AGRICULTURAL CRISIS

FYBMS

GROUP MEMBERS: NAME ROLL NO.SHELDON D’SOUZA 26VABRIENA D’SOUZA 27 FREEDA D’SOUZA 28DAPHNE D’SOUZA 29 PEARL D’SOUZA 30

Ending of the Zamindari system

A feudal-type system in which peasants pay an all-owning

landlord for the right to farm the land –

occurred in this period immediately following India’s

independence

Pre-Green Revolution

The Green RevolutionDr. M.S. Swaminathan: Father of India’s Green RevolutionIn India they say, "Gandhi gave us freedom, Swaminathan

gave us food." DefinitionThe introduction of high yielding varieties of seeds after 1965and the increased use of fertilizers and irrigation whichprovided the increase in production are knowncollectively as the Green Revolution.Bengal – Famine.Is applied to successful agricultural experiments in many

Third World countries. It is NOT specific to India. But it was most successful in India.

What Was It In India?????There were three basic elements in the

method of the Green Revolution:

Continued expansion of farming areas;

Double-cropping existing farmland;

Using seeds with improved genetics.

Green RevolutionBenefitsExperienced in northern and northwestern India.Substantial increase in the production of food

grains, mainly wheat and rice.

LimitationsNOT succeeded in making India totally and

permanently self-sufficient in foodIndia has failed to extend the concept of high-

yield value seeds to all crops or all regions.

FertilizersWhat is a fertilizer?The name given to any substance that contains

oneor more of the elements that promote healthy

plantgrowth.

Nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphate and potassium (N, P, K).

Types: Organic and Inorganic

Situation In Maharashtra…Like seeds, the fertiliser consumption in

Maharashtra has been rising continuously.In districts of Western Maharashtra, per

hectare usage of fertilisers is very high which has adversely affected soil fertility.

In Maharashtra, 1970-71 – 14kg/ha 1995 - 65 kg/ha Currently - 75 kg/ ha Growth rate of 7.4 per cent per annum.

Ill Effects….Upsets the stability of mineral ions in the soil.A loss of organic humus, deterioration of the

fertility of top soil and a decrease in the porosity.

Disturbances to the kidneys, lungs and liver and can even lead to cancer.

Seeps into the groundwater – saline.Reduces soil fertilityDuring rains contaminates water and kills

fish.Causes eutrophication in water

GM CropsPrinciple of Substantial Equivalence: International debate is polarized. Proponents

arguethat they are safe as they are not too different

fromnon-GM Crops.

Not very clear but if a GM Crop can be shown to be

having a similar composition to an existing food, it

can be considered safe.

What is BT Cotton All About????Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) Cotton was introduced in

India officially in the year 2002.

The Bt cotton variety contains a foreign gene obtained from bacillus thuringiensis.

Protects the plants from bollworm, a major pest of cotton. The worm feeding on the leaves of a BT cotton plant becomes lethargic and sleepy, thereby causing less damage to the plant.

BT Cotton in India…Gujarat is one of the most important cotton

growing states in India

By 2007, Gujarat’s share in total cotton production in India had gone up from 29% to an impressive 39% at the time of introduction of BT Cotton.

Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh have been cultivating BT Cotton since 2002.

Monsanto in IndiaMonsanto vs Andhra Pradesh Govt

Higher Cost of BT Cotton leading to seed piracy and severe debts.

Second generation of BT Cotton – slammed by critics and Govt. of India

Ill Effects of GM crops..The more use of genetically made crops like BT

Cotton has caused the erosion of fertile lands which has left the farmers with dismal income despite increased yields.

The aggressive use of GM crops has turned agricultural lands into waste lands due to reduction of fertility which has not translated good things in the form of life.

Bt cotton protects the crop only against one pest; cotton is attacked by no less than 165 pests.

In a recent survey a whopping majority of respondents 71% have reported low yields with BT Cotton.

Bt cotton shows good yields only in its early stages but tends to get hazardous in the later

stages giving out toxins harmful for the environment.

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2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

Area under BT Cotton

Area-Lakh Ha

Farmer SuicidesFirst reported in Maharashtra followed by

Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Punjab

Maharashtra - 4,453 farmers’ suicides – almost 25% pan India

Most of them among, the cotton growers, especially those from Vidarbha

16,196 farmers' suicides in India in 2008 , bringing the total since 1997 to 199,132

VidharbhaVidarbha is the eastern region of

Maharashtra, spanning 11 districts Vidarbha was in the media for a spate of

farmer suicides in recent years ostensibly because of the falling Minimum Support Price for cotton.

In 2006, 1,044 suicides were reported in Vidarbha alone - that's one suicide every eight hours.

Talukawise Rainfall Intensity

CausesCrop failureHarassment by moneylendersInability to repay debts following crop lossInability to get medical treatment for the

familyLoss in sowing due 2 delay in rainfallRapid increase in indebtedness root cause.Also indebtedness through use of Bt Cotton

were the main cause.

Other reasons:Lack of income from subsidiary occupations

Comparatively weak cooperative movement

Financial inability to marry daughters/sisters (dowry)

Family disputes, Addictions etc.

Farmer loansWay to rob farmers of their livelihood.

Cheating moneylenders – a main cause of farmer suicides.

A vicious cycle of debt robbed their lands and hopes.

Movies Showing The Plight….Jhing Chik Jhing

Peepli Live

International Museum of Women – Economica: Women and The Global

Economy

GOVT. HelpPM's Relief Package - Rs.3750 crores for six

districts.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's Rs.1075-crores "CM's relief package.

Problems With The Waivers…..It dealt only with bank credit and ignored

moneylender debt.

The 2008 waiver excluded those holding over 5 acres, making no distinction between irrigated and unirrigated land.

GESDCFarmers' demands were not taken into count.

Relief packages were amalgamations of existing schemes.

Awareness also fairly low.

From the Father Himself…..Raise import duty on cotton

Go for complete loan waiver.

Promote organic farming

Organic FarmingRelies on techniques such as crop rotation, green

manure, compost and biological pest control, to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm.

Excludes or strictly limits the use of synthetic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides, plant growth regulators, livestock antibiotics, food additives, and genetically modified organisms.

Promoting Organic FarmingOrganic cultivation method reduces cost and

thereby improves profit.

ConclusionEncourage the farmers to adopt allied

activities like dairy, fishery, poultry etc. with farming activities.

Crop rotation in agricultural production in changed scenario.