Solution to Farmer suicides

7/26/2019 Solution to Farmer suicides

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1.1 Problem Definition:

At least six to seven farmers have been committing suicides every day, on average, for a

straight twelve years (2004-15) in a rich state of Maharashtra. Both central and state

government distributed around Rs. 60,000 crores within the same twelve. So despite of suchhuge packages government couldnt able to stop the suicides. From management point of

view, it can be one of the worst cases of the world. With respect to same, I could find

following drawbacks during investigation of the issue:

From management point of view:

1. Policy planning and execution in a non integrated approach,

2. Absence of a dedicated manpower on the concerned issue,

3. Wrong distribution of authority,

From policy point of view:

1.

Misdirected policy formulation on minimum support price,

2.

Controversial green revolution policy,

3. Subsidy provision for sugar factory establishment,

4. Absence of organic farming policy,

1.1.1 Goal: To assist policy making and implementing authorities for solution part of the

farmers suicide issue in Maharashtra.

1.1.2 Objective:

1.

To propose a framework for integrated planning and execution,

2.

To propose the areas followed system structures of immediate reformation,

3.

To suggest remedies for betterment farmers future,

1.1.3 Scope: various analysis shows that, the coming decade will be of health revolution

where farming and its value addition will be of great importance. It would be a major segment

for livelihood opportunity. If government plans to divert depressed farmers mindset w.r.t

rising opportunity of future then project management has great scope for bringing Excellency

in the most complicated subject like farming. Various tools and techniques of project

management can play a great role.


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Chapter 2: Literature review:

2.1 Introduction of Project management:

Project management has grown in response to the need for a managerial approach that deals

with the problems and opportunities of modern society. It is a departure from the management

of simpler ongoing, repetitive operations where the market and technology tend to be

predictable, anticipated outcomes are more certain, and only one or a few parties or

organizations are involved. When situations requires adaptability and rapid response to

change, then project management form of organization and management works much better.

It provides diversified technical and managerial competency and decentralizedcommunication and decision making necessary to meet the challenges of complex,

unfamiliar, high-stakes activities. It is the process and activity of planning, organizing,

motivating, and controlling resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals in

scientific or daily problems.

Project management is a systems approach to management. A project is a system of

interrelated components-work tasks, resources, stakeholders, as well as schedules, budgets,

and plans. The purpose of project management is to integrate the components to accomplish

the project goal.

The primary challenge of project management is to achieve all of the project goals and

objectives while honoring the preconceived constraints. The primary constraints are scope,

time, quality and budget. The secondary and more ambitious challenge is to optimize

the allocation of necessary inputs and integrate them to meet pre-defined objectives.

2.2 Relevance of project management at International level:

Since the 90th many International Organizations undertook extensive reforms in the field of

project management in response to economic, social and political pressures and calls for

accountability of such organizations to development agencies. A central feature of these

reforms was a switch from an activity focused approach to result based management. As a


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result most of the International Organizations reformed their project management systems and

became more effective and results-oriented.

The Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development defined the Result Based

Management as a management strategy focused on performance and achievement of outputs,

outcomes and inputs. In other words, RBM is a broad management strategy aimed at

changing the way agencies operate, with improving performance (achieving results) as the

central orientation.

Key elements of RBM include identification of clear expected results; selection of indicators

to measure progress toward results; setting up explicit targets for each indicator; analysis of

assumptions and risks; development of performance monitoring systems; revision, analysis,

and reporting on results; use of evaluations for additional analysis of performance; and use of

performance information for internal management, accountability, learning, and decision-

making processes.

United Nations Environment Programme explains the project cycle in terms of five phases as

described below, the distinction among the phases are often unclear in practice, especially

between identification and preparation, plus their relative importance varies greatly,

depending on the character, scale and history of the project.

1. Project identification starts from an understanding of the United Nations Environment

Programme mandate and objectives. This phase includes the situation analysis, which

enhances understanding of the likely causes and linkages between existing problems

and which actions are necessary to remedy these problems. The project concept

proposal is drafted that lays out preliminary ideas, objectives, results, strategies,

outputs and activities.

2.

Project preparation and formulation begins with the preparation of a feasibility study

with the purpose of providing stakeholders with the basis for decision-making process

regarding the project. Once the feasibility study has taken place and implementation

activities are agreed upon, the concept proposal is transformed into a project

document which includes a summary of the situation assessment, justification of

methodology and strategies for achieving the targeted changes. In addition, the

establishment of baseline and target data for developing indicators for measuring


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outputs and results is foreseen with the assistance of the logical framework. In project

implementation planning the success depends on the quality of project planning before

the project begins.

To this end the checklist was designed to assess the feasibility of projects and the

readiness of project managers to undertake projects. The checklist serves as a

reference guide for effective and efficient project implementation to project managers.

3.

Project review and approval mechanism includes set up of inter-divisional and project

approval group. This mechanism aims to improve quality of proposals, to promote

knowledge-sharing among colleagues by sharing best practices and substantive and

technical knowledge, and to enhance inter-divisional dialogue and collaboration in

project implementation. During discussions the following criteria are taken into

account: how the proposals contribute to the UNEP mandate and strategic objectives;

whether results identified are realistic, achievable and sustainable; the capacity of

implementing partners to undertake the project; the extent to which the project

incorporates and builds on previous experience and lessons learned; risk assessment in

full project implementation,

4.

Project Implementation consists of monitoring, risk assessment and management ofactivities. Project managers monitor expenditures, activities, output completion and

workflows against their implementation plans, output delivery and progress made

towards achieving the results and objectives according to their anticipated milestones

or benchmarks. Monitoring is an internal process that looks at both programmatic and

financial processes and makes changes in assumptions and risks associated with target

groups. Managing risks by recognizing and preparing for a range of possible future

outcomes is an integral part of project management, which is regularly updated and

refined with the assistance of a risk management plan.

5.

Project evaluation is a time-bound exercise that attempts to assess the relevance,

performance and success of current or completed projects, systematically and

objectively. Evaluation determines to what extent the intervention has been successful

in terms of its impact, effectiveness, sustainability of results, and contribution to

capacity development.


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International Labour Organization has also adopted the Result Based Management in the

planning and management of its resources and activities, including technical cooperation, in

order to improve performance, efficiency and accountability. The RBM approach starts by

defining outcomes to be achieved and then implements, reports and evaluates against the

intended results, using the logical framework.

The project cycle comprises distinct but inter-related phases:

1.

Design includes the initial identification of a problem or project idea, the analysis and

formulation of the project, and the preparation of a tentative implementation plan. It

results in the preparation of a project document.

2. Appraisal is the analytical review of project design and formulation. It ensures that

projects are of a high design and technical standard and are consistent with ILOs

objectives and priorities. Specific criteria for appraisal were set out in the appraisal

checklist because appraisal is the basis for the approval of projects.

3.

Approval is the official endorsement of the proposal and it starts with the submission

of an appraised project to a donor for funding. When the funding is secured, the

project is officially approved.

4.

Implementation and Monitoring begins once the key responsibilities of parties

involved are assigned, the project manager is appointed, and managementarrangements are confirmed. Implementation starts with revision of the project design

and work plan, it also includes the preparation of the monitoring and evaluation plan,

and execution of project activities.

5. Monitoring is an important management function that takes place during

implementation to ensure that the project is on track, and the necessary corrective

measures are taken on time.

6.

Completion and financial closure is the final phase of the implementation of the

project whereas activities are completed, achievements are documented, the project

personnels contracts are terminated, physical assets disposed of, and accounts are

closed.

7.

Evaluation is the systematic and objective assessment of an ongoing or completed

project. It assesses the relevance and strategic fit of a project, the validity of its design,

project progress and effectiveness, efficiency of resource use, effectiveness of

management arrangements, and impact orientation and sustainability of a project.


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For development agencies the basic purpose of the RBM systems is to generate and use

performance information for accountability reporting to external stakeholders, internal

management learning and decision-making.

In most development agencies the following processes and phases are included in RBM:

1.

Formulating objectives phase identifies clear and measurable results and develops a

conceptual framework on how the results will be achieved.

