BASED

ON FEEDBACK FROM, INTERVIEWS A ND INTERACTION WITH, APPROXIMATELY 300,000 FARMERS IN 359 CAMPS ORGANIZED IN 19 STATES ACROSS INDIA DR. D.N.BALODHI CHAIRMAN EMAIL: DR.DNBALODHI@YOWAN.ORG INDIAN NATIONAL YOWAN PATEL MARG, KOTDWARA 246149 PAURI GARHWAL , UTTARAKHAND INDIA Date: 28th February 2012

A WHITE PAPER ON PROJECT HARIYALI GANGA

BACKGROUND
In the olden days, people in India lived in rural areas consisting of small villages. Farmers and villagers were happy with their crop yield, produced by the use of natural resources and fertilizers like compost and cow dung instead of chemicals. At that time, cities were very few and most of the population was living in rural areas. In contrast, after the independence of India when lots of jobs were created in all different public and industrial sectors, the population gravitated towards urban areas. Better education and higher literacy rates enabled this to happen quickly. Rural areas also started modalities like the use of tractors, modern farming equipment and fertilizers like urea, etc. But unfortunately only farmers who owned a lot of land prospered, but the small and marginal farmers didnt do well. Sometimes they starved and committed suicide when they were forced to take loans from more prosperous farmers, which they couldnt repay. This was in spite of efforts made by the government of India to help small farmers. After Independence, the central government established many research centers and agricultural institutions in an attempt to enhance agriculture and the welfare of villagers and farmers. However, due to the some drawbacks in implementation and vastly blowing wind of urbanization and westernization these efforts did not provide much practical help to the farmers.

THE EXPERIMENT: HARIYALI GANGA PROGRAM

From July 2007 to September 2010, we studied the problems of Indias small and marginal farmers in an experiment. An effort was made to include people who are truly working for the enrichment of rural areas, researcher from agriculture universities and in KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendras) i.e. in the centers for scientific agricultural research volunteered in the program. In the three years of this experiment, approximately 359 Farmer Training Organizations were organized throughout the country with the assistance of the State Bank of India and with the help of agriculture scientists and Agriculture Experts from various universities of agriculture and KVKs. We called the program, Hariyali Ganga. The program collected approximately 1000 to 1500 small and marginal farmers through the different district branches of the State Bank of India. In each training camp, bank officers, agriculture scientists and experts were present. On one hand, the scientists and the experts educated farmers about farming techniques and methods, the use of fertilizers and seeds, soil quality, etc. On the other hand, the bank officers told them about low interest rate loans that were available and the community services of the bank. Packets of vegetable seeds, fruit plants and fertilizers were distributed to participating farmers free of cost. Productive farmers from each area were awarded, and training certificates were distributed to all the farmers upon

completion. These Farmer Training Programs got a lot of publicity and became popular all over the rural areas in India. During the Hariyali Ganga program we interacted with and interviewed a number of farmers and villagers and got an opportunity to gain lots of feedback from the experience. Below are the observations and suggestion based on the direct feedbacks coming from interactions from approximately 300,000 farmers

OBSERVATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

1. Land Situation: There are several complications in our land reform policy. First of all, it varies from state to state. Therefore, a uniform land reform policy is required. It would be in the best interest of farmers if a Centralized Land Reform Policy is framed. Secondly, it is generally found that a person who has been cultivating plots of land for years is not actually stated as the owner of that land according to the revenue records, and therefore is not able to get loans from any financial institution. Because land records are being maintained using an outdated system, there is a need to update and maintain these records with a modernized system. 2. Institutes and Field Realties: It has been observed that different Research Centers, Institutions and even the National Board for Vegetable Oil Development (NOVOD) are doing their business only in urban areas; the officers and scientists concerned do not go to the villages and fields. NOVOD scientists and officers are doing nothing but passing their time sitting in Gurgaon and completing the paper formalities only. In regards to scientists and officers of research centers and other institutions, whenever they are able they try to go to the only surrounding areas, ignoring the distant areas. The fact is, most farmers are not aware of these institutions, and therefore they are not being benefited from them as per expectations of the government. Unfortunately, even though a lot of money is being allocated to these institutions every year, but it has been observed that it is of no use because farmers are not being benefited directly by the research these institutions do. 3. NABARD a White elephant: NABARD is the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. This so called bank has offices in every state capital as well as in every district of the country. The state capitals have a General Manager in charge, while in each district a District Development Manager is in charge. These managers, in reality, are not doing the practical work but they are only completing the paperwork in order to use the allocated funds. If NABARD is even necessary, its working method should be amended. Instead of their programs giving subsidies to farmers, NABARD should give the list of subsidies to the bank so the bank can debit the amounts directly from the farmers accounts for the farmers who are getting bank loans. A list of the farmers who get loans under the prescribed schemes can be called on by NABARD from the banks accordingly. Beside this job, it would be useful if the DDMs of NABARD are made responsible for holding Farmer Training Programs quarterly in each block

of the each district with the coordination of banks, scientists from KVKs and agricultural universities, Horticulture Officers, Agriculture Officers, agriculture experts and the progressive farmers of the areas. However, it has been observed that most of the NABARD employees do not have the practical knowledge of rural development nor have any updated plans from their department in order to do their job properly. Farmer Clubs and Farmer Meets those are only on paper instead of providing true Farmer Training Programs. 4. Agriculture universities and Kishan Vikas Kendras: There are agriculture and horticulture ministries in every state. State governments are running agricultural universities and agricultural Colleges. Most of the districts also contain Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). Beside this, in each district there are the Departments of Agriculture and Horticulture. But the tragedy is, neither of these departments reach out to the villages and fields to work bureaucratically. It is well known that most of the quantity of seeds, farm equipment and fertilizers allocated to these offices for distribution among the small and marginal farmers are being sold to traders and substantial farmers. The KVKs and the agricultural universities are doing their best by doing research on the high quality seeds, fertilizers as well as research on soil quality, etc. However, the problem is that these universities do not have sufficient funds and resources to go to the farmers and the fields but instead are establishing KVKs. In rural areas, this is a fruitful and a practical approach. 5. Rural industries and employment opportunities: since population density in urban areas is increasing day by day, food shortage and other problems are growing vastly. Therefore, there is a need to thresh upon agriculture and to encourage young people to establish agro-based and eco-based job oriented industries in villages. Agro-based and eco-based tourism is also another manner in which to develop rural sectors. The government should seriously consider this, and a policy should be framed to encourage young people in this direction. Then an overall change will be able to be brought about in Indias rural sectors. 6. Encouragement to small and marginal farmers: Small and marginal farmers are the backbone of our country, and as such there is a need to strengthen them by giving loans, with minimal interest rates and minimal formalities. It would be wonderful if provisions and arrangements are made to distribute free seeds and fertilizers to these farmers. Framing a policy in this direction would be a fruitful effort. 7. Better distribution by mobile agriculture offices: If we are really worried about the welfare of small farmers, our state governments should decentralize horticulture and agriculture offices in rural areas and should arrange mobile offices to distribute seeds, fertilizers and other necessary equipment among the farmers. It should be made mandatory that the Agriculture Officers and other employees do their business only in the rural areas. 4

