Voices from across the world in support for Indian farmers
 | Shilpa from Chicago, IL, USA says : In every 4 hours, 5 of our farmers terminate their lives because of their undesirable fates. Indian government has completely ignored the sufferings of our farmers and in return of their immense hard work, punishes them with bleak taxation and discrimination. If this continues, our country will evantually lose its roots of farming. We need to step up and raise our voice for our food givers. Let's FAST a day in honor of our food providers and take petition to Indian government for their rights. |
 | Sahil from Delhi, India says : Its a pity that agriculture in India is suffering so badly. While the government is giving strong growth signals to services and manufacturing, it is completely neglecting the sector which drives it all - agriculture. Increased consumerism has led to an increase in the consumption of food grains but our agricultural output has not been keeping pace with this development. This is largely due to flawed economic policies of our government. We all talk of a nine point two per cent growth rate, it becomes a statistical abstraction: 0.2 per cent of our people are growing at 9.92 per cent per annum. But there is a very large number, I don't know how many, whose growth rate is perhaps down to 0.2 per cent. More than 20% of our citizens live below Rs. 15 a day. Thats 20 crore people! What does it speak of India's development now?? The utter apathy displayed by the government to the cause of the farmers is reflected by the number of farmers who have committed suicides due to distress in the Vidharba region of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. The indifference and ignorance of the Maharashtra government can be seen from the fact that last week, they blamed the farmers for their own distress, calling them "Too lazy". If only Mr. Deshmukh had time to visit the distressed villages in Vidarbha rather than attend charity functions for movie-stars. The distribution system is even worse. Tonnes of foodgrains rot in godowns every year. FCI is one of the most corrupt and inefficient PSUs in India. So many schemes providing relief to the farmers have bombed. It is a pity that even today in 2007, we see Starvation deaths in many tribal areas of the country. Even the media is to blame. The Vidarbha crisis has been out for almost 5 years now. A new expert drops in as a paratrooper every day to research the "issue" and "find solutions to crisis." In May 2007, fifty reports would be ready as the farm deaths touch 500. But nobody is taking any action. Few NGOs have come forward. The media has done little to mobilize pubilc opinion in this regard. There is hardly any pressure on the government to initiate a policy change. All we hear about are "Special packages" and "Committees" while the condition of the farmers worsens. No amount of reports and articles can create a change now. Its only the public which will have to stand up and do something for the rights of their fellow countrymen. We can stop roads for demanding a SC status for our children. We can do a "chakka jam" protesting against the government for slightly hurting the religious sentiments. Then why can't we take an ACTION to get our farmers out of the crisis?? Lets go and save the hands that feed us !! BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE ! |
 | Dr. Mohan Bhagat from College Park, MD, USA says : I would like to point out four steps which should be taken to ensure the long term health of Agriculture in India (these are not new, they are essentially similar to what is done in most so-called developed countries) Step1: The civic society using the Govt (the GoI is the appropriate forum)as its mouthpiece, recognizes explicitly that AGRICULTURE and its PRACTITIONERS are essential and therefore we must have proper modalities to ensure their permanence. In other words the practitioners of agriculture MUST be assured a certain percentage of return on their investment so they will Step2: Appropriate support is put into place both at the front end as well as the back end of the production cycle. Availability of ready credit is a must. Step 3: At the front end provide subsidies on seeds, water,power, etc geared to the needs of the farmer (especially the subsistence farmer). In this connection, organic farming should be promoted both because it is less costly and also has been shown to be more than adequate. Step 4. Prior to the time of procurement, adequate surveys must be in place in order to establish the procurement price so that a minimum return is guaranteed. For the sake of argument I will put in a number such as 30 percent of the invesmtment but this needs further discussion. Crop insurance could be a part of this component but will have to be put together with utmost care so that the poor do not end up holding the short end of the stick. Whereas several short term "solutions" come to mind, it has to be recognized that without a basic commitment they are too subject to the vagaries of local politics. |
 | Roopam from Bangalore, India says : "By now, we are well aware of the terrible situations of the farmers in India and the possible reasons behind it. So the bottom line is what we can do? The beginning should be by developing more technologies or may be importing them from the nations which are already using them. We import so many equipments for defense, the same way why can't we import for agricultural domain? Next we could provide farmers with more subsidies; these subsidies should be well proportioned with the inflation in India. Infrastructure improvements are also equally important. Zamindari system should be removed and farmers should be provided with their own lands. The Indian Government should realize the urgency of the problem asap and our job now is to make it happen. Let's grow together!" |