2. Identifying indicators phase specifies what is to be measured along a scale or

dimension for each objective.

3.

Setting targets phase identifies the expected or planned levels of results to be achievedby specific date in order to be used in performance measurement for each indicator.

4. Monitoring results phase develops performance monitoring systems to regularly

collect data on actual results achieved. Reviewing and reporting results phase

compares actual results vis--vis the targets.

5.

Integrating evaluation conducts evaluations to provide complementary information on

performance from various sources (internal and external). Using performance

information process takes into account performance monitoring and evaluation

sources of internal management learning, decision-making and external reporting to

be presented to stakeholders on results achieved. Such information contributes to

development of new policies and procedures and leads to organizational reforms.

Within the United Nations organizations system the Results based budgeting concept seen as

a programme budget process which involves programme formulation with a set of predefined

objectives and expected results. In order to achieve the expected results they should be

derived from and linked to the outputs and necessary resources needs to be allocated to this

end. In addition, the actual performance in achieving results is measured by objective

performance indicators.

RBB serves as a tool to enhance accountability with improved performance assessment and a

more responsive system of management authority and responsibility. It also contributes toadjustments of information systems and enhancement of staff knowledge and skills.


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Development agencies consider that RBB involves the estimation of budget requirements

necessary to achieve specific planned results. Traditionally budgets were linked to inputs or

activities, however, with the introduction of RBB, budgets required to be linked to results

leading to changes in financial accounting practices and coding systems.

2.3 Past performance analysis report by IGIDR, Mumbai:

The Government of Maharashtra, concerned about the highest total number of farmer suicides

among its rural populations, commissioned its own study into reasons. At its behest, Indira

Gandhi Institute of Development Research in Mumbai did field research and found the top

causes of farmers suicides to be: debt, low income and crop failure, family issues such as

illness and inability to pay celebration expenses for daughter's marriage, lack of secondary

income occupations and lack of value-added opportunities.

India is an agrarian country with around 60% of its people depending directly or indirectly

upon agriculture. Farmer suicides account for 11.2% of all suicides in India. Activists and

scholars have offered a number of conflicting reasons for farmer suicides, such as monsoon

failure, high debt burdens, government policies, public mental health, personal issues and

family problems.

Various reasons have been offered to explain why farmers commit suicide in India, including:

drought, debt, use of genetically modified seed, public health and government economic

policies. There is no consensus on what the main causes might be but studies show suicide

victims are motivated by more than one cause, on average three or more causes for

committing suicide. Panagariya states, "farm-related reasons get cited only approximately 25

percent of the time as reasons for suicide", and, "studies do consistently show greater debt

burden and greater reliance on informal sources of credit" amongst farmers who commit

suicide.

A study conducted in 2014 found that there are three specific characteristics associated with

high risk farmers: "those that grow cash crops such as coffee and cotton; those with

marginal farms of less than one hectare; and those with debts of 300 Rupees or more." The

study also found that the Indian states in which these three characteristics are most common

had the highest suicide rates and also accounted for "almost 75% of the variability in state-

level suicides."


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A 2012 study did a regional survey on farmers suicide in rural Vidarbhas and applied a

Smith's Saliency method to qualitatively rank the expressed causes among farming families

who had lost someone to suicide. The expressed reasons in order of importance behind farmer

suicides were debt, alcohol addiction, environment, low produce prices, stress and family

responsibilities, apathy, poor irrigation, increased cost of cultivation, private money lenders,

use of chemical fertilizers and crop failure. In other words debt to stress and family

responsibilities were rated as significantly higher than fertilizers and crop failure. In a

different study in the same region in 2006, indebtedness (87%) and deterioration in the

economic status (74%) were found to be major risk factors for suicide.

Studies dated 2004 through 2006 identified several causes for farmers suicide, such as

insufficient or risky credit systems, the difficulty of farming semi-arid regions, poor

agricultural income, absence of alternative income opportunities, a downturn in the urban

economy which forced non-farmers into farming, and the absence of suitable counseling

services. In 2004, in response to a request from the All India Biodynamic and Organic

Farming Association, the Mumbai High Court required the Tata Institute to produce a report

on farmer suicides in Maharashtra, and the institute submitted its report in March 2005. The

survey cited "government apathy, the absence of a safety net for farmers, and lack of access

to information related to agriculture as the chief causes for the desperate condition of farmers

in the state." An Indian study conducted in 2002 indicated an association between victims

engaging in entrepreneurial activities (such as venturing into new crops, cash crops, and

following market trends) and their failure in meeting expected goals due a range of

constraints.

As much as 80% of India's farmland relies on flooding during monsoon season, so inadequate

rainfall can cause droughts, making crop failure more common. In regions that have

experienced droughts, crop yields have declined, and food for cattle has become scarcer.

Agricultural regions that have been affected by droughts have subsequently seen their suicide

rates increase.

Farmers have been killing themselves in years when the crop has been excellent. And in

seasons when it has failed. They have taken their own lives in large numbers in very different

years. When it rains they lose out, when it doesnt, they lose out worse. There have been

awful suicide numbers in some good monsoon years. And so too, in years of drought, which

can make things more terrible.

The suicides occurred overwhelmingly amongst cash crop farmers. Growers of cotton, sugarcane, groundnut, vanilla, coffee, pepper and others. Far fewer suicides occur amongst growers


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of paddy or wheat. Can we argue that drought kills cash crop farmers but not those cultivating

food crops?

The monsoon does have a very real impact on agriculture. But it is by no means the main

reason for the farm suicides. And with the bulk of those suicides occurring amongst cash crop

farmers, the issues of debt, hyper-commercialization, exploding input costs, water-use

patterns, and severe price shocks and price volatility, come much more to the fore. All factors

majorly driven by state policies.

Against the background of these factors, you can be sure that if a drought really unfolds this

year, theyre in very big trouble. And we will know very shortly. July is the main month of the

monsoon. It normally accounts for over 50 per cent of the rains, thus equalling the importance

of the other three months of June, August and September combined.

2.4 Effectiveness of Governments response:

It has been concluded by respective, the government's response and relief packages have

generally been ineffective, misdirected and flawed. It has focused on credit and loan, rather

than income, productivity and farmer prosperity. Assistance in paying off outstanding

principal and interest helps the money lenders, but has failed to create reliable and good

sources of income for the farmer going forward.

The usurious moneylenders continue to offer loans at interest rates between 24 to 50 percent,

while income generating potential of the land the farmer works on has remained low and

subject to weather conditions. Various reports states that the government has failed to

understand that debt relief just postpones the problem and a more lasting answer to farmer

distress can only come from reliable income sources, higher crop yields per hectare, irrigation

and other infrastructure security. P. Manohar, in a private talk, acknowledged the positive role

of crop diversification initiative announced in government's response to reports of farmer

suicides.

P. Manohar in a discussion added, "Indian agriculture still suffers from: i) poor productivity,

ii) falling water levels, iii) expensive credit, iv) a distorted market, v) many middlemen and

intermediaries who increase cost but do not add much value, vi) laws that stifle private

investment, vii) controlled prices, viii) poor infrastructure, and ix) inappropriate research.

Thus the approach with mere emphasis on credit in isolation from the above factors will not

help agriculture.


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2.5 Study of Agricultural Indebtedness by Expert Group:

According to the study Agricultural indebtedness is not the main cause of farmers suicides

but stagnation in agriculture, marketing risks, collapse of extension system, growing

institutional vacuum and lack of livelihood opportunities are the primary causes. According to

the Report the decline in returns from agriculture has resulted in inability of farmers torepay

debt and this has triggered Farmers suicide.

2.6 Conclusion from Dr. M.S. Swaminathan report:

If we analyze the suicides by farmers in Maharashtra it is revealed that it is higher in

Vidharbh region of the State where farmers preferred cultivation of "white gold" i.e. cotton - arisky venture that suffered due to non-availability of quality seeds coupled with the farmers or

incapacity to buy costly Bt. cotton seeds. They could also not get remunerative price for their

produce.

