The increasing instances of farmers’ suicide in a short span of 10 days in different districts of Odisha due to mainly crops failure and burden of loans are a shattering blow to the farming community and a brazen shame and disgrace to the present dispensation at the helm. As reported, 10 farmers have so far committed suicide and more than 2,000 have killed themselves in last 12 years.
However, the recent suicide of Brunda Sahu due to his loss of crops affected by pests has evoked widespread concern. As pesticide was not effective to contain and eliminate the pests, i.e, Blown Plant Hopper (BPH), Sahu in utter desperation and frustration set fire to his paddy fields and then next day committed suicide. It is pertinent to mention here that Sahu had participated in a peaceful demonstration of farmers on October 30 held in Bhubaneswar.
The attack on standing crops by BPH was well-known to officials of the Agriculture Department before October. But they took no sincere steps to contain the menace nor verified the effectiveness of the pesticide. It is grave negligence and dereliction of duty on their part and, therefore, must not be condoned. The officials could have saved lakhs of hectares of paddy fields from attack of pests if timely steps had been taken to contain the disaster.
The basic objective of the Government is to develop the State in all respects. But the State Government’s measures to improve agriculture, which employs a whopping 64 per cent of rural population, are absolutely negligible. Farms and farmers require basic infrastructures which include irrigation, effective technology and electricity along with suitable instruction to farmers by farm experts regarding modern cultivation including use of pesticides. Irrigation is of paramount importance for higher production. The Government has not thought of any innovative idea of constructing barrages to preserve the downstream water of the Mahanadi for irrigation letting the water flows down to sea. While neighbouring States like Andhra and Chhattisgarh are constructing barrages utilising our water resources for irrigation facilities for their lands, our Government is merely lodging complaints and protests against use of our waters by others. The lift irrigation system is not effectively implemented though it could have helped farming a great lot for better crops. Moreover, Odisha has a vast coastal belt and has a favourable climate for cultivation of a variety of crops, vegetables, edible oils and various cereal crops. The State is spending more than Rs 60,000 crore in importing these items from other States though these crops can easily be abundantly produced in the State if provided with basic infrastructures. The Government should also take instant steps to build the required numbers cold storages to preserve the vegetables for off seasons. It is also the responsibility of the State Government to fix minimum support prices of all agricultural commodities to ensure a remunerative return for the farmers for their labour.
As per a report of the National Sample Survey, the average monthly income of a farmer in Odisha is less than Rs 5,000 compared with the national average of Rs 6,426. Would it be possible on the part of a poor farmer of Odisha to maintain his family with this meagre incomeIJ Both the State and Union Governments are not worried over the distressed conditions of the farmers. Why did not the Government consider farmers’ problem when it sanctioned the 7th Pay Commission’ recommendationsIJ Is not the State Government aware of the fact that income of an average farmer per month is less than one-fourth of the monthly pay of a peon of the GovernmentIJ
Realising the appalling conditions of farmers, the popular Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should formulate a policy that would provide basic infrastructural facilities to the farmers which would be helpful for a higher growth of their agricultural produces. He should also constantly press the Central Government for fixing a minimum price of Rs 3,000 per quintal of paddy as minimum profit for the farmers. The Chief Minister, who is recognised as the ‘Best Administrator’ in the country, should make ‘best efforts’ to come to the aid of the aggrieved farmers since they form the backbone of the State’s economy.
(The writer, who lives at Baramunda, Plot No. 1662/2351, Bhubaneswar, is a columnist)