Allowing our farmers to grow with the developed India

Asim Boral — Farmers are vanishing from the developed world, creating havoc in our eco system .There will be a huge shortage of foods if this vital sector and its traditional people are not looked after properly. India is a land of farmers credited with solving our food problems since 1970’s green revolution under the greatest scientist M. S. Swaminathan with patronage from late world leader Indira Gandhi. What was once India – a hungry country in 70s – turning to be one of highest exporter of food grains in 2013 with more than 40 % of India's produce have exposure to export to other countries even though India has the poorest storage and logistic system in the world such that more than 30 % of produce is wasted in transportation, by rain, and by eating away by rats.

Let us do some analysis. Looking at the census of the total farming community, irrespective of caste, would help our planners to formulate a comprehensive policy toward this most vital entrepreneur of food producer; perhaps more than 60% of our population depends on this farming entrepreneurship to feed the entire 1.2 billion people of India. So focus on them and their development with the most modern technology. Make world class irrigation system, proper storage system. They need all-round help from the government so that no farmers re lost to suicide and other miseries and are treated on par with other big entrepreneurs who contribute to the development of India.

This is the greatest opportunity for the Indian government to do inclusive growth of this most vital entrepreneur called farmer as the world is looking at India for the next generation of development. With its unique blend of young (80%) and old expert (20 %) farmers, perhaps India may feed the entire world for its hunger after 2025 the when entire farming community of the world will vanish from other parts of the world. India's GDP will likely grow more than 16 % after 2020, if this vital sector is properly looked after.

 

About the Author

Asim Boral, a science graduate from Calcutta University of West Bengal, India, is a retired Senior Marketing Manager of the largest Steel Company in India. After retirement, he joined the Indian National Congress and started writing regular articles in Times of India, a national English daily, on various issues from politics to social causes. He is now engaged for service to a big NGO – Bharat Sevashram Sangha – which serves worldwide, from USA to Fiji. Now 64, he lives in a Mega city Ahmedabad, Gujarat state of India and enjoys practicing his expertise in rain water harvesting and biodynamic farming system.