Now, the peasants of Odisha are very much encouraged for cultivating lands with the financial assistance given by the State Government under the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme. Specially, the marginal farmers and those who have negligible or no land can survive through the scheme. The Planning Commission has heaped praises on the State Government for taking such a forward-looking scheme.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the Indian economy and by all accounts, the sector does deserve the prime importance. Agriculture, agro-horticulture and agro-forestry are therefore important areas which have to be given a lot of focus both in the country and in Odisha. These three departments should therefore be under one Secretary for smooth and careful management.

Now lots of money is spent in forestry and soil conservation measures by the Forest Department under the Rehabilitation of Degraded Forests (RDF) scheme. Without agro forestry or soil conservation measures, the KALIA scheme is meaningless. Specially, the hilly terrains like foot hills of Eastern Ghat, western- southern and northern-west districts of Odisha are having such types of cultivable lands, which need intensive cultivation with soil conservation measures. Without soil conservation measures and irrigations no crop raising can be assured.

Allotment of Rs 10,000 crore is not sufficient to bring under plough all the fragmented cultivable lands of Odisha.

In Odisha as well as in whole of India, agricultural land gives social status to a man. So the entire landmass of Odisha as well as of India will be further fragmented on the rise of population. A big chunk of land falls fallow due to legal disputes. Now in many districts major crop raising lands become practically useless and unproductive for the reasons. The villagers, especially the crop growers of our State, raise different crops as per their individual needs in their lands.

We must admit that our cultivable lands are not properly and intensively utilized for social causes. The raising of crops by a peasant, although directly benefits the crop raiser himself, it also helps the society for meeting the food requirements. So the State Government as well as the Government of India should realize that a poor peasant not only works for his livelihood, but also works for feeding the society. So the intensive cultivations of fallow lands of our State and country should be done to satisfy the hungry mouths. It is a fact that, the present State Government allowed some ‘seedless remunerations’ like non-refundable loans to the agricultural labourers and all types of agricultural workers for sustainable living. But the question remains, is it sufficient to fulfill his professional needs?

Is it not a pseudo and lollypop yojana for the peasant class as a whole? Why interest free and non-refundable loans to agricultural peasants and the labourers only?

There are large numbers of forest labourers and other types of artisans of wood, bamboo, cane, horn, hides etc. including ivory workers. When the raw materials of forest resources are dwindling very fast, such labourers are deprived of employments and spending their time helplessly. Such things should be intensively studied and remedial measures are to be taken for their social upliftment. The Government of a democratic State should work for upliftment of all class citizens of the country.

Our peasants generally grow cereals like rice, ragi, millets, maize, wheat, jawar, bajra, pulses, grams, with other varieties of pulses.

Varieties of such crops are grown in different grades and quality of lands throughout the State. Now, we need most rapid development in irrigation, payment of due minimum support price (MSP) to the growers, development of storage, etc. As it is observed, the traders of MP are collecting agricultural produce of Odisha peasants of bordering districts of the State at a very low cost, cashing in on their financial vulnerability. But the Government despite all tall claims has failed to stop distress sale of different farm produces.

The State Government should go forward to strengthen the cooperative moment for proper intensive utilisation of cultivable lands, including community lands and fallow lands, for socio-economic growth of the hapless farmers, rather than concentrating on charity. In co-operative movement few types of selected crops can only be cultivated for gross productions.

(The writer is a former forest officer and environmentalist, Mob: 9937460649)