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Suicides By The Cotton Farmers In Bhatinda District & Villages Ravaged By Water And Pesticides Report
Ofkheti Virasat Study Team Some Punjab and Delhi newspapers published news of the sorry plight of the debt -ridden Farmers
of village Harkishanpura in Punjab’s Bhatinda district. The news
item contained information about the heavy debt burden of the
farmers, suicides by them and the Gram Panchayat’s proposal to the
Chief Minister to sell off the village. A study team of Kheti
Virasat, Punjab (an voluntary organisation, which is working with an
mission to publicize and propagate the practical concept of
sustainable/organic farming among the farmer of Punjab, Haryana and
Himachal Pradesh) went there to gather detailed information, to
examine the causes of the farmers’ in depth condition and to find
out possible solutions to the problem. It was realized by the
activities preparing to send the study team to the village eight to
nine villages of that area were faced with similar situation. It was
therefore decided to visit three most seriously affected villages of
the area. Consequently
a five-member team of Kheti Virasat visited three villages of Tehsil
Rampuraphool of district Bhatinda. The three villages are the
following: 1. Mandi Khurd 2. Raman Vass 3.
Harkishanpura The other villages of the area afflicted with similar problems are Anandgarh, Mansakhurd, Balianwali, Thammangarh, Sandoha and Dekhan. The three villages visited by the team are situated close to each other 32 km from the road leading to Maur Mandi from Bhatinda. The villages inhabited about 125 years ago have sandy soil and saline water. The geographical features of the area and its environment are desert like. The study team first visited village Mandikhurd. Comprehensive discussions were held with about 30 villagers gathered at the village Chaupal. The team then proceeded to the neighboring village Ramanvas accompanied by the ex-sarpanch of village Mandikhurd. About 20 people gathered at he resident of Sarpanch Malkit Singh of Ramanvas before proceeding to the next village Harkishanpura. A number of person gathered at the village Gurudwara along with the village Sarpanch Mrs Harbans Kaur and Nambardar Lal Singh. INITIAL FINDINGS
Debt
Immersed Villages “The whole village is immersed in debt; there is not even a single Marla (a unit of land Measurement) that is not mortgaged”. These are the words of Ex-Sarpanch Jarnail Singh of Village Mandikhurd. He was describing the sad plight of the village caused by debt. Each family in the village is under an average debt of 3 lacs rupees. The debt burden of some families’ ranges from 6 to 10 lacs. Most of the debt they owned to either ahrtdhies (local money lenders) or to banks. Unable to pay back the debt for the past six years, all the sources of further loans have dried up. Villager are chiefly dependent on local moneylenders, because they alone help procure seeds, fertilizers and pesticides whenever the villagers need them. But this dependence knows to the moneylender. There being no alternative, villagers have to do this. On being asked why despite failure to pay back the old debts, the villagers are helped by the moneylender? The answer given is that he were not to do it, then in the absence if the next crop, he would have no hope of recovering the old debts. Local moneylenders are also actuated by helplessness and human consideration. Not being able to recover their debts, the moneylenders are also facing financial difficulties. Farmer
– local moneylender relation The professional relationship between the farmer and the local moneylender is based on social relation and mutual trust. Family and social relations between the two have traditionally been close. Nevertheless, following the farmers’ future repays the debts; local moneylenders have proceeded to have farmers land attached. In village Sandoha (Sub-division - Talwandi Sabo), a conflict situation among the two arose consequent upon the moneylenders’ threat to a farmer to have his land attached owing to his failure to pay back his debts. The controversy has its effect in others villages too. The whole thing has led to some tension between the farmers and the moneylenders. The
land-disposed farmers
Mortgaged
land has slipped out of the farmers’ hands in all the three
villages. Farmers have lost 25-30 acres, 100 acres and 300 acres in
villages Mandikhurd, Ramanvas and Harkishanpura respectively. These
lands have either local money lenders or out side traders/
businessmen as new owners. Increasing
input cost of agriculture and increasing burden of debt
Conditions
have deteriorated in all the three villages since 1992. Farmers used
to repay their debts with each new crop. So sever was the
devastation caused by the American Bollworm in 1992 that they lost
their entire crops. The first attack of American Bollworm had been
felt in 1988, but it had been controlled. For the first time farmers
lost their entire crops in 1992 and consequently could not pay back
their debts. Following the 92 pestilences, farmers increased the use
of pesticides inordinately. The per acre money spent by the farmer
on the pesticide prior to 92 was rupees 500. The amount went up to
rupees 3000 and today it stands at rupees 10000 per acre. The price
of cotton declined in reverse proportion. Against an investment of
Rs. 10000, the farmer got only Rs. 2000 – 3000. Fed up with
American bollworm, some farmers shifted to rice crop. The yield,
however, did not exceed 10 quintals and even this could not be
sustained in the absence of adequate irrigation facility. Price of
pesticides continued to raise, farmers continued to contract
ever-higher debts in the hope of reversal of fortune, which never
happened. These pesticides thus become farmercides. The cycle
of suicides started in 1999. Those who committed suicides were all
above average farmers. The more land a farmer had, the more indebted
