By Shree Padre
Recently while discussing with a foreign lady about actual cause behind agrarian crisis, who is aware of hardships faced by our farmers at grassroot level, I said- 'Poorly formulated policies are the main reason for the crisis'
She replied instantly without any hitch -'Of course, farmers are not law makers here; then how can their interest be taken care of?'
However, I don't have much knowledge about countrys where farmers are involved in law making, as for as agriculture is concrned. But I can assure you that our great politicians, buerocrats and such others, who rule us donot have even drop of knowledge of hardships our farmers. Moreover, they don't even bother about such issues. When such is the situation, how can they really solve the miseries? Isn't it like a 'Fake doctor' treating a patient?
Let's take an example of farmer's suicides. As soon as central government announced the 'Suicide-package' to vidharbha region, which witnessed highest suicides in these 14 years, some politicians demanded same type of packages be announced to respective regions to which they belonged to. But nobody knows how far these packages met the needs of families of victims. Nobody has not even shown interest even look into this aspect of the issue.
Whenever a 'Team' from central or state governments do visit the drought or calamity affected area, It turns out to be a jolly picnic. They come in AC car, stay in posh inspection bunglows in the expense of 'Inpspection or Study'. But had our government ever thought of involving some farmers who are aware of ground situations of the region they belonged to in such teams?
We have been hearing a lot about crop insurance, rain insurance and such several schemes in recent years. But when these schemes really failed to cater the need of a farmer, nobody was there to listen his woes. I ask, Is there any farmer who is truly benefited by such schemes in a farmer friendly manner?
Let's come to Agriculture research sector. According to renowned farmer Bhasker save, -'We have as many as 150 agricultural universities in our country. Most of them have thousands of acres of land and equipped with state of the art laboratories, staff etc. Above all, they all have enough fund to function. But no university is making profit out of its resources or even growing food crops in their allotted land. Every year it produces hundreds of so called 'Agri scientists' who could misguide our farmers and would propagate 'Destructive knowledge' to farming community'!! I really pity, case is not different with Agri-Reasearch institutes as well.
In our system, a person (so called scientist) who even doesn't know 'Chappals do bite sometimes' and where exactly it bites decides the needs of a farmer! They don't even show a courtesy to involve the farmer in the researches by inviting him to the research council meetings and such other activities. Some times they do; But only for namesake! So, most of the time our 'Agriculture research' does not serve the requirements of a farmer, as our scientists are only interested in delivering 'Scholar oriented' researches rather than farmer oriented.
As we all aware, Agriculture is facing severe labour shortage in our region. Even this is the case same with our agriculture research centres aswell. But had they have devoloped any farmer friendly techniques/technologies by which farmer can overcome from the crunch? No. Even if, It was developed by a farmer himself as per his needs or by the private companies. To where our Agriculture research is heading?
I agree that there are some people in these institutions, who really interested to hear the difficulties of a farmer, also makes honest efforts to solve it. But in the most of the cases it becomes only 'One man show'! As a part of a 'System' it becomes very tough for him do some 'Honest' work.
It's pity that our 'System' failed to deliver when it comes to farmers need. As a result a holistic approach to address the the problems has always remained a distant dream.I want to make it clear. 'Our farmers don't want half baked 'Research recommendations'. They need researches which are sustainable, serves farmer's needs, should increase the his standard of living,meanwhile should take care of soil-water-ecology. Thats it'!
Agricultural research should become the combined effort of farmer and scientist. Farmers should be involved in the research by conducting it in their own farms(on farm trial). When farmer-scientist model of research becomes reality, the outcome will also be obviously farmer friendly and more trust worthy. However, this should not become generosity shown upon farmers. It is the need of the hour.
(Courtesy: Adike patrike. Translated by B Jayakishore.)
(SHREE PADRE has made impressive strides in farm journalism. He is from Vaninagar, a village in Kerala bordering Karnataka. A farmer by profession,he had been the Chief Editor of Adike patrike, a unique magazine devoted to farm journalism since 18years. At present he is its Executive Editor. Iam greatful to him for allowing me to publish his editorial article from AP. Thank you sir!)
