23 December : National Farmers' Day

23 December 

Happy Farmers' Day

The birthday of the fifth Prime Minister of India, Chaudhary Charan Singh (December 23) is celebrated as National Farmers' Day. Across the country today, gratitude is expressed for the hard work of farmers. Chaudhary Charan Singh has done a great job for the benefit of the farmers. He established the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). In 2001, the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced the decision to celebrate Chaudhary Charan Singh's birthday as National Farmers' Day.

Farmer's Suicide

For the last few years, the issues of farmer suicide and farmers' debt waiver have been under constant discussion. In elections, voters are attracted by promising to solve the problems of the farmers, but then they are ignored. The issue of farmers' suicide and debt waiver has now come to the fore. The issue of agriculture is also being discussed seriously. Such discussions need to move towards more basic thinking and holistic approaches.

Suicides of farmers

The situation of farmers in India is getting worse. Whether it is a natural calamity or political inaction, the number of farmers committing suicide is on the rise across the country. As important as it is for the farmers to get help from the administration in resolving this issue, it has become the need of helping hand to the farmers in the form that every Indian in the society can afford.

According to the official records of the Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Department, 20 thousand 873 farmers have committed suicide in the state between 2001 and 2015. The help has been denied mainly because the land is not in the name. Even in disasters like heavy rains, help is denied to those who do not have land. They are not even mentioned in the debt waiver discussion. This is due to the misconception that disasters, debt and agricultural losses do not affect the livelihood of the landless.

Reduction in Land per Family

In Maharashtra, the land has been inherited from generation to generation. The land retention area per family has therefore decreased dramatically. According to the 1970 census, a farmer family in Maharashtra had an average of 4.28 hectares of land per family. By 2010 it had come down to 1.45 hectares per family. Naturally, today, after 10 years, it has declined even more. So many small pieces of land have fallen. It has become impossible to cultivate on such small pieces. Filling the stomach has also become difficult. This is the problem of 75% of the farming families in the state.

Reduction in land

A family of three brothers got an acre of land. Three brothers fell into it. It was impossible to cultivate in the allotted piece. One of the brothers wanted some money for his girl's marriage, he took a loan from relatives. Unable to repay the loan taken from the relatives for the marriage of the girl, the person finally resorted to suicide. Hope is no exception. That is the reality of Maharashtra's agricultural problem.

Looting of Farmers

All understand that those who work in agriculture are the legal labours of the country. The government has conveniently forgotten that those who work in agriculture want to keep some balance of their labour. That is why the government has been repeatedly intervening in the market to bring down the prices of agricultural commodities. Looting of farmers has been going on incessantly to keep the consumers, voters and donors happy. As a result, farmers do not have the strength to face disasters like drought. 

The government alone is responsible for the plunder of farmers, indebtedness and suicides. The government must accept its responsibility. Debt forgiveness should be done as partial repayment of today's looting. Long-term measures should be taken. Priority should be given to rural employment generation. The approach to development should also be broadened.

Youth & Agriculture

In this modern era, most of the people from youth are dreaming about their career. Everyone wanted to get placed in a well-reputed company. To survive in metro cities, it is very essential to have a good income. That's why every young person thinks about just their jobs & they are least interested in agriculture.

Horticulture

It has been observed that girls are rejecting farmers as their life partner. Every girl wanted to settle down in cities with a person who has a good package. They don't want to work in agriculture. Let me tell you all if you are doing your agriculture in a good manner. You will get profit more than the experienced person from a reputed company. In Maharashtra, those rich farmers are known as बागायतदार (horticultural farmer). 

Youth should change their perspectives about agriculture. All world can live in a good lifestyle because of the farmers. Remember, during lockdown when all areas showed a decrement in GDP, Agriculture was the only sector with increment.

Thank You !!!