 8. Minimal interest rate loans: It was observed during the Hariyali Ganga program that the small and marginal farmers are not very happy with the Debt Waiver Scheme, and their opinion is that through this scheme is honest, farmers are feeling betrayed; their opinion is this scheme is cheating them. It is a general opinion throughout India that instead of the Debt Waiver Scheme, a Minimum Rate of Interest should be charged to the farmers. 9. Compulsory loans for lower strata of society: It is our humble suggestion that the Financial Institutions should be directed to make it compulsory to distribute loans to lower class people like washer men, cobblers, barbers, produce vendors, laborers, etc. under the DIR plan (Differential Interest Rate of 4%) with a fixed annual target. We are sure this vision will move them from poverty to prosperity. 10. Stamp Duty on loans: It has also been observed that in various states are charging farmers with a stamp duty while they are applying for the loans, therefore a uniform policy should be framed in this regard, too. 11. Rural development-Panacea for many problems: If we encourage farmers to use better and healthier farming methods, they will create a healthy green environment all around Indias villages. Given better market at local level and infrastructure, eco and agro based industry will flourish. A uniform growth will generate employment and people will not migrate to urban area this will help society in many ways A. It protects our environment. B. It increases our food production. C. It increases our animal husbandry. D. Agro-based industries will be generated in the villages E. The agro-based and eco-based tourism industry will also grow and it will generate employment in the rural areas. F. It will control the ground water level and control climatic changes. 12. Villagers involvement in forest and environment protection programs: It would be beneficial for us if the Forest and Environment Ministry were to make a policy to get the maximum support from villagers and farmers in forestry and in environmental protection programs. If villagers are involved in these different programs, they will act as local watchman and forests would get more protection and the incidents of illicit felling of trees would not occur as frequently. These steps will not only conserve environment but also be beneficial for protection of wildlife. 13. Irrigation situation and requirements: As was observed during the Hariyali Ganga program, there are problems with scarcity of water in many areas for irrigation. Therefore, in plains areas installation of tube wells and hand pumps is essential, and in hilly areas installation of under ground water tanks would be

beneficial, such as in Solan (Himachal Pradesh). Programs for the installation of these irrigation methods should be promoted. 14. Dangerous parasites: Moneylenders and brokers: There is a poor market economy for farmers. An ultimate solution of marketing farmers products has to be reached to make farmers more prosperous. Brokers and moneylenders are the main culprits making farmers unable to get the market price of their produce. They are giving farmers a minimal price for their produce, and then selling it at a much higher price on open markets, which are high for consumers. Therefore it would be good to create a marketing policy and a system to sell the produce directly the farmers and eliminating the middlemen. Moneylenders are the main cause of financial problems and suicides among farmers because they give farmers loans very easily, but charge such high interest rates. It has been discovered that local governments and political leaders are sheltering these moneylenders. In the interior areas of the country, villagers are still living in slavery conditions. These are the small and marginal farmers of India who are cultivating their fields with a hard labor, and producing enough crops, but dont have the income to bear the necessary expenses of their families. Brokers are also adopting a similar practice; they are giving farmers money in advance against their crops, and later they purchase farmers yields at very cheep rates. Therefore, it is our humble submission that in order to help our farmers and villagers and make rural India strong and prosperous it is very necessary to make farmers financially solvent. To achieve these objectives A. Our first priority should be to arrange loans for farmers with minimal interest rates and simplified paperwork. B. Fruitful efforts should be made to market farmers produce at the village level. C. Tight administrative checks should be required on loaning, purchasing and money lending. 15. Natural calamities and disaster management: In case of draughts, floods, and other natural calamities, arrangements should be made to pay crop loans and other relief funds to the farmers without delay so they can more easily face the hard circumstances. 16. Promotion of NGOs: There is a need to promote NGOs working in rural areas if they have nurseries and open seed centers. Funds should be given to them for making the necessary arrangements to supply plants and seeds to the farmers at subsidized rates. 17. Single ministry for rural and agriculture development: It has been observed that the government is differentiating between rural development and agriculture development but if we deeply analyze both is same. Rural areas are villages where farmers live; agriculture is the production of crops in the field where farmer works. To bring synergy in correlated objectives, overall development of villages and farmers i.e. the rural sector, there is a need to constitute a Ministry for Rural Sector Development combining both of the 6

