AN AGRARIAN BIOPSY

The widespread protests by farmers across India have forced us to probe the fundamentals of the farm economy

- RICHARD MAHAPATRA

IT IS a crisis the country needed to experience. Agriculture as an issue had never attracted such attention. Currently, all the pillars of our governance system are engaged in dealing with the fast-spreading farmers’ protests across the country—from the legislative to the executive to the judiciary. Farmers are continuing their protests against the recently adopted farm laws. As more and more people throng the borders of the national capital, there have been over 300 protests from across the country in support of those camping in Delhi. Agriculture is emerging as the axis of polarisation among political parties. Moreover, India never experienced such farmers’ agitations; not even during the extreme agrarian crises like the crippling droughts of the 1960s or even in the early 1990s when India joined the World Trade Organization (wto) regime. These were just episodes of protests; governments declaring reactive policies and programmes; and, periodically waiving off farm loans. But now, the national slogan of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” is prickling the conscience of people. The farmer is emerging as the polarising figure. Among political parties, there is a subtle, but swift narrative being scripted: “Are those protesting the real farmers?” This narrative has an unusual spin as well: “rich” v “poor” farmers in the ongoing debate over farmers’ protests. Nevertheless, farms and farmers—the theatre and the protagonist of an agrarian country—are defining the current political discourse. It is also time we raise some fundamental questions over this very existential occupation.

WHO IS AN INDIAN FARMER?

• 120 million households depend on agriculture

• 54.6% of India’s workforce is in agriculture

• India has more farm labourers than cultivators