he became. According to Lal Singh, the Namberdar of Harkishanpura,
one acre of land carries a debt of one lakh rupees today. The
American Bollworm problem has been compounded by the additional
problem of lack of irrigation water since 1996. This has worsened
the condition of farmers’ future. Due to this lack of water
farmers are unable to get even wheat crops. This year the per acre
yield of wheat has been about 15 quintals. Due to bad ground water
farmers’ attempts to grow groundnuts have also failed. Following
all these problems, the price of land has fallen 3.5 lacs per acre
to under 1 lacs per acre. Farmers
committing suicide
Farmers committing suicide is something has been heard of in this area only in the past four or five years. In Mandikhurd three farmers have so far committed suicide for fear of loss of reputation and humiliation caused by financial straits, debt, attachment and tension. Attempts have been made to foist these suicides as deaths caused by the ill effects of pesticides. All three had about 8-10 acres of land of which they had been forced to sell off 4 acres each. They committed suicide because even after selling their land they could not secure much relief from their debt-burden; their debt in fact continued to grow. The villagers insisted that the names of the farmers who had committed suicide be not made public. All three were above thirty years of age. Their lands along with their debts have fallen to the lot of their brothers. Likewise four farmers have committed suicide in village Harkishanpura. These suicides have all occurred in the last 3-4 years. Their landholding also ranged between 8 to 10 acres. In this village the farmers who own up to 20 acres of land are too in debt of about 4 to 6 lacs. Selling of some part of their land also didn’t help them much. The tale of the two villages is identical. It is significant that in no case was the debt amount misused for personal consumption of any kind or misspent in any way. They had taken loans for farming purposes and spent them for the same. These suicides have deeply impacted other villagers’ lives. They all look fatigued and hopeless. They talk not only about debt and pesticides but also of giving up farming altogether. It seems to be a compulsion for them to continue to stay in these villages. “We will leave the village if some were to buy our lands and houses.” The villagers of this area are all of opinion that agriculture is no longer a profitable enterprise. More land means more debts, even the salaries of family members working in jobs are consumed by the farming. Some family with more than one salaried member took others lands also for agricultural purpose thus getting into a bigger debt trap. The situation had a direct effect on the lives of the farmers with health and education becoming the first casualties. Now few of their children are able to go beyond 8th or 10th standard. People have no money for treatment, only helpless silence. They don’t want to leave their villages, but living there has also become meaningless since there are no means of livelihood. But were to go which is apart from the shame for respectable people of having to quit. They ask those who visit them to help them extricate themselves out of the situation. But after their experience with the politicians, they do so cautiously. The loyal Akali Dal supporting village Harkishanpura explained their plight to the former Chief Minister Prakesh Singh Badal but with no results. The people somewhat happy that the present Chief Minister Amarendar Singh has paid some heed to their problems at last the district administration came to get a first hand account to their problems. Newspaper coverage has also helped matter a little. The village Panchayat has, through a resolution, pleaded with Chief Minister to buy the village. On being asked what could solve their problems, the villagers have unanimously asked for canal water and sending up employment generating industries in the region. No villagers have asked for condonation of their debts. Perhaps after repeated pleas, they have realized that debts will have to be paid back under all circumstances. Therefore all talk of relief starts with canal water, genuine pesticides, good seeds and rests in village cottage industries and government enterprises. Having lost their crops in the last ten years, farmers have lost faith in pesticides, more than the shortage of water, pesticides have destroyed us is their complaint. Pesticides are not only becoming dearer but also increasingly infective. Earlier one or two pesticide spry would work; now the most expensive pesticides have become infective. In their desperation farmers give even up to twenty sprays to a crop, which is exceedingly harmful. American Bollworm can still not be controlled. Until about 1985-86, farmers used to sow indigenous ‘narma’, which needed no pesticides and farmers, used to harvest 25-30 quintals per acre thus remaining debt free. The problem started with the arrival of hybrids. First among the hybrids to be introduced was A-846 of Punjab Agriculture University. This was followed by endless cycle of seeds produced by companies. Ordinary pesticides could control the initial attacks of ‘tailia’ i.e. Aphid. The farmers’ financial condition was sound. “ Our pucca houses date back to those days; we were far happier. There was little expense, seeds were our own and there were no pesticides. Please rid us of this cotton. We are repenting having given up our indigenous seeds. Our houses and lands have all been mortgaged. We want to escape our sorry condition, but how and were to. What shall have to our families? Our entire village is a defaulter in loans. Nobody is prepared to give us loans now. If somebody buy our village we shall have a chance to start a new life, freed from debt.” All these are the words of villagers from different villages. Quit clearly these words truly reflect the villagers state of mind and paint a true picture of their present condition. The effective of pesticides is a subject of far greater discussion in the village Ramanvas. About 60 to 100 persons fall prey to the ill effects of pesticides during every cotton season. Each one of them incurs an expense of 10-12 thousand rupees on medical treatment. The villagers have to bear this totally unwanted expense. People here show great interest in any talk of alternatives to pesticides. It
