FICCI AND CII COMPETE TO WIN FARMERS
In a drive to woo the farmer, The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) have launched a separate institution— Indian Farmers and Industry Alliance (IFIA), leaving behind industry major ASSOCHAM in the rat race. Started as a pilot project, CII would render logistics and financial assistance support to ensure the smooth working of IFIA. At the launch ceremony, the CII circulated a document on the studies undertaken on various sectors like edible oil, fertiliser, tractor and food processing. The document contained write-ups on proposed objectives of IFIA with a concern over farmers' poor access to markets. However, Mr Sundeep Waslekar, President, Strategic Foresight Group, a key participant who circulated the document ‘Rethinking India's Future: Prosperity of the Periphery’ reflected on some genuine concerns not only for farmers but also for the economy as well. The document talks about the three existing economies in the country-the business class, the bike and the bullock cart economy. Also a document prepared by FICCI‘Indian Agriculture Unbound: Making Indian Agriculture Globally Competitive’ reflected on the national agriculture policy. A frank analysis of both the CII and FICCI documents highlighted vital issues related to farmers like computerisation of land records, making pattadar passbook and warehouse receipts. But main concerns like legal documents for sourcing credit, streamlining of institutional credit flows at reasonably interest rates, development of wastelands, cultivation of oilbearing trees for producing bio-diesel and setting up of a chain of rural markets as well as extending irrigation facilities and interlinking of rivers seems to have been given a miss.