Chitleen K Sethi
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, July 6
Agriculture no longer seems to be an economically viable venture for a
marginal farmer. Sangrur’s 24 lakh tonnes of paddy yield in one
season matches the paddy production of entire Haryana. And at 12.5
lakh tonnes, is the highest wheat producing district in India. There
have been over 200 suicides by farmers in the past three years in this
district.
On March 19, 2001, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Punjab’s Finance
Minister, had in his Budget speech chalked out a rehabilitation plan
for such victims. The bereaved family was to get Rs 2.50 lakh. The
annual Plan had a provision for Rs 2 crore. But nothing happened as it
was felt that such a scheme may rather trigger suicides!
“Last year, nationalised banks advanced crop credit totalling Rs
832 crore, cooperative banks gave another Rs. 337 crore. Kisan Credit
cards are equally popular. The interest rate is 11 per cent and
getting a loan is easy,” explained Mr Sarvjit Singh, Deputy
Commissioner, Sangrur. While the share of institutional finance in
agriculture has been going up steadily, non-institutional finance is
still significant.
‘‘Easy availability of institutional loans has made a definite
dent in the rate of interest charged by the “arhtiya” which has
come down from 2.5- 3 per cent to 1.25- 1.5 per cent per month. But
the bank manager still cannot match the flexibility, motivation and
skill of the village moneylender,” added Mr Sarvjit Singh.
“Land is going from the landlord to the “arhtiya” and from
him to buyers from outside,” said Mr Kuldip Singh, patwari of Bhutal
Khurd, adding that over 25 per cent of the village land was up for
sale.
Punjab Agriculture University points out that a landlord with at
least 12 acres of land can afford a tractor. At four lakh tractors,
Punjab, has three or four times the required numbers. “A tractor
dealer gives a bunch of papers to a farmer which includes a loan
application, mortgage papers of his land and sale documents for the
tractor. The farmer walks out with cash in his hand, which is
generally Rs 50,000 less than the loan,” said Mr. P.S. Sandhu, Chief
Agriculture Officer, Sangrur.
Ostentatious spending on social functions, especially marriages,
and diversion of loans to boost social image are also common. Mr
Hardayal Singh of Gobindpura Jawaharwala took an agriculture loan of
Rs 8 lakh to marry off his three daughters.
Railway bridges and the canal duct crossings on the Ghaggar were
designed to restrict water flow and promote flooding in the area.
Traditionally, a non-paddy single-crop area, flood waters brought silt
which improved fertility of the soil. Villagers admit that floods
damage the paddy crop but bring a bumper wheat crop. Any work on the
Ghaggar river can be taken up only after approval from the Ghaggar
Control Committee which has members from Punjab, Haryana and
Rajasthan. Persistent efforts by MPs from the area have been able to
get the necessary approvals. While some work is on in Patiala, nothing
has been done in Sangrur.
Moonak, the southern-most block in Sangrur, lies at the tail-end of
the irrigation system. Rampant theft of water at the upper reaches and
silt formation has made first distributaries virtually dry in this
area. The poor farmer has to invest heavily in submersible pumps even
if he cannot afford one. The problem is more complex than it appears
on the surface. It is high time the government draws up a
comprehensive plan rather than compiling data.
(Concluded)