is worth mentioning that despite all the problems and tensions there
are virtually no Alcoholism in these villages. Accordingly to the
Sarpanch of Ramanvas, his village is free of drinking. In the other
two villages the number of those given to drinking doesn’t exceed
a single digit. The study team was also informed that villagers
don’t have any other wasteful habits. Water
crisis – most acute Canal water reached these villages about forty years ago. Before this the whole region was dependent on rainwater for agriculture. At that time only crops that needed less water and could be fed by rainwater were sowed. The main crops were gawar, moth, grams, taramira and moong. Village pounds also supplied drinking water. Every village used to have four to five ponds. The supply of water by Govt. water works started about 50 years ago led to the neglect of these ponds. Today only one or two ponds have survived that too in a miserable and dry state. No one bothers about collecting rainwater in these ponds. The ponds are neglected, their drying up has caused inconvenience but villagers don’t seem to regret it. They attribute their drying up to lack of rain. The arrival of the canal water initially transformed life here, but the transformation could not be sustained. The canal water created a dependency and cropping pattern also changed accordingly. A cropping cycle of cotton and wheat got established. It sustained well till 1992 but then American Bollworm and the disruption of canal water destroyed the villagers agriculture engendered prosperity. The once prosperous villagers find themselves caught in a strange web today. The groundwater in this region has Salinity, Chloride, Bicarbonate, Calcium and Magnesium in big proportion. As per official laboratory test it is declared unfit for consumption. Government water works are also in a bad shape. Taps yield little water. Villagers are thus forced to use water declared unfit for consumption. Cattle are also normally taken for drinking to the same source. That’s also having an effect on them. The two village wells are now in disuse because their water is also not fit for consumption. Even as it is, it is in a low rainfall region. The rain received is, however, sufficient to recharge village if they were properly maintained. The villagers seem to appreciate the important ponds. On being asked whether they would wish to be self-sufficient in drinking water, all nodded their agreement. The paucity of irrigation water caused the planted seeds to be destroyed. This is not an isolated event; it happens often. Farmers are thus forced to plant seeds a second time. The cost goes up. This year many farmers didn’t plant cottonseeds at all for want of water. Any one interested can see the plain, empty fields. The common Gram Panchayats land was rented out for cropping which ensured some income for the Panchayats. Now nobody is prepared to take that land on contract, even through the contract amount was substantially reduced. “ Agriculture is a losing proposition in this area”, these are the words of Nambardar Lal Singh throw ample light on the sad plight of the villages. The inhabitants of this area consider water supply to be only a quarter of the solution. Shortage of water has had a serious effect on the cattle wealth. Several families have no much cattle left. They can with difficulty avail some milk. Average milk yield per family doesn’t exceed a couple of kilos. Polluted water has engendered diseases among cattle too. Ill
– effects on health too The
forced excessive use of pesticides for cotton crops has had
extremely harmful effect on the region’s environment and health of
the people. What kind of devastation these pesticides can cause can
be gauged from the statistics collected from these villages. The
pale faces of the people here are attributed to debt and tension.
Yellowing of teeth and joint-pains are common, thanks to the
chloride in the water. But the most startling is the alarming
incidence of cancer. In the village Ramanvas, a population of two
thousand has already seen 25 cancer-caused deaths with another 15
suffering from cancer. Mandikhurd and Harkishanpura have had six and
ten cancer deaths respectively. All these deaths have occurred in
the last eight years. Kidney failure has claimed one victim each in
each village. There are other two who are suffering from kidney
problem. The proportion of diabetes relative to the population is
also quit high in these villages. Ramanvas has more than 50
diabetics. The other two villages have 8 to 10 cases each. The
number those suffering from breathing and skin disorder are also
high. Children with congenital defects, including mentally retarded
are also quit common. In village Harkishanpura about a dozen such
birth have taken place in the last ten years. Mandikhurd has had
four such cases in last four years. According to Mrs Harbans Kaur,
the sarpanch of Harkishanpura, the complaints of abort births and
jaundice during pregnancy have gone up considerably. The incidence
of infertility has also increased. Hypertension and high blood
pressure have become common ailments. Ill-effects
on environment and bio-diversity Peak cocks, a common sight earlier, have disappeared. Earthworms, fireflies and butterflies have become extinct in this region. Vultures and small birds have met the same fate. Villagers are unable to understand the causes of this. Perhaps financial problems don’t let them think of any thing else. Water
shortage has seriously impacted life here. One encounters dust,
barrenness and desert like conditions on entering these villages.