 | Somendra from St. Louis, MO, USA says : India is going to become an economic superpower. And yet we cannot prevent our farmers from commiting suicides who cannot pay debts as small as Rs 8,000. We claim ourselves to become the superpower with a stupendous growth in the service sector but cannot even provide economic security to two-thirds of the population. The entire country is facing a crisis. The situation is critical and spreading from states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka , Maharashtra to other agriculture states such as Haryana, Punjab , West Bengal and Kerala. The cause of deaths are manifold and even after announcing series of relief packages we donot make our farmers feel secure. Undoubtedly the government policies are flawed, but at the same time we also have to come up collectively and try to influence the policy makers and adminstrators in every possible way to take up the neccessary steps to solve the crisis. Governement has to rethink about its policies keeping only the priorities of our farmers in mind and we do have to help them in our own ways. It is our country and a threat to our people is a threat to us. |
| Pavithra from Bloomington, IN, USA says : The old adage that one doesn't realize the value of something till it's lost, even though a cliche, has an underlying truth to it. Till you are in a position where your occupation is to provide food for others but o hungry day after day with no viable alternatives for a decent survival, death does become a welcome host. It is a minimum to empathize with the farmers' plight, however it is of utmost importance to take action. Complaining about the inefficiency of government policies is a song overheard. Instead, if WE ALL take a stand and protest against this injustice in a way that there is an economical impact... the road to reform will begin to get paved. The question is not about money, but about faith that there can be (and should be) a change. Thus, we should get together and think of creative, bold and practical ways of making ourselves heard in such a way that we cannot be ignored. | |
Anoop from Delhi, India says : The distress in Indian agriculture in recent years, as compounded by staggering number of farmer's suicide in recent times is directly correlated with the policies of union government. It's callousness in handling the issue and refusing to acknowledge its responsibility is further worsening the situation. Most of the state governments are blaming the farmers themselves for their condition. They have refused to waive the loans, provide genuine support prices, and are actively promoting Bt varieties of seeds. The farmers are discouraged even from storing or selling their own seeds. | |
 | Deepti from Delhi, India says : To me it's really hard to believe that in India farmers are committing suicide as India is known as the country of farmers. This actually shows that we are not coming close to new era instead we are going away from our roots...Why would we bother about a farmer living far away...Because he is the one who is working hard to feed us.. No matter how much we earn .there are some things that money can't buy and humanity is one of them...so let's do something about our roots ..Something about real India..Something about people who are responsible for the growth of India ! |
 | Shalini from Delhi, India says : The farmers suicides, insecurity,the politics of food in India vis-a-vis Indian Government's love affair with massive investments against the demands of millions- No Justice, No Business! It is now difficult to turn a blind eye to the threat that growing corporate power and influence over an already apathetic government poses and pretend all is safe and fine in one's cocoon. It is indeed a challenge to all those who are committed to the voice of justice, rights, humanity and above all the voice of conscience to assure that those with money and muscle power recognize that We are the People and when people decides empires fall! |
 | Pallavi from Tempe, AZ, USA says : Needless to reiterate how critical the issue of farmers giving up their lives has become. It took us almost 5 long years to even realize the magnitude of the grimness. How can we stay quiet while thousands and thousands of hands who feed us are quietly slipping into the darkness of death. The number of suicides is growing which only reflects the failure of relief packages provided by Indian Government. Hopefully vigil will create the much needed awareness and eventually a voice that cannot be ignored till the justice is given to the Indian farmers who are also one of us. |
 | Pragya from Austin, TX, USA says : We pride ourselves on being the world's largest democracy. We pride ourselves on our globalization and progressiveness. We pride ourselves on being a forward-moving country. Yet somewhere in the midst of running towards the future, we are forgetting the importance of the common farmer. We are forgetting the foundation that feeds this great nation of ours. Overlooking the hand that feeds this country needs to stop, but it will not happen on its own. Change can not occur without action, and action can not occur without awareness. I urge you all to become aware of the plight of the Indian farmer, and do what you can to urge the Indian government to give the farmers their much deserved respect. |
 | Rakesh from Hyderabad, India says: Annadata is one of the few very important things i learnt very early in my life. Annadata revered as GOD. With each passing day, the distress is growing. The GOD who is serving our appetite is suffering. The situation is getting from bad to worse. The money meant for relief is siphoned off in between. Its high time our generation stands up and takes ownership of the most pressing issue of our time. Lets fight this battle.Lets make the Government think of long term measures. Its now or never!!! Annadata needs us. |