current Ministries, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Rural Development. 18. Mandatory agriculture and environment education: Today, environmental changes are one of the root causes of natural calamities. No interest and know how of agriculture and environmental issues, and industry focused education is making people apathetic to rural area and environment. Therefore, the subject of agriculture and environment must be made compulsory, at least up though the primary scholastic level so that every student has at least a basic knowledge of the environment and agricultural science. 19. Barren land due to Scarcity of manpower in rural areas: We have observed during our programs in different states that most people have left the villages due to different reasons and most of the land in all the states is barren because of the scarcity of manpower. Therefore, it is now very necessary for us to stress upon industries that are based in rural areas such as animal husbandry and other eco-based and agro-based businesses. Otherwise, we will have to endure several other problems beside these food and commodity inflation. 20. The following is a state-by-state analysis of the states included in the Hariyali Ganga programs: Maharashtra, It has been observed that in the state of Maharashtra farmers are quite prosperous and are taking a keen interest in agriculture. They are applying new, modern techniques and methods of farming and even selling exporting grapes, mangoes, bananas, roses, etc. to foreign countries. In the state of Vidarbha, land is definitely dry but the underground water level is not so bad. If the government pays special attention to that area and implements irrigation techniques then the problem of dry land can be resolved. The second problem in this state is that of moneylenders. The loan issues discussed previously are a major factor in the suicide rate in the villages of this state. If these two major problems are resolved then farmers of Vidarbha could have happier and more prosperous lives. Kerala is a very small but rich state. Actually, there are no barren villages like in other states as development there is made up of tea gardens, spice farms and huge rubber plantations. In other words, it can be said that Kerala is both a naturally prosperous and a beautiful state. The second factor of its prosperity is that a minimum one person from each family is working abroad and earning lot of money for his or her family. Also, a high number of foreign and domestic tourists visit there every year. Goa is very different from the countrys other states. There is spice farming, but in this state most people are busy with Eco-Tourism. The mining mafias are continuously disturbing and harming nature, and people are helpless because these mafias are involved with the state government there. Foreign tourists frequently visit Goa that enriches its economy a lot. 7

Tamilnadu is a state that is doing well. People of Tamilnadu are very hard working and religious. Hindus of Tamilnadu call themselves real Hindus i.e. Dravidians. The agriculture and horticulture departments of this state are also really doing very well. The officers, i.e. the agricultural scientists related to these departments, are reaching out to the farms and doing practical work in the fields with the farmers. The government of this state is making a fruitful effort for the welfare of the farmers. This government has made it compulsory that the people of the state build water tanks under their houses to collect the rainwater for necessary use. Not only is this system is very useful in the villages where the water is needed for minor irrigation but it is also being used in urban areas for the greenery in the gardens as well as for drinking. In regards to Punjab and Haryana, these states are naturally rich due to the availability of river and canal water, but too much use of urea has compromised the fertility of land there. The farmers have not changed their attitudes towards farming and also have not change the crop patterns. Most of the farmers are still cultivating only traditional crops. Horticulture and floriculture habits and practices could not be developed there. People of Punjab are now in the habit of going abroad and are dependent on the migrated labor from other states. Today Punjab and Haryana are not as prosperous as they had been in the past. It is a matter that should be studied further. The conditions of the Eastern part of Uttar Pradesh and the state of Bihar are also critical. The attitude of the state government departments is similar to most of the other states, yet in these areas the small and marginal farmers are in very poor condition and nobody is worried about them. The position of Western Uttar Pradesh is different and is in better condition as it has a healthy irrigation system. In Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh there are large land holdings, but the population density is very low in the villages of these states. The water level is not so bad, but very few farmers are there who are really interested in agriculture. In general, the farmers of both of these states are in poverty. In Rajasthan, Land is mostly sandy and barren but some Research Centers and KVKs are doing excellent work. Greenery is growing there now. Culture and Art of Rajasthan is well known throughout the world, and the need exists to protect the Art and Culture of Rajasthan and also to promote tourism in this state. It would be a good idea to continue to create greenery by motivating the people there towards agriculture. In West Bengal the conditions of villagers and farmers are not very convincing either. A number of villagers and small farmers are living in poverty. State Government authorities are not paying much heed to their grievances. Therefore, there is a need for a Central Nodal Agency to tackle the situation there. Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand as well as the state of Jammu and Kashmir are the mountainous states. All three states are naturally beautiful, but Himachal

