Farmers from 10 villages near Jharkhand's capital, Ranchi, have written to the government saying if they do not get help, they will be forced to end their lives.
The letter has created quite a stir in the government, as it immediately ordered financial aid be given to these farmers. But the problem is not limited to these 10 villages as Jharkhand’s farmers stare at uncertainty amid the crisis in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.
The crops are rotting in the fields due to the lockdown. There are vegetables ready to be sold, but if they do not get to the market in time, it can cost the farmers their lives.
Plagued by lack of rain and untimely hail, the already perturbed farmers of Jharkhand now have an added concern – a 21-day lockdown.
The Quint spoke to farmers from different corners of Jharkhand to gauge their situation.
The farmers in the Lohardaga region have been troubled for months. Earlier they suffered due to the riots, and now they are suffering due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Gopal Mahato, farmer, Lohardaga district, Jharkhand said:
Baijnath Mahato, who cultivates watermelons on a 35-acre farm in Ormanjhi near Ranchi, says that he is fearing major losses due to the lockdown.
Haladhar Mahato, farmer in Tamar block, says that after 17 March, the consumption of vegetables witnessed a drop and after 20 March, it came to a standstill. Low footfall of traders has left the farmers worried sick.
We spoke to the officers about the plight of farmers. But the interaction concluded that the entire focus is on dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and the woes of the farmers is not in their priority.
The Quint contacted Rajiv Kumar, Special Secretary, Rural Development Department, Jharkhand, to know the situation of farmers.
He answered saying he is working on the awareness programme for coronavirus while focusing on livelihood, women and children.
This is the situation when Rajiv Kumar is the Director of organic farming. He is also in charge of marketing. Organic farming comes under the Department of Agriculture. Thousands of farmers of Jharkhand are registered under this.
Farming experts in the state say that the farming community in Jharkhand is already upset. Lack of irrigation, lack of rain, middlemen and now lockdown have added insult to injury.
Anand Kothari, president of the Jharkhand Agro Chamber, says that "17.84 lakh farmers in Jharkhand have taken a loan of Rs 7,061 crore. According to this, on an average, each farmer owes Rs 39,580. The government has made a provision of only Rs 2000 crores for the loan waiver in the budget. Currently, it is important that there is a debt waiver for farmers."
(This story was first published on The Quint Hindi.)
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