Its time to help our farmers

what my suggestion is ,,we have to thank for all the farmers.They only providing to feed us.But inflation is they are only one the owner of our country...but now they are..so,the government should  to come front to help them with proud and want to break the vicious cycle of the farmers..

Thanks for this referral and i would like to draw the attention towards the insight of farmers and agriculture. I have seen 4 decades of my village a change in the system of agriculture. The present condition of present farmers is very pathetic and they are forced to leave their feilds in search of livelihood.This is all because
(1) The agriculture labour charges, fertilizer, machinery for ploughing to harvesting increased.
(2) The price they are getting is very meager about 30% of market price and brokers of the market looting the money.I have seen Ladies finger left on the field since they are not getting the labour charges for plucking and transportation charges to market. But in market we have to buy the same for Rs 25 to Rs 30 per kg but farmer getting Rs5 to 6 per kg.So how they will survive."Middle brokers can be avoided." 
(3) Mostly farmers are rain dependent and this year rains are not there and all the paddy fields are dried and you will see the tears in their eyes. Every one cannot afford to go for borewell. Even if borewell is there there is no power.The investment on seeds, poughing,sowing,watering all futile and lost the hope on farming. "Insurance may be provided by the govt"
(4) There is no natural manure available and depending on artificial fertilizers costing more. Now cattle resources are reduced to 10% ( Hardly you will find cow in the village)due to dependence on tractor farming.Subsidy may be given for fertilizers by govt."Action may be taken for "vermiculture" to develop natural manures."
   It is pathetic condition that many farmers they are working as daily labourers for their livelihood. Industrial development is required but not at the cost of Agriculture deterioration. "Going against the nature and we have to face the consequencies."
 

As Ms. Sujatha has suggested, it would be good if the Governemnt takes some step to help the farmers by becoming an intermediate between the farmers and consumers. Sometimes the banks come up with such steps...For example when the coconut price is low in the market, the banks buy those cocunuts for a price above market price from the farmer and sell it to market when the price is high. Same way some govt institutions can buy the cereals from farmers at a price close to MRP and sell it to the consumers at MRP. This is only one method to help the farmers, if the concerned people brainstorm, much better insights can come out.


Regards,
Shruth & Smith Foundation,
Banshankarai, Bangalore.

http://www.shruthandsmithfoundation.org

really we start a IT based farmers training centre. after some month you see it...

Its not the time to help our farmers,but its time to safeguard ourselves from scarcity of food grains,mainly purchase of food grains through brokers from government sector can be avoided,providing free supply of electricity to farmers and following price rate of food grains by zones and not of individual state govt rates 

We got to remove the middlemen as they are the problem that the system suffers from. The farmer does not get his due amount making farming non-appealing. But inflation is at all time high as the end consumer, really has to dig deep into his pockets to get his subsistence fulfilled. The middlemen are the most major factor that is rotting the system. Period. They got to be marginalized and if possible done away with.

Sujatha thanks for referral. An important subject and should be discussed in great detail before untoward happens.

i think industrialisation is the best process.....i mean to say that the industrialisation of the indian agriculture......the agricultural production should be done in the industrial line......total production line should be under the government and the farmer would be working the government......in this way the income of the farmers can be secured and the land under cultivation can be also be kept constant....so we can ensure the mass production and reduce the price hike and ensure the farmers' security

We can't remove middlemen from the system, as they are important instruments in the entire supplychain cycle. They are the ones responsible for lending money, provide warehousing facilities, act as aggregators, etc., they act as interface b/w mandi and farmers. Deleting them from the system would render it haywire. Price discovery is more of demand and supply mechanism....even if we remove the middlemen from the system...the price may still remain the same owing to exposure to mandi/national/international prices. Also, the pecuniary capacity and infrastructural handling of farmers and their wisdom about the different gamuts of WTO and International trade is at rock bottom. 

It is time we start appreciate the farmers problems & need to help them with technologies . Our out put per hectare is lower need to improve. How about starting a group to help them on week ends . why younger generations always blame Govt , what we can do we must think. We can always help them to market their grains @ a better price directly to consumers than through various brokers. Once they get better pricing & know where to sell they can try best possibles. 

