In India, farming is not just a profession but it is also a way of life. Farmers in India are known for their perseverance, ingenuity, and hard work. They play an important role in the economic development of the country. Despite all the challenges and difficulties, they continue to contribute towards food security and poverty alleviation.
Every year on December 23rd, India celebrates Farmer’s Day or Kisan Diwas to commemorate the birthday of Chaudhary Charan Singh, a great Indian farmer, and politician. He served as the Prime Minister of India from 1977 to 1979.
Chaudhary Charan Singh always emphasized the need for better irrigation facilities and technology for the farmers. He also worked towards increasing the production of food grains in India. After his death, the Indian government decided to commemorate his birthday as Farmer’s Day every year to honor his great contributions to the agriculture sector in India.
Facts about farming in India
- India has the highest number of farms in the world.
- More than 70% of Indian farmers are smallholders who own less than five acres of land. They contribute significantly to rural employment as well as food security by producing variety of crops and agricultural products.
- India ranks second when it comes to farm output measured in terms of volume, according to Food and Agriculture Organization.
- The five major states that contribute most to overall agricultural production are Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.
- The Government of India has launched several schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, National Food Security Mission, and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana to boost the production of food grains.
- Despite being the second largest producer of food in the world, a large number of farmers in India are still living below the poverty line.
- The main crops grown in India are rice, wheat, maize, pulses and oilseeds. There is a lot of scope for improvement when it comes to the productivity of Indian farms. For example, India’s rice production is only about half of that in China.
- Many parts of the country still lack modern technologies and irrigation facilities. If India aspires to become the world’s largest food producer, this issue must be addressed.
What Indian government needs to do to protect farmers?
- The Indian government should work towards providing more resources, technology, and financial assistance to the farmers.
- It should also formulate policies that will help in the overall development of the agriculture sector in India.
- The government should also focus on improving irrigation facilities. Creating awareness about the latest agricultural technologies among the farmers, and providing them with proper training.
- The government needs to do more for the welfare of Indian farmers and provide them with better access to resources, technology, and credit facilities. Only then can they achieve their goal of doubling the income of farmers by 2022.
Farmer’s Day is observed with various events and ceremonies across the country. A variety of government programs promote farmers’ well-being. The Day of the Farmer is a day when the farming community recognizes and rewards those farmers who are making great contributions to the industry. In light of this, Indian National Farmer’s Day is more important than ever before! This year, let’s celebrate our hardworking farmers and pledge to do everything we can to support them. So, the next time you see a farmer, do remember to thank him for his contributions to our nation’s food security.
Dynamind pledges to do our bit to empower farmers in whatever way we can, because we believe in “Shashakt Kisaan, Shashakt Rashtra”. We hope to see a day when our farmers can live in peace and prosperity.
Happy Kisan Diwas!!