 | Sarah from USA says : Agriculture is a perfect lens through which one can see the concept of free market efficiency falling apart. In reality, price is not determined by the forces of demand and supply, producers do not produce optimally and consumers are forced to limit their demands to a select group of foods that afford large profits to agri-business. Markets need to include a more holistic measurement of efficiency that is not solely defined by GDP growth and profit margins. We need to ask why is it efficient that billions of taxpayer dollars subsidize the world's most costly agricultural processes, while no resources remain for healthcare and education? Why is it that genetically modified, chemically doused produce that travels thousands of miles before it reaches consumers, harming everything from soil nutrition and water levels, to biodiversity and human health along the way, is sold in supermarkets for less than what a local farmer using nature friendly techniques is able to provide? Its not that the local farmer is inefficient or greedy, its just that we forgot to inlcude our tax dollars in computing the cost of the supermarket produce. India is about to embark on this dangerous path of allowing agri-business to take control over our food supply and thus increase yields, efficiency and GDP growth. We have a responsibility to not allow small scale, nature friendly and efficient farming practices to fall under the weight of this mindless profit chase. Cast your vote through your dollars in favor of local produce and through your voice in favor of fiscally sound and environmentaly friendly farming policies. |
| Supriya Kumar from Pittsburgh, USA says : Increasingly, it has become important that we trade and do business with other countries, but also keep our environment clean - if we are committed to lowering our Carbon emissions, we should start with making sure our food has not travelled half way across the world and back before arriving on our plate. I hope we in India can embrace locally grown food and support our local farmers. |
 | Darshan Mehra from Noida, India says : मस्तिष्क के पिछ्ले भाग में हमेशा एक विचार आता है “ क्या भारत सही मायनों में विकास कर रहा है ? “बडे शहरों में सूदूर भारत से आये एक मध्यम वर्गीय परीवार के साफ्ट्वेयर ईन्जीयर को खुशहाल होते देखना “भारत के विकास “ का परिमाण तो है परन्तु आये दिन उसी सूदूर भारत के किसान की आत्महत्या की खबर पढ्ना बहुत ही कष्टदायक हैं, क्या ये सही मायनों में विकास है ? जब परमाणु समझौते या आरक्षण को लेकर सरकार इतनी तत्परता दिखा सकती है तो फिर किसानों की आत्महत्या के लिये कोई उपाय क्यूँ नहीं ? सत्ताधारियों के बहरे हो चुके कानों तक एक गूँज पहुँचाने के लिये शायद ये तरीका ही उपयुक्त है ! |
 | Arun from Maryland, USA says : It's extremely depressing to see the number of suicides continuing unabated in different parts of the country. It is appalling that the Govt has largely ignored the fact that their policies(which are totally hostile to the farming community) are at the rootcause of it and have shamelessly taken to blaming the farmers for it. Most of their relief measures have largely been eye-wash without directly reaching the affected. When eminent jornalist P.Sainath says that it is better to be a cow in some Western European country than being a farmer in India, it poignantly projects the state of farmers in our country. Let us all raise our voice in unison and demand the Govt to sit up and take notice, be accountable for the current plight and act immediately to redress the current situation of the farming community. |
 | Sripriya from San Diego, CA, USA says : Have we ever thought what kind of a life the farmer who has produced the vegetables we eat everyday has on a daily basis? How does he survive in the ages of HIGH inflation while we shop around for low-cost food? Why is he being the victim of nefarious advancements made by the agriculture giants in this world? What would he do when his land has been forcibly acquired to make way for a technology hub? The sheer magnitude of the issues he has to deal with is mind-boggling! Let us hope to extend our support in his struggle for leading a respectable life, something which is a given for most of us. |
 | Lakshmi from Baltimore, USA says : Being a farmer's daughter and closely and helplessly witnessing the crisis that is gripping the farming community in India I have always felt a need to do 'something' as a responsible citizen. It is sad that the policies are increasingly pushing farmers towards desperate and distressful situations. The least we can do is show solidarity in their struggle and help in whatever little ways we can. We need to act and act FAST and raise our voices against the people and the policies that are pushing farmers out of agriculture without giving them much of a choice. |
 | Vijay Seshadri from Philadelphia, USA says : The Indian farmers are facing the brunt of inadequate government policies, inability to play an effective ole in WTO, loan disbursements by the PMO is forcing the farmers to commit suicides.The farmes being such a eslient community is resorting to the last resort to save themselves and their families from facing such a reat distress. Let us work together to save our own armers. |
 | Somu from Fairfax, VA, USA says : I feel bad that farmer, who is feeding me everyday, cannot afford two square meals for his kids and himself. I care for his well-being and will fight against the hostile Government policies for his 'Right to Live'. |
 | Ashish from Houston, TX, USA says : Since India’s independence, its policy makers have been relentlessly pursuing large scale irrigation projects and modernization of agriculture without much pre-implementation research or post-implementation analysis. All these policies have given short term benefits, but have had devastated the soils, the environment, and the rural economy in the long run. This has resulted in profits for private entities and suicides of thousands of farmers. After 60 years of independence, it is time the government learned from its mistakes and focused on sustainable, small scale, and wholistic solutions to improve the lives of India’s farmers. |
