AIKS Criticizes Government's Digital Agriculture Mission

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has strongly criticized the Indian government's recently sanctioned Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM), claiming it promotes corporatization in the agricultural sector. AIKS demands increased public investment, guaranteed minimum support prices, debt waivers for farmers, and the removal of GST on agricultural inputs to support the farming community.

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) on Thursday lambasted the government's newly approved Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM), asserting that it will lead to the corporatization of the agriculture sector.

In a strongly worded statement, AIKS, affiliated with the CPI(M), urged the Union government to ramp up public investment in agriculture.

According to AIKS, the BJP-led Union Government's Cabinet decision on September 2, 2024, to initiate seven new schemes with a priority to the DAM, with a cumulative outlay of nearly Rs 14,000 crore for the agriculture and allied sectors, is a calculated move towards corporatization.

The organization criticized the project touted to boost farm incomes at a time when the promise of doubling farmers' income seems hollow. They called for increased public investment on a war footing, guaranteed minimum support price (MSP) at C2 plus 50 percent, and the removal of GST on all agricultural inputs.

A further demand was made for debt waivers for farmers and cooperatives supported by public sector entities and government departments.

The statement pointed out that the agrarian policies under the Modi regime are influenced by extreme free-market ideologies. The controversial Land Acquisition Ordinance and the draconian Farm Laws highlight the pro-corporate and anti-farmer stance, which faced fierce resistance from the peasantry, forcing the Modi government to retract both policies.

(With inputs from agencies.)