According to Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, although 60% people in India depend on agriculture and

Agriculture Sector contributes 25% of National Income over the period investment and

production in agriculture has declined. In developed world the percentage of dependence of

population on agriculture is much less e.g. in USA it is only 2% and income from agriculture

is just 4%.

There are related issues of quality for export and competition in global market. The answer to

the question as to why the farmers are committing suicides? lies in a combination of factors

such as crop failure, shifting to more profitable but risky (in terms of output, quality and

prices) cash crops like cotton/ sugarcane/ soya bean, exorbitant rate of interest and other

terms and conditions of loans availed from money lenders, lack of nonfarm opportunities,

unwillingness to adopt to scientific practices, non availability of timely credit from formal

channel, absence of proper climate/ incentive for timely repayment of bank loan, etc. At some

places even though water is available but can't be exploited fully due to insufficient power

supply. Huge expenditure on children's education and sudden demand of money for health

considerations and marriage, etc. in the family are also major contributors for stress in

farming community. Inconsistency of rainfall during monsoon, absence of support

mechanism for marketing of agriculture produce also contributed to uncertainty and financialrisk of the farmers.


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To commit suicide is not normal but generally occurred for farmers due to fear of pressure of

Moneylenders e.g. if they fail to repay the loan their land will be forcibly taken away. Their

Economic condition in many cases changes to such as extent that the farmers are unable to

face the society. In this situation of loneliness and in absence of any institutional or social

Mechanism to fall back upon, farmers were forced to commit suicide. For farmers to come

out of the stressful situation a system to address the various issues discussed in the earlier

paragraphs have to be evolved through an institutional mechanism with necessary

arrangement for review and follow up. A rehabilitation programme which addresses

repayment of overdue interest, supply of quality inputs for next crop, insurance against

natural calamity, opportunity of supplementary income through nonfarm activities, provision

of forward linkage such as marketing and storage, extension services, etc. has to be devised

and implemented.

According to the study Agricultural indebtedness is not the main cause of farmers suicides

but stagnation in agriculture, marketing risks, collapse of extension system, growing

Institutional vacuum and lack of livelihood opportunities are the primary causes.

2.7 NITI Aayogs analysis on artificial onion crisis:

An analysis by the NITI Aayog on this year's (2015) onion crisis shows traders could have

milked Rs 8,000 crores from consumers in August and September by manipulating prices.

The Aayog recently met the ministries concerned to find a long-term solution to recurring

onion crises. It arrived at the cost of market manipulation on the average monthly

consumption of onions in the country, multiplied by the extra amount consumers paid in these

two months. The rough calculation comes to Rs 8,000 crores, which is the price consumerswere forced to pay to traders and middlemen this year.

Officials from the ministries of agriculture, consumer affairs and commerce, the Indian

Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), Nafed, and the Small Farmers Agri-business

Consortium (SFAC) took part in the meeting. India usually consumes a little over a million

tonnes of onions a month. Retail onion prices had jumped to almost Rs 70 per kg in many

cities in August and September this year, nearly Rs 40 more than the average price a year ago.

The analysis brought out the need for state-intervention in the onion market.


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The most agencies such as Nafed and SFAC incur on storing onions is Rs 100-200 crores,

miniscule compared to what consumers paid extra in the country's most recent onion crisis. "It

is imperative to use price stabilization instruments to deal with onion crises," the official said.

The government will use an Rs 500 crores price stabilization fund to intervene when onion

and potato prices flare up.

Nine states applied for money from the price stabilization fund this year for intervention over

onions. The Centre bears half the loss incurred by state agencies and the entire expenses of

central agencies in procurement and distribution of onions and potatoes. Between August 16

and 30, onion prices spurted 50 per cent due to a sudden fall in supply to the main wholesale

markets of Nashik. Official figures show the average retail price of onion across the country

was Rs 51 per kg on September 30, almost double the price a year ago. The central

government decided to import 10,000 tonnes of onions and the first batch of 250 tonnes hasalready arrived.

Onion prices tend to move up between June and September, as the winter crop is exhausted

before the early summer harvest arrives. This year, a large part of onions harvested in March-

May was destroyed by rain and hails in February and March. Also unusually dry weather in

Maharashtra and Karnataka delayed early kharif sowing. This created an extended period of

shortage, which was milked by hoarders. India is estimated to have produced 18.92 million

tonnes of onions in 2014-15, almost 478,000 tonnes less than the previous year. NAFED and

SFAC were provided interest-free advances of Rs 7.94 crores and Rs 8.75 crores,

respectively, to buy onions directly from farmers and they bought 8,368.52 tonnes in April at

Rs 19-20 per kg.

2.8 One lakh farmers quit agriculture in last 5 years:

As many as one lakh families of farmers in the state opted out of agriculture, their sole

profession, in the last five years, according to the latest agriculture Census figures. Experts

expressed fears that the trend might continue with the availability of other income sources and

tolerance level of the farmers reaching its peak. The final figures of agricultural land holdings

for 2015-16 will be released later.

According to the agriculture Census of 2010-11, there were 136 lakh agricultural land

holdings in the state. State agriculture and revenue minister Ekanath Khadse said the figure

has now shrunk to 135 lakh. The minister said land acquisition for industrialization; road

widening and creation of new roads have eaten up the agricultural land.


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As per the agriculture Census of 2005-06, there were 137 lakh farmers' families in

Maharashtra. It means that the number of farmers quitting agricultural activities between

2005-6 and 2010-11 reduced by one lakh. Similarly, another one lakh farmers opted out of

the profession from 2011-12 till today. There are 135 lakh land holding families in the state at

present. As may 90 lakh of them are marginal farmers, who own less than one hectare land.

The fact is alarming as agricultural land is getting divided further into small pieces, which

directly affects production. Remaining 45 lakh people are small, medium and large farmers,

who actually have the capacity of producing food grains at large scale, which can be traded.

The marginal farmers are mostly into vegetable or small scale food grain production, which

has little role in the trade.

Over the last five-six decades, the state has witnessed a successive trend of increase in the

number of farmers in terms of land division and population growth. However, the number of

farmers in the state started shrinking from 2010-11. The number was 1.37 crores in the state

in 2010-11, but went down to 1.36 crores by 2013-14. During the same period, the area of

operational holding and average size of operational holding also went down.

In 2010-11, altogether 2,00,05,000 hectares of land was under cultivation in the state, which

has now declined to 1,97,67,000 hectares. The average size of operational land holding also

dipped from 1.46 hectares to 1.44 hectares.

Sangeeta Shroff, associate professor at Pune-based Gokhale Institute of Politics and

Economics, said the situation is far more serious. Of the total labour force in the state, 52.7%

are in the agriculture sector. Further division shows that 25.4% are cultivators (land owners),

while 27.3% are agricultural labourers. It means that there are more labourers in the state than

land owners. If labour force figures from Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik and

Aurangabad are removed, the employment number through agriculture sector stands at

81.36%. It means there are hardly any means of employment in the rural areas barring

agriculture.

She said encouraging agro-processing industries in the rural areas and infrastructure

development should be under taken on priority to control the overall downfall in the sector.

The biggest factor behind farmers being discouraged to leave agriculture is poor irrigation

facilities. The irrigation cover in the state is not more than 18%, of which a huge area is used

for sugarcane cultivation. A cash crop like cotton is largely rain fed putting pressure on the

farmers for making irrigation arrangements. Besides, food grain cultivation is also largely


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dependent on monsoon, which is adding to farmers' frustration. Unless these issues are

tackled, the sector will continue to remain in poor light," Shroff added.

Those prematurely celebrating a decline miss another point. There were 7.7 million fewer

farmers in 2011 than there were in 2001, as the Census data show us. Millions were and are

either quitting the profession or losing full farmer status. In that period, the country, onaverage, saw 2,000 fewer farmers each day. So there were surely even fewer farmers in 2015.

What do get if we view the suicide numbers against this shrinking farmer base.

Experts calculations shows that suicide rates among Indian farmers were a chilling 47 per

cent higher than they were for the rest of the population in 2011. In some of the States worst

hit by the agrarian crisis, they were well over 100 per cent higher. In Maharashtra, farmers

were killing themselves at a rate that was 162 per cent higher than that for any other Indians

excluding farmers. A farmer in this State is two-and-a-half times more likely to commitsuicide than anyone else in the country, other than farmers.

