Keep Farmers Happy For Country’s Prosperity

Mohinder Singh Chauhan

(The writer is based at Neri, Hamirpur)

There was a famous saying we heard from our elders that ‘ghadi ka bhula 100 kos dur chala jata hai.’ After looking at the condition of farmers in present situation, it seems we have lost the plot by about one hundred miles. Hardly one day passes when there are no reports of a farmer committing suicide at some place. In fact the farmer word has become a synonym for misery. When will the time come wherein farming and agriculture become symbols of prosperity?

We claim about agriculture development but our fields tell the real tale. Bigger policies and projects, high profile seminars and conferences, kisan melas and kishan sabhas of different political parties have proved mere political rituals. A good amount of money is allocated for the development of agriculture in the country. The country produces enough food grains now that even the storage capacity has fallen short to accommodate the produce. But It is also a harsh reality that thirty five percent of population of the country falls below poverty line. India stands at 67th position in malnutrition which indicates that lakhs of people sleep empty stomach. How could we achieve the target of clean India, corruption free India when lakhs of Indians sleep hungry?

About 70% of Indian population lives in villages. And 99% of population residing in villages is directly or indirectly linked to agriculture and agriculture based systems. India can’t not become a developed country until this 70% Indian population turns prosperous. The government should set some common code for agriculture and horticulture and a blueprint should be prepared as per recommendations of progressive farmers and scientists. According to an Indian Council of Agricultural Research report, agriculture produce worth of Rs. 92,000 crore, including grains worth of Rs. 20,698 crore, fruits worth Rs. 16,644 crores, vegetables worth Rs. 14,842 crore, animal husbandry products worth Rs. 18,987 crore, spices worth Rs. 9,325 crore, pulses worth Rs. 3,877 crore, oil seeds worth Rs. 8, 278 crore is wasted every year.

A blueprint for future can be prepared if post harvest management is strengthened. Agrarian economy can be brought on right track through proper marketing strategies and post harvest management. Some discrepancies can be corrected by framing stringent laws. Such a developmental path needs evolved for agricultural development that makes journey of a farmer from start to finish an easy one. It means there should be a proper system from seed sowing to produce selling. Agriculture development will be possible only if facility is available for farmers – from seed distribution to irrigation facility to marketing and scientific and technical facility. There is no benefit of being a strong nuclear power for any nation if its farmers are committing suicides. Nation will become prosperous only if farmer is happy.

भारत मैट्रीमोनी पर अपना सही संगी चुनें – निःशुल्क रजिस्टर करें !

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