Note: The blog is especially focused on the dynamics of the Kabirdham District of Chhattisgarh
Introduction:
Kabirdham District predominantly covers rural areas, where the rhythms of life have long been intertwined with the cycles of the agricultural ecosystem. Over the years, this ecosystem has undergone a deep transformation, shaping the lives of farmers and the landscape they inhabit. While exploring the past, present, and future of farming in this region, we witness a story of resilience, adaptation, and the looming question of sustainability.
As per the Census 2011 conducted by the Registrar General of India, the total number of agricultural workers in the country has increased from 234.1 million (127.3 million cultivators and 106.8 million agricultural laborers) in 2001 to 263.1 million (118.8 million cultivators and 144.3 million agricultural laborers) in 2011. However, the share of the workforce engaged in the agriculture sector (comprising of cultivators and agricultural laborers) has come down from 58.2 per cent in 2001 to 54.6 per cent in 2011.
Problem statement:
With the above information, it is clear that while the total number of agricultural workers has increased, the share of cultivators has declined, giving way to a rise in agricultural laborers. This trend raises pertinent questions about the evolving dynamics of land ownership, economic pressures, and changing agricultural practices.
Perspectives from Kabirdham: Past, Present, and Future
In the not-so-distant past, around 10 years ago, Kabirdham’s farmers epitomized self-reliance, embodying Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj, where most farmer families were self-sufficient, relying on the land for sustenance and supplementing their needs from the local market. Traditional methods and indigenous knowledge sustained a way of life deeply rooted in the land along with their cultural heritage. Interacting with senior farmers of Kabirdham revealed that they never depended on the market for rice and pulses. Their produce was sufficient for the whole year, and they used to store paddy for more than 2 years.
One farmer stressed that he liked the flavor of rice from paddy stored for 1 or 2 years more than rice from freshly harvested paddy.
Fast forward to the present, and we witness a paradigm shift in farming practices. Modern techniques are altering age-old traditions where mechanization has become the norm of the land, with tractors replacing oxen, motor pumps for water replacing traditional wells, and the depletion of all traditional water conservation mechanisms.
Farmers now rely on purchasing seeds from the market, abandoning their traditional practice of storing seeds for a year. They opt for chemical fertilizers over homemade organic manure, which includes cow dung, crop residue, and other wet waste. Furthermore, the market-driven approach of government policies has forced them to depend on government storage facilities, even for paddy and other produce that farmers could easily store for at least a year.
The appeal of higher yields, promising Minimum Support Price (MSP) without predetermined standard quality indicators by the Government, and market demand has led to the adoption of monocropping and the erosion of traditional storage methods. Now, Kabirdham district is famous for its sugarcane production besides the production of paddy, but around a decade ago, this same land was very famous for soybean production along with other pulses like black gram, sesame, wheat, etc. Groundwater used to be just 50 to 100 ft below the soil, and farmers used to depended on dug wells. But now, every farmer has installed electric motor-led submersible pumps for irrigation in their farmland, and sometimes the pipes of submersibles need to reach up to 1000 feet to ensure water availability during the dry season. This proves that the exploitation of groundwater is happening at an alarming rate.
Yet, amidst these changes, concerns about sustainability loom over. The over-reliance on chemical inputs, the loss of crop diversity, and the commodification of agriculture raise red flags about the long-term viability of current practices. Farmers find themselves caught in a cycle where short-term gains come at the expense of environmental degradation and loss of control over their produce.
Now, a major focus of a farmer is to increase the production of paddy without concentrating on its quality, where the application of unlimited chemical fertilizers and pest control is a common phenomenon, as farmers rarely consume their own produce, especially rice. They sell all their produce to the government as it provides a high MSP and consume rice received from the government public distribution system free of cost (5 kg per person per month). As one farmer aptly puts it, “We are consuming the poison we apply” as the same paddy is being processed and the same rice is being supplied by the government to the farmers.
Previously, farmers utilized traditional dheki or jatta to extract rice from paddy, where a farmer’s family maybe able to determine the rice’s quality, whether it be brown or white, thin or fat. However, farmers now lament, “Brown rice, once produced at our home, is now sold in the shopping mall at Kawardha” so the entire scenario has shifted.
Agricultural activities yield by-products like crop residue, rice husks, and pulse husks, which were traditionally used as cattle feed. It was common for every farmer to own some cattle, which assisted them in agricultural tasks. However, nowadays, people rely on mechanized holler machines for the extraction of rice and other grains. This means that rice husks or pulse husks may not be readily available to farmers. Additionally, farmers’ families are less inclined to keep cattle at home due to the associated costs but in the past, agriculture and cattle rearing formed an interconnected ecosystem for farmers and villages. However, this cycle is now disrupted and rapidly changing.
The disconnect between production and consumption, exacerbated by government policies and market forces, underscores the need for a holistic approach to farming. Education, awareness, and empowerment are key to equipping farmers with the tools to navigate this evolving landscape.
Conclusion:
The path forward demands a reevaluation of priorities and a reconnection with the land and unique cultural heritage. Sustainable agriculture practices, rooted in agroecology and community resilience, offer a beacon of hope. By reclaiming traditional wisdom, embracing innovation, and fostering local autonomy, Kabirdham’s farmers can chart a course towards a more sustainable future. But, the journey ahead is fraught with challenges, but also brimming with opportunities. By bridging the gap between past wisdom and present realities, Kabirdham’s farmers hold the key to unlocking a future where agriculture thrives in harmony with nature, and self-reliance becomes more than just a distant dream—it becomes a living reality.
References:
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1601902#:~:text=As%20per%20Census%202011%2C%20conducted,144.3%20million%20agricultural%20labourers)%20in
