By: Dr Aasif Ali Naikoo
World survey shows India as one of the top countries in farming and cultivation. India’s 72.2 percent population is residing in rural areas with agriculture as their main occupation. Despite their huge contribution in the economy and prosperity of the nation with Indian agriculture contributing 17-18% to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and providing employment to a huge number of people, farmers continue to suffer the policy neglect. India is the largest producer of rice, wheat, spices, groundnut, sugarcane, fruit, cotton and pulses which are the main assets of economy and despite all these attributes and despite being the main sector that feeds the whole nation farmers are constantly subjected to harassment, unemployment and minimum profit for their crops.
We have seen the unending agitations across the country recently and such circumstances indicate the state of affairs with the farmers who, according to various farmers organizations, are being forced to take to the streets due to some policies that are essentially anti-farmer. From last few decades farmers demand to get maximum profit for their crops has been dealt with severely and their conditions are getting worse due to the unplanned or badly planned policies with regars to this sector. The need of the hour is to help them to get an assured minimum support prices for their produce so that they don’t suffer. Orld survey shows India as one of the top countries in farming and cultivation. India’s 72.2 percent population is residing in rural areas with agriculture as their main occupation. Despite their huge contribution in the economy and prosperity of the nation with Indian agriculture contributing 17-18% to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and providing employment to a huge number of people, farmers continue to suffer the policy neglect. India is the largest producer of rice, wheat, spices, groundnut, sugarcane, fruit, cotton and pulses which are the main assets of economy and despite all these attributes and despite being the main sector that feeds the whole nation farmers are constantly subjected to harassment, unemployment and minimum profit for their crops.
The process can be better monitored with the help of digitalization and technology interventions which are being introduced in nearly all sectors. This will surely uplift their economic status in the country. However, if the attitude of government remains unchanged, rural economy may fall down and a time will come when the whole nation will face food scarcity and unemployment crises. To end the current crises of Indian farmer’s, government should deal with new reform measures to enhance their socio economic conditions shunning arrogance and show maturity and solidarity with farmers of the nation. Union government should come forward and talk with farmers to end this agitation so that farmers resume are relieved of the crisis and the nation does not suffer any food crisis at the end.
We should learn from other developed countries how they deal with farmers. Israel is a country with half of its land being dessert and yet they are able to feed their country due to the use of scientific technology and farmer friendly policies. China has 7 percent of the arable land and with that they feed 22 percent of world’s population. Indian government should keep it in mind that we are agricultural country and farmers are the back bone of our nation. It is not time to test the patience of farmers rather government should provide farmers the modern technology like irrigation facilities, good seeds of standard quality, good fertilizers on required time, Proper storage facilities, Finance availability at reasonable interest rates, best transport facilities and Ultimately proper price that covers the production costs and gives a decent amount into the hands of the farmer.
The writer is Lecturer in Sociology Government, Degree college DamhalHanjipora Kulgam
