Punjab will become junkyard of farm machines, says agro-economist

Standing behind the farmers on the issue of crop diversification and paddy straw management, agriculture economist Devinder Sharma today said the Centre and the state government need to provide net return security on crops other than paddy and wheat.

Addressing a conference on climate change hosted by the Dilbir Foundation, Sharma said the policy makers should be held accountable and not the farmers. “The problem is grave. On the one hand, the Government of India doesn’t want Punjab farmers to move away from paddy, and on the other, the farmers are held responsible for groundwater exploitation and stubble burning.”

“Every year there is a big debate around straw management. We are keen on pushing machines than finding reliable and sustainable solutions for stubble management. Officials promote sale of machinery as if they get kick-backs. In another 10 years, Punjab will become a junkyard of farm machines,” he said.

Sharma said farmers need hand holding at this juncture. “The dependency and sale of crop residue management (CRM) machines and super seeders increases every year ahead of the paddy season. Approximately 1.40 lakh CRM machines operate in the state for one month, yet the farmers burn straw. Around 200 lakh tonnes of paddy stubble produced cannot be managed by the farmers alone or any corporate. Thus, we need to invest on human resources. The current and former Chief Minister had asked the Centre for Rs 2,000 crore relief package for straw management,” he said.

Sharma batted for a minimum guaranteed income for farmers to actively engage in agriculture reforms. “In the past decade, the Indian farmers have incurred losses up to Rs 45 lakh crore. They need income security to make the shift and cannot be left on the mercy of markets. The research-based agriculture reforms in academia and policy backed sustainable solutions will bring the change only if farmers are made part of it. Andhra Pradesh has community managed natural farms, with eight lakh farmers switching to chemical-free cultivation. We need long-term solutions.”