Dr Parveen Kumar
A famous quote of Thomas Jefferson says that ‘Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness.’ It is the farmer that contributes maximum towards this pursuit. Today, the country is witnessing a phenomenal increase in food grains production; the agricultural output at present has surpassed all previous records and all this we owe it to the hard work of our farming community that works day and night; be it the intense heat or spine chilling cold. Their contribution is unparallel. Although the contribution of agriculture sector in the GDP has come down from 50 percent in the years immediately after independence to about 17 percent at present; it in no way means that the contribution of farming community has also decreased. It is their hard work that ensures food and nutritional security for all of us. Life and the existence of the world cannot be imagined without farmers. It is said that everyday at least three times a day, we need a farmer. It is because a farmer is the one who ensures food for all of us even if it means going to bed hungry for him. The scorching heat or the chilling temperature hardly matters for him/her. It is he who ensures food as well as nutritional security for all of us. Farming constitutes one of the oldest practices that mankind knows about and which is still in practice today. It dates back to over 10,000 years. One simply cannot undermine the role of farmer’s in our life and economy at large. To ensure that they get due credit and attention that they deserve, countries across the globe observe their ‘National Farmers’ Day’ every year. The event is also popularly called as ‘Old Farmers’ Day’ in the United States (US). There isn’t an exact date when celebrating Farmers’ Day became a trend, but the tradition is being followed since the early 1800s. In different parts of the country, the National Farmer’s Day is celebrated on different dates. In the United States, the National Farmer’s Day is observed on October 12; in India on December 23, and in Pakistan the day is celebrated on December 18.
A day at the national level dedicated to the farming community is infact recognition of them and a honour to them towards their services for the humanity and for the mother land. The National Farmers Day in India also known as ‘Rashtriya Kisan Diwas’ is celebrated every year on 23 December on the birthday of the 5th Prime Minister of India, Choudhary Charan Singh. Choudhary Charan Singh was born on Dec. 23, 1902 and died on May 29, 1987. He was also a great farmer’s leader who remained Prime minister of the country from July 28, 1979 to January 14, 1980. During his tenure as Prime minister of the country, he introduced many farmer friendly policies and enacted much legislation to improve the lives of the Indian farmers. Recognizing his contribution to the agriculture sector and his pro farmer welfare measures, the Kisan Divas in the country is celebrated on his birthday. The Kisan Divas has been celebrated since 2001 in the country. The Day depicts that if the agricultural sector and the farmers are empowered, only than the nation can grow. It is because agricultural sector is a vital contributor to our economy creating and providing livelihood opportunities to more than 50 per cent of the population directly or indirectly. Majority of the rural population including the women folk are engaged in this sector. It is the primary sector providing raw material for secondary and tertiary sectors. The theme of celebration also indicates that by only developing and powering agricultural fields, we gain a state of economic growth with rising more benefits and full employment.
The agriculture sector despite a vital contributor to the country’s economy still suffers from some inherent loopholes. Indian agriculture is predominated by the presence of small and marginal farmers. This vital segment of Indian agriculture is often the neglected one; still outside the reach of developmental policies and programmes. They are still outside the formal framework of technological interventions, have no or little access to credit facilities and are not in a position to avail crop and livestock insurance. As this group of producers is located in the interiors in the far flung remote inaccessible areas, they do not have market linkages and often become the victim of middlemen and commission agents. Although government has started many programmes for their empowerment, these do not have cut much ice. The situation more or less has not changed much for them. Small farms are disadvantaged when it comes to accessing markets, credit, and agricultural inputs such as seeds. Agriculture has become a non remunerative sector. More and more farmers are leaving this sector and the youths are not interested in this. The benefits of the different farmer welfare schemes do not reach all. Only a representative group of farmers avail the benefits. Indian agriculture is characterized by the predominance of small and marginal holdings. About 86 per cent of the farmers are marginal and small. They needed to be included in the farmer welfare programmes and it must be ensured that the benefits of different agricultural schemes percolate down to them. The farm women are also an important part of the agricultural sector in the country. This is also a day to highlight various issues confronting the farm sector and the farming community. Farmers are not satisfied with the Minimum Support Price announced by the government every year. Although the Minimum Support Prices are announced by the Government every year for 22 crops, yet the farmers are not satisfied with the MSP announced by the government and demanding an increase in MSP and a written assurance from the government that the MSP regime will continue even after the enactment of new laws.
There are also many other issues in the agricultural sector in the country. While men go out for earning a livelihood for the family, they are the farm women who are out in their farms, work in the fields performing different agricultural operations right from sowing to harvesting, post harvest processing and storage. They should also be made a part of the development initiatives. The youth must also be actively involved in agricultural sector by motivating them thorough various income generating activities, their skill development and through various agri-reneurship programmes. The government has also been proactively supporting the farming community by starting many programmes for their welfare and rejuvenation of farm sector. PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKISAN) provides financial support to the farming community by way of three installments of Rs 2000 each during Kharif, Rabi and Zaid seasons, so that they can purchase inputs like seeds, fertilizers and plant protection chemicals for sowing and growing of their crops. PM Kisan Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) aims at improving the irrigation potential and efficiency of the irrigation network in the country. Soil Health Cards are being provided to the farmers which contain detailed description of the fertility status of their soils and the recommendation thereof. The marketing structure in the country is also being improved with many marketing reforms. e-NAM is being strengthened to connect all the Mandis across the country so as to enable producers in one part of the country to sell anywhere in the country where remunerative price of the produce is available. Organic and Natural farming is being promoted in the country to reverse the negative effects of chemical led intensive cultivation. Credit and insurance facilities are also being provided and their coverage is also being extended to include all the farmers. Special focus is being laid on the farm women and the youths. For the youths several skill development and entrepreneurship opportunities are being provided with proper hand holding and financial support. Many youth have now turned entrepreneurs and are providing job to many others instead of seeking job from others. Efforts are also being made to double the income of farming community by 2022 and a lot of work has already been done which has resulted in profitability and sustainability of this sector. However, despite being the most important source of livelihood for many people, the problems of farming community are often overlooked or remained unattended to. The events of the National Farmers’ Day therefore should focus on educating the public about these issues and empowering farmers with the latest information from the agriculture sector. If we can do anything for the farming community, there is nothing better than to raise their standard of living. December 23 celebration asks us to commit ourselves for the upliftment of this segment of our society, so that the class which provides us with basic necessities like fruits, vegetables and paddy, can be integrated with the mainstream of the society. Besides thanking farmers’ for their contribution in food basket of the country, this is also a day to recognize that persons like Choudhary Charan Singh borne in a farmers’ family, who start from humble beginnings can occupy the highest chairs in the country by way of dedication, commitment and sincerity. This day also reminds of our commitment to recognize the efforts of the farming community, making them aware of the various programmes made for them and also for the farming community to practice farming in ways that are sustainable and do not interfere with the nature.
(The author is a faculty at SKUAST-K).