The first step towards Green revolution 2.0 has really nothing to do with agriculture
More than 40 years ago, about a quarter of a million Indians died of starvation during the last Great Famine of 1965-67 when the rain gods played a cruel joke on the nation’s farmers. This despite India going out with a begging bowl to seek food aid from countries like the United States. That crisis had sown the seeds that eventually resulted in the 20th century miracle called the Green Revolution. India has never gone out with a begging bowl again to seek food. But today, agriculture faces yet another life threatening crisis as farmers across India commit suicide. Sutanu Guru analyses how the latest crisis can sow the seeds that will lead to a 21st century miracle called Green Revolution 2.0.
Many years ago, while working on a research project for a Think Tank, I had traveled to the interiors of Chattisgarh and Orissa to meet some farmers and got a first hand account of their lives and times. In Chattisgarh, I spent a day with Mangat Patel, a small farmer who was wiry and yet strong as an ox. Patel was illiterate and yet knew almost everything about new technological developments-including GM crops and the latest pesticides. His favourite companion was a newly acquired mobile. “ I use it to call up my wife and tell her what I want for lunch”, Patel had remarked mischievously. Of course, Patel had started using the mobile for many other purposes.
In Orissa, I spent a day with 60 year old Bhagirath Panigrahi, a fairly large and prosperous farmer by Indian standards. A first class engineering graduate, Panigrahi had opted for a career in farming because water from the Hirakud Dam had made his farms extremely fertile. But Panigrahi was completely disillusioned. Two of his sons had permanently left the village for city jobs and the third one who stuck to farming was earning more money running a taxi service. Panigrahi’s lament was simple and profound and it still resonates in my ears: “ If Rahul Bajaj is allowed to sell his two wheelers anywhere in India, why can’t a farmer like me have the same freedom?”
More than 40 years ago, about a quarter of a million Indians died of starvation during the last Great Famine of 1965-67 when the rain gods played a cruel joke on the nation’s farmers. This despite India going out with a begging bowl to seek food aid from countries like the United States. That crisis had sown the seeds that eventually resulted in the 20th century miracle called the Green Revolution. India has never gone out with a begging bowl again to seek food. But today, agriculture faces yet another life threatening crisis as farmers across India commit suicide. Sutanu Guru analyses how the latest crisis can sow the seeds that will lead to a 21st century miracle called Green Revolution 2.0.
Many years ago, while working on a research project for a Think Tank, I had traveled to the interiors of Chattisgarh and Orissa to meet some farmers and got a first hand account of their lives and times. In Chattisgarh, I spent a day with Mangat Patel, a small farmer who was wiry and yet strong as an ox. Patel was illiterate and yet knew almost everything about new technological developments-including GM crops and the latest pesticides. His favourite companion was a newly acquired mobile. “ I use it to call up my wife and tell her what I want for lunch”, Patel had remarked mischievously. Of course, Patel had started using the mobile for many other purposes.
In Orissa, I spent a day with 60 year old Bhagirath Panigrahi, a fairly large and prosperous farmer by Indian standards. A first class engineering graduate, Panigrahi had opted for a career in farming because water from the Hirakud Dam had made his farms extremely fertile. But Panigrahi was completely disillusioned. Two of his sons had permanently left the village for city jobs and the third one who stuck to farming was earning more money running a taxi service. Panigrahi’s lament was simple and profound and it still resonates in my ears: “ If Rahul Bajaj is allowed to sell his two wheelers anywhere in India, why can’t a farmer like me have the same freedom?”
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