Problem faced by the farmers

Farmers are facing many problems in different areas and with different parameter which have
created hazards effects on farmers and farming for present and future.

To be successful in any business we have to at least control one parameter of the business. Or
our business is ruled by the fate of the world or external forces which is fatal for any business, as
farming is a business. Farmers do not control a single entity of their business

1. They don’t control water

2. They don’t control price of pesticides or fertilizers.

3. They don’t control price seed.

4. They don’t control marketing and market.

5. They don’t control mandi.

6. They don’t control price for production.

7. They don’t control electricity.

8. They don’t control weather.

9. They can’t control output for sure.

These are the basic parts of the farming business which are totally out of control of farmers. So
we are trying to help farmers to control atleast one parameter (market for production) so they
can fight all the other odds to survive this hostile conditions for farming and earn their
livelihood.

The basic question is, if farmer is the one performing most risky part in the business by
fighting all the odds(natural and man-made) for production. Then why is he left out in
dry with no assurance of returns even just to survive. Leaving others to earn all the wealth
from business.

Eg : We have often seen changes in market price of wheat every season at peak or moderate
levels often on negative side, but have we ever seen or heard of fall in price of wheat biscuits
due fall in price of wheat in market ?

Here in this report we will discussing various factors affecting farmers and farming with various
statistics. We will be covering points like market, climate, price change, unemployment and rural
problems.
Rural problems :
In Marathwada and Vidharbha 3.6 lakh families had unmarried girl or on way to get married
hence many of them committed suicide in shame to reduce burden on family of their marriage
and other responsibility.

Uptill now more than 3 lakh farmers have committed suicide excluding female farmers where
female are not counted as farmers according to law. Among which cash crop farmers are
leading to commit suicide. Cash crops comes with more risk and capital involvement in with it.

One thing is to be noted that farming risk goes on increasing as water requirement and
standing time of crop goes on increasing, more is the standing time and water requirement the
risks keeps multiplying leaving farmers helpless to solve the problem arising in front of them to
survive the crop standing in field. eg : cotton, sugar cane, groundnut, vanilla, coffee, pepper.

Maharashtra rank highest in farmer suicide.

 "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
foodgrains at large scale, which can be traded. The marginal farmers are mostly into vegetable
or small scale foodgrain production, which has little role in the trade."

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 doesn’t, 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 farmers blamed the state and Central governments for their present condition as 74 per
cent of those interviewed alleged they do not get any farming-related information from officials
of the agriculture department. 

ORGI has recently released data related to migration on the basis of place of last residence. The
data on migration by last residence in Maharashtra as per census 2011 shows that the total
number of migrants was 5.73 crore. Out of total migrants 41.5 per cent were males while 58.5
per cent were females. There are different streams of migration generally relating to the degree
of economic and social development in the area of origin as well as area of destination. Out of
total migrants in Maharashtra 38.2 per cent migrated from rural to rural, 6.7 per cent from urban
to rural while migration from rural to urban was 23.5 per cent and urban to urban was 22.9 per
cent, excluding unclassifiable cases. Migrants by last place of residence and duration of
residence.
Today more than 70% farmers are ready to leave agriculture and join another business for their
earnings and more than 95% youth is leaving the occupation of farming and migrating to cities
for opportunities of better life.

Climate :
The climate is changing rapidly in Maharashtra leaving farmers unable to understand
its behaviour and making them helpless to possible arrangements to save losses.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Fig : Shows the rise in temperature level throughout Maharashtra

There are 40,785 villages and 45,528 hamlets in the state and as high as 82% of the rural
population depends on agriculture for its livelihood. Out of the total area under irrigation, 28.75
lakh hectares (71%) of the agricultural land is irrigated by groundwater while 11.83 lakh hectares
(29%) by flow or canal irrigation. Out of the total groundwater consumed, 85% is for irrigation,
10% for industries and only 5% is for domestic consumption. Drinking water needs of around
80% of the total rural population are met from groundwater.

Deeper ground water level ranging from 10 to 20 m bgl(below ground level) are observed in
about 26% of wells covering about 82,012 sq km of the State and are found in northern part of
Maharashtra in the Tapi and Purna River basins in parts of Nandurbar, Dhule, Jalgaon, Buldhana,
Akola, and Amravati districts. Besides this, major part of Aurangabad, Jalna, Latur, Osmanabad,
Ahmadnagar, Nashik, Ratnagiri and Solapur districts also show DTWL ranging from 10 to 20 m
bgