Conventional analysis of the well-being of farmers often looked at the productivity, yields and income derived from their farms. However it is increasingly realized that this by itself is a narrow, inadequate and short-term view.
This ignores important factors such as sustainability, bio-diversity and environment protection, costs incurred by farmers and the extent of their dependence, creativity and sense of satisfaction farmers have in their work, impact of farming on their health, nutrition made available by their farming to their own families (apart from others who buy their produce). Of course the economic well-being of the farmer is very important but this must be understood in a wider context.
It has been seen in the context of the experience of several countries that the supposed achievement of high yields and productivity during certain periods turn out to be very costly later if these were achieved at the cost of environmental degradation generally and more specifically by harming the most basic important resources of soil and water.
It has been seen in the context of the experience of several countries that the supposed achievement of high yields and productivity during certain periods turn out to be very costly later if these were achieved at the cost of environmental degradation generally and more specifically by harming the most basic important resources of soil and water.
A question arises regarding whether there is adequate caring in such a situation for the next generation of farmers, or even for the needs of present-day farmers after two decades or even lesser time of ecologically harmful farming.
Of course the question of environment protection cannot be seen in isolation as this is directly related to the well-being of farmers. The famous environmental activist Sunderlal Bahuguna used to say, “Ecology is the economy of permanence.” On the other hand if for quick yield gains or due to changes made under big business pressures environment is disrupted, then whatever benefit is achieved will be very short-lived.
In a country like India and a state like Punjab where most of the farmers are small farmers with a low resource base and farming work is anyway dependent a lot on weather conditions, it is a good risk-minimizing strategy not to incur high costs and debts in farming. It is difficult for small farmers to pay back debts, particularly as these come with a high interest rate, frequently compound interest.
Of course the question of environment protection cannot be seen in isolation as this is directly related to the well-being of farmers. The famous environmental activist Sunderlal Bahuguna used to say, “Ecology is the economy of permanence.” On the other hand if for quick yield gains or due to changes made under big business pressures environment is disrupted, then whatever benefit is achieved will be very short-lived.
In a country like India and a state like Punjab where most of the farmers are small farmers with a low resource base and farming work is anyway dependent a lot on weather conditions, it is a good risk-minimizing strategy not to incur high costs and debts in farming. It is difficult for small farmers to pay back debts, particularly as these come with a high interest rate, frequently compound interest.
Hence a key to sustainable well-being of farmers is for them not to invest too heavily in cash-purchased external inputs and implements, and to avoid taking too many loans. On the other hand the creativity of farmers should be best directed to making use of local village resources in such ways that high cost cash purchases of inputs can be avoided.
As seen from the examples from several villages in India and elsewhere, such low-cost and self-reliant methods are certainly possible and have been able to give reasonable yields, particularly in mixed farming systems in which several crops are grown together and the combined yield from them is added to find the total yield.
However the green revolution in Punjab promoted an opposite strategy of heavy dependence on certain types of seeds needing high doses of increasingly costly chemical fertilizers and pesticides whose excessive use also had very harmful impact on soil, water and health.
However the green revolution in Punjab promoted an opposite strategy of heavy dependence on certain types of seeds needing high doses of increasingly costly chemical fertilizers and pesticides whose excessive use also had very harmful impact on soil, water and health.
A few years after the advent of the green revolution it started becoming clear that Punjab’s farmers were in the grip of a severe agro-ecological crisis. Before the advent of the green revolution, Punjab grew a wide diversity of crops and crop-varieties using time respected crop rotations and mixed farming systems.
These were able to exist in compatibility with local soil, water and climate conditions so that even after hundreds of years of cultivation there was no heavy stress on soil and water. However, the green revolution technology started creating stress for soil and water within just one or two decades.
Loss of biodiversity and narrow genetic base of crops brought by the green revolution technology led to greater vulnerability to heavy damage from diseases and pests, in turn requiring heavy use of hazardous chemical pesticides and other agro chemicals. Along with several other forms of biodiversity several kinds of pollinators and earthworms (as well as other soil organisms) contributing a lot to natural soil fertility were also lost on a massive scale.
