Pain is green

 

 

A few days ago, there were two major news in the national dailies. The launch of a satellite and suicides of farmers in Vidarbha. On one hand it was technological achievement and on the other, deaths due to failure to pay off loans. Post-Independence, agriculture should have got the status of industry, but, even today grinding under sheer poverty, the farmers are falling like nine pins following starvation because of inability to pay off loans. If steps are taken to economically sustain the farmers, and fill their empty stomachs, this particular section could emerge as one of the biggest consumers in the country.

But if a marginal farmer marries his daughter or repairs his dilapidated hovel, his budget goes back by almost 10 years. In 2005, agriculture share in gross domestic product was 18.6 and 60% of the population was directly or indirectly its beneficiary. The growth rate of agriculture was stagnant at 2.3% during 2005-06 against the target of 4%.

The biggest reason for the low productivity in agriculture is its total dependence on monsoon. As per statistics, in 2001, 53% agricultural land was irrigated. Other causes are non-implementation of land reforms, hike in prices of fertilisers, seeds, diesel, pesticides, failure to adopt latest technology, illiteracy and backwardness, non-profitable prices of agriculture products and marginal holdings.

Figures show that only 43% of agricultural land belongs to marginal farmers and average holdings are 20,000 metres. Realising these hindrances, the Centre formulated first ever agriculture policy in 2000 (much after the Green Revolution in the 70s). In this particular policy, the growth rate was 4% per annum. However, owing to bad monsoon and drought, it could not be achieved. Therefore, to make agriculture healthy, the UPA government set up a Farmers’ Commission chaired by M.S. Swaminathan. Says Swaminathan, “If half of the recommendations are implemented, food security of the country will be stabilised. There will be new employment opportunities, and migration from rural to urban areas will be stopped.”

However, on the other hand, CPI National Secretary Atul Kumar Anjaan, a member of the Commission, said, “The government thinks the draft of our farmers’ policy is more farmer-centric and our Prime Minister or Finance Minster hardly ever pay any attention.”

Agriculture is the most primitive sector in India and over 60% population is dependent on this sector. While fixing the minimum support price, the government should consider labour cost as an important input and 50% of its value should be included in the minimum support price. Following this, the farmers will get better remuneration and better price of their products.