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Agriculture

Agriculture distress draws

attention of one and all

It is good that political parties are gaining a better understanding of farmers’ deteriorating
condition but offering populist solution like debt waiver is not a remedy for the chronic problems
faced by the agriculture sector, writes komal amit gera
n the year of general elections in a our economy. Though, over the years its the protest by them in October 2018.
democratic set-up, the issues and contribution in gross domestic product The three major demands on which
insights are of tremendous sig- of our country has declined, yet it ab- the decisions of the committees is ex-
nificance - not because they help sorbs the largest proportion of working pected are — crop Insurance, stray
I to draw the battle lines between population of our country. animals and Kisan Credit Card. They
political parties but more so in shaping The defeat of Bharatiya Janata Party want the insurance to be optional and it
up the minds of the voters. Sometimes, (BJP) in the recently held Assembly should not be compulsory for the farm-
insignificant issues are given promi- elections of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh er. The farmers, in many cases do not
nence to distract the electorates from and Chhattisgarh is a big indication of even know that their crop is insured
the real issues and many times relevant growing unrest among the farmers and the premium is deducted from
issues gather momentum during the and farm labourers and particularly their loan account without informing
run-up-to elections. among the farmers with small land- them.
For the upcoming general elections, holdings who are unable to get benefits “We want this clause to be incorpo-
the issue of agricultural distress has of the schemes announced with much rated in the Fasal Bima Yojna that only
acquired national attention and dif- fanfare. those farmers who wish to get the crop
ferent political parties are expected to The national spokesperson of Bhar- insurance should be insured. The insur-
play their card to reap the maximum tiya Kisan Union, Rakesh Tikait told ance companies are privately owned,
advantage. The political parties gain- Tehelka that the policy makers must work solely for profit and have different
ing a better understanding of farmers’ understand the pain and sufferings of business model. We must be apprised
deteriorating condition is an indica- the cultivators. He told that the farm- of the details of insurance cover and if
tor of healthy democracy but offering ers were waiting for the outcome of the acceptable to a farmer then only his
populist solution like debt waiver is not committees constituted by the govern- crop should be covered under the
a remedy for the chronic problems of ment for the demands raised during insurance scheme”, said Tikait. The
agriculture sector. issue of stray animals should also be
The spree of farm debt waiver was tackled seriously as farmers at many
started in down south when in 2014 Congress has places have lost crops, he added.
Andhra Pradesh announced a farm The third demand on KCC is that
debt relief of 24,000 cr and Telengana been working on a the compulsion of repayment of the
of 17,000 cr with an eye on electoral comprehensive plan entire principal amount after the com-
gains. Tamil Nadu followed the foot- pletion of one year for a short time to
steps of its neighbouring states with to ease the plight become eligible again for Kisan Credit
6,092 cr farm bailout in 2016. Under of farmers in the Card should be revisited. Tikait told that
the same political compulsions, in 2017, except for large farmers, most of the
Maharashtra waived off 34,000 cr of country. The plan will farmers do not have the cash to repay
farm loans and Uttar Pradesh 34,000 be unveiled before the entire amount. “If we were cash rich
cr. The state of Punjab, also announced and had the ability to repay, we would
a 10,000 cr relief for debt-ridden farm- the nation in the not have borrowed again and again”.
ers in the same year. party’s manifesto According to Tikait, farmers’ voice
Agriculture sector is the edifice of would be heard loud during this elec-

Tehelka / 15 february 2019 23 www.Tehelka.com