2.9 Maharashtra government wants drought-hit farmers to sell

fish:

The Maharashtra government has launched a unique initiative to stop farmer suicides. It

wants drought-affected farmers in Marathwada and Vidharbh to take up business of selling

fish. The farmers will be provided with vans in which they can move around selling raw and

cooked fish. In the last two to three years, the state has witnessed vagaries of nature

including drought, unseasonal rains and hailstorms. All this has led to despondent farmers

committing suicide.

The plan is to purchase 660 vehicles at a cost of Rs 66 crores. These vans will be transformed

into mobile shops complete with a vending stall, a kiosk, insulated fish boxes, utensils, a

stove and a refrigerator. The vehicles will be distributed among 132 self-help groups, each

comprising five farmers, in the 14 districts of Marathwada and Vidharbh.

These vans will be completely subsidised. The National Fisheries Development Board already

provides 40 per cent subsidy to set up retail outlets to sell fish. The state government has said

it will provide the remaining 60 per cent funds for the project from its own resources. The

states contribution to the project will be Rs 39.6 crores.

The project will be run in Buldhana, Washim, Akola, Yavatmal, Amravati, Wardha,


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Aurangabad, Jalna, Nanded, Beed, Parbhani, Osmanabad, Latur and Hingoli districts.

Farmers aged 18 to 60, who have their names registered on 7/12 extracts, which denotes

they own a piece of land, will be eligible for the scheme.

According to the government, there have been 1,300 farmer suicides in Maharashtra in the

last six months. The government has decided to launch KrishiSamruddhiYojana to tackle the

issue by easing the farmers loan burden, improving farm infrastructure and creating alternate

revenue sources for farmers. Some farmers have, however, panned the states latest move

saying the policy planners are not taking ground realities into consideration.

Selling fish is a full-time job. Why will farmers stop what they are doing and move towards

selling fish? Where will he procure fish in the first place? Who will give him money to do

that, asked many farm activists over the initiative.

Others welcomed the move but said the project should be transparent so that the benefit

reached those who needed it the most. It is a positive gesture but nearly Rs 60 crores is

involved. There needs to be transparency to see who gets these vehicles. It should not be the

case that rich farmers get benefit of such schemes while poor people are left out, another

farmer from Beed added.

2.10 Small Farmers are too small to matter:

Incredible as it may sound, the fact is that while the overall flow of institutional credit to

agriculture has increased manifold on paper, the actual availability of finance to farmers

(especially small and marginal ones) has dwindled, increasing their reliance on moneylenders.

This is mainly due to the mindless broadening of the definition of agricultural credit which

allows banks to lend more to relatively-high credit-worthy sectors while still claiming to have

met targets for agricultural advances. The small and marginal farmers, who constitute nearly

84 per cent of the total farming community, are gradually being eased out of the institutional

credit sector.

This has been revealed in the detailed analysis of institutional/bank credit to agriculture

carried out by Consortium of Indian Farmers Association (CIFA). This study cites the

findings of The Situation Assessment Survey of Farmers (2003) to support the contention

that the flow of bank credit to small and marginal farmers has declined perceptibly over the

years.


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The survey showed that small and marginal farmers took more loans from non-institutional

sources (moneylenders) than did large cultivators. While nearly 57.6 per cent of those owning

less than 0.4 hectares (one acre) of land took loans from non-institutional sources, only 33 per

cent of farmers holding above two hectares (5 acres) relied on these sources.

The discrimination by banks against small and marginal farmers comes out more starkly when

viewed in terms of the proportion of small and marginal farmers in the total number who are

getting agricultural loans. In 1990, prior to the initiation of economic reforms, as many as

58.70 per cent of all agricultural loans had a value below Rs 25,000 each (such loans are

normally made to small and marginal farmers); this number dropped to 52 per cent by 1995,

and further fell to 23.50 per cent by 2003. By 2006, the proportion of such loans nosedived to

merely 13.30 per cent. The total decline since 1990, therefore, works out to a huge 75 per

cent.

In contrast, the number of large loans, in excess of Rs 1 crores (such loans are made to non-

farmers covered under the priority sector agricultural lending), rose four-fold during this

period. Giving details of how the profile of agricultural loans under the priority sector credit

was altered to the detriment of needy farmers, the CIFA paper points out that till 1993 only

direct finance to agriculture was included under mandatory 18 per cent priority sector

lending; subsequently even indirect credit was added to it.

From 1994 onwards, bigger loans ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 1 crores, sanctioned toagricultures allied activities (largely commercial ventures) were also included in permissible

indirect finance to agriculture. These included, among others, the dealers of cattle and poultry

feed, drip and sprinkler irrigation systems and farm machinery, even state electricity boards,

and agri-business centres.

What is more, even subscription to the bonds issued by the Rural Electrification Corporation

for financing its programme for energising pump sets in rural as well as semi-urban areas and

loans to cold storage units were deemed indirect finance to agriculture. As a result, the share

of such other types of indirect finance in total indirect credit to agriculture surged from 56

per cent in 1999 to as high as 76 per cent by 2006.

Worse still, to curtail access of even direct finance to small and marginal farmers, banks

were allowed to show one-third of their loans to corporate houses, partnership firms and

institutions for agricultures allied activities (such as poultry, fishery and dairy) as direct

finance to agriculture. The rest of the credit to such sectors was deemed as indirect credit to

agriculture.


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Thus, indirect finance to agriculture has expanded since the late 1990s at an annual rate of 33

per cent, to artificially inflate the numbers concerning total flow of institutional credit to

agriculture. These facts, obviously, bear ample testimony to the fact that most of the changes

in the agricultural credit structure in the past two decades have gone against the interests of

small and marginal farmers who need cheaper institutional credit more than others. There is,

therefore, an urgent need for a re-look at the entire gamut of issues concerning agricultural

credit and fix realistic norms for funding this sector.

Table 2.1 Farmers suicide in the state of Maharashtra [1995-2015]

Year Maharashtra farm suicides

1995 1083

1996 1981

1997 1917

1998 2409

1999 2423

2000 3022

2001 3536

2002 3695

2003 3836

Total 1995-2003 23,902

2004 4147

2005 3926

2006 4453

2007 4238

2008 3802


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2009 2872

2010 3141

2011 3337

2012 3786

2013 3146

2014 3570

Up to 31stoct15 3405

Total

2004-2015

43823

Total

1995-2015

67,725

2.11Government steps/view on the issue:

2.11.1 Negative side of the government:

1. Not a single dedicated system and person to tackle the issue,

2. Non-integral approach in planning and execution,

3. Government recorded only 3 farmers suicide for the year 2015. But the actual one is

3405 (up to 31stoct15),

4.

Wrong policy designing like MSP and Green Revolution caused for great loss to the

nation. Like 2000 farmers leaving agricultural profession every single day. Also its

responsible for decreased health of soil,5.

No interest in farmers care (RR has only 3 people, Internal IB, CAG, 14 reports,

moodies, Bombay high court)

Declared Drought policy at very late,

No interest in system delivery,

Re restricted autonomy on purchasing farm equipment,

Cant provide basic facilities of water and electricity (infra, value chain, education

& health)

Provides only 6 to 7% producer support estimate,


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6. No initiative for effective stakeholder management. It has great absence of

communication at various levels

7. No strategy to combat with climate change conditions. No effective and efficient

system for crop loan and crop insurance delivery,

8.

Centralization of authority at various levels,

9.

Not have required recognisation for farming in regular academic education.

2.11.2 Positive side of the government:

1. With the help of Jalyukta shivar abhiyan, in more than 6000 villages, 1.20 lakh water

conservations work has been executed. It took 1400 Cr rupees fund for completion. It

resulted to build 24 TMC capacities for rain water store within the year of its

inception. Delivery Change Foundation from Pune greatly assisted for its policy

preparation,

2. Launched pilot project in Yavatmal/Osmanabad district of Maharashtra: Officers of

secretary level instructed for close monitoring at sub divisional level. They have been

delegated with special authority for effective implementation and control,

3. Initiated a central monitoring body for Yavatmal district of Vidharbh,

4. Launched zero suicide plan for Osmanabad district,

5.

