MOHAMMAD NAUSHAD KHAN analyses the very pathetic condition farmers have been facing in the various States of India thanks to the apathy of the powers-that-be as well as fury of nature.
Agriculture is the backbone of our economy and employment but surprisingly farmers are killing themselves. Needless to say, political parties talk too much about farmers concerns during election campaign or while making poll promises but do little to address their plight.
In agriculture, cost of production has gone up while the profit margin has come down. The livelihood no doubt has become a costly affair. The risk factors have got multiplied and nature’s fury further aggravates farmers’ horrendous plight. Soil has become less fertile. Agricultural lands are encroached upon for the sake of development. Fertilizers have been adulterated. Irrigation facility is not that sufficient. Farmers are dying daily because they have incurred loss during floods, drought, heavy rains, etc. The death toll is rising. Who should share the blame and who is accountable? How serious are the authorities? Why farmers’ death not a national tragedy?
India is predominantly an agrarian economy but contribution to the country’s GDP from agriculture has fallen to just over 20 per cent. The agricultural sector is generating about 64 per cent employment. Farm sector accounts for 18 per cent of the country’s exports while around 70 per cent people in India depend on agriculture. The genuine concern of farmers only moves from one file to another and from one government to another, from one commission to another. The complaint and the inquiry orders are piling up simultaneously. Then, after a lot of hue and cry some concession, compensation or agricultural subsidies are announced which too either get lost in the middle or takes month to reach the beneficiaries. The worst part is that sometime compensation given is shockingly too less which further pinches salt to the injuries and makes mockery of their tragedy.
As per available media reports, Shahid of Rudauli in Faizabad received a cheque for Rs 63 as against loss of his crops spread over 3 bighas. Other farmers received equally petty amounts like Rs 84 and Rs 100, to name a few. The amount in comparison to the trauma and loss is not even a drop in the ocean. In UP alone, more than 40 districts have been affected from unseasonal rains or hailstorm. The continuous rise in farmers’ suicides has hit the headlines but the intensity and the alarm bells were not enough to raise the consciousness of our policymakers to address the issue accordingly. The government either at state level or at the Centre is taking the much anticipated usual line like meeting farmers and announcing some package without ensuring any mechanism that it reaches to right person. In Marathwada region at least 226 farmers have taken the extreme step during the last three months. With severe drought and unseasonal rain the loss and damage is beyond recovery point.
Further, according to the National Crime Records Bureau, at least 2,70,940 farmers have killed themselves since 1995, which is an annual average of 14,462 in six years from 1995 to 2000. The yearly farmers’ suicide average of 16,743 in 11 years between 2001 and 2011 is on average 46 farmers’ suicides each day. Maharashtra topped the number of suicides by farmers in 2010. As per other estimates available, most of suicides have been reported from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
A parliamentary panel looking into the Department of Agriculture has revealed that just Rs 10,325.76 crore was allocated for agricultural research during the 11th Plan against a demand of Rs 31,672 crore. But unfortunately, the department could not spend even this amount and utilised only Rs 9,800 crore. During 2014-15, Agriculture Department could not spend Rs 1,260.39 crore of the total allocation of Rs 6,144.39 crore. Growth in agriculture and allied sectors was recorded at 1.1 per cent during 2014-15, down from 3.7 per cent during 2013-14. Agricultural growth at the end of 11th Plan was also only 3.3 per cent as against set target of 4 per cent. Expenditure on Research and Development was only 0.5 per cent of the agriculture GDP.
A survey conducted by CSDS after engaging 5,000 farm households across 18 states reveals that at least 76 per cent farmers preferred to do some other work. Nearly 70 per cent farmers said their crops were destroyed because of unseasonal rains, drought, and floods and due to some other reasons. Some other striking features of the survey included that 70 per cent of farmers never heard about direct cash transfer. Only 19 want subsidies to continue as it is. Only 27 per cent heard about Land Acquisition Law; 83 per cent farmers were unaware of FDI and 47 per cent farmers felt that the condition of farmers in country is very bad. The survey shows that 62 per cent of interviewed farmers were not aware about the minimum support price (MSP) and among those who have heard about MSP, 64 per cent were not satisfied with the price government offers.
