Last week, I spent a few days at Wardha and Yavatmal (Vidarbha, Maharashtra), meeting farmers, NGOs and others, trying to understand organic cotton farming… and why cotton farmers in the region have been committing suicide. Reportedly, there have been over 1,200 farmer suicides in the region in the last 2 years. Matters are getting serious.
I was accompanying a senior journalist from Mumbai, Darryl D’Monte, his photographer (Aniruddha), and our guide (Sanjay). My role was that of an observer on this trip. So I kept my mouth shut, and my ears and eyes open. I had my own agenda – that of going through a crash course on organic farming. My future work on improving the lives of farmers is closely connected to organic farming. Hence, this crash course.
Although, organic farming is being promoted as the perfect solution for farmers by many authorities, I’m not sure if it is the only answer to India’s farmer suicide crisis. However, it does offer some wonderful benefits to farmers… and consumers like you and me. From what I learnt, organic farming is clearly defined as playing a dual role: as a technology, as well as a way of life for India’s farming community. The benefits of organic farming are many – from generating a livelihood for India’s farmers to preserving our planet.
Organic farming, a traditional-type farming (although not entirely so), which relies solely on natural resources, human labour and ingenuity, in conjunction with nature, ought to be an obvious choice of farming technology for India’s farmers. However, over the last 40 years, Indian farmers, following the Government of India’s directions, have decided to opt for modern (Westernised) farming methods using genetically-modified seeds, fertilizers and pesticides… and in some cases, mechanized equipment like tractors.
Modern (Westernised) farming, although seemingly scientific and progressive in technology, has turned out to be a source of tragedy for many farmers. The use of, and reliance on, genetically-modified seeds, fertilizers and pesticides have resulted in several serious problems for Indian farmers: introduction of toxic elements in farming, deterioration of fertility of their soil, ill health, and a reliance on ‘purchased inputs’ (such as genetically-modified seeds, fertilizers and pesticides) which is so heavy and addictive that it drains the farmers financially, without yielding expected results. Driving them to debts and death.
The Indian government, with its pro-modernisation outlook and MNC orientation, is non-responsive to farmer needs (in spite of the Prime Minister’s visit to the region). Leaving the farmers, and a few care-giving NGOs, to find their own solutions. Adopting organic farming may be one such solution for Indian farmers.
27 September 2007
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2 comments:
Ah! I always wondered if in-organic farming makes sense for India. I think we have a fairly fertile land, and plenty of cattle for natural fertilizers. And of course the favorable weather (except for water reliability).
Sorry for this delayed reply.
You've got the idea in essence, and you've expressed it more succinctly than I would have been able to. But the agriculture/farming issue is more complicated than that.
The weather is not really favourable as you say as everything depends on the monsoons. An early monsoon or a late monsoon or an inadequate monsoon or too much monsoon can destroy Indian agriculture – and the lives of people who depend on it.
Then there are market conditions to worry about – the public distribution system, the commodity prices, the middlemen, the imports, the politicians with vested interests, even the WTO.
If the farmer is paid a high price, it keeps adding up the value chain until it reaches the consumer. And, it is not in the consumer’s interest to pay a high price as the cost of living goes up.
Nothing seems to favour the poor farmer.
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