Appointed Vnss chief for extended coordination,

6.

Started the process to deliver Soil health care policy,

7.

Started the process to set up online platform for national agriculture market that seeks

to integrate 585 wholesale markets across India.

8.

Central panel recommended mechanism for price surety to farmers,

9. With the help of world bank, executing farm product deposit policy in some parts of

Maharashtra, where 75% of amt of farm produce equivalent get issued on the date of

depositing (at listed warehouses). 25% reservation has been availed for farmers. 50%concession availed over rent charges,

10.Brought some minor reformations at APMC policy on paper. Not showing serious

interests for model act implementation,

2.11.3 Following announcements over the issue:

1. Rs. 8582 crores drought help distributed over 1.37 crores farmers,

2.

Planned to establish whether recording stations at 5000 Mandals,3. Criteria shifted from 50% to 33% for crop insurance delivery,


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4. Reweaving of loan. Govt will pay the full interest of 1styear,

5. Planned to launch integrated agriculture development project,

Its planned to cover 1.88 lakh hectare farms.

Crops included are cotton, soya, serials, grain, vegetables, and corn.

Its planned to benefit 1, 40,261 farmers.

Its year end objective for buying settled at 3, 25,500 ton.

6. Distribution of wheat for 2 Rs/kg and rice for 3 Rs/kg,

7. Decision of organic policy preparation,

8. Planning to start 44 food processing units,

9. Reweaving of short term loan period to medium one.

10.Planning to establish textile Parks in 8 Districts of Maharashtra (Aurangabad, nanded,

parbhani, beed, jalna, Yavatmal, buldhana, jalgaon)

2.12Zero suicide plan for Osmanabad district of marathwada:

With the number of farmer suicides in Marathwada crossing 800-mark in 10 months of this

year (2015), the Maharashtra government has picked Osmanabad, one of the worst-affected

districts, for its zero suicide plan. To achieve the objective, the government has launched aslew of measures in Osmanabad which would be replicated subsequently in other seven

affected districts of Marathwada. Osmanabad is one of the three worst-affected districts of

Marathwada region. The other two are Beed and Nanded. By the end of last month, all three

districts saw over 100 suicides, with Beed crossing the 150-mark.

Of the total 807 suicides by farmers, at least 294 are not related to crop failure or rising debt

of farmers, say district officials. But yes, as many as 513 deaths are due to indebtedness and

crop failure caused by poor rains. Nearly 294 suicides have taken place due to various

reasons, including illness or family disputes. In some cases, it was found they did not qualify

as farmers. This emerged in a survey carried out by a team of officials.

Almost every week over the past 10 months, the Marathwada region has seen suicides by

farmers, sometimes the number being as high as 30 a week. This has prompted the

government to initiate strong steps, including designating Osmanabad as the model district

where it plans to bring down number of farmer suicides to almost zero in the next few

months and then subsequently replicate the plan in other districts.

As the first step, officials have launched mass counselling movement of farmers and their


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families. This is being done by appointing committees at Taluka-level. The committee

members have to locate farmers in distress and start their counselling immediately. It

primarily includes updating them about availability of government schemes whether it

concerns improving farm yield or loan from nationalised banks at lower interest rates than

those offered by money-lenders.

District officials are also holding public meetings in villages where well-to-do villagers are

urged to identify those in distress and guide them to government counselling centres or

nearby government departments. The officials are also planning to reach the door-step of the

farming community to understand the travails they face in their everyday life.

Significantly, stress is also being laid on working on the mental aspects of farmers. The

officials under National Health Mission try to first understand the trauma the farmers are

facing and then advise them how to cope with it.

Another significant step the state government has taken is to re-launch the Vasantrao Naik

Swawlambi Shetkari Mission. It has roped a prominent activist from Vidharbh, Kishore

Tiwari, to head the mission. The mission has an express purpose to make farmers self-reliant,

help them face vagaries of nature and free them from the clutches of money-lenders and the

vicious cycle of debt, he said. Tiwari said the government was working at multiple levels to

reduce the spiralling cases of farmer suicides.

2.13 Central panel recommended price surety to farmers:

The committee constituted by the Union agriculture ministry to examine the mandate of the

Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and various aspects of fixation of

minimum support price (MSP) has submitted its report. In its recommendations, it has

suggested a complete revamp of methodology to calculate MSP and introduction of

mechanisms, such as Deficiency Price Payment (DPP) or Price Insurance (PI) for price surety,

for all the crops for which MSP is declared.

The report was submitted last month and accessed by Business Standard suggests while

calculating the cost of production, two villages be selected in place of one village at present

from each select block for wider coverage to strengthen the system of collection of cost data

from farmers. Also, the committee is of the view that counting of time spent by farmers in

production alone and valuing it as the wage rate of ordinary labour is gross undervaluation of

the farmers' time. It is felt farmers should be treated as expert in agricultural work. The

committee also suggests head of the family engaged in farming should be valued at skilled


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wage rates. Also, it suggests the interest on working capital should be estimated for whole,

not half, of the period of a crop season and should be on actual interest paid out by the sample

farmers. Further, the land rental values should be based on actual rates prevailing in the

sample villages.

The committee said various items of fixed cost are not projected for the year for which MSP

is announced. Therefore, it recommends interest and depreciation on fixed capital be

projected by raising them at the rate of inflation in construction material. It also suggests

essentially rental value of owned land and interest on fixed capital be considered for fixed

cost.

The committee further suggests CACP should monitor farm harvest prices in the season for

all important crops in the states to oversee that farmers are not paid price below MSP. If

prices fall below statutory MSP, CACP should make an immediate recommendation to

government to address the situation. As price guarantee cannot be ensured through

procurement everywhere, mechanisms such as DPP and PI are put in place.

The committee also recommends the role of CACP be expanded and it should be renamed as

the Commission on Agricultural Costs, Prices and Policies'. CACP, based on data collected in

the comprehensive scheme to begin with, should put out information on farm incomes for

different crop complexes and specific categories of farmers, and make recommendations

related to farm incomes and remunerative prices.

Major suggestions of the committee

While calculating the cost of production, two villages should be selected in place of

one village from each block,

Head of a family engaged in farming should be valued at skilled-wage rates,

The interest on working capital should be estimated for whole, not half, of the period

of a crop season,

The land rental values should be based on actual rates prevailing in the sample

villages.

Interest and depreciation on fixed capital be projected by raising them at the rate of

inflation in construction material,


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2.14 Government planning to set up online agricultural market:

Governments agency Small Farmers' Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) has invited bids to

hire a strategic partner to set up an online platform for the proposed national agriculture

market that seeks to integrate 585 wholesale markets across India. In July this year, the

Cabinet had approved setting up of an online national agriculture market that will provide

more options to farmers to sell their produce and also marked Rs 200 crore for its

establishment. An amount of Rs 100 crore has already been allocated in current year's Budget

which is being used for the development of this platform.

"SFAC has invited bids for appointment of a strategic partner for implementing the national

agriculture e-market in the country. With the help of a strategic partner, SFAC will set up an

appropriate common e-market platform, which will be deployed in the selected 585 regulated

wholesale markets keen to join the e-platform. As many as 10 states, including Andhra

Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Jharkhand, have shown interest to

come on board.

According to the proposal, the Union Agriculture Ministry will provide software to state

governments free of cost. It will also give grant as a one-time fixed cost subject to the ceiling

of Rs 30 lakh per mandi for related infrastructure for installation of the e-market platform.

SFAC will implement the national e-platform in three phases in 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-

18. Currently, farmers are restricted to selling their produce at mandis that charge various

taxes. The proposed online agri-market is expected to give choice to farmers to sell their

produce both in physical mandis or online platform. The easy access to sell via online trade is

likely to boost their incomes and improve availability, moderating price rise. The Karnataka

government is already offering a similar online agriculture market to farmers.