High dependence on heavy and unbalanced use of chemical fertilizers depletes the fertility of land. Chemical fertilizers cannot enhance the soil’s organic matter which is the key to fertility. Heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers ultimately leads to a situation where more and more of these have to be used just to maintain the existing yields at rising costs. This is precisely what appears to have happened in Punjab at a relatively early stage.
In Punjab the consumption of fertilizers NPK chemical fertilizers increased from about 1 kg. per hectare in 1960-61 (before the green revolution) to 37 kg per hectare in 1970-71 to 168 kg. per hectare in 2001 and 257 kg. per hectare in 2015-16. Use of insecticides/ pesticides increased from negligible amounts before the green revolution to 3200 M.T. in 1980-81 to 5843 M.T. in 2015-16.
Chemical fertilizers are much less suitable for tropical climate and soil compared to temperate areas. Here their contribution to pollution as well as long term damage to soil fertility is much more. The deeper root growth important for preventing any deficiency of micronutrients has also been hampered due to the formation of pan by chemical fertilizers.
So it is not surprising that farmers in Punjab soon experienced rising costs and almost stagnant yields. The farmers’ costs also increased further due to over investment in mechanization. As per information provided by Punjab State Farmers Commission, the state has double the number of tractors it requires.
High dependence on heavy and unbalanced use of chemical fertilizers depletes the fertility of land. Chemical fertilizers cannot enhance the soil’s organic matter which is the key to fertility. Heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers ultimately leads to a situation where more and more of these have to be used just to maintain the existing yields at rising costs. This is precisely what appears to have happened in Punjab at a relatively early stage.
In Punjab the consumption of fertilizers NPK chemical fertilizers increased from about 1 kg. per hectare in 1960-61 (before the green revolution) to 37 kg per hectare in 1970-71 to 168 kg. per hectare in 2001 and 257 kg. per hectare in 2015-16. Use of insecticides/ pesticides increased from negligible amounts before the green revolution to 3200 M.T. in 1980-81 to 5843 M.T. in 2015-16.
Chemical fertilizers are much less suitable for tropical climate and soil compared to temperate areas. Here their contribution to pollution as well as long term damage to soil fertility is much more. The deeper root growth important for preventing any deficiency of micronutrients has also been hampered due to the formation of pan by chemical fertilizers.
So it is not surprising that farmers in Punjab soon experienced rising costs and almost stagnant yields. The farmers’ costs also increased further due to over investment in mechanization. As per information provided by Punjab State Farmers Commission, the state has double the number of tractors it requires.
At the same time farmers’ returns were further eroded by exploitative practices in marketing of farm produce. All this led all too soon to increasing economic distress of farmers resulting in high levels of indebtedness. This situation was not altered to any significant extent by farm subsidies which had lower reach-out to small farmers.
A recent study of Punjab’s small peasantry by Sukhpal Singh and Shruti Bhogal has stated:
A recent study of Punjab’s small peasantry by Sukhpal Singh and Shruti Bhogal has stated:
“Punjab’s farmers are reeling under debt. Of the sampled farmers, 88% had an average debt of Rs 218,092 per household… In the era of globalisation, the rate of increase in the costs of cultivation has been much faster than that of farm produce prices. Therefore, the increase in income from farming was not sufficient to meet domestic and farm expenditure, which led a large proportion of farmers in Punjab into a debt trap. It was found that 89% of marginal farmers and 91% of small farmers were in debt…
It is important to underline that the relative indebtedness of marginal and small farm households was many times higher than that of large farm households...Marginal farmers were the major sufferers as their debt was much more than their annual income, followed by small farmers… Indebtedness approaches bankruptcy when a loan is more than two or three times a family’s annual income, which is close to acute/extreme stress. It was found that this was inversely associated with farm size. About one-fourth of marginal and 12.12% of small farmers were under acute stress.” (EPW, 2014).
