Vijay Jawandhia (60) has been a farmer activist for over 36 years. He heads the most known among farmers’ organisation, the Shetkari Sanghatana of Maharashtra. The thousands of farmer suicides across the country, he says are a direct result of the liberalisation and globalisation policies adopted by the country and because of the removal of subsidies for farmers under the WTO rules, thereby impoverishing the farmers’ households.
Vijay Jawandia was born and brought up in the city of Nagpur. Born in a family of zamindars, he led a comfortable life. His maternal grandfather was a rich trader and paternal grandfather a zamindar. He would visit the village of Waifad where his grandfather owned close to 1300 acres of land during his summer vacation. He discontinued his MSc in 1969 to return to farming. His land hardly sustains his family, but has given him a cause to fight for farmers’ rights.
He spoke to D.V.Padma Priya, on the agrarian crisis that Vidarbha has been plunged into.
What do you think are the reasons for the present agricultural crisis?
Farmers’ suicides began only in 1994 when the GATT was dissolved and replaced by the WTO. Before liberalisation when crops failed prices rose in the market but this cushion of market price was removed by cheap imports. Farmers’ suicides are not just in Vidarbha or only by cotton farmers. Farmers in plantations in Kerala are also committing suicides. So also in Punjab, where every inch of land is irrigated. It is impossible to make a living by agriculture in our country now. The input costs have increased and the costs of living too. Therefore, indebtedness is also increasing.
What is the role of the State in the present scenario?
As the food prices in the international market go up, so does the price of fertilisers. Maharashtra was the only state which had a Cotton Monopoly Procurement Scheme. This was removed in the year 2004. Till then farmers were given advance bonus (the price given before you grow the actual crop).This too was removed because of pressure from external forces. Another problem is that agriculture is a state subject but all the policies being taken are at the centre. This too is creating confusion as the centre allocates funds for schemes according to its whims. The role of State is very important for a farmer. Agriculture cannot sustain without the support of the government. When the government can afford to give heavy subsidies for urbanisation and I.T sectors, why can’t it give subsidies to farmers? Also there is no clarity regarding the calculation of the Minimum Support Price.
How effective do you think is the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act?
The NREGA policy is very necessary and it should be implemented for boosting agriculture and not for eliminating it. The government has to include farming activities under NREGA thereby ensuring employment for small farmers every year in the village. What work will be available in village under the present NREGA? With rising aspirations, the village youth is not willing to lay roads for their own village. Are the people in the city laying their own roads?
What is your opinion on the on going controversy over the Special Economic Zones (SEZs)?
As long as the farmers are compensated according to the market price I don’t see any problem with the SEZs’. The Land Acquisition Act should not be used to acquire land from the powerless farmers. Also the market value given should be according to the value after the completion of the project, i.e give the farmers an extra 20% on the existing market price. Also the industries that come up here should give employment guarantee to the villagers.
What are the changes in policies you want to see?
Food grains are very crucial. And the food producers have to live in this inflationary economy. We should not forget this. They too require the minimum cost to live and they should get wages according to the work. The government should give prices according to the production and there has to be an increase in subsidies on food grains to be given to the poor, not decrease price to be given to the producer. Also how right is it to support mechanisation of labor by the government? In a country like ours, where there is abundant supply of human labor, the policy should support human labor and animal power. Instead of subsidising tractors, subside bullock carts. Also the government needs to think about the non-irrigated farmers and those who are dependent on one crop land. Most of the present subsidies are for the irrigated farmers. The government should arrange for non-interest loans for the non irrigated farmers.
Will a separate statehood for Vidarbha ease the problems of the farmers?
A separate state of Vidarbha would certainly ease the problems of the farmers. Electricity is generated in this region in surplus but more than 50% of the power goes to Western Maharashtra ie Pune and Nagpur. This region has assured rainfall. However most of the major irrigation projects are in Western Maharashtra with the excuse that it is a drought prone region. The leadership of Vidarbha has always deceived the people of Vidarbha. The day Telangana gets separate statehood, so will Vidarbha.
Interview to be continued...
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