2.15 Maharashtra govt launched pilot projects for two districts:

The Maharashtra government has launched two pilot projects for agriculture in Yavatmal

district of Vidharbh and Osmanabad district from Marathwada. The projects will be

implemented in collaboration with Israel.


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The two projects will take into account the specific weather and geographical conditions in

each district. The projects will also address the marketing of agricultural products. The chief

minister has also directed the local administration to speed up work on wells and farm ponds

especially in the dry Marathwada region.

2.16 Importance of organic farming:

Organic farming is a technique, which involves cultivation of plants and rearing of animals in

natural ways. This process involves the use of biological materials, avoiding synthetic

substances to maintain soil fertility and ecological balance thereby minimizing pollution and

wastage. It relies on ecologically balanced agricultural principles like crop rotation, green

manure, organic waste, biological pest control, mineral and rock additives. Organic farming

makes use of pesticides and fertilizers if they are considered natural and avoids the use of

various petrochemical fertilizers and pesticides.

The population of the planet is skyrocketing and providing food for the world is becoming

extremely difficult. The need of the hour is sustainable cultivation and production of food for

all. The Green Revolution and its chemical based technology are losing its appeal as

dividends are falling and returns are unsustainable. Pollution and climate change are other

negative externalities caused by use of fossil fuel based chemicals. As of 2012, the market for

organic farming and other products has reached $63 billion worldwide.

2.16.1 Key features of Organic Farming:

Protecting soil quality using organic material and encouraging biological activity

Indirect provision of crop nutrients using soil microorganisms

Nitrogen fixation in soils using legumes

Weed and pest control based on methods like crop rotation, biological diversity,

natural predators, organic manures and suitable chemical, thermal and biological

intervention

Rearing of livestock, taking care of housing, nutrition, health, rearing and breeding

Care for the larger environment and conservation of natural habitats and wild life.


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Table 2.2 Characteristics of Inorganic and Organic Farming in a nutshell

Sr.

no.

Characteristics Farming with Synthetic Fertilizers Organic Fertilizers

1 Petroleum Dependency High Negligible

2 Labour Requirements High, hired Family or hired

3 Management Intensity High Low

4 Intensity of Tillage High Medium

5 Plant Diversity Low High

6 Crop varieties Hybrids Hybrid or open pollinated

7 Source of Seeds All purchased Purchased, some saved

8 Integration of Crops

and Livestock

None Use of manure

9 Insect Pests Very unpredictable Unpredictable

10 Insect Management Chemical Bio-pesticides some bio-control

11 Weed Management Chemical, tillage Cultural control

12 Disease Management Chemical, vertical resistance Antagonists, horizontal resistance,

multi-line cultivars

13 Plant Nutrition Chemical, fertilizers applied in

pulses,

Micro bio-fertilizers, organic

fertilizers. Semi open systems

14 Water Management Large-scale irrigation That too for

many times

Sprinkler and drip irrigation Les

expenditure on irrigation because

of improved water holding capacity

of soil.

15 Texture of soil Soil Loses texture Texture of Soil is maintained.

16 Growth of earthworms Chemicals Kill earthworms Earthworms survive and support


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crop production.

17 Water-holding capacity

of soil

Lost, very miserable condition Water holding capacity increases

day by day

18 Rate of growth of plant Unnatural fast rate of growth

resulting in weak plant and

subsequent attack by pests.

Disease resistant capacity of plant

increases.

19 Level of poisonous

substances

Do appear from chemical fertilizers

to food items to breast milk/milk

and in human blood.

Not at all.

Food items, soil is poison-free,

So also the mothers milk

20 Consumption of waste Nil

Makes the soil waste, arid.

Consumes harmless farm waste

folder, cow-dung, cow urine-Thus

keeping the environment clean.

21 Pollution The main factor is pollution-

pollutes soil, water, environment,

food items, human health.

Always eco-friendly

22 Quality of food Unhealthy, poisonous Healthy, tasty food,

Acceptable all over the world

23 Availability of manure Procedure from fertilizer factories,

shops, Requires hauling

expenditure.

Manure is produced at farmyard

resulting in Zero procurement cost.

24 Raw material It is imported, a very costly affair. Raw material for making organic

manure is available at farm itself

.Hence the cheapest and best.

25 Burden on economy A very heavy burden Affordable

26 Self reliant Farmer never becomes self-reliant Farmer becomes se-reliant

27 Rural employment Unable to generate rural

employment

Generates rural employment

28 Pollution at Highly Pollutant.

Pollutes factory environment,

Very safe. No. Pollution at all at

manufacturing level of organic


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2.16.2 Benefits of Organically Grown Agricultural Produce:

1. Reduce the Toxic Load: Keep Chemicals Out of the Air, Water, Soil and our Bodies:

Buying organic food promotes a less toxic environment for all living things. With only

0.5 percent of crop and pasture land in organic, according to USDA that leaves 99.5

percent of farm acres in the U.S. at risk of exposure to noxious agricultural chemicals.

Our bodies are the environment so supporting organic agriculture doesnt just benefit

your family; it helps all families live less toxically.

manufacturing level Waste-water from factory

Ultimately Polluting sweet water

Available to mankind on this earth.

fertilizers and organic pest

repellent.

29 Old age cow progeny Lost the importance Are valuable source of cow dung

30 Seeds Seeds lack germination potential. Seeds have high germination

potential.

31 Impact Curse of human race Blessing to human race

32 Ground water level Decrease Maintains to ground water

33 Soil hardness/density It increases It decreases, results in more water

absorption.

34 Use of diesel tractor Pollutes soil strata

35 Position of Soil

nutrients

Lost, Growing of Ayurvedic herbs

is never possible with chemical

farming.

Retained, Organic farming is

suitable for all crops

36 Economy of farmers It is an ever-increasing burden. Input cost is affordable for even

poor farmers

37 Health Harmful Harmless.


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2. Reduce if Not Eliminate off Farm Pollution: Industrial agriculture doesnt singularly

pollute farmland and farm workers; it also wreaks havoc on the environment

downstream. Pesticide drift affects non-farm communities with odorless and invisible

poisons. Synthetic fertilizer drifting downstream is the main culprit for dead zones in

delicate ocean environments, such as the Gulf of Mexico, where its dead zone is now

larger than 22,000 square kilometers, an area larger than New Jersey, according to

Science magazine, August, 2002.

3. Protect Future Generations: Before a mother first nurses her newborn, the toxic risk

from pesticides has already begun. Studies show that infants are exposed to hundreds

of harmful chemicals in utero. In fact, our nation is now reaping the results of four

generations of exposure to agricultural and industrial chemicals, whose safety was

deemed on adult tolerance levels, not on childrens. According to the National

Academy of Science, neurologic and behavioral effects may result from low-level

exposure to pesticides. Numerous studies show that pesticides can adversely affect

the nervous system, increase the risk of cancer, and decrease fertility.

4.

Build Healthy Soil: Mono-cropping and chemical fertilizer dependency has taken a

toll with a loss of top soil estimated at a cost of $40 billion per year in the U.S.,according to David Pimentel of Cornell University. Add to this an equally disturbing

loss of micro nutrients and minerals in fruits and vegetables. Feeding the soil with

organic matter instead of ammonia and other synthetic fertilizers has proven to

increase nutrients in produce, with higher levels of vitamins and minerals found in

organic food, according to the 2005 study, Elevating Antioxidant levels in food

through organic farming and food processing, Organic Center State of Science

Review (1.05)

5.

Taste better and truer flavor: Scientists now know what we eaters have known all

along: organic food often tastes better. It makes sense that strawberries taste yummier

when raised in harmony with nature, but researchers at Washington State University

just proved this as fact in lab taste trials where the organic berries were consistently

judged as sweeter. Plus, new research verifies that some organic produce is often

lower in nitrates and higher in antioxidants than conventional food. Let the organic

feasting begin!


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6. Assist Family Farmers of all Sizes: According to Organic Farming Research

Foundation, as of 2006 there are approximately 10,000 certified organic producers in

the U.S. compared to 2500 to 3,000 tracked in 1994. Measured against the two million

farms estimated in the U.S. today, organic is still tiny. Family farms that are certified

organic farms have a double economic benefit: they are profitable and they farm in

harmony with their surrounding environment. Whether the farm is a 4-acre orchard or

a 4,000-acre wheat farm, organic is a beneficial practice that is genuinely family-

friendly.