The increasing distress of farmers has unfortunately also led to thousands of suicides. A census survey on suicides conducted in the most affected six districts namely Bathinda, Sangrur, Mansa, Barnala, Moga and Ludhiana revealed that 3507 farmers committed suicide in these districts during the period 2000-11. Out of these suicides 74 per cent were committed due to economic distress and indebtedness. 80 per cent of these suicides were by small farmers cultivating less than five acres of land. The average debt in such cases was Rs. 234,541(S. Sidhu, et al, Punjab Agriculture University,2012).
According to another census survey of two worst affected districts Sangrur and Bathinda between 2000 and 2008, 1757 farmers committed suicides out of which 1288 were committed primarily due to indebtedness, while 469 were committed due to other reasons.
The increasing distress of farmers has unfortunately also led to thousands of suicides. A census survey on suicides conducted in the most affected six districts namely Bathinda, Sangrur, Mansa, Barnala, Moga and Ludhiana revealed that 3507 farmers committed suicide in these districts during the period 2000-11. Out of these suicides 74 per cent were committed due to economic distress and indebtedness. 80 per cent of these suicides were by small farmers cultivating less than five acres of land. The average debt in such cases was Rs. 234,541(S. Sidhu, et al, Punjab Agriculture University,2012).
According to another census survey of two worst affected districts Sangrur and Bathinda between 2000 and 2008, 1757 farmers committed suicides out of which 1288 were committed primarily due to indebtedness, while 469 were committed due to other reasons.
“The average size of holding in such cases was three acres and the average debt was Rs 1.15 lakh, while average income was only Rs 58,000. A significant fall in cotton productivity during the period of 1997 to 2003, heavy investments on digging/ deepening of bore wells due to a steep fall in the groundwater table and unproductive expenditure on social ceremonies were primarily responsible for causing economic distress in these farming families in these districts.”( Sidhu R.S. 2011, EPW).
Studies and reports on these suicides have mentioned many heart-rending stories of extreme distress. In some cases two or more members of a single family have committed suicide. In other cases one suicide led to conditions in which another suicide followed. In other situations failed suicide attempts led to hospitalization the cost of which greatly increases the indebtedness which was the original cause of the suicide. The sufferings of family members particularly women increased greatly after suicides. As pointed out by Sidhu et al in their 2011 paper:
“The after-effects of suicide in these families were catastrophic and rehabilitation measures were largely missing. Most of the families lost their breadwinners and were fighting poverty. The children had dropped out from schools, land and other assets sold for living, marriage of daughters postponed and family members suffered depression in a large number of cases. There was almost no state or social support for such families. These families wanted one time financial support in the form of lump sum money or continuous support in the form of pension or jobs for the next of kin of the deceased farmers, besides free access to educational and health facilities”.
The extreme distress suffered by families of suicide and attempted suicide victims also comes out very vividly and tragically in the interviews conducted by Ranjana Padhi. Her findings of interviews conducted with 136 respondents from such families revealed that over 70 per cent had resorted to death by consuming pesticides. In these interviews loan pressure was reported by 79 per cent of the respondents as the major cause of suicide. Harassment by the loan agency (arhtiya and bank recovery agents) was mentioned by 48 per cent of the respondents as a cause. Non-payment of crops by arthiyas was mentioned by 14 per cent of respondents as a cause of suicides. This study revealed the worsening landholding situation of the families of suicide victims. Landholding size has decreased. Landlessness has also increased. Many such families have been forced to sell their land. (Book titled ‘Those who did not die’, 2012).
Hence it is clear that farmers of Punjab have been experiencing immense distress and stress. The government claims that it provides a lot of subsides a substantial share of which goes to Punjab as Punjab is the leading state in the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and in addition there is huge electricity subsidy too, which takes away the bulk of what the state government has to offer in terms of its support for farmers.
