Acknowledging dedication; Honouring resilience
Dr. Parveen Kumar
pkumar6674@gmail.com
Farming has been recognized as the backbone of our economy. This is not just because a vast percentage of population depends directly or indirectly for it as a means of livelihood or because it contributes 17-18% to country’s GDP. It is also because agriculture is a way of life in the country. It is the oldest culture that binds communities from different faiths and religions into one single profession i. e farming. The community associated with this noble profession working day and night in intense heat or extreme cold only to ensure that none of us do not go hungry in the bed need to be given due honour and the resilience they have shown in raising agricultural production despite of so many challenges has to acknowledged. Although their efforts matter every day, but Dec. 23 has been reserved as a special day recognizing their valuable contribution in the growth and progress of the nation. Dec. 23 is celebrated every day as National Farmers’ Day also known as Rashtriya Kisan Divas.
Dec. 23 is also the birthday of fifth Prime minister of the country Choudhary Charan Singh and his birth date has been deliberately chosen as National Farmers’ Day as a honour to the late leader for his outstanding contribution to the farming sector and rural development in the country. Choudhary Charan Singh. Born in 1902 in a middle class peasent family in Noorpur of district Meerut in Uttar Pradesh he left this world on May 29, 1987. He was a great farmer’s leader who remained Prime minister of the country from July 28, 1979 to January 14, 1980. During his tenure as Prime minister of the country, he introduced many farmer friendly policies and enacted much legislation to improve the lives of the Indian farmers. He was first elected to U.P Legislative Assembly in 1937 from Chhaprauli constituency and continued to represent it many times. Choudhary sahib held several ministerial positions in Uttar Pradesh cabinet including Revenue, Agriculture, Home and Transport. Known for his simplicity and understanding of rural India’s challenges, Singh introduced several policies to improve the lives of farmers and ensure sustainable agricultural development. He believed in empowering rural communities and fostering a self-reliant agrarian economy.
When he became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, he introduced the Land Holding Act of 1960, aiming to lower and standardize land ceiling limits ensuring fair distribution of agricultural land. He also played a leading role in drafting the Debt Redemption Bill of 1939, which alleviated the financial burden on rural farmers giving a relief to farmers from moneylenders and a key role in the enactment of the Zamindari Abolition Act of 1950. His dedication to farmers’ welfare earned him the title of ‘Kisan Leader’, and his birth anniversary is celebrated as ‘Kisan Divas’ to honor his contribution to Indian agriculture and rural development. The Kisan Divas has been celebrated since 2001 in the country. Due to his contribution towards addressing the welfare and rights of Indian farmers and significantly impacting the nation’s agricultural policies, he is also acknowledged as ‘champion of farrmers’. Commemorating with the birthday of a great visionary who devoted his whole life for welfare of farming community, National Farmers’ Day also known as ‘Rashtriya Kisan Divas’ is celebrated every year on 23rd December.
Farming constitutes one of the oldest practices that mankind knows about and which is still in practice today. It dates back to over 10,000 years. One simply cannot undermine the role of farmer’s in our life and economy at large. To ensure that they get due credit and attention that they deserve, countries across the globe observe their ‘National Farmers’ Day’ every year. The event is also popularly called as ‘Old Farmers’ Day’ in the United States (US). There isn’t an exact date when celebrating Farmers’ Day became a trend, but the tradition is being followed since the early 1800s. In different parts of the globe, the National Farmer’s Day is celebrated on different dates by different countries.
In India, agriculture sector is a vital contributor to our economy; creating and providing livelihood opportunities to about 50% of the population directly or indirectly. Majority of the rural population including the women folk are engaged in this sector. Since independence, country has achieved many milestones in agricultural production. From a production of 50 million tonnes in the post independence years, the food grains production now is almost seven times than it was in 1950s. The horticulture production in the country has exceeded food grains production in the country. The country has the largest area under cultivation. It is the largest producer of pulses, spices, milk, tea, cashew, jute, banana, jackfruit and many other commodities (FAO). It stands second in production of fruits and vegetables, wheat, rice, cotton and oilseeds. India has the largest cotton cultivation area all over the world after China and the USA. India is the third highest potato producing country. India is also the second largest producer of Pulses in the world. The country also has the largest livestock population.
The agriculture sector despite a vital contributor to the country’s economy still suffers from some inherent loopholes and challenges like sustainability, climate change and its non remunerativeness. Indian agriculture is predominated by the presence of small and marginal farmers. This vital segment of Indian agriculture is often the neglected one; still outside the reach of developmental policies and programmes. They are still outside the formal framework of technological interventions, have no or little access to credit facilities and are not in a position to avail crop and livestock insurance. Although government has started many programmes for their empowerment, these are yet to show the results on grounds.
The government has also been proactively supporting the farming community by starting many programmes for their welfare and rejuvenation of farm sector. PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKISAN) provides financial support to the farming community. PM Kisan Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) aims at improving the irrigation potential and efficiency of the irrigation network in the country. Soil Health Cards are being provided to the farmers which contain detailed description of the fertility status of their soils and the recommendation thereof. The marketing structure in the country is also being improved with many marketing reforms. e-NAM is being strengthened to connect all the mandi across the country. Organic and Natural farming is being promoted in the country to reverse the negative effects of chemical led intensive cultivation. Credit and insurance facilities are also being provided and their coverage is also being extended to include all the farmers. Special focus is being laid on the farm women and the youths. Many youths have now turned entrepreneurs and are providing job to many others instead of seeking job from others. Besides these, we also need to adopt and promote different practices for sustainable agriculture that result in food security and resilience. Practices like Zero/No tillage ensure that the soil is not ploughed but disturbed to the least possible extent. It helps to minimize mechanical soil disturbance which is essential to maintaining minerals within the soil, preventing erosion, and preventing water loss from occurring within the soil. Growing the same crops year after year of the practice of monocropping depletes the soil of different nutrients. Therefore crop rotation that involves growing different crops doesn’t rob the soil of its nutrients; instead add to the nutrient composition of the soil. Practicing crop rotation with more than two species does not allow insect/pests and weeds to be set into a rotation with specific crops. The adoption of an integrated farming system approach that involves different components also ensure that the local resources and family labour is used effectively and farmers get compensated from another enterprise in case of failure of one enterprise. Government has started the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) to undo the negative effects of chemical intensive farming and restore soil health to its original position. The NMNF will also create self employment opportunities for many youths.
Today agriculture is witnessing a transformation. From subsistence to sustainable and from a traditional to digitalization, the agriculture sector in the present era is driven by innovation, entrepreneurship and precision. This has led to mobilization and empowerment of farming community. The startup culture in the country has scaled new heights. Innovation accompanied by entrepreneurship has led to establishment of many assets in the country and created lakhs of employment opportunities for youths. Youths of today no longer are job seekers, they are now job providers.
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