Procedural burden behind farmer distress, says Digvijaya Singh; pushes ‘ease of doing farming’
Bhopal, May 5 (IANS) Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday linked the ongoing challenges faced by farmers to deep-rooted procedural bottlenecks, urging the state government to adopt an “Ease of Doing farming” framework to simplify agricultural operations.
In a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, veteran Congress leader Singh emphasised that administrative complexities are a major contributor to agrarian distress.
“Farmers are not only battling natural and market uncertainties, but also a system that is riddled with delays and unnecessary procedures. Simplifying these processes is the need of the hour,” he said in the letter.
Drawing a comparison with the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ initiative, Digvijaya Singh said that while industries have benefited from streamlined systems, agriculture continues to suffer due to outdated and fragmented processes.
He stressed that without similar reforms in farming, policy benefits would fail to reach the grassroots level effectively.
Highlighting the ground realities, Digvijaya Singh noted that farmers continue to face hurdles in accessing basic services such as timely availability of seeds, replacement of faulty transformers for irrigation, smooth sale of crops in markets, and access to institutional credit.
The former Chief Minister said that these challenges increase costs, delay operations, and create uncertainty for farmers.
He also raised concerns over welfare mechanisms, particularly the crop insurance scheme, calling its claim process overly complicated and time-consuming.
Additionally, Digvijaya Singh pointed to the lack of transparency in fertiliser distribution, which often leads to shortages during crucial agricultural seasons.
“An ‘Ease of Doing Farming’ system can bring much-needed transparency, accountability, and efficiency in agricultural governance. It will ensure that farmers spend more time in their fields rather than navigating paperwork,” he said.
The Congress leader also recommended a comprehensive review of all agriculture-related departments and called for greater involvement of farmer representatives and agricultural experts in policymaking.
He stressed that reforms should focus on simplifying procedures, ensuring time-bound service delivery, and leveraging technology to reduce human intervention.
Urging swift action, Digvijaya Singh appealed to the state government to implement the proposed framework at the earliest, saying that easing procedural burdens is essential for improving farmers’ income, confidence, and overall sustainability of the agricultural sector in Madhya Pradesh.
–IANS
pd/khz