“The after-effects of suicide in these families were catastrophic and rehabilitation measures were largely missing. Most of the families lost their breadwinners and were fighting poverty. The children had dropped out from schools, land and other assets sold for living, marriage of daughters postponed and family members suffered depression in a large number of cases. There was almost no state or social support for such families. These families wanted one time financial support in the form of lump sum money or continuous support in the form of pension or jobs for the next of kin of the deceased farmers, besides free access to educational and health facilities”.
The extreme distress suffered by families of suicide and attempted suicide victims also comes out very vividly and tragically in the interviews conducted by Ranjana Padhi. Her findings of interviews conducted with 136 respondents from such families revealed that over 70 per cent had resorted to death by consuming pesticides. In these interviews loan pressure was reported by 79 per cent of the respondents as the major cause of suicide. Harassment by the loan agency (arhtiya and bank recovery agents) was mentioned by 48 per cent of the respondents as a cause. Non-payment of crops by arthiyas was mentioned by 14 per cent of respondents as a cause of suicides. This study revealed the worsening landholding situation of the families of suicide victims. Landholding size has decreased. Landlessness has also increased. Many such families have been forced to sell their land. (Book titled ‘Those who did not die’, 2012).
Hence it is clear that farmers of Punjab have been experiencing immense distress and stress. The government claims that it provides a lot of subsides a substantial share of which goes to Punjab as Punjab is the leading state in the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and in addition there is huge electricity subsidy too, which takes away the bulk of what the state government has to offer in terms of its support for farmers.
If despite subsidies the farmers are distressed and at the same time the basic resource base of farming in the form of soil and water is being harmed seriously, then should we not question the desirability of the continuation of this same farming pattern at a very basic level?
Yet this is not being done and solutions are being sought by and large within the same paradigm. The government is bothered about some specific aspects such as stubble burning and excessive paddy cultivation leading to water table depletion, and with this limited understanding only limited or even reductionist solutions are proposed which by themselves will not go very far.
Yet this is not being done and solutions are being sought by and large within the same paradigm. The government is bothered about some specific aspects such as stubble burning and excessive paddy cultivation leading to water table depletion, and with this limited understanding only limited or even reductionist solutions are proposed which by themselves will not go very far.
Green revolution technology started creating stress for soil and water in just one or two decades
If one type of unsustainable practices are replaced by other types of agro-chemical intensive monocultures or even GM crops, the unsustainability problems will not be solved but may even worsen. On their part farmers’ organizations are now mainly raising the issue of higher procurement price. However if their demand for this is met without introducing important environment protection steps, this will be an incentive to further intensify the existing ecologically destructive farming pattern.
Farmers’ movement had successfully resisted some types of business domination some time back which was a very good initiative of the movement, but even at that even worse aspects of big business domination such as GM crops were not opposed and the inherently big business orientation of the entire existing system was also not resisted.
It is important now to shift to ecologically protective mixed farming pattern in Punjab. The debate should be more about how to take this forward and make it a satisfactory and sustainable livelihood for farmers. Of course not all will come forward for this and several of the bigger farmers may be more interested in a managerial kind of role in the existing system, not in very creative natural farming which involves very close involvement with nature and with farming. However there can be more hope from small farmers.
It is important now to shift to ecologically protective mixed farming pattern in Punjab. The debate should be more about how to take this forward and make it a satisfactory and sustainable livelihood for farmers. Of course not all will come forward for this and several of the bigger farmers may be more interested in a managerial kind of role in the existing system, not in very creative natural farming which involves very close involvement with nature and with farming. However there can be more hope from small farmers.
In a plot of four acres or so, a small farmer can grow wheat, perhaps a little rice also, plus maize and other millets, some legumes and oilseeds, a little sugarcane, perhaps some spices too, and also have one or two multi-layer vegetable gardens, each growing perhaps about 20 kinds of vegetables a year, and have a small fruit orchard of different fruit trees, plus a few flowers and medicinal plants. Suitable rotations and mixed farming can be worked out, keeping in view soil and other conditions.