Thanks Vinoy for referral to this nice subject. Since over 55% population earns from agriculture. The slow withdrawal will not be noticed till it is too late. May God help us.

subsidizing agriculture helps in tackling food prices and reducing trade deficit as it improves food supply.Above all we must note that agriculture is the only sector that will be least/nil affected by economic crises. So it is very important to strenthen agricultural sector for stable and sustainable economy. Subsidies help in accomplishing it.

Well said Sujatha and its time the govt. got into the farming sector and started co-ops both in india as well as abroad to sustain farming on a mass scale involving the small and marginalised farmers. In any case all the subsidies and freebies are being gobbled up by the rich farmers with the middle income footing the bill.

Thanx for the referral Vinoy. An extremely relevant topic Sujatha. 

NO FARMING, NO FOOD. Simple as that.

1. Connect all the rivers in India. (Sir Arthur Cotton's idea.) We've really neglected this and the more we delay, the more we reduce the our chances of making proper routes for the river-connectors.

2. Implement mini-states. Each mini-state should be helped to achieve high efficiency in agriculture. I agree with Srinivas sir. Co-operatives is the only way to go. We need to ensure ZERO middle-men between the common man and the farmers. When it comes to food, THERE SHOULD BE NO MIDDLEMEN. 

Again, simple. It's a matter of the people's will - this means OUR WILL. No use blaming others. We, the people, we have to do something. 

We could start going to the farmers. Those of us who are influential, should help in their own local regions to encourage these co-operatives. There are many EXTREMELY intelligent people in India - who, can personally do something small or big to improve the systems which have stuck like some industrial adhesive to our society and even our thinking.

Very nice and interesting topic because farmers are very important as they are responsible for the production of staple food which is very important for our life. But farmers are often being ignored and exploited by the middlemen.  

Thanx sujatha for bringing this topic to the forum. There is no doubt that the agricultural sector is the most neglected one of our economy. The answer to the problem is just not waiving of loans or paying compensation after a bad harvest. Other factors are to be seen in this context. A majority percentage of the newer generation of farmers community are not even ready to get on in the sector, and are moving away from the farms to more lucrative and presumptive easier jobs in the cities and major town. This is because a substantial percentage of the community have acquired reasonable levels of education and technical expertise. Make no mistake, I am no votary for the education being denied. They deserve as much of it as any of us in the forum. What is the solution for this paradox then. I think the only plausible solution is to make farming a lucrative option. So that others will jump into the fray to fill the gap. Maybe the present setup in farming sectors will have to undergo a change. Maybe farming may even be privy to people with deep pockets. Small land holdings are the biggest impediments to growth in the agricultural. Hence over a period of time, when the growth in the national economy is brought to the farming sector, the scenario of farm land holdings will begin to change drastically. Thus this changes though far over-due needs for a very studied and systematic change in the all aspects related to farming including PDS, creation of roads and bridges especially in coastal areas of the country, creations of bunds and other infrastructure that is needed for the farming growth. It is matter of much complex factors, which if not handled accurately could have severe repercussions at the social, ecological, emotional and even financial level. It is however time to carry the economic growth to the villages. And it could possibly be the biggest challenge fre India has faced. Are we up-to it? Or are we just a nation that keep blaming others like politicians and miss the bus? 

As much i have seen people those who are engaged in the farming they are not basically the owner the land where they work. They mainly work for money on wages basis and work according the guidance of the owner. and the people those who are owner are not taking enough practices for this. and some of the people those who have their won land they usually don't have the resources to utilize it in well manner and they producing only those thing which is usable for them and they feel by selling these they can also get money and because of this some items produced in bulk and other are facing scarcity and because of this they are not able to get the good price. it is big gap from both farmers end as well govt side. if govt provide write direction and resources to those farmers and helping in to the business they can reduce the scarcity and by this farmers can get good value for their productivity.