7. Avoid Hasty and Poor Science in Your Food: Cloned food. GMOs and rBGH.

Interesting how swiftly these food technologies were rushed to market, when organic

fought for 13 years to become federal law. Eleven years ago, genetically modified

food was not part of our food supply; today an astounding 30 percent of our cropland

is planted in GMOs. Organic is the only de facto seal of reassurance against these and

other modern, lab-produced additions to our food supply, and the only food term with

built in inspections and federal regulatory teeth.

8.

Eating with a Sense of Place: whether it is local fruit, imported coffee or artisan

cheese, organic can demonstrate a reverence for the land and its people. No matter thezip code, organic has proven to use less energy (on average, about 30 percent less), is

beneficial to soil, water and local habitat, and is safer for the people who harvest our

food. Eat more seasonably by supporting your local farmers market while also

supporting a global organic economy year round. It will make your taste buds happy.

9. Promote Biodiversity: Visit an organic farm and youll notice something: a buzz of

animal, bird and insect activity. These organic oases are thriving, diverse habitats.

Native plants, birds and hawks return usually after the first season of organic

practices; beneficial insects allow for a greater balance, and indigenous animals find

these farms a safe haven. As best said by Aldo Leopold, A good farm must be one

where the native flora and fauna have lost acreage without losing their existence. An

organic farm is the equivalent of reforestation. Industrial farms are the equivalent of

clear cutting of native habitat with a focus on high farm yields.


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10.Celebrate the Culture of Agriculture: Food is a language spoken in every culture.

Making this language organic allows for an important cultural revolution whereby

diversity and biodiversity are embraced and chemical toxins and environmental harm

are radically reduced, if not eliminated. The simple act of saving one heirloom seed

from extinction, for example, is an act of biological and cultural conservation. Organic

is not necessarily the most efficient farming system in the short run. It is slower,

harder, more complex and more labor-intensive. But for the sake of culture

everywhere, from perm culture to human culture, organic should be celebrated at

every table.

2.16.3 Why is modern farming unsustainable?

1.

Loss of soil fertility due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers and lack of crop

rotation.

2.

Nitrate run off during rains contaminates water resources.

3. Soil erosion due to deep ploughing and heavy rains.

4. More requirement of fuel for cultivation.

5. Use of poisonous bio-cide sprays to curb pest and weeds.

6. Cruelty to animals in their housing, feeding, breeding and slaughtering.

7. Loss of biodiversity due to mono culture.

8. Native animals and plants lose space to exotic species and hybrids.

2.16.4 Importance of indigenous cow for organic farming:

Ancient Rishi-Munis have been mentors of our people since ages, who realized the

importance of cow for economic well being of the country. Cow-based farming became our

culture as the way of our thinking is in accordance with the nature. In nature, the existence of

human beings. Animals, birds, plants etc. is dependent on each other. However, unfortunately

during last thousand years, our life-style and our way of thinking have been completely

influenced by the Mugals rulers and then by the Britishers. The cattle-based organic farming

was our priority. After independence the importance was given to chemical & mechanized

farming. Now after 50-60 years, we are experiencing the adverse effects of chemical farming

and we are marching towards destruction. The evil effects of Chemical & Mechanised

fanning in present situation.


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The Cattle-protection and organic farming is the only solution to all world-wide-problems.

Therefore, it is requested to all farmers, Villagers to follow our ancient Cow based farming to

maintain the Nature-Balance and save the world from disaster. Chemical based technological

advancement ushered the era of green revolution and in the process paid rich dividends in

form of higher crop yields to feed the teeming millions. It has, however, come of age and over

a period of time started exhibiting fissures in form of production plateau on one hand and

negative cascading impact on environmental degradation on the other The myopic frame

work of chemo-centre technology being oblivious of the ecosystem intricacies led to

emergence of variety of problems, via degradation of soil fertility, low yields. Emergence of

new pests/diseases, wiping out of friendly insect population and percolation of toxic

chemicals into the food chain etc. which if not tackled pragmatically, would boomerang,

eventually threatening the very existence of life on the biosphere. In all the major spheres of

human influence, sustain ability has emerged as the most appropriate paradigm of

development. In sustainable development, progress in any sector is gauged from the

quantitative as well as qualitative angles.

When sustainability is applied in agriculture, the development is evaluated not only in terms

of the crop and livestock outputs but also in terms of the social, economic and ecological

appropriateness of the production processes adopted.

Go Vigyan Anusandhan Kendra in collaboration with various national research institutes of

CSIR, ICAR, ICMR and NITs such as NBRI, CIMAP, NEERI, IARI, IVRI, VNIT, IICT,

Institute of Dermatology, and CICR and also with some veterinary, agriculture and pharmacy

colleges filed six patents on the utility of cow dung, cow urine & other gavyas of Panchgavya.

The findings are re-establishing the lost glory of cattle and its utility for mankind. The details

of 6 patents on Indigenous cow are as follows.

1.

US patent No 6410059- for Antibiotic Anti Fungul, Bio enhancer effect of Gomutra.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibiotic and cow urine

distillate in an amount effective to enhance antimicrobial effect of the antibiotic is

disclosed. The antibiotic can be an antifungal agent. The antibiotic can be a quinolone

or a fluoroquinolone. The antifungal agent can be azoles, clotrimazole, mystatin or

amphoteric in.

2.US Patent No. 6896907 - For Anti Allergic, Anti infective, Nutrient & Anti-cancer.


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Abstract: The invention relates to a novel pharmaceutical composition comprising an

effective amount of bio-active fraction from cow urine distillate as a bioavailability

facilitator and pharmaceutically acceptable additives selected from anticancer

compounds, antibiotics, drugs, therapeutic and nutraceutic agents, ions and similar

molecules which are targeted to the living systems.

3.

US Patent No. 7718360- For Anti Oxidant, Apoptosis.

Abstract: A composition useful for protecting and/or repairing DNA from oxidative

damages said composition comprising redistilled cow's urine distillate (RCUD)

having components benzoic acid, and hexanoic acid, with ammonia content of the

composition ranging between 5-15 mg/L, and optionally along with anti-oxidants; and

a method of protecting and/or repairing DNA from oxidative damages using

composition of claim 1, said method comprising steps of estimating the amount of

folded DNA in a sample, mixing the said composition to the said DNA either before

or after the exposure of the DNA to the oxidatively DNA-damaging agent, and

determining percentage folded DNA in the mixture showing protection and/or repair

of DNA from oxidative damages. -

4.

US Patent No. 7235262- For cow urine distillate as a Bio-enhancer of Anti-infective,Anti-cancer agents & Nutrients

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel pharmaceutical composition comprising an

effective amount of bio-active fraction from cow urine distillate as a bioavailability

facilitator and pharmaceutically acceptable additives selected from anticancer

compounds, antibiotics, drugs, therapeutic and nutraceutic agents, ions and similar

molecules which are targeted to the living systems.

5.China Patent No. 100475221- For protecting and/or repairing DNA from oxidative

damages

Abstract: A composition useful for protecting and/or repairing DNA from oxidative

damages said composition comprising redistilled cow's urine distillate (RCUD) having

components benzoic acid, and hexanoic acid, with ammonia content of the

composition ranging between 5-15mg/L, and optionally along with anti-oxidants; and

a method of protecting and/or repairing DNA from oxidative damages using

composition of claim 1, said method comprising steps of estimating the amount of


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folded DNA in a sample, mixing the said composition to the said DNA either before

or after the exposure of the DNA to the oxidatively DNA-damaging agent, and

determining percentage folded DNA in the mixture showing protection and/or repair

of DNA from oxidative damages.

6.

