Hyderabad:National Farmers' Day, also known as Kisan Diwas, holds significance in India as it commemorates the birth anniversary of Choudhary Charan Singh, the country's fifth Prime Minister. The celebrations, observed on December 23, aim to honour the invaluable contributions of farmers and create awareness about their role in the nation's economy.
Who was Choudhary Charan Singh? Choudhary Charan Singh, a prominent leader and advocate for farmers, briefly served as the Prime Minister from 1979 to 1980. Born on December 23, 1902, in a middle-class peasant family in Uttar Pradesh, he was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's teachings. Charan Singh actively participated in the independence movement and dedicated his political career to addressing the challenges faced by farmers in rural India.
Choudhary Charan Singh's tenure:As the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Charan Singh played a pivotal role in implementing land reforms and introducing farmer-friendly legislation. Notable among these were the Land Utilisation Bill of 1939 and the Debt Redemption Bill of 1939. As the agriculture minister in 1952, he led efforts to abolish the zamindari system in Uttar Pradesh, drafting the UP Zamindari and Land Reforms Bill himself. On December 23, 1978, Charan Singh founded the Kisan Trust, a non-political and non-profit organisation dedicated to educating rural masses, combating injustice and fostering solidarity among farmers.
Agriculture,the backbone of India's economy:The agriculture sector remains the backbone of India's economy, contributing 16% to the GDP and employing approximately 52% of the population. Its role in economic growth is evident, with a 17.8% contribution to the Gross Value Added (GVA). Agriculture also significantly contributes to the country's exports, reaching $50.2 billion in 2021-22.
Challenges faced by Indian farmers:However, the challenges faced by Indian farmers are daunting. Unpredictable weather conditions, such as unseasonal rains and hail during harvesting, often lead to crop losses, pushing farmers into debt. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for 2022, one farmer or farm labourer dies by suicide every hour in India, reflecting the severity of the crisis. Deaths by suicide of those involved in farming continued to increase in 2022. According to the data released on December 4, 2023, some 11,290 suicide cases were reported from across the country last year.
State-wise data:Maharashtra saw the highest suicides of 4,248 farmers and farmhands. Not only was this number the highest, but the state contributed to 38 per cent of all deaths by suicide cases of those involved in agriculture. The second-highest number of cases were recorded from Karnataka (2,392), followed by Andhra Pradesh (917), Tamil Nadu (728) and Madhya Pradesh (641).
Welfare schemes:To address these challenges, the Indian government has implemented various farmer welfare schemes. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana, launched in 2019, provides pensions to small and marginal farmers. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme aim to provide affordable crop insurance against natural risks. Additionally, initiatives like the Kisan Credit Card scheme, e-NAM scheme (Electronic National Agricultural Market), and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund have been introduced to support farmers in various aspects, from credit access to better market opportunities and infrastructure development.