to makeagriculture a viable activity. States should work on farmer-centric initiatives toincrease farm income from agriculture, the minister said. Expressing apprehension that agriculture will soonbecome extinct as farmers are averse to undertake farming dueto losses, the minister said, adding that the governmentshould make it viable for the farmers by providing basicinfrastructure facilities. "Though the Swaminathan Committee had suggested somerecommendations on how to make agriculture viable, only a fewrecommendations have been implemented so far. "Instead of providing free power supply to farmers,the governments should concentrate on providing quality anduninterrupted power supply to the agriculture sector first,"Naidu said. He also underlined the need for providing ruralinfrastructure facilities like road linkage, transportationetc. to ensure better market price for farm produce. "It is imperative to introduce e-markets to facilitatefarmers to buy and sell their produce and in this regard theCentre has proposed to network all the market yards," theminister said. PTI VVK NSK SMNPTP