Thank you dear subscribers, we are overwhelmed with your response.
Your Turn is a unique section from ThePrint featuring points of view from its subscribers. If you are a subscriber, have a point of view, please send it to us. If not, do subscribe here: https://theprint.in/subscribe/
Ref: Shekhar Gupta’s column (25th Feb)
Note—With 148 crore population-still likely to increase – needless to say that agricultural reforms and monitoring is required to feed the huge population. Further, as different parameters vary across the country not every suggestion may be equally applicable. Hence, data related to all parameters across the country must be collected and compiled. Maybe one has to give custom-made and tailor-made recommendations. Success with the implementation of reforms in any sector is possible only if there is a constant monitoring and evaluation of the reforms being implemented.
Agricultural/Farm Land diversion towards other purposes should be banned immediately. Similarly with water bodies. If possible, such land and water bodies may be recovered to the possible extent.
Diversion of farm land from staple crops towards commercial crops has to be curtailed to avoid food insufficiency and malnutrition. How much land and for which crops is to be earmarked to satisfy the nutritional requirements? Agriculture and nutrition experts be consulted.
Effective and economical package of practices for cultivation of different crops should be worked out by agriculture experts and recommend and also see that it is correctly implemented by the farmers with the help of agricultural extension workers. Similarly, cropping pattern need to be suggested. On the same land and in the same season different crops may be cultivated. India has 15 agroclimatic zones. Needs of the population has to kept in mind.
With such a huge population do we have really anything in surplus for export? If so, it may be due to lack of purchasing power within the country. Hence, food exports should be analyzed. Adulteration of the inputs for agriculture like fertilizers, pesticides etc must be seriously viewed. Fallowing of lands (keeping the farm lands without cultivating anything) should be disallowed. Distance between the producer/farmer and consumer should be reduced to minimize the final cost for the consumer and for the farmer to get a higher price. Land ceiling act may be rethought in view of the existing state of affairs.
Responsibilities of the state governments and central governments must be clearly stated and demarcated. Avoid /minimize the losses during freight/transport and in the storage facilities. Crop insurance schemes should be thought over in case crop losses occur due to genuine reasons like natural disasters, unexpected losses because of pests and diseases, drought etc. Awareness for collective farming may be created. Farm land acquisition by force for other purposes should be controlled. Forest produce should be maintained. Long back an agitation in some place with the slogan “Land belongs to the tiller”. A distinction should be made between land owners and those who are working on the farms and taking care of it.
Since long, farmers did not want their children to be in farming but come into the main stream of education, government jobs, migrating to foreign countries etc. Many farming families are no more in farming but handed over the farm to some others. Relative dependence / contribution to farm work by manual labor and automation/machines need to be assessed. Agriculture -because of the western advances – has become/is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Cost of cultivation accordingly varies. Thrust/concerning areas to be researched on should be decided by the agriculture experts in due consultation with the state and central governments. Governments also should give direction to agriculture experts towards this endeavor.
Shekhar Gupta has made important points and valuable recommendations to be thought over. I just sincerely acknowledge them with a few words of mine. He said about avoiding/minimizing “water guzzling” crops like paddy and sugar cane and instead growing pulses and oilseeds. Though this suggestion has come from genuine people in the past from different backgrounds, there was only a retaliation by the farmers! Farmers do not want to follow this suggestion. How can we make farmers follow this suggestion? Left to agriculture experts and governments of respective states and central governments.
Another important thing he said which should be pondered is “… trillions of rupees in fertiliser, power and water subsidies. All of these must go, and be replaced by one sizable farming support in cash even if the cost is greater”. In such a situation many may ask whether they should still avail – if so to what extent—other categories of freebies & subsidies(rewar/dis) which are promised by the governments. This needs to be pondered. Yet another point he mentioned about farmers and consumers. As the distance between the farmer and consumer can be long and many are involved in between, it is possible that in many situations neither farmers nor consumers are benefitted. In such situations the government should appropriately decide to help.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.