THE REPORT to the People (2004-07) presented by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on behalf of the United Progressive Alliance on May 22, 2007, contains many dark spot.

There are hardly any worthwhile steps mentioned in the three-year report either for improving the productivity and profitability of small farms, or for generating more income and employment opportunities through improved post-harvest technology.

We are not able to achieve the U.N. Millennium Development Goal in relation to hunger and poverty elimination largely because the majority of consumers are marginal farmers possessing less than one hectare and assetless labour. Their income is not sufficient for balanced nutrition

Inadequate financial allocation is not the primary cause of the present agrarian crisis. For example, the report card refers to an allocation of Rs.16,000 crore for 31 districts affected by farmers' suicides. Considering what is happening in Vidharbha, the epicentre of the farmers' suicides, the agrarian distress alleviation packages are not working.

The year 2007-08 marks the mid-way point in the time frame set for achieving the U.N. Millennium Development Goals. The first among these is reduction of hunger and poverty by half by 2015. Today, hunger and deprivation affect about 260 million people in the country. India is home to 40 per cent of the world's underweight children. Iron deficiency anaemia is estimated to affect 75 per cent of children under the age of five; 57 per cent in the same age group suffer from vitamin A deficiency. Under-nutrition in women of reproductive age contributes significantly to child hunger. Consequently 30 per cent of babies weigh less than 2.5 kg at birth leading to multiple handicaps in later life, including in cognitive ability. No wonder India ranks 126 out of 177 countries in the UNDP Human Development Index.

The twin challenges facing Indian agriculture are: improving the productivity of small farms (less than two hectares), which constitute over 86 per cent of the operational holdings, and the launching of an agro-processing and agri-business revolution.

If we are to make hunger and farmers' suicides history, four urgent steps are needed.

 First, is a change in mindset. The well fed individuals in government bhavans should not view agriculture as a mere food producing machine, but should recognise it as the backbone of the livelihood security system for 70 crore of our population and a basic requisite for national sovereignty.

 Secondly, they should not describe farmers as `beneficiaries' of their often ill-conceived programmes, but as our hosts on this earth. We all live on this planet as guests of the sun and of the farmers who convert sunlight into food through green plants. The scant respect for the farm women and men who toil in sun and rain to keep us alive is seen from the fact that, in spite of the plea of NCF, they do not find a place in the list of Padma awardees.

 Thirdly, we should recognise that small farmers and those engaged in mini-retail business constitute the majority of the self-employed. A livelihood impact statement must be made mandatory before steps that may lead to their marginalisation are introduced in the garb of promoting greater foreign or national investment.

 Finally, the UPA Government should stop appointing committee after committee to examine the same issues. Overcoming paralysis by analysis is the greatest challenge before the UPA Government.