How many more farmers should commit suicide for govt to wake up?

                                                         Gee Yezdi

There is no single reason for all these suicides. Drought and access to credit and debt traps are causes of the menace. The government should evolve region-specific policies to address these issues

Farmers suicides in India have ceased to make headlines. Barring a few efforts by individuals and civil society, there has not been any serious initiative to find a permanent solution to the problem from the Centre and state government’s side. According to Maharashtra government’s figures, in this year, the suicide count in during January-June period was 1,300 cases.  This means in six months, the farmer suicide toll has already touched 66 per cent of the 1,981 cases recorded in the entire year of 2014.

When the Narendra Modi government took over, there was great hope. At least in some corners, this hope is fading. While he has announced many schemes such as Digital India, Skill India and Make in India, no targeted scheme was initiated with an aim to improve the condition of the farm sector.

Farmers suicide is only a manifestation of a deeper crisis in agriculture. However, I don’t agree with the general refrain of Modi baitors that first fight poverty, then Digital India. They should remember that this is also an anti-poverty initiative and all these efforts should go hand in hand.

But no one can deny that the focus agriculture sector should get is not getting from the current dispensation. The earlier dispensation was no better, though Rahul Gandhi has been beating his breast ever since Congress-led UPA was ousted from power.

There is no single reason for all these suicides. Drought and access to credit and debt traps are causes of the menace. The government should evolve region-specific policies to address these issues. Institutional finances are not adequately available and minimum support price fixed by the government do not reach the poorest farmer.

So the problems are plenty. Many farmers who undertake cultivation are not real owners of the land. But now we have to look at solutions.

Sometime ago, there was a programme on a successful Kerala farmer who in his plot of 0.35 acres used to about Rs 35,000-40,000 a month and support a family of four. In his miniscule plot, he had everything, he has cattle, goats, poultry, rabbits, vegetables and other plants. He used to sell bananas, coconuts and so on.

Although a farmer in Vidarbha, the epicentre of suicides, and a farmer in Kerala live in separate climatic zones, the idea can be replicated. The farmers in these trouble zones should be encouraged to cultivate multi crops such as coconut, turmeric, pineapple, and banana, papaya. Other options like poultry could be tried and the government support. This works in both ways it will not make a farmer fully dependent on one particular crop and also he has an alternative source of income.

The government has tried special economic zones for industrial development. Similarly, it should promote special agricultural zones, where only farming and agriculture related activity should be allowed.

Technology should be taken to farm fields. The prime minister has spoken about it but so far there has not been any concerted effort to achieve this. Besides, we should have a mechanism on the lines of the national disaster management body for agriculture. There should be a relook at the water management efforts. Also, using technology market connectivity for farmers can be established cost-effectively and transparently.

Ultimately, we have to take whatever it takes to help farmers because it is not only in their interest but in nation’s interest.