Who is a farmer?
A farmer is a person who engages in agricultural activities, including growing crops, raising vegetables and fruits, and caring for livestock. They are responsible for producing our food and other essential commodities.
The Importance of Farmers:
- Food Security: Farmers are the primary source of our food. They produce rice, wheat, pulses, fruits, vegetables, milk, and other essential food items for our daily lives.
- Economic Contribution: Farmers play a crucial role in India’s economy. They contribute 17% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and constitute 43% of the country’s workforce.
- Rural Development: Farmers are the backbone of the rural economy. They provide employment and income generation in rural areas.
- National Security: Farmers play a vital role in food security. They fulfill the nation’s food requirements and ensure food security.
Why Minimum Support Price (MSP) should be implemented:
- Fair Price for Farmers: MSP ensures that farmers receive a fair price for their crops. This helps them cover their costs and improve their income.
- Food Security: MSP promotes food security. It incentivizes farmers to produce more and helps stabilize food prices.
- Rural Development: MSP fosters rural development. It provides a source of employment and income in rural areas.
What would happen if farmers stop producing fruits, vegetables, and milk?
- Food Crisis: The country would face a food shortage. Food prices would skyrocket, making it difficult for people to afford food.
- Economic Crisis: Farmers’ income would decline. The rural economy would be impacted, and the country’s economy would suffer.
- Social Unrest: Food scarcity and economic crisis could lead to social unrest.
PM Modi’s New Scheme for Farmers:
- Expanding Agriculture: The government plans to expand agriculture across India. This will help farmers increase their production and improve their income.
- Building Storage Facilities: The government plans to build storage facilities for farmers across the country. This will help them sell their crops at better prices.
- Technological Adoption: The government is encouraging farmers to adopt technology. This will help them improve their productivity and efficiency.
What are the Demands of Farmers ?
- They want a guaranteed fair price for their crops. This price is called the Minimum Support Price (MSP), and the farmers want the government to promise to always buy their crops at this price, no matter what.
- The government made some promises to the farmers last time they protested, but they haven’t kept all of them yet. The farmers want the government to follow through on those promises, like forgiving their loans and making sure they get the fair price for their crops.
- It’s getting more expensive to grow crops, but the farmers aren’t making any more money. This is making it hard for them to make a living.
- They have some other requests too, like getting pensions when they’re old and getting paid a set amount of money every day for working on farms.