December 5, 2019
Kalyan Banerjee speaks during a discussion on crop loss and its impact on farmers
FULL TRANSCRIPT
There are a number of reasons for the loss of crops in our country. One of the reasons is the use of harmful synthetic chemicals. Government policy was produce more and become prosperous. It has now become produce and perish for our Indian farmers, because they are using external synthetic chemicals during farming, which causes degradation of 25 per cent of land. Soil and water is poisoned with these synthetic chemicals, which are causing loss of crops in various parts of this country.
So, government must take a policy decision regarding the utilisation of the harmful synthetic chemicals used in the agricultural field, whether it should continue or discontinue, where would be the cut off line, what should be done. That should be the decision to be taken.
I am coming to genetically modified seeds. A number of social activist groups and studies proposed a link between expensive genetically modified crops and farmers’ resale. Bt cotton was held responsible for farmers’ suicides. The cotton seeds crop really twice as much as ordinary ones. The high cost forced many farmers taking even larger loans from private money lenders charging exorbitant interest rates. The money lenders force farmers to sell their cotton to them at a price lower it trades on the market.
According to the activists and the studies, this leads to debt and economic stress, ultimately leading to suicide among farmers, due to the increasing cost in farming, along with decreasing yields.
Next one is the misdirection of government subsidies and funds. As per reports, by the central government and NCRB, government farming subsidies from 1993 to 2018, they mostly went to produce dealers of seeds and fertilisers and not to farmers. It is not that the government is not doing it. But, it is ultimately to whom it is going. It is going to the dealers. In 2017, Rs 35,000 crore worth of loans and subsidies were given to entities in the cities of New Delhi and Chandigarh, cities that do not have any farmers. Similarly, in Maharashtra, 60 per cent of the government loans and subsidies were given to people and entities residing in Mumbai. This has resulted in money being circulated between the government banks, large and small corporations, and politicians without any of it reaching farmers, aggravating their woes.
I am not saying that the government is not releasing the subsidies, but to whom is it going? It is going to the hands of the few entities of Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh. It is not going to the villages, the farmers. They are not getting it. Middlemen are enjoying this. Therefore today, the government needs to review this. They need to immediately audit the funds which have been released as subsidies, checking up of the entire scenario. Has it actually it has gone to the farmers, or this is being enjoyed by middlemen? That has to be looked into.
Next is the ground impact of cyclones. Cyclones in coastal areas severely affect field crops, horticulture crops through direct damage by high speed winds, torrential rains and extensive flooding. High tide may bring saline water and sand mass making the field unsuitable for agriculture. ‘Super Cyclone’ in 1999 and ‘Pailan’ in 2013 severely affected crop production and livelihood of farmers in coastal areas in eastern coast of India.
Sir, recently the cyclone Bulbul that battered the coastal districts of West Bengal, has caused a loss of Rs 23,811 crore in the State. Standing crop was damaged as well. Total Rs 14,89,924 hectare agricultural land was affected in the state of West Bengal and five lakh houses have been damaged by Cyclone Bulbul. West Bengal Government has given Rs 1,200 crore to the affected people of the state.
Sir, I want to point out that when the Bulbul struck the State, our Hon’ble Chief Minister visited the affected areas. At that time the Hon’ble Prime Minister also had a talk over the telephone with the Hon’ble Chief Minister and assured that the compensation would be given. But till now West Bengal has not received any money. But in the case of Gujarat, we have seen, overnight you have given it. Overnight compensation had been given to Gujarat, but in the case of West Bengal, another ruling party is there, therefore you are not giving it.
Why this discrimination in case of farmers? Farmers are farmers, as a class, whether he stays at Gujarat, whether he stays at Kerala, whether he stays at West Bengal. I will request the Hon’ble Minister to look into this. Not only West Bengal. Three lakh hectares of crops have been affected in Odisha too, as per the reports of the State Government.
Sir, now I come to another reason – that is a human-elephant conflict. In India, 111 elephant corridors are there in the States of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Karnataka, and Kerala. The crops damaged due to elephant include over one million hectares of agricultural land, destroying paddy and maize crops. We need to reduce this human-elephant conflict to save the crops.
Sir, between 1953 to 2017, India suffered damage of crops due to floods worth Rs 1,225.621 crore, nearly 30 per cent of the total damage, which is Rs 3,78,247.047 crore. As per the data from Central Water Commission, between 2016-17 to 2019 crop loss due to floods in major States are: West Bengal 11.71 lakh hectares, Bihar 11.82 lakh hectares, Uttar Pradesh 12.67 lakh hectares.
Pollution impact on agriculture is also an important factor. Air pollution damage in human health is well established, but apart from its link to illness including heart diseases and asthma, pollution is also damaging the yield of food’s nutritional quality and safety, imposing a major risk of food security.
I will request the hon’ble minister, through you Sir, today time has come to look into this angle. Air pollution is not only affecting the human beings, this is also affecting the crops also. Pollution and agricultural production is now interlinked; the link is there. In india, due to the high level of pollutants, an increasing proportion of agricultural land is being affected by air pollution. Research found, in between 1980-2010 yields are 36 per cent lower than they would have without air pollution traits. In 2010, this loss was more than 24 million tonnes, which in India is worth around Rs 5 billion.
Sir, so far the suicide is concerned, it is increasing day by day. Sir, we have seen 12,000 suicides reported in the agricultural sector. Every year since 2013 farmers suicide account for approximately 10 per cent of the total suicides. Out of these, 3,000 farmers suicides in 2015, the victims have had huge debts to local bank. Maharashtra had 1,293 suicides. Karnataka had 946 and when the suicides have been committed in Karnataka and Maharashtra, the government was BJP led government.
Sir, I will conclude, but before that, I want to say two things. Often I hear that “Jo kitab padke kisan ka baat bolta hai unka baat kisan ka baat nhi hota hain”. I often hear it. We are also Members of Parliament. We also have concern. So, koi din ayega, jab koi bolega ki criminal law janne ke liye crime karne ka zarurat hai. Yeh kya baat hai? Do not just diminish someone’s position. A son was born in the family of farmers, we have all respect. But do not disrespect others who are not coming from the farmers’ family; I will beg to differ on that.
Now sir, what is the solution? Small and marginal farmers should be encouraged to pull their land to leverage. The advantage associated with it in larger land, such as the use of modern and mechanised farming techniques. Water supply for irrigation must be insulated from the vagaries of nature by better water management system. Attention must particularly be paid to rain water harvesting and resolution of inter-state water sharing dispute.
Farmers must necessarily be educated about modern farming techniques and practices. Younger professionals must be encouraged to participate in farming activities. Farm loans and soft interest rates need to be made available and loan recovery procedures need to respect human rights. Farmers should be discouraged to deal with private money lenders. That is the most important part.
Sir, again I am requesting to the Hon’ble Minister to kindly ensure subsidies reach farmers. You are giving; it is going from the central government fund. It should go to the farmers and not to the entities of the city.
Before concluding, I would like to reiterate that Cyclone Bulbul has affected West Bengal. We have seen the loss. I have spoken about the quantum of losses. There was also a telephonic assurance given by the Hon’ble Prime Minister to our Hon’ble Chief Minister about compensation. I would request you to expedite it.
Thank you, Sir.
