Creating resilient agriculture can make real difference!

Farmers' protest is over. It was in the offing as the Centre after withdrawing three farm laws – Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act-2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Service Act-2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act-2020 – also agreed to look into their critical demands including guaranteed minimum support price (MSP) for their principal crops. It is heartening indeed that the Centre and farmers have reached a point of consensus to work together to strengthen farm stakeholders and the agri sector. Doubling of farmers' income in the near future doesn't seem to be a feasible proposition now since farm reforms have suffered a setback. It is not the question of one's victory or defeat but of the fact that efforts aimed at bringing in resilience in the country's vital sector, a critical source of employment for rural masses and one of the major contributors to our gross domestic product (GDP), have been practically put on hold for the time being.

Dissecting farm issues has always been a sensitive issue in an agrarian economy like ours. Farm data is always used as a double-edged weapon. The battle lines drawn between farmers' well wishers of all hues from across the country are intact. The welfare of famers in a progressing country is of paramount importance. Under no circumstances, India can either be complacent or over confident about the vibrancy of the agriculture sector, which is so unevenly spread across the country in terms of output, cropping pattern and cultivation practices. Its variety, however, makes our farm sector unique. People are emotionally attached with their farms and the crops they produce against all odds and vagaries. Since the majority of the Indian population is engaged in farming as farmers and farm labourers, they also command a kind of political clout. Unfortunately, they have not been able to evolve as a force to be involved as a key stakeholder in framing policies for farmers and agriculture.

When we talk of farmers' welfare, we should not misread the writings on the wall. Almost 90 per cent farmers are small land holders in our country. As per the latest information available from the Agriculture Census, the average size of operational holdings has decreased from 2.28 hectares in 1970-71 to 1.84 hectares in 1980-81, to 1.41 hectares in 1995-96 and to 1.08 hectares in 2015-16. Considering the declining trends observed in the size of agriculture holdings in the past and the prospective increase in population over the years, the fragmentation of holdings is likely to continue and the average size of operational holdings is expected to further decrease in the country. The Central and state governments are alive to this fact. To make small holdings more viable and assist augmentation of farm incomes, the government has taken several measures including adoption of modern technologies and practices like multiple cropping, intercropping and integrated farming systems.

Even research institutions are working very hard. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) assiduously conducts research programmes to develop location specific varieties and technologies for enhancing the production and productivity of farm holdings. Support is also provided to farmers including small and marginal ones through initiatives and programmes of the government like Interest Subvention Scheme, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Neem Coated Urea, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Pradhan Mantri Fasal BimaYojana (PMFBY), and National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) and so on. It is so gratifying to see the governments – both at the Centre and in the States – ever engaged in strengthening agriculture so that our farmers are empowered in a wholesome manner. It is a fact which none of us can ever deny. There are, however, other facts as well which need to be attended and dissected to understand the problem properly and find their solutions suitably.

Irrespective of the kind of crops and their amount our farmers produce, most of them are perennially hard pressed financially. After all, there is a limit to the productivity of land. In 12 months, one cannot grow 12 crops and every crop may not be remunerative. Diversification has its own limitations. Two acres of land cannot support a family of four members under any circumstances. The tentacles of multidimensional poverty can be restricted only when the majority of the countrymen have access to quality and affordable health, education and housing facilities. Therefore, our small and marginal farmers need multiple supports at different levels, which merely a guaranteed MSP can neither promise nor deliver. Children's education and marriage entail huge expenses. A rich farmer sends his children to the best schools and colleges in their areas, while smaller farmers cannot afford.

Mere fee exemption won't ensure that our children land up in colleges after completing 10+2. Less than 30 per cent gross enrolment ratio (GER) means the majority of school students from rural areas are not reaching colleges. Don't forget over 70 per cent of the population are in rural areas and the majority of them are farmers and farm workers. It is time to hand hold farmers in more ways than one for which the governments and farmer organizations need to work in unison. We must commit the blunder of ignoring the hardships being faced by small farmers. They need to be heard on priority. Most of them are from weaker sections of society. As and when there are discourses around farmers and agriculture, we are biased in favour of rich and powerful farmers. A farmer with 10 hectares of land with a child in a well paid job – government or private – cannot be the basis of holistic discussion and policy formulations for all farmers. Resilient farmers and the farm sector will make a real difference in our nation's overall health only when small and marginal farmers get the holistic boost!

(The writer is a senior journalist and author. The views expressed are strictly his personal)