Farmers in the district of Anantapur and nearby areas were very happy before few days. The happy moments are rare for the farmers of this region because of successive crop failure due to erratic rainfall. This region is one of the driest regions of the country after Rajasthan.
Farmers were very happy because after about 7-8 years the groundnut crop was good due of timely rainfall. They were dreaming of fulfilling their aspirations which were due from many years. They were dreaming of repairing the old houses, paying the debts which were borrowed for agriculture, children’s education and family needs. Some were even thinking of marrying off their daughters this year – All depending on groundnut crop alone.
All these dreams were shattered suddenly at the last moment. The crop affected badly immediately after the harvest because of continuous rains due to cyclone for more than a week. The colour, taste and oil content of the groundnut has affected on which the price is dependent. The fodder is unsuitable as cattle feed because of rotting and change in colour. Some farmers were able to harvest early and form the heap. Even this is being affected partially because of insufficient drying and continues rains.
Not only the nature even the market is affecting their dreams. The price of groundnut which was about the Rs.2500 per quintal a month ago has suddenly dropped to around Rs.2000 per quintal on arrival of new crop. One cannot imagine the support the farmers are getting for groundnut crop from government. The minimum support price (MSP) announced by the government is not even nearer to reality. The present MSP is only around Rs.1500 from which farmers cannot even cover their production costs.
Farmers affected by nature and market lost all their hopes. The government is also not making enough effort to help them. Even they don’t have the option of insurance coverage to take care of risk due to excessive rains. How can the farmers realize their dreams when neglected by all? Many farmers have lost interest in agriculture. They are continuing agriculture as they don’t have other options. They don’t want their children to be in agriculture. Previously farmers used to suffer due to insufficient rainfall but this time due to the same rainfall in excess quantities unseasonally and made them unlucky once again.
One can imagine the sufferings of farmers by one of the incidents I come across. When I called up my parents last week the only thing my father talked is about the rainfall and crop spoilage. No mention of my studies or health when the son has called up after long time from more than 1000 km away!!!!!!!
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16 comments:
Hi Naidu.
Its really disheartening to read the woes of the farmers. But its not only the tail of the Anatapur farmers. Its the tail of the entire Indian farming community, barring few who have the privilege of Assured water.
Hi Prasanna
I agree with you...this is the problem with most of the farmers in rainfed areas without any protection from government.
your post is an eye-opener for me!
hi naidu this is very interesting article...but for this farmers only have to be blamed. I remember one incidence while working with a farmer in Tumkur area. I told him that he is wasting water like anything. He knew the fact that ground water us depleting over time...he continued to add depth to his bore well instead of reducing water consumption. He was completely ignorant what he was doing, its not that he was unaware of the fact....just he doesn't want follow. These kind of selfish acts by farmers are destroying nature as well as themselves. I don't blame any one for the whole situation....I appreciate your concern towards the cause of farmers and ready to what ever i can.
Hi Nagesh
Thanks for the comment.
The condition you have explained is different from the present. Here the crop is rainfed and no question of groundwater exploitation. Government should have taken some measures and helped in this scenario.
In your case, I guess farmer is not fully aware of irrigation scheduling etc. Even there may be a chance that he might not have believed you. These problems can be reduced by improving the extension system which is most neglected.
though the article you wrote is the same old story(for a guy like me who is from Andhra) about farmers bearing heavy losses....
this time it was due to heavy rains rather than no rains...
i strongly believe the govt is not taking much initiative towards this problem....
even in the past the TDP govt neglected this and even now the situation is no better...
the only solution which seems here is maybe scientific farming i.e. using techniques which would not affect the crop in case of drought or cyclones...
and the govt should take some serious steps towards this...
another solution is maybe increasing the MSP but i have no idea to what extent that would help...
nice post...
plz keep writing more & frequently
Hi Naidu,
Now they are rain fed...turn back the pages and see what was the condition..i am a son of farmer..did work as a farmer for few days...but without any assumptions I can selfish acts by farmers have lead to their own situation. They blocked all feeding channels in catchment areas..they encroached all tank areas..used stones and brick in check dams to build their personal things..and don't participate welfare programs bought in by their opposition party..unless people show 100 % participation govt..can't do any thing...
Naidu previous bhoomika comment is by nagesh
Nagesh
I appreciate your concern. Yes, now a days politics is spoiling the villages.
The present issue in anantapur which i have putforth is due to crop damage due to continuous rains after harvest. This is nothing to do with checkdams. This crop in this region is rainfed for generations....and not at all irrigated at any point of time in history.
I agree with you that the soil and water conservation activities are neglected. This is not only by people but also largely by government.
If the farmer is fully aware of the issues of soil and water conservation, groundwater exploitation would have reduced to an extent. For this government has to take more initiatives.
I Thank nagesh for the comments. In other posts I would like to focus on soil and water conservation.
Hi Naidu,
I believe we are having a healthy discussion...,I also take the blame for present farming situation in India. Despite using all peoples money to study and grow up now I am getting ready to work for other country...but I will come back to my home.
And my observation were highly generalized towards the farming community but not targeting Anantapur farmers. I appreciate your concern for this battle and wish good luk.
Thanks Nagesh
There is nothing wrong in working in other country for some time..but one nevr forgot to serve mother India.....u can always help from other places.....Many agri grads are from farming community. After graduation they join agri related companies and agri depts and start exploiting farmers itself, misutilising funds etc.
Even the media is neglecting the farmers issues.
We can convince the farmers about the right practices. Only thing is we need will......
It is very sad to hear farmers suffering due to nature's vagaries.Thanks for having a blog to highlight the plight of farmers suffering in silence. If only technology and awareness can be increased among farmers, it would help them be less dependent on rainfall and natural calamities.
Naidu Garu,
kallu chamarchayandi...mee article choosi..!!
we have no one to blame..except the rain gods..
could not think of anything else for half an hour, am from Chittoor...& somehow ur article makes me believe that we are really blessed when compared to what you are..!!
God knows what happens to agriculture in our areas(Anantapuram, Chittoor)after our parents...no one is willing to take up farming in our generation (somehow I have the feeling that ur blog is visited by junta born around 1980)...ppl are really scared & have better opportunties to look at(esp IT)...which are far better than spurious seeds, heartless raingods, land less workers who are becoming pricey by the day, thanks to NREGA..
Hi Theja,
The situation of agriculture is bad..and we are blessed...so we need to take care of the situation. What about food production if everyone leaves agriculture? IT is one sector and everyone in the world cann't depend on it...the people in IT sector has to think of taking IT to the door steps of farmers and help them to get rid of spurious seeds etc and plan the cropping to avoid floods etc.
Thanks for comment....We shall work for the welfare of our farmers...
Hi,
The article which u posted was a real condition of the farmer in every where,mostly in telangana are of A.P,but tell me whatwe need to do as a agribusiness professionals...seeing the condition..what actions can be done to overcome natural disasters like at this situation
Hi Naveen,
We cannot control the natural disasters but we can reduce the harm by timely interventions and precautions. Government has to guide the farmers, provide information. It can intervene and stop the price fall also. As agribusiness specialist you can intervene in the market, form cooperative help farmers to get better price etc.
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