The Centre’s Policy prioritizes capital over cultivation, says Kerala Minister

Published: 21 Apr 2025

Author: Precedence Research

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All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) held its conference in Nagapattinam on Tuesday. The conference faced the heat of blame from Kerala Agriculture Minister P. Prasad, stating a ‘deep ethical and political wound’ by the centre, ensnaring a crisis in Indian Agriculture. The conference further discussed the views/opinions and issues regarding policy. Mr. Prasad inaugurated the conference, delivering detailed keynotes on the policy, and M.R.K. Panneerselvam, Minister of Tamil Nadu Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, shared his view at the event. Rajan Kshirsagar, national president of AIKS, moderated the conference. This conference continued to create conflict and controversy with colliding and defending mixed statements. The political war was seen either to guide or mislead citizens to gain votes.

Views and Statements

Mr. Prasad criticized the BJP-led union government and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of betraying and failing to uphold the presence of essence of dharma and choosing corporate growth over farmers. He elaborated on the crisis in India's lacking in agricultural sector and gave a deep ethical and political wound to the farmers to secure economic growth. Additionally, despite approaching three farm laws, the provisional anti-farmer laws continued to threaten small and marginal cultivators and resurfaced new laws challenging their current basic progress.

Mr. Prasad further discussed the concern for women farmers, underscoring a gender gap in farm policy. He says, despite over 75% of rural women being involved and engaged intuitively in agricultural work, and now being prohibited from recognition and accessibility to the key schemes, also not considered for the PM-KISAN scheme because of a lack of land ownership. Mr. Prasad pointed towards the failure of the scheme to deliver said promises, concerning shrinking budget allocations like PMFBY. Further, he shared his disappointment, criticizing the Draft National Policy Framework for Agricultural Marketing for violating farmers' rights and considering the corporate sector; for this, Kerala will soon pass a resolution against it. Accusing the Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, of ignoring farmers, the conference witnessed the realities and honest views of various schemes.

Mr. Panneerselvam said, Tamil Nadu’s budget shows the lost confidence being boosted in farmers to reach the targeted support. Rememorizing Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s humanity in providing land tiles to the landless, which was continued by the government to maintain the legacy. He mentioned the initiative strengthening the agricultural sector, such as mechanization schemes, Crop insurance, Kuruvai package of Rs 160 crore, and procurement incentives. Added, Tamil Nadu is progressively benefiting from farmer-centric and proactive policies. Farmers are prioritized first before confirming the budget. Compared to other states, farmers' suicide cases have decreased in recent years.