Bengaluru: “Give him the respect he deserves. Do not portray farmers in torn and soiled dhotis ploughing fields. Unfortunately, we have forgotten that farmers are the backbone of agriculture-dependent India”, said Dr M. Mahadevappa, president of Forum of Former Vice-Chancellors' and director, rural development, JSS Mahavidyapeeta.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle in the backdrop of a spurt in farmer suicides in the last three to four months, he said the lack of respect has psychologically affected farmers who feel they are being ignored. They no longer enjoy the status of 'anna dhata' and have lost confidence. There are poor people in all sectors, so why portray farmers alone in this manner, he asks.
A recipient of Padmashree award for his contribution to rice research, Dr Mahadevappa said the National Commission on Agriculture headed by renowned agricultural scientist, Dr M.S. Swaminathan has come out with a detailed report on how to improve the standards of farmers. The report had been circulated among all states to implement the recommendations. While Haryana and Punjab had implemented some recommendations, Karnataka has not. The government wakes up only after farmers end their lives over mounting debts, price crash or other agrarian reasons.
A majority of districts do not have good storage facilities where farmers could store their non-perishable items and borrow loans from banks by pledging it. In the absence of godowns, farmers are forced to go for distress sale without waiting for the prices to recover. The government should pitch in to manufacture high yield variety seeds and sell it to farmers at subsidized rates.