US Patent No. 7297659- For synergistic fermented plant growth promoting, bio-

control composition

Abstract: The present invention relates to a synergistic composition useful as plant and

soil health enhancer, comprising urine, neem and garlic, individually or in all possible

combinations, with the treatment showing it has the ability to stimulate accumulation

of nutrients in the plant biomass, proliferation of plant growth promoting, phosphate

solubilizing, abiotic stress tolerant and antagonists towards plant pathogenic fungi,control phytopathogenic fungi in the rhizosphere of plants, and enhances the total

phenolic contents of the plants.

2.16.5 What has gone wrong despite of such great importance?

The practice of slaughter is extremely cruel and disaster for the community and its agriculture

based economy. Originally in India, milk was not the only most important product from the

cattle. Cows and bulls were used in fields and their dung and urine were used to make

compost, medicine and other health products. Only the little extra milk left from the cow after

feeding her calf was used by the family who owned the cow. The cow was not considered a

"milk producing machine".

At present, the cows are reduced to production units of milk and meat (Biotech Milk

Machine). A cow slaughter is more and more accepted and practiced in spite of it being illegal

in India. Since 1950, fertilizers and pesticides were introduced in India mainly for

commercial crops like cotton and chillies. Because of the abuse of the soil with chemical

fertilizers and pesticides, the soil has lost its fertility and, therefore, agriculture has become

unprofitable for farmers. Because of drought and unprofitable agriculture, the farmers are

compelled to send their animals for slaughter. They go for cash crops from genetically

modified seeds and one forced to use fertilizers and pesticides.

The government sponsored schemes for the welfare of the poor are promoting the cross

breeds though artificial insemination of cows and buffaloes for higher milk production


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without meeting the other objectives of improving the conditions of local farmers through

sustainable agriculture and organic farming and the use of all cow related products.

Unfortunately the high yielding crossbreed cows/buffaloes are vulnerable to fertility problems

and diseases. Invariably, they too end up in slaughter houses. The male calves from the cross

breed cattle are useless for drought purpose. They are deprived of their mother's milk. Starved

to death or they go for slaughter. Further the cow is injected with oxytocin to force increased

yield of milk as fast as possible. Every milking results in labour pains, due to this drug, and

the animal is traumatized. There are also regularly pumped with vaccines, hormones,

antibiotics and other drugs. Our aim should be to restore the partnership between humans and

cows. Our long-term objective should be to improve the conditions of local farmers through

sustainable agriculture and organic farming and the use of all cow related products.

Also, Cow and its progeny is precious national property, heritage and resource base. The

respect and worship that cows command in Indian Societies cannot be without the immense

role they play in the well being of the communities.

The environment and productivity of cow and its progeny are established and accepted facts

for over millennia. However those who planned road map of development of post

independence India did not take a cognizance of this adequately. Therefore, it becomes

essential to re-enlighten the society to re-establish the connection between cow and human

sustainability with adequate scientific support.

With abundance of sunlight, the crops bear the fruits and seeds in the orient whereas a feeble

growth occurs in the continent. Therefore, the vegetation in continent was never adequate to

satisfy human hunger. Eating animals was, therefore, a compulsion in the West. The

compulsion was propagated as culture. With intrusion of continentals over the globe, the

illusory Western concept Kill animals to fill human belly became a style to copy. Needless

to mention that copying seldom is thoughtful.

With hardly three centuries of agriculture, the European and Americans are confronted with

failures in agriculture, thus, these civilizations have no standing to teach and propagate

performance of same quantum. The Indian agriculture has a standing of millennia. It is

imperative to understand the scientific basis of these time-tested technologies. Agricultural

practices, imitative of America and Europe were unsustainable and, therefore, have caused

heavy damage and abuse of resources in India and have adversely changed related parameters

in alarming dimension and quantum.


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Chapter 3: Systematic problem solving approach

3.1 The integrated system management structure:

3.1.1 Need of the integrated system management structure:

Water management policy research team, an outsider to Maharashtra govt, submitted a report

on state water management policy. It concluded with an important advice for integrating all

water management related policies. Along with suggested a new mechanism approach for

effective implementation. Their emphasis on integration followed by right implementable

plan resulted to some great deliverables. 24 TMC of rain water storage capacity has been

created within a span of year. It could be possible to achieve with the just help of Rs.1400

Crores instead of Rs. 5000 to 6000 Crores. It has been strictly monitored by war room of CM

office. It has great importance as economic survey of year 2012. It reported that land under

irrigation in the state increased just 0.1% between 2001 and 2011, despite Rs.15, 000 crores

being spent.

It indicates, government has a great need for right approaches followed by rightly

structured implementable plan. Previously TISS survey cited "government apathy, lack of

access to information related to agriculture as the chief causes for the desperate condition of

farmers in the state." Also the government's response and relief packages have generally been

ineffective, misdirected and flawed. It has focused on credit and loan, rather than income,

productivity and farmer prosperity.

Recently, a state soil health report has been published. Its concluded with negative

health of soil. It is directly/indirectly concerns with ministries of agriculture, animal

husbandry, water resource, industries, marketing, information and broadcasting, rural

development, health, education, etc. and the same true with other aspects of farmers suicide

issue. Also, there is not a single specialized/authorized person on farmers suicide issue. It hasbeen distributed over a number of sections/peoples/authorities. It can be seen from chart

no.3.1.1. Due absence of the same, there is also absence of integrated/dedicated vision,

objective and plan of work.So despite of billions of rupees expenditure, government could not

able to stop the suicide of farmers.

It clearly shows government has a great need for integrative vision, plan and system for

highly expected deliverables. If respective authorities truly wish to stop the suicide of farmers

and have some care for welfare of them, then they should kindly revisit their system of

planning and delivering mechanism in the following integrated manner.


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Following integrated system management structure can be considered for achieving

respective status of zero farmers suicide state. Structure represented as chart 3.1.2:

3.1.2 Functions of the integrated system management structure:

1. To integrate governments efforts over the issue,

2.

Assist for higher accountability, productivity and creativity over the same,

3. Should perform planning, organizing, executing, monitoring and controlling of the

governments resources in an integrated way,

4. Responsible for eliminating farmers suicide in Maharashtra,

5. Should assist in preparing vision and plan of deliverables document,

6.

Should assist in collaborating governments policies and plans on the issue,

7.

Should assist in building interrelated and effective policies,

8.

Should assist decision makers for knowing/getting collaborated with each other,

3.1.3 Functions of Project coordination mechanism:

3.1.3.1 Functions Inter-departmental teams:

Project co-ordination A:

It is expected that subject of farmer suicide should be transferred to agricultural

department for proactive planning and implementation,

Special project manager should be appointed with complete authority on the issue,

The new team should have the single responsibility of farmers care and objective to

reduce farmers suicide in Maharashtra,

It is responsible for coordinating and integrating interdepartmental functions on the

issue,

3.1.3.2 Functions of intra-departmental teams:

Project co-ordination B:

In concerned 14 departments, A right person as a additional chief project Manager

should be appointed through special appointment process,

Will be highly responsible for intradepartmental management on the issue,

Other team members can be selected from regular staff. They can have part/full time

appointment. Also some of the respective can be delegated with additional charge,


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3.1.4 Personnel selection process:

1. Request will be to not undertake governments regular appointing process. As it will

help getting best talent rather than the best right people,

2. Project manager and other staff with special authority should be appointed with

special appointment process,

3. Special rank should be awarded for better functioning,

4. A person from regular staff should not be considered for above hierarchy,

5. Regular assessment of accountability & productivity should be taken,

6.

Best performing officers and other staffs should be considered on priority basis,

7.

Should think of getting new approaches like hiring candidates from best campuses,

8.

Can think of appointing special corporate contractor for providing human resource, Or

Respective authority, at the start, can plan to appoint a right person at a Chief Project

Manager position. And with the help of Project Charter, they can delegate all the

authorities for further faster proceedings.

3.1.5 Advantages of the integrated system management structure:

1. It will be a highly responsible integrated system management structure.

2.

It will help,

a. To engage and deliver governments resources in the right direction,

b. To eliminate farmers suicide title within the shortest possible time,

c. To save crores of rupees directly and thousands of crores indirectly,

d. To achieve deliverables through optimum utilization of resources,

e.

To deliver higher accountability and productivity over the issue,

Documents

Solution to Farmer suicides