Recently while discussing with a foreign lady about actual cause behind agrarian crisis, who is aware of hardships faced by our farmers at grassroot level, I said- 'Poorly formulated policies are the main reason for the crisis'
She replied instantly without any hitch -'Of course, farmers are not law makers here; then how can their interest be taken care of?'
However, I don't have much knowledge about countrys where farmers are involved in law making, as for as agriculture is concrned. But I can assure you that our great politicians, buerocrats and such others, who rule us donot have even drop of knowledge of hardships our farmers. Moreover, they don't even bother about such issues. When such is the situation, how can they really solve the miseries? Isn't it like a 'Fake doctor' treating a patient?
Let's take an example of farmer's suicides. As soon as central government announced the 'Suicide-package' to vidharbha region, which witnessed highest suicides in these 14 years, some politicians demanded same type of packages be announced to respective regions to which they belonged to. But nobody knows how far these packages met the needs of families of victims. Nobody has not even shown interest even look into this aspect of the issue.
Whenever a 'Team' from central or state governments do visit the drought or calamity affected area, It turns out to be a jolly picnic. They come in AC car, stay in posh inspection bunglows in the expense of 'Inpspection or Study'. But had our government ever thought of involving some farmers who are aware of ground situations of the region they belonged to in such teams?
We have been hearing a lot about crop insurance, rain insurance and such several schemes in recent years. But when these schemes really failed to cater the need of a farmer, nobody was there to listen his woes. I ask, Is there any farmer who is truly benefited by such schemes in a farmer friendly manner?
Let's come to Agriculture research sector. According to renowned farmer Bhasker save, -'We have as many as 150 agricultural universities in our country. Most of them have thousands of acres of land and equipped with state of the art laboratories, staff etc. Above all, they all have enough fund to function. But no university is making profit out of its resources or even growing food crops in their allotted land. Every year it produces hundreds of so called 'Agri scientists' who could misguide our farmers and would propagate 'Destructive knowledge' to farming community'!! I really pity, case is not different with Agri-Reasearch institutes as well.
In our system, a person (so called scientist) who even doesn't know 'Chappals do bite sometimes' and where exactly it bites decides the needs of a farmer! They don't even show a courtesy to involve the farmer in the researches by inviting him to the research council meetings and such other activities. Some times they do; But only for namesake! So, most of the time our 'Agriculture research' does not serve the requirements of a farmer, as our scientists are only interested in delivering 'Scholar oriented' researches rather than farmer oriented.
As we all aware, Agriculture is facing severe labour shortage in our region. Even this is the case same with our agriculture research centres aswell. But had they have devoloped any farmer friendly techniques/technologies by which farmer can overcome from the crunch? No. Even if, It was developed by a farmer himself as per his needs or by the private companies. To where our Agriculture research is heading?
I agree that there are some people in these institutions, who really interested to hear the difficulties of a farmer, also makes honest efforts to solve it. But in the most of the cases it becomes only 'One man show'! As a part of a 'System' it becomes very tough for him do some 'Honest' work.
It's pity that our 'System' failed to deliver when it comes to farmers need. As a result a holistic approach to address the the problems has always remained a distant dream.I want to make it clear. 'Our farmers don't want half baked 'Research recommendations'. They need researches which are sustainable, serves farmer's needs, should increase the his standard of living,meanwhile should take care of soil-water-ecology. Thats it'!
Agricultural research should become the combined effort of farmer and scientist. Farmers should be involved in the research by conducting it in their own farms(on farm trial). When farmer-scientist model of research becomes reality, the outcome will also be obviously farmer friendly and more trust worthy. However, this should not become generosity shown upon farmers. It is the need of the hour.
(Courtesy: Adike patrike. Translated by B Jayakishore.)
(SHREE PADRE has made impressive strides in farm journalism. He is from Vaninagar, a village in Kerala bordering Karnataka. A farmer by profession,he had been the Chief Editor of Adike patrike, a unique magazine devoted to farm journalism since 18years. At present he is its Executive Editor. Iam greatful to him for allowing me to publish his editorial article from AP. Thank you sir!)
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