Peasants (Farmers), Promises, Politics & Power ( State Assembly Election November-2023 and Agriculture Politics in India)

In November 2023, State Legislative Assembly Elections will be held in five Indian states: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Manipur. These state legislative elections are of great significance as they are considered a semi-final for the Lok Sabha Election, scheduled for April 2024. Power is intertwined with politics, and politics relies on votes to enact decisions. These State Legislative Elections in India are crucial, especially as the entire opposition has formed an alliance against the Current Central Government, which has been in power with a majority for the last 10 years.

The poor and peasants constitute two major voting blocs in India. Most political parties prioritize policies that cater to their needs. Countless promises are made to both communities to secure electoral victories. According to the World Bank, 10.2% of India's population lives below the poverty line. Approximately 56% of the population is engaged in agriculture as their primary source of livelihood, and 60-70% of the population is directly involved in farming and related industries. Agriculture politics in India always remains at the center of elections, democracy, and election campaigns.

 
Peasants (Farmers), Promises, Politics & Power ( State Assembly Election November-2023 )

The issue of farmer loan waivers is a paramount concern for all political parties. Poor climatic conditions and crop failures often render farmers unable to repay their loans. This has become a pressing political agenda in every state. Since 2012, different state governments have waived approximately ₹2.51 lakh crores in farm loans. However, this is not the end of the problem, as almost every opposition party is now promising farm loan waivers. What was initially a temporary solution to unpaid agriculture loans has evolved into a persistent problem for banks, farmers, and the economy. Peasant (Farmer) vote power in Indian politics is always considered a hot topic and is always given primary importance. In recent trends, rural voting trends always favor the loan waiver scheme.

The demand for electricity in agriculture doesn't remains constant throughout the year. During peak irrigation periods, there is an increased demand for electricity in specific cultivation zones, often leading to disruptions in the electricity supply. Farmers are left waiting for hours, forcing some to resort to fuel-powered pumps, incurring additional costs. Farmers who lease land are compelled to find the funds for alternative irrigation sources. Free rural issues in state politics also attract non-farmer rural voters. Electricity theft is the main problem in rural electricity distribution.

Free electricity disrupts both electricity supply and irrigation, placing an additional financial burden on actual farmers. Some farmers do not use the free electricity judiciously, resulting in excessive irrigation that can lead to nutrient leaching and other issues. Farmer vote bank politics demands such freebie schemes.

Despite numerous loan waivers, the problem of poor loan repayment is worsening, causing long-term harm to farmers. The interest on loans continues to accumulate, eventually exceeding the principal amount. Banks resort to seizing collateral properties against these loans, leading to land auctions. Defaulting farmers' credit scores decline, creating future obstacles when they seek loans.

In reality, the agricultural market infrastructure in states is deteriorating day by day. Taxes and fees continue to increase, with the burden ultimately falling on farmers. Farmers are also consumers of agricultural commodities, and they are compelled to pay more for their needs. For example, fresh or chilled vegetables like bottle gourd, tomatoes, lemons, onions, potatoes, garlic, cabbage, cauliflower, pumpkin, carrots, cucumbers, and beetroots have been exempted from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) by the central government. However, in Rajasthan, a new fee called Krishak Kalyan Fees is imposed at a rate of 2% on the traded value on fruits and vegetables, which is higher than the mandi tax on other agricultural commodities.

Peasant (Farmer) influence on elections is the bull’s eye for politicians and political parties. We witnessed the conditions during the protests against the three farm laws. Other important issues for farmers include suicides, Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for crop produce, crop insurance, fertilizer subsidies, and irrigation subsidies. Although these are crucial issues, they receive less attention during election campaigns due to their lower political importance and uniformity. State politics and the agriculture sector are closely related. Generally, agriculture is under state jurisdiction, and the central government does not have much interference in day-to-day agriculture issues.

Indian Agriculture: Challenges and Opportunities for Organic Farming

Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, employing over 50% of the country's workforce and contributing about 17% to the GDP. It is also a major source of food for the country, with India being one of the world's largest producers of many agricultural products.

However, the Indian agriculture sector is facing a number of challenges, including:

Low productivity: Despite the Green Revolution, agricultural productivity in India is still relatively low compared to other countries. This is due to a number of factors, including poor soil quality, limited irrigation, and lack of access to modern agricultural technologies.

Increasing demand: The demand for agricultural products in India is increasing rapidly, due to the country's growing population and rising incomes. This is putting a strain on the agricultural sector, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet the demand for food.

