Contemptuous leadership

Prof. M. K. Bhat
In the past few weeks the political environment of the country got heated due to land acquisition bill. Party after party tried to show their solidarity with the farmers of the country and the center of attraction turned out to be Delhi because here one can get maximum mileage out of this sycophantic drama. First it was congress which got trucks full of farmers from Haryana to greet its vice president after his sabbatical and to listen  his love for farmers. This was followed by other parties and on the fateful  Wednesday, it was  Aam Adami Party at Jantar Mantar ( just 10 kilometers away from the parliament) When Gajender Singh finally tried to  awake leaders about the plight of farmers in the country.The expression of farmers frustration got the life of Gajender Singh and  the insensitivity of the so called sympathizers of farmers got exposed when the leaders of Aam Adami party  did not even stop their rally despite  a farmer hanging  in front of their eyes. Kumar Vishwas did not stop his poetry nor Arvind Kejriwal (Aam Adami) came down from the stage to divert the attention of Gajender Singh from committing suicide. The rally continued for more than one hour after the suicide.The climax of drama was seen when those who bothered little to rescue him went to  hospital to see  him. (crocodile tears is a fashion with the political class of this country)The deeds of other political outfits towards farmers is almost alike. It seems that our political class has made farmers an election material because they have vote.  once elections are over, the assurances given to them  are kept aside till the next elections.
Gajender’s suicide is not an isolated case or outcome of the recent untimely rains but it expresses the antipathy of successive governments towards the problems of farmers. If today, it was gajender Singh from Rajasthan in Delhi; yesterday there was someone else by different name in Maharashtra or Bundelkhand of U.P.  Farmers suicide has become a regular feature from last  few years but who bothers except conducting the ritual of  granting exgratia  out of public funds (The politicians feel their duty is over by declaring exgratia) , an aerial survey to assess the loss, scoring political points and delivering sympathies for the affected families. It is the family of the deceased only which knows the loss of a family member others just use words with an eye on their votebank and no solution is thought seriously to de stress the farm sector. It is an irony that despite so much change over the years in various sectors of economy, the poor agriculturist still has to depend on the whims and fancies of weather for his living. The point to note here is that stock exchanges involve just two to three percent of the total population but makes daily news while as farmers comprise nearly 60 percent of the total population but get least priority.
As per National Crime Records Bureau of India 13,754 farmer suicides took place in 2012.  The highest number of farmer suicides were recorded in 2004, when 18,241 farmers committed suicide. Between 1995 and 2013, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) says that 296,438 farmers killed themselves in India. That is around 16,500 casualties every year, or 45 people killing themselves each day on our farms. Farmer suicides account for 11.2% of all suicides in India. This shocking number is actually an underestimation as NCRB only records data from police records, and  various  suicides are not  reported to the police.Is it not enough to convey the intensity of the problem to the leaders?
There are innumerable reasons for farmers suicides  and the prominent one is  the averse attitude of the weather god.This makes them to get loans from private money lenders at an exorbitant rate of interest at times it ranges from 36 to 50 % . It is no doubt that the present  central government has come out with certain speedy measures this time, mention can be made of compensation for loss, direction to the insurance companies to process claims with in 45 days. Besides the compensation has been increased and will be provided to farmers who lost one third of their crop. The center may come out with different policies but it is the state where distribution takes place.The corruption in the distribution system makes the farming community to reap less and in UP even dead were being compensated. It may be pointed here that all these measures are just short term measures, the permanent solution lies in removing the stress on farm sector which can be best done by encouraging agrobased industries,food processing units, poultry,animal husbandry,floriculture,aquaculture and horticulture besides village crafts  need to be promoted. Just 8 percent food processing takes place in India while as it is over 90 percent in developed countries .
The problem is not with  untimely rain, or the metrological departments prediction of low rainfall during monsoon but with the lack of governments  proper planning  to meet such eventualities . The farmer is less aware about scientific methods of cultivation . He is facing declining soil health, low water level, toxic effect  besides  his family  has nothing else to do .All these things have lead to a decline in agriculture profitability . The small size of holdings is quite often held responsible for low scientific application at the farm level . Small holders with less than two hectares account for 85.9 percent however cooperative farming could have been inculcated in the small holdings.
The low level of profitability in this sector gets exposed by the fact that 60 percent of the total population involved in this sector contributes just 14 percent of the national income while as just 15 percent of population involved in service sector contribute more than 55 percent of the national income. It looks strange to neglect agriculture sector in a country where 70 percent of the population needs food security.
Prime Minister rightly pointed out in the parliament that  farmers  problem needs collective resolve. The availability of  improved seeds,irrigation , crop insurance, crop rotation storage, marketing and credit facilities or educating farmers need to be taken  seriously. Due to lack of proper storage and  ware house facility post harvest loss is nearly 30 to 60 percent and 15 to 30 percent is wastage in fruits.The middlemen are enthralling at the cost of farmers by charging an exorbitant commission .  The commission of agents ,wholesellers or retailers share in fruits and vegetables ranges between 30 to 50 percent. There is a need of connecting rivers for irrigation purpose, increasing water table by harvesting water etc .
Indian Farmer does not require alms, but he requires a solution to his problems and  unless concerted efforts are taken into consideration farmers plight will continue to deteriorate day by day.Instead of putting high claims in favour of farmers in the parliament, it is time to do things at the ground level or the country may have to face the consequences of wrong decisions of leaders.
(The author is Deputy Director (MAIMS) Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University Delhi)

Follow our WhatsApp channel