FACT: The agriculture ministry of the Government of India has asked for NREGA to be suspended during peak farming seasons of sowing, transplantation and harvesting. NREGA has raised the cost of farming, by pushing up labour costs by as much as 40 per cent. This is particularly problematic in states like Punjab and Haryana where farmers depend on migrant labourers from poorer states in peak time.

(Ref: indianexpress.com, July 21 2011)

OWL WATCH: Dear Sirs, reduce petroleum prices, seed prices, fertilizers prices, pesticides prices, agricultural equipment prices. Then also the cost of farming will get reduced by 40% or more. You can reduce your salary so that the burden on common people may be reduced too.