A farmer's delight

Every farmer has a dream when he sows the seed that he would be able to harvest the fruits. Between sowing and harvesting there is a long wait with tending the field and fighting pests, natural calamities such as drought, flooding, etc.

As we watched acres of land of paddy ready for harvesting, we paused at the road side to take in this magnificent sight. Most of the farmers depend on the harvest for their main source of income. A large number of them borrow money to cultivate the land and pay back only to borrow again at the time of next season of cultivation. That is how they land in debt trap from which many do not recover. The farmer's suicides that we often hear about is a devastating experience for the families, for whom there is no respite in spite of several schemes the governments offer such as subsidized electricity, manure, seed cost, etc. 

In the developed countries, land farming, cattle farming, etc. have become costly and many farmers are giving up their farms and the governments pay a compensation for their lost income. In Switzerland, the cattle farmers are paid huge subsidy to maintain their farms and animals.   

One of the emerging forms of farming in rural India is community farming where, some farmers who own small portions of land join together to cultivate so that the overhead expenses are shared and there is a substantial benefit at the end. 

I have a suspicion that rural India has another set of realities from the urban India. It is a 'non-shining' other India. As Anna and I have come to a rural setting to live, we are getting a feel of the challenges and adversities we face. The 'trickling in' effect of the free market is too little for the farmers. We need more initiatives to foster the well being of farmers who own  little land.

Anna and I are glad that we have an opportunity to have a new learning experience in rural India.

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)