Farming has Lost the Ability to be a Source of Subsistance for Majority of the Farmers in India | HPSC Preparation: All subjects - HPSC (Haryana) PDF Download

Economy

Over the generations, farming has become one of the main sources of livelihood for most people in the Indian subcontinent. So much so that India has been ranked remarkably among the top tiers when it comes to crop production worldwide. Farmers across the country produce various crops such as wheat, rice, pulses, vegetables, fruits, maize, and many others. According to reports, as of 2018, about 50% of the Indian workforce was engaged in agriculture, and the sector’s share in the Gross Domestic Product or GDP was somewhere around 18%.
The Indian soil is fertile and suitable for the cultivation of so many crops, and this very fact was one of the main reasons for the colonization of the country by powers such as the British, French, Dutch, etc. who began growing sugarcane, cotton, indigo, coffee, etc. in large quantities. The trade of these products was highly profitable, and thus, the production was moved to other parts of the world. So, it goes without saying that India has a long history of farming and its related sectors. However, in today’s date, farming has lost the ability to really benefit the farmers, and many are looking for an alternative source of income.

How Has Farming become an Insufficient Source of Income for Farmers?
While many people continue to be involved in farming and the agricultural sector, they no longer find it to be a very lucrative profession. With the secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy becoming the preferred choices over the primary sector and the lack of developments in farming, many farmers find it difficult to earn a decent living through farming. They are often in debt or are suffering major losses, sometimes to the point that they commit suicide. Since many farmers come from rural areas and aren’t well educated, they find it difficult to find other jobs and are thus stuck with farming, earning poorly. Here are some of the problems faced by the agricultural or farming sector in India: -

• Small Landholdings: With farming becoming a family affair, the same land is passed down to the generations and is often divided amongst the children. So, each time a piece of land is subdivided, it becomes smaller. To begin with, mIn addition, many farmers already own small tracts of land, so dividing it reduces the area for cultivation even further. And having a small cultivable area means producing lesser quantities of a crop, which yields less money.
• Dependence on Rainfall: Despite technological developments in agriculture, many farmers cannot afford better irrigation facilities and continue to depend on rain to water their crops. Rain is unpredictable, especially in drier regions, so depending solely on this natural phenomenon could be very detrimental to the crops if there is no rainfall for long periods of time. The crops will dry out, and the entire batch will not be suitable for sale.
• Growth in Population: The country's population has been growing rapidly, and thus the demand for food crops has also risen. However, with inadequate irrigation facilities, small areas of cultivation, etc., the farmers find it very difficult to increase their production and meet the population's needs. So they try to take loans but ultimately get into debt, trying to repay them since they aren’t making enough money from farming. It is a vicious cycle, one which is proving hard to break.
• Exploitation: Some people bridge the gap between the farmers and the buyers, and these very people, also known as the middlemen, exploit the farmers. They quote a lower price for the products, and since the farmers lack proper market information, they do not know of the gap between the market price and that paid to them for their crops.
• Debts: Farmers in India do not earn a lot from the sale of their products in the market for a variety of reasons and have to continue spending money on equipment and irrigation. They often spend more than they earn and are thus compelled to take loans from local money lenders who charge high interest. This turns into a cycle where the farmers make repaying the loan a priority and have no money for themselves in the end.

Some Measures to Improve the Situation of Farmers

With agriculture becoming less and less profitable for the farmers, many have moved to other fields, but those who do not know anything about other fields are forced to continue farming. If the situation of farmers in India does not improve, it might severely affect the overall food production in the country and might negatively impact the GDP as well. So, here are some ways to alleviate the condition of Indian farmers:

• Providing Proper Irrigation Facilities: The government at different levels must ensure proper functioning irrigation facilities are available to the farmers, so they don’t need to depend entirely on the rain to water their crops. Furthermore, the government should provide such facilities at subsidized rates, so the farmers don’t need to worry about paying a large amount of money.
• A Systematic Banking System: While there are banks even in rural areas, many farmers are not aware of the procedures for taking a loan, depositing money, etc. They should be educated about basic banking facilities so they no longer have to borrow money from landlords or money lenders who would charge high interests. Having a proper banking system available to the farmers would save them from being exploited by the money lenders and help them save more money.
• Education: Educating the rural population should be a priority for the government. By doing so, they can ensure that people are more aware of market trends, prices, practices, banking procedures, government schemes, etc. In addition, by educating the farmers, they would be able to find an alternative means of earning and would be able to protect themselves from exploitation by the middlemen or money lenders.
• Government Schemes: Knowing about the plight of Indian farmers, it is the government’s responsibility to provide better facilities and introduce schemes that would benefit them. In recent years, the government has introduced schemes such as the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna, etc. Still, they must also make sure that these schemes actually have a positive impact.

Farmers work for a big segment of the Indian population, and their work serves as the backbone of the Indian economy. Hence, it is of utmost importance that they are taken care of and are provided adequate facilities to make farming more profitable. Without their hard work, the country would constantly face a food crisis.