Summer of 2014 in Punjab
The month of June brings life in farmers in rural Punjab and they start ploughing fields to prepare for paddy because the govt. deadline is coming closer and they can hope to sow paddy.This year the hectic farm activities were missing because farmers were fearful about the electricity supply. Frequent cuts were making them worried and paddy sowing was delayed.I was wondering,"why the only lively-hood of farmers was being denied to them just because the Punjab government's failure to secure supply of electricity ?" Oblivious of the worries of farmers the Kheti-bari experts were crying hoarse on television channels to reduce the sowing of Basmati as markets are bleak for this variety.Such announcements go in favour of Artiyas and rice sheller owners who start spreading fear that this year Basmati will not get its price. And when basmati is harvested they can exploit farmers to maximum by buying at lowest rates.The debt ridden farmers have no alternative then to buck down before this artificially created market strategy. They have no holding powers so they sell at low rates under duress.This situation should make us all ashamed that we create such horrific situations for the poor farmers that he has to live under stress all the time. Governments lip service and free electricity can never change the actual bad situation of marginal farmers. All state governments in India need greater sensitivities to the issues of farmers.
The month of June brings life in farmers in rural Punjab and they start ploughing fields to prepare for paddy because the govt. deadline is coming closer and they can hope to sow paddy.This year the hectic farm activities were missing because farmers were fearful about the electricity supply. Frequent cuts were making them worried and paddy sowing was delayed.I was wondering,"why the only lively-hood of farmers was being denied to them just because the Punjab government's failure to secure supply of electricity ?" Oblivious of the worries of farmers the Kheti-bari experts were crying hoarse on television channels to reduce the sowing of Basmati as markets are bleak for this variety.Such announcements go in favour of Artiyas and rice sheller owners who start spreading fear that this year Basmati will not get its price. And when basmati is harvested they can exploit farmers to maximum by buying at lowest rates.The debt ridden farmers have no alternative then to buck down before this artificially created market strategy. They have no holding powers so they sell at low rates under duress.This situation should make us all ashamed that we create such horrific situations for the poor farmers that he has to live under stress all the time. Governments lip service and free electricity can never change the actual bad situation of marginal farmers. All state governments in India need greater sensitivities to the issues of farmers.
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