Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Farmers set an example' that was published in Newsband

Farmers set an example

Six-day march of nearly 200 km from Nashik to Mumbai by thousands of farmers to sensitise the government to their problems was made in most disciplined manner. Many Mumbaikars not only backed the stir but also pitched in to help with food, water, medical aid, and even footwear. Devendra Fadnavis’s administration dealt with the issue effectively.

Fadnavis said he respected them and had no problem in accepting most of their demands, leading the farmers to end the stir and board special trains to go back home. This should serve as a model for protesters and administrators across India,

Demands for raising the minimum support price in line with the M.S. Swaminathan Commission report are spreading, The BJP-led government at the Centre, which has been promising doubling of farm incomes and higher prices, and is to seek re-election a year from now, would do well to take note too. Maharashtra farmers’ agitation has underscored need to solve famers’ problems urgently.

All farmers cannot be classified in just one category. There will be those who own irrigated land and those who depend on monsoon rain. Then there will be small/medium and large farmers. There can be many categories. Point is that each category has own peculiar problems, some of which are related to droughts, excess or untimely rains, some are market related and some are created by inept handling of farm issues. Is it not time that we deal with problems of farmers (not part time) who own less than two hectares of land on a priority basis? All urbanites will be happy if this category gets some assistance, with a condition that benefits are credited to their bank accounts.

The only real solution is to tax agri income above a thresh hold. Huge incomes are buried under agriculture now because it is tax free. Government can drive out all money launderers from there by taxing the income apart from raising resources from the rich 'farmers' to pay the poor ones.

Inequitable concessions to a particular sector would only breed inefficiency. Government must quickly see ways to improve agri sector's efficiency and contribution to GDP by newer ways of plantation and irrigation. They must be encouraged to focus on value added crops by adopting technology such as the ones offered by Israel. Government must help them in finding markets overseas and exporting their products. Farmers should also shed their inhibitions and have an open mind towards assimilating newer things. They should first get rid of the mentality to seek protection from Government by way of loan waiver or MSPs.

The plight of farmers in the areas mainly in rural Maharashtra and interior north Karnataka has always been a point of concern. The increasing cost of inputs, irrigation woes, lack of sufficient returns on their crops been the major factors for this plight of farmers. Lack of agricultural activities force the agricultural labourers to migrate to uncertain future.

At one end, when the conditions of farmers are going from bad to worse due to not getting the basic input cost for their efforts, the end consumers are bearing the high cost of agricultural produce. This clearly shows the high cost of supply and profit that the middlemen are making.

Mere PDS will not work here. A proper mechanism is to be put in place so that farmer gets its due and the end consumer gets the farm produce at a reasonable price. This issue requires a national priority and should be addressed to all the departments.

Farmers in Maharashtra have shown that where there’s will, there is a way. Even though there is still a lot remains to be done, this is nevertheless a significant achievement in their long struggles against state apathy.

Maharashtra CM handled the issue splendidly. He arranged shelter, food and toilets for the protesters all along to Mumbai and finally solved the issue. The protest could have attained the state of riot owing to the nasty politics. But CM tackled the situation diplomatically.