Pradesh has been more prosperous since the very beginning, i.e. after Indias independence. Himachal Pradesh made serious efforts to grow fast and achieved its goal in apple farming. Vegetables are also grown there using a scientific method. Eco-based and Agro-based tourism is on the rise in this state. Jammu and Kashmir is well known for herbs and tourism involving winter sports. Farmers are not in such a bad condition, and development is not a problem. The only problem there is to maintain peace and harmony. In Uttarakhand, a newly formed state, manpower is decreasing day by day in the villages. Lots of natural resources are in this state but there are not enough people to make use of them. Migration is the major problem here, even today. Young people are leaving their villages in search of jobs and employment. The population of these villages is only women, children and elderly people. A money order economy is prevailing there. Even though the oldest G. B. Pant Agriculture University is there in Pant Nagar, KVKs are also there. However, due to the low population density in this states villages, agriculture and herbal production is diminishing. There is a need for basic efforts to replenish the population in the villages and to motivate the people there towards job-oriented programs such as eco-based and agro-based tourism, herbal farming and floriculture. As far as the northeastern states are concerned, they are naturally rich, and organic farming is in practice. In these states, everything is beautiful and pleasant, and climatic conditions are good. The people of these states want peace, which is mostly being disturbed by insurgents and terrorists. We may promote agro-based and Eco-based tourism in these states too. Sikkim is a peaceful state where people enjoy prosperity and self-satisfaction. People are loving, honest, and live very simple lives. It is a naturally beautiful area with wilderness and scenic views. Animal husbandry, agriculture and tourism are abundant. The need here is to educate the people about agro-based and eco- based tourism and to promote them herbal as well as modified farming methods. The following conclusions are based on a research program that spanned over a three-year period of time and included observations from feedback given by approximately 300,000 farmers from 19 states throughout the entire country. Firstly, India should take the lead in the field of agriculture as well as in environmental protection. These fields are inter-related and always feed off of each other. To promote agriculture, horticulture, floriculture and herbal farming means to promote the wilderness, i.e. to promote prosperity and to protect the environment. Secondly, the government should take the initiative and should make the necessary arrangements to provide fertilizers, irrigation infrastructures and other related equipment to small and marginal farmers at subsidized rates and opening a co-op for seeds at each block headquarters. Similarly, the arrangements should be made to provide small and marginal farmers with loans for agricultural purposes at minimum interest rates and minimal, simple paperwork so that they may be rid of moneylenders and brokers. Thirdly, state governments should also be advised to give small and marginal farmers financial assistance on subsidized rates and to activate practical agriculture and horticulture departments as their role is also very important in helping the situation. KVK and Agriculture Research Center work areas should be extended along with some budget empowerment and facilities

should be provided to those who are willing to work in the rural areas. Finally, the economics of agriculture needs to be restructured to develop a better market for farmers products. In order to stop the increasing migration to urban areas, living conditions in villages need to be developed which means developing agriculture and related industries. A balance of resources between urban and rural areas will ultimately help to bring equality in the distribution of wealth and job opportunities as well as environmental protection, which will improve India for everyone.

Appendix 1: Details of the HARIYALI GANGA program

Details of the HARIYALI GANGA program Organized from July 2007 to September 2010 S. No. Name of State Number of organized program 1 Andhra Pradesh 13 2 Arunachal Pradesh 08 3 Assam 21 4 Bihar 22 5 Chhattisgarh 13 6 Goa 09 7 Haryana 27 8 Himanchal Pradesh 19 9 Jammu and Kashmir 07 10 Karnataka 17 11 Kerala 11 12 Madhya Pradesh 28 13 Maharashtra 26 14 Meghalaya 08 15 Punjab 23 16 Rajasthan 28 17 Uttar Pradesh 31 18 Uttarakhand 29 19 Tamilnadu 19 Total number of programs 359 - Dr. D.N. Balodhi

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