For the first time, farmers have resorted to strike as a measure to get their demands heard since there is no other way out. In a wake-up call, 40,000 paddy growers in the East Godavari district have done so (“Holiday as protest,” October 5). This extraordinary development is not a sudden one. Their demand is to make rice cultivation profitable. Realising the gravity of the situation, the Andhra government appointed the Mohan Kanda Committee to ascertain circumstances that led to the crop holiday. But as usual the Centre did not take any timely action or decision. As pointed out, the National Commission on Farmers (2006) chaired by M S Swaminathan had warned that a situation like the present one could arise if farmers’ interests are continuously disregarded. This applies not only to paddy farmers but to others too. Farmers often suffer losses owing to lack of storage facility. No doubt, that leads to frustration. It should be noted that without making agriculture profitable, all other efforts towards development, growth and eradicating poverty will turn futile.
Jacob Sahayam, Thiruvananthapuram
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