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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Maharashtra's agriculture conundrum: How sugarcane politics roiled other nutrition crops in the state -RN Bhaskar

Maharashtra's agriculture conundrum: How sugarcane politics roiled other nutrition crops in the state -RN Bhaskar

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published Published on Jun 9, 2017   modified Modified on Jun 9, 2017
-Firstpost.com

The battle for the rural heartland has commenced in full earnest.  Even though the two main opposition parties are not officially behind the strike called by farmers, their support and muscle is in full evidence. Surprisingly, the Shiv Sena – an alliance partner of the present government -- has also supported the agitation.

Yesterday, milk and vegetables had to be brought into some of Maharashtra’s cities under police escort.  The shrill cry of fairness to farmers now rents the air.  There are fears that the entire situation might go out of control.

To some extent, the ruling party – both at the centre and in Maharashtra – has also been at fault. It has actually provoked marginalised farmers and workers needlessly. The reckless manner in which the government, both at the centre and the state, has pushed the cow protection agenda has riled many.  Cow protection is tolerable.  But when it gets extended to cover buffaloes as well, it enrages many marginal farmers who will now find it difficult to discover a fair price for ageing buffaloes -- which was possible in cattle markets till now.  While this issue has not been spelt out among the agitators’ demands, it has contributed to the groundswell of resentment against the government.  This resentment has been stoked by misinformation and disinformation from interested quarters.

In fact, when one examines the situation very carefully, and dispassionately, it is the Congress and the Nationalist Congress (NCP) which have caused enormous farmer distress. Consider how more land has been allocated to sugarcane than to any other crop. Since the command area is decided by the government, it is effectively the government (not the farmer) that decides how much land should go towards sugarcane plantation (Read here Part I of this two part series).

Sugarcane is a very serious issue.  First, because it guzzles huge amounts of water.  Second, because it is being grown in areas which are known to be water deficient. Result, water meant for other farms in other parts of the state have been allowed to run dry. Add to this the callous manner in which funds for building irrigation facilities were also diverted, and it becomes clear that farmer distress can be traced largely to sugarcane.
 
Maharashtra table
 
There is a second problem with sugarcane.  It is linked directly to the alcohol industry, which is known to be a big source of cash for those who are politically powerful. It is also a lazy crop. And the easy availability of water (thanks to political patronage) and the money from liquor appears to have made most sugarcane cooperatives extremely insensitive to the need to improve methods of cultivation. Watch the figures of yields of various crops for the past 65 years (see table).

Please click here to read more.

Firstpost.com, 6 June, 2017, http://www.firstpost.com/business/maharashtras-agriculture-conundrum-how-sugarcane-politics-roiled-other-nutrition-crops-over-years-3522263.html


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