AGRARIAN CRISIS in India

In the 60’s Green Revolution created a substantial increase in food grain production. Factors responsible were better seeds, irrigation facilities, use of pesticides and insecticides and chemical fertilizers.

However, Indian agriculture depends on monsoon rains which are uncertain, ill distributed and erratic in nature.

Poverty of farmers and small land holdings lead to limited mechanization of crops.

Failure of land reforms, exploitation by landowners and unbalanced development of agriculture leads to limited production of food grains.

Indebted farmers – The growing input cost of agriculture affects small farmers and their families. In Punjab ‘the breadbasket of India’ 89% of farmers are under debt.

Introduction of SEZ – In the name of development, fertile agricultural land is diverted to builders’ lobby to construct high rise buildings, IT Parks, etc.

Poverty – Due to crop failure, rural poverty is on the rise.

Water scarcity – MNC’s food processing, etc., have their plants in rural areas. These MNC’s require huge amounts of water and thus they reduce the ground water. This creates water scarcity in rural areas.

Farmer suicides – 70% of farmers are cultivators of small plots of land. 60% of farmers belong to marginal category. Small land holdings, growing cost of production, increasing debt, low prices of agricultural commodities, lead to farmer suicides