With the risk factors increasing and recovery plans insignificant, more and more farmers will continue to kill themselves unless and until the government and the authorities concerned do something meaningfully to address the grievances of farmers immediately.
M S Swaminathan, popularly known as Indian Father of Green Revolution and who is founder and chairman of the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation and has been honoured with dozens of prestigious national and international awards including Padma Shri, Ramon Magsaysay, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan for his contribution to the field of agriculture, while replying to a question, how to cope up with the risk factors, informed Radiance thatIndian agriculture is at the moment facing problems from either excess or deficit of rainfall. Because of its exposure to the vagaries of the weather, farming is an extremely risky profession. For example, heavy rains coupled with hailstorm have caused much damage to the standing wheat crop in the Punjab – Haryana region, causing a loss of over five thousand crore to farm families. Unfortunately we do not have a crop insurance system which can insulate our small farmers from climate risks. The monsoon and the market are still major determinants of the wellbeing of farmers.
Swaminathan also shared with Radiance the steps proposed by the National Commission of Farmers in this regard to strengthen the economic viability of farming. First, credit must be available at an interest rate of four per cent both to men and women farmers. At the moment, women farmers do not get credit including Kisan Credit Cards largely because they do not have title to the land. This sad situation prevails even in the farmer suicide prone areas of Vidarbha. Second, we should improve the post-harvest infrastructure for crop plants as has been done in the case of the dairy sector. Post-harvest storage and value-addition have not received the attention they deserve. Third, we should promote an Indian Single Market, thereby helping to remove all inter-state barriers in the moment of grains and other farm products. Finally, assured and remunerative marketing is the key to stimulating and sustaining higher production. For this purpose, NCF recommended that the minimum support price should be C2 (i.e. total cost of production) plus 50 per cent. Unless, prices are attractive, the younger generation will not remain in farming. NCF recommended an attractive price because most of our farmers have small holdings and have very limited marketable surplus.
“2014-15 has been characterised by unfavourable weather to crops in several parts of North India. December 2014 was warm and experienced above normal temperatures. As a consequence, the growth of the wheat crop was accelerated and in many early sown wheat fields panicles emerged ahead of time. Starting from the first week of March and until now, several spells of severe hailstorm / rain damaged the standing wheat, mustard, keno, mango and several fruit and vegetables. The crop loss is severe and farmers are in distress. Debts are mounting and relief measures are inadequate,” averred Swaminathan.
The Indian father of green revolution suggested some contingency plans and measures to save farmers and farming which includes: As soon as the rain stops, incentives may be given for the use of combine harvesters and for grain drying. Grain drying is a must to prevent the development of mycotoxins. Community nurseries of short duration Satti rice can be raised for transplantation by May 2015. The water table is just now high and hence water may not be a problem. Farmers may be assisted in cultivating short duration rice, maize, mong or millets. They all require less water and public funds may be used for implementing this contingency plan to compensate for the losses incurred. Short duration crops can be harvested before the regular Kharif season 2015.
Along with contingency plans, Swaminathan also stressed on the measures required to be taken that will give some respite and relief immediately. According to him, there is need for a detailed strategy to manage such unfavourable weather events in the future. Seed reserves of alternative short duration crops are as important for crop security, as food grain reserves are important for food security. Hence, Seed Banks to manage climate change are important.
“We are the only nation which by an Act of Parliament has made access to food a basic human right. Right to Food with home grown food is a proud achievement. Unfortunately we are getting to be better known as a country of farmers’ suicides. We should do everything possible to save our country from this ignominy,” he added.
The measures suggested by Swaminathan can go a long way if it is backed by the authorities concerned with an open mind. Remember, Swaminathan had earlier opined that Islamic banking and finance system can be solution to the farmer suicide crisis in Vidarbha. Along with all other options the issue of interest-free finance or loan to farmers should also be explored and experimented without any predefined prejudices attached to it. The government should step out from its predefined periphery to rescue farmer who are on the verge of killing themselves sooner or later.