The noted agriculture scientist Dr. Swaminathan is also a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha.

'The women farmers do not enjoy the same right as their husbands. The land records are in the name of male members of the family. Therefore, the women farmers do not have access to credit and insurance facilities. I have decided to table a Private Member Bill on Women Farmers' Entitlement in the Rajya Sabha by the first week of December this year,' said Dr. Swaminathan while delivering his presidential address at the National Conference on Youth and Agriculture organised by IFFCO Foundation in Delhi on Thursday.

He said that government should have a policy to encourage and retain youth in agriculture and rural development. 'India has a population of 120 crore people out of which 60 crore belong to young generation. We need to derive demographic dividend taking advantage of our large youth population. In a special chapter in the report of the National Commission on Farmers we had outlined measures for attracting and retaining youth in agriculture and making agriculture a profitable enterprise,' said Dr. Swaminathan.

Dr. Swaminathan said that farm economy and farm ecology was scaling down and therefore, there was a need to reverse the trend. The factor productivity has declined and land holdings have become small in size. Therefore, farmers family can't depend only on agriculture. It has to depend on both farm and non-farm incomes.

He criticised the government's fertilisers policy. 'Farmers are unable to purchase fertiliser because of its rising cost. Before introducing the nutrient based fertiliser policy the government should have made issuance of farm health card mandatory showing soil health and water availability of the farm so that the farmer will be cautious in the use of fertilisers,' he said.

He urged for fixing of realistic prices of crops by the government so that the farmer gets better return for his livelihood apart from meeting his farm expenses. He suggested that Agri Business Clinic scheme of the government should be modified to involve more rural youth and farmers to become entrepreneurs both at the times of pre-harvest and post-harvest. Adequate subsidy and loan should be provided to these entrepreneurs.

Dr. Swaminathan also suggested that agriculture curriculum should be restructured in such a way that every researcher become an entrepreneur.

On rising prices, he said food items like milk, pulses, eggs, poultry meat was the main cause of food price inflation. 'This is due to the rising cost of feed. Most of the feed are exported and hence there is a scarcity,' he said and added that the 12th Five Year Plan should have a chapter on National Mission against Inflation.

He suggested setting up of agriculture transformation centres to give one stop services to farmers.

The former Union Minister for Chemical and Fertiliser and Environment and Forests Suresh P. Prabhu suggested that future agriculture policy should be tailored keeping in view the availability of water resources.

The Additional Secretary in the Union Agriculture Ministry Dr. Venkatachalam suggested creation of farmer's institutions at local levels. He also suggested setting up of custom hiring centres at block levels run by rural youths for which subsidy and loans should be extended. The Deputy Director General (Extension) ICAR, Dr. K.D. Kokate, suggested integrated farming system for entrepreneurship.

The recommendations of the Conference will be submitted to the Union Agriculture Ministry and the Planning Commission for necessary implementation said the Managing Trustee of the IFFCO Foundation JNL Srivastava.