There can be some other useful trees like neem nearer to the fence. A few indigenous cows and a buffalo or two as well are important, fed mainly from crop residues and oilcakes generated within farm. Bees and a few poultry birds of indigenous species can further diversify the farm. Farmers can be encouraged to save and exchange seeds. Farm waste generated manures and organic pest repelling agents, with a few low-cost additives, can be prepared on the farm or obtained from local village at a very low cost.
To cure or heal the soil presently under the harmful impact of agro-chemicals, patches of land can be treated by a farmer with organic manure till the entire land is cured over a period of about four or five years. A small part of the land can be used to prepare a farm pond, for conserving and recharging rainwater.
Variants of such systems have been working successfully for many farmers in various parts of the country. The cash expenses of farmers are minimized in such a system. Cash returns come not just from the main crop but also all around the year from smaller sales of a diversity of other crops and milk. At the same time, the farmer becomes almost self-sufficient in meeting family needs of food and nutrition, in the form of such healthy food that the possibilities of diseases are minimized.
This is a highly creative farming system, and farmers will no doubt continue to add a lot more as they progress on this path. What is important is that on this path sustainability with better returns is ensured as soil and water resources continue to improve.
This is a highly creative farming system, and farmers will no doubt continue to add a lot more as they progress on this path. What is important is that on this path sustainability with better returns is ensured as soil and water resources continue to improve.
What is more, with a diversity of cereals, millets, spices, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables and fruits being grown, with milk also available, the basic raw materials for several agro-processing small scale units are also available, again providing the space for a lot of creativity as groups of villagers including women become very capable of meeting health food needs of nearby towns on their own.
As a premium for health food is available and big cities like Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Chandigarh are located close by, and Delhi too is not too far away, much more can be earned by selling healthy food produced and processed in ecologically protective and healthy ways.
At the village community level, there should be greater cooperation so that more labour-intensive work involving seasonality can be completed in time with the cooperation with each other, one household helping the other and vice-versa, avoiding cash wages. Community efforts should be mobilized to increase water conservation, rainwater harvesting, greening of community land, planting of indigenous species trees and protection of existing ones. Some implements and tools can be kept at community level to save higher individual expenses.
It is for such a highly creative, ecologically protective system producing healthy and nutritious food that the government help should be sought in such a way that all the subsidies and help reach farmers directly, with special emphasis on marginal, small and medium farmers, without involving any intermediaries. The government should be most helpful in terms of extending all support for such changes, apart from providing a very fair price for such healthy produce.
At the village community level, there should be greater cooperation so that more labour-intensive work involving seasonality can be completed in time with the cooperation with each other, one household helping the other and vice-versa, avoiding cash wages. Community efforts should be mobilized to increase water conservation, rainwater harvesting, greening of community land, planting of indigenous species trees and protection of existing ones. Some implements and tools can be kept at community level to save higher individual expenses.
It is for such a highly creative, ecologically protective system producing healthy and nutritious food that the government help should be sought in such a way that all the subsidies and help reach farmers directly, with special emphasis on marginal, small and medium farmers, without involving any intermediaries. The government should be most helpful in terms of extending all support for such changes, apart from providing a very fair price for such healthy produce.
As this ecologically protective farming also has the benefits of climate change mitigation and adaptation, the funds available for this can be used additionally to help farmers. Debt relief can be announced for all farmers taking up such initiatives, so that they are not held back by the burden of past debt.
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*Prof. Jagmohan Singh is Chairman, Shahid Bhagat Singh Centenary Committee. Bharat Dogra is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now; recent books: "India’s Quest for Sustainable Farming and Healthy Food"
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*Prof. Jagmohan Singh is Chairman, Shahid Bhagat Singh Centenary Committee. Bharat Dogra is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now; recent books: "India’s Quest for Sustainable Farming and Healthy Food"
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