Both the Houses of Parliament adjourned on FDI

FDI in the interests of farmers: Pawar

 

Both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned on the issue of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and other issues on the opening day today of the Winter Session. The Rajya Sabha, which witnessed two adjournments, was finally adjourned for the day as BSP members trooped into the well demanding reservation in promotions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The Lok Sabha was adjourned at 2 PM after witnessing two adjournments earlier. Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj pressed for a discussion on FDI under a rule that entails voting saying that the government has not honoured its assurances. She said a vote on the issue will show that the people of the country are against the move as it affects smaller traders.  Earlier, the Lok Sabha rejected a move by Trinamool Congress to bring a No-Confidence motion against the government on FDI. The motion moved by TMC leader Sudip Bandopadhyaya was disallowed by Speaker Meira Kumar after putting it to vote by the House. The move fell as the party could not muster the requisite support of members in the House.

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday asserted FDI in retail was in the interest of the farmers and the consumers across the country.

The fears that the FDI in multi brand retail would badly affect interests of the small shopkeepers and traders were unfounded, Pawar told reporters after inaugurating the seventh national conference on "Krishi Vigyan Kendras2012" in the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) premises in Ludhiana.
"The FDI in retail is in the interest of the farmers and the consumers across the country," he said.
On the trend of paddy-wheat cycle in Punjab, he said it was not only was affecting fertility of the agricultural land, but was also causing depletion of underground water in the state.
Pawar said discussion had been held with Punjab government on the need to change this cycle and he would also discuss the issue with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
He said the Punjab government should look at bringing more area under the cultivation of oil seeds and pulses.
The Minister said the Centres main focus was to bring a second revolution by encouraging maximum paddy cultivation in Eastern parts of the country, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Chhattisgarh.
Replying to a question, he said the MSP on wheat was likely to be announced within a week.
On the issue of storage of food grains, Pawar said the Centre was working towards increasing storage capacity of food grains by setting up more godowns.
He said higher land prices in Punjab and Maharashtra were becoming obstacles in this regard.
Earlier, during his inaugural speech at the three-day conference, Pawar lauded the role played by PAU and the Punjab farmers for enhancing agriculture production in the country.
He praised the role of Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the country while stating there was need to do more towards upgradation of technology in the agriculture sector.