The desolate fields and camels yoked to ploughs make the place look
like the extension of a desert. The traditional trees Khejri, Karir,
Babool, and Neem etc. are close to extinction. No trees are visible
far and wide. Women with empty pitches on their heads and dry ponds
indicate conditions of near calamity faced by this region. Solution:
Resource Generation The villagers have explained their plight to the authorities on the several occasions in the last ten years but no solution has appeared in the sight. No Govt. has a remedy for the American Bollworm. As regards canal water, partial solution can be provided. The problem however, is far more intractable. The present condition of these villages is burning example of the neglect of erosion of traditional agricultural practices. These villages have virtually nil resources. Resource generation would, therefore, be a significant step of traditional crops, water-conservation practices and adopting multi-crop patterns. Water-conservation methods in use in Rajasthan and other parts of the country can be adopted here. Water conservation can take care drinking water needs, both of humans and cattle and maintain moisture in the soil. Plantation of native verities of trees can be successful there. Training farmers in and encouraging farmers to practice bio-agriculture can also contribute to the solution of the problems faced by them. In view of the widespread and deadly effects of pesticides, a comprehensive and well-researched medical survey is also needed. The
assessment presented here is based on a study of only three
villages. This can from the basis of a much wider survey in the
region. After moving around in these villages and talking to some
group of people here, Kheti Virasat has presented an initial
action plan for the reconstruction of these villages: 1.
Sustainable/organic-agriculture a) The propagation of sustainable-agriculture among the regions farmers b) Popularization and use of indigenous seeds c)
Training in the manufacture and use of bio-pesticides and
integrated natural pest-control d) Encouraging less water-intensive crops 2.
Water conservation and management a) Reconstruction and renovation of old ponds b) Creation of new and bigger ponds c) Construction of traditional water structure for rain water harvesting d) Construction of recharging wells to raise ground water e) Propagation of roof-water harvesting techniques f) Experiments for development of traditional ground -water recharging techniques like khadinees 3. Aforestation and tree-plantation a)
Planting of trees suited to the region’s ecology and
harvesting rain water for their growth and b) Reuse tree-plantation on Panchayats common land c)
Growing medicinal plants suited to the region environment and
devising plans for their commercial d)
Growing of grasses suitable for use as fodder 4. Cottage industries a) Making plans for cottage industries using locally available raw material and training facilities for the same b) Making markets available for the consumption of locally made products c)
Training women in handicrafts and ensuring sale of the products
produced by them 5. Inspiring the youth a) Awakening the desire for self-reliance and constructive work among the youth of the area b)
Organizing camps and study tours for the same. These study tour can
cover success stories c)
In view of this, setting-up a Centre for a full time worker of Kheti
Virasat in Bhatinda, were the Kheti
Virasat requires means for the
above-mentioned tasks. Government, private and voluntary or
charitable organisations can contribute monetarily for this work. A
comprehensive and multi-dimensional study under the advice of
experienced and expert scholars should be planned on the basis of
this initial study. Based on the conclusions of the present study, a
future action plan and points/issues of survey can be decided upon.
The possibilities of work to be undertaken in other villages can
also be explored on the basis of conclusions. The
Team The
Kheti Virasat study team comprised the following: 1. Umendra Dutt (Delhi), Director, Kheti Virasat 2. Dr. Rajindra Kumar (Patiala), General Secretary, Kheti Virasat 3. Sanjeev Sharma (Nabha), Secretary, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and Development. 4. Pawan Tayal (Bhatinda) Secretary, Kheti Virasat 5. Nitin Ramawat (Nabha), Project Co-ordinator, Kheti Virasat For
more details contact: Umendra
Dutt Tel: +91 +11 2270982 E-mail:
umendradutt@rediffmail.com,
umendradutt@khetivirasat.com Working
office: Surendra Singh/Sanjeev Sharma/ Nitin Ramawat KHETI
VIRASAT Tel: +91 +1765 524907 E-mail: khetivirasat@indiatimes.com, khetivirasat@khetivirasat.com, ramawat_nitin@hotmail.com
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