NOw we have more slaughter houses than British period and a survey says more than 2,00.000 cattle are said to be killed per day.The cattle which has no pollution transferred the cultivated results ,which worked with them in the field as a partner, is diminishing.NOW we have UREA,Tractor, land,but we lost THE FERTILITY OF LAND,WATER,FARMER.We have to re think, now we have pollution in environment and in our mind,We are teasing them as illitrates,but we spoiled the land, their life style.OUR PRIMEMINISTER and Planning commission never understood their grievences.We are worring about our stock exchange and the globalization. selling the fertile land means they are dying.but we neer NOIDA EIGHT WAY TRACK AND realtors apartments :ALL UNDER ONE ROOF.

I am so happy to read this sujatha.Farmers lost every thing because of govt and their policies.Indian farmers belong to traditional type and they stood in their own legs once upon a time.They have their own seed , their own man power, their catteles,from the cattle they got the natural fertilizing methods.They did nt depend forign ideologies. they saved the land,they sold heslthy garins , they lived for more than 90 years and made the customers also healty.they lived a simple life style, and FOR IDIAS GOLD AND WEALTHY & HEALTHY LAND attaracted our hosts.Moguls came , they looted us.But our land and farmers had their own liveli hood.Clive came, He opener SLughter houses, cattle killed.the natural fertilizing method went to grave yard. slowly.Our farmers began to follow UREA,Endosulphon like that.Now more lands are cultivable, we are importing UREA, and insects.NOW British is not ruling our country.BUT our farmers are depend on the western technology even for seeds. We lost all our Rights,WE losing right to cultivate TURMERIC which is our INDIAN crop.

A good initiate and thanks for the insight :)

The biggest problem is Government of India, wants to rule Rural India through knowledge of British or American models. Can this happen or not is no one's interest. At the end of the day it is individual gains over nation's loss.

@ Kanukrthy sir,  its not the cooperative society as you thought of.  Only the stake holders form themselves as a group and all holdings get merged into one single farm land.  All will contribute according to their share of land.  Those who can not contribute in cash, will contribute by other means like working on land etc.,  According to their land and contribution the finals results will be shared among all the cooperative members.  

All the land holdings will have to be surveyed and digitally mapped before them get merged.  If the total land is stretched beyond 30 acres, one acre of the total merged land has to be demarcated for water pool and water will be supplied to the entire stretch of land from this pool. 

Govt. and its machinery has nothing to do with this cooperative societies.  Only the members will form themselves as a society and chose one among them as leader of the society for looking after the administrative/management matters.  This is my idea.  I know  its a tough exercise to take the people into confidence.  A true transparent leader can make it. I believe it will succeed.  If a pilot project successfully made, others can follow the way.  

With this we can answer the problem of small holdings and successfully implement the technology.  Farmers are unorganized now.  This cooperative societies will provide them an organised platform to voice their grievances.  Fertilizers and seeds can be purchased direct from the companies leaving the middlemen out.  There are many more positives to this aspect.  What do you say sir.

the middle man is eating away the farmer ,so enough of jai jawan now time for jai kissan .

For farmers the main issues are monsoon failures and fund.Early this year,Cotton farmers in M.P amd  A P were in trouble when the rains got delayed. This was not the case in GUJARATh, where the GOVT. has made every facility to store water.

Why not the other state governments follow some good practices implemented by Gujarat to reduce risk factors.

Cooperatives is not the alternative at all becuz one can see the cooperatives are prone to political influence/interference, failures, etc

Agriculture sector is still the bread earner for about 60% of the Indian population.  But, the Indian Govts. followed the Western world model of development and blindly ran behind the industrialization. 

The problem with the Indian agriculture sector is small holdings, where the implementation of technology is limited.  Most of them are rain fed.  Even after 60+ years of independence, we failed to provide proper irrigation facilities for farming.  We are not able to provide them required fertilizers and seeds.  No marketing facilities for them.  Who asks the support price, if they get all the above.  

Its the most neglected sector.  If the farmers declares the crop holiday for one season. the nation has to bank on imports to feed its populace. Since, they dont have a platform to register their voice, Govt. is neglecting this sector.

Co-operative Farming would be the better option, however it is a hard exercise to take the folk into confidence.  But, with a political will this can be achieved.