Expressing concern over sluggish growth in agricultural production in India, members in Rajya Sabha launched a scathing attack on the government on Monday, saying its farm policies were benefitting only the multinational companies and corporates.

Calling for a ban on corporates from entering the retail market in farm sector, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh said the special economic zones were turning out to be 'special exploitation zones'.

He sought immediate implementation of the recommendations of Swaminathan Committee and said farmers should be given maximum support prices instead of the government going in for imports. Singh was the first participant in the discussion on the functioning of agriculture ministry in the Upper House.

He charged that MNCs were the ones who were hoarding foodstock while government was targeting petty wholesalers through raids. The SP member accused certain prominent retail houses like Cargill, Reliance [Get Quote] Retail, Adani and others of being responsible for hoarding.

Shanta Kumar (BJP) said a 'revolutionary thought process' was required to prevent suicides by farmers.

Blaming the growing disparity between foodgrain production and population growth for an 'agrarian crisis' in the country, Kumar said, "the prime minister should call chief ministers of the states and create a national consensus on controlling population".