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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Farmer suicides: A brazen shame to Government -Nimai Charan Swain

Farmer suicides: A brazen shame to Government -Nimai Charan Swain

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published Published on Nov 3, 2015   modified Modified on Nov 3, 2015
-The Pioneer

Bhubaneswar: The increasing instances of farmers’ suicides due mainly to failure of crops and burden of loans incurred from different sources have brought traumatic shocks and a shattering blow to the farming community in Odisha and brazen shame to the present dispensation at the helm. It appears that the State administration is never worried and concerned about the agonies and tragedies of the poor cultivators.

As reported, an astounding number of 7,200 farmers have committed suicide during the 15 years’ rule of the BJD Government headed by Naveen Patnaik. It is further reported that agriculture lands to the extent of 7 lakh hectares remain uncultivated due to un-remunerative prices of farm produces, and about 5.2 lakh farmers have abandoned agriculture as source of their livelihood. It is expected that more farmers would renounce farming as their traditional profession owing to the same reasons of huge loss in the cultivation.

While some self-proclaimed intellectuals and secularists are gravely upset over some incidences of inhuman acts by violent mobs and some of them are returning awards in protest against the apathetic attitude of the Government, they are not deeply concerned about the tragic suicides and pangs of poverty of farmers in the country. The State Government does not appear to be bothered about the increasing numbers of farmers’ suicides every day. It is an indisputable fact that failure of crops and burden of loans are the main reasons for farmers taking the extreme decision to end their lives.

Is not the State Government to a major extent responsible for the failure of crops? The desired measures and steps should have to be taken in helping and protecting the crops have not in fact been taken due to  the phlegmatic attitude of the Government. Though there are favourable conditions prevailing in the State for prospects and prosperity of agriculture, the lackadaisical attitude of the Government is squarely responsible for the pathetic setback to this sector. It is  not at all difficult for the Government to ensure a marked growth in agriculture  utilising available resources of the State. Agricultural programmes and their implementation can be successful without even depending upon the Central Government if there is unwavering determination and sincerity on the part of the State Government. What the farmers of the State urgently need and instantly require are basic infrastructures for remunerative cultivation of crops. These infrastructures include irrigation, electricity, granting of loans at minimum interest, crop insurance, supply of improved seeds with guaranteed production, roads connecting villages for timely consultation with farming experts about use of inputs and vital technology for improved cultivation. These requirements are of paramount importance for real growth of agriculture and helpful for eradicating farmers’ misery and agony. It is not at all impossible for the State Government to fulfil these urgent requirements since they can be met with available State revenue.

A commission constituted under chairmanship of MS Swaminathan, one of the pioneers of Green Revolution, has suggested some remedial measures to avoid farmers’ suicide which include (a) to set up a State-level farmers commission with representation of farmers for ensuring dynamic Government response to farmer’s problems; (b) to restructure microfinance policies to serve as livelihood finance, i.e., credit coupled with support service in the areas of technology management and market; (c) to cover all crops by crop insurance with the village not the block as the unit of assessment; (d) to provide for social security net with provision for old age support and health insurance; (e) to promote aquifer recharge and rainwater conservation  and decentralise water use planning and undertake responsibility that every village should aim at Jal Swaraj with Gram Sabha serving as Pani Panchayat; (f) to ensure availability of quality seeds and other inputs with affordable costs at the right time and place; (g) to recommend low-risk and low-cost technology which can help provide maximum income to farmers because they cannot cope with the shock of crops failure, particularly those associated with  high-cost technology; (h) to ensure swift action import duties to protect farmers from international price; (i) to set up village knowledge centre in the farmers’ distress hotspots which can provide dynamic and demand-driven information on all aspects of agricultural and nonfarm livelihood and also serve as guidance centre; and (j) to launch public awareness campaign to make people identify early sign of suicidal behaviour.

But the last point which I think absolutely imperative is that the agricultural product of the farmers should be purchased by the Government agencies which may rule out the chance of middleman’s role. Besides the Swaminathan report, the Odisha Government had set up a commission to improve agriculture and condition of the farmers. But this commission’s report is still in cold storage.

It is really sad that State Government is apathetic to ensure a flourishing agricultural economy. Had the present Government, during its 15 years of rule, wholeheartedly devoted to utilising all the available resources of the State in fulfilling the aforesaid infrastructures vital to improve production and using modern technologies for progressive cultivation from the advanced countries like Israel, the US and Japan, the condition of the farmers and agriculture would have been otherwise. Agriculture is the backbone of the State and its prosperity and progress not only would absorb the unemployed young masses who are migrating to other States for livelihood but also improve the standard of living of the farmers. Moreover, developed agriculture would contribute to the GDP of country and bring about economic status of the State. So, instant attention to development of farming and farmers is the need of the hour.

 (The writer is a Bhubaneswar-based columnist)

The Pioneer, 2 November, 2015, http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/farmer-suicides-a-brazen-shame-to-government.html


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