Climate change: Climate change is also posing a threat to Indian agriculture. Rising temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns are making it more difficult to grow crops, and this is likely to have a significant impact on agricultural production in the coming years.

Indian Agriculture: Challenges and Opportunities for Organic Farming

Organic Farming as a Solution

Organic farming is a method of agricultural production that relies on natural processes and materials to maintain soil health and fertility, control pests and diseases, and produce food. Organic farming practices are designed to protect the environment and human health, and they can also help to improve the quality of food.

Organic farming can offer a number of solutions to the challenges facing the Indian agriculture sector:

Improved productivity: Organic farming can help to improve soil health and fertility, which can lead to improved crop yields.

Reduced environmental impact: Organic farming practices help to reduce pollution and protect the environment.

Improved food quality: Organic food is often higher in nutrients and flavor than conventionally grown food.

Opportunities for Organic Farming in India

The Indian agriculture sector is facing a number of challenges, but it also has a number of opportunities. Organic farming is an important opportunity for the Indian agricultural sector, and it can help to address the challenges facing the sector.

Growing domestic market: The growing domestic market for organic food in India provides a major opportunity for the organic farming sector.

Export market: India has the potential to export organic food to other countries, and this is another opportunity for the organic farming sector.

Government support: The government is providing significant support to the organic farming sector, and this is helping to promote growth and innovation.

Organic farming can offer a number of solutions to the challenges facing the Indian agriculture sector. It is an important opportunity for the Indian agricultural sector, and it has the potential to help the country meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Recent Flood in Rivers In North India and Its Impact on Indian Agriculture

Introduction

India is no stranger to flooding. The country experiences monsoon rains every year, and these rains can often lead to flooding in low-lying areas. However, the recent floods in rivers in North India have been particularly severe. The floods have caused widespread damage to property and infrastructure, and have also had a significant impact on Indian agriculture. Recent Flood in Rivers In North India  and Its Impact on Indian Agriculture

Background

Floods are natural disaster that occurs when water overflows its natural boundaries and inundates land. Floods can be caused by several factors, including heavy rains, melting snow, and dam failures. In India, floods are most common during the monsoon season, which runs from June to September.

The monsoon rains are essential for agriculture in India. However, if the rains are too heavy, they can lead to flooding. This flooding can damage crops, wash away topsoil, and disrupt irrigation systems. The impact of flooding on agriculture can be significant and can lead to food shortages and price increases.

Recent floods

The recent floods in rivers in North India were caused by heavy monsoon rains. The rains began in June 2023 and continued for several weeks. The floods affected the states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi.

The extent of the flooding was widespread. In Himachal Pradesh, the Beas River overflowed its banks, and several villages were submerged. In Uttarakhand, the Ganges River and its tributaries also overflowed, causing widespread damage. In Punjab and Haryana, the floods damaged crops and livestock. In Delhi, the Yamuna River overflowed, and several areas of the city were flooded.

Impact on agriculture

The impact of the floods on Indian agriculture has been significant. The floods have damaged crops, washed away topsoil, and disrupted irrigation systems. The damage to crops is estimated to be in the billions of rupees. The loss of topsoil will reduce crop yields in the future. The disruption of irrigation systems will make it difficult to irrigate crops and could lead to crop failures.

The impact of the floods on agriculture is likely to be felt for several years to come. The damage to crops will lead to food shortages, and the loss of topsoil will reduce crop yields. The disruption of irrigation systems will make it difficult to irrigate crops, and could lead to crop failures.

Conclusion

The recent floods in rivers in North India have had a significant impact on Indian agriculture. The damage to crops, the loss of topsoil, and the disruption of irrigation systems will have a lasting impact on the agricultural sector. The government of India is working to provide relief to the affected farmers and is also working to mitigate the impact of future floods.

Recommendations

The government of India should take steps to mitigate the impact of future floods. These steps could include:

• Building dams and levees to control flooding.
• Improving drainage systems to prevent waterlogging.
• Educating farmers about flood-resistant crops.
• Providing financial assistance to farmers who have lost crops due to flooding.

The government should also work to reduce the impact of climate change on flooding. Climate change is leading to more extreme weather events, including heavy rains. This is increasing the risk of flooding in India. The government should take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Conclusion

The recent floods in rivers in North India have had a significant impact on Indian agriculture. The damage to crops, the loss of topsoil, and the disruption of irrigation systems will have a lasting impact on the agricultural sector. The government of India is working to provide relief to the affected farmers and is also working to mitigate the impact of future floods. The government should take steps to reduce the impact of climate change on flooding, and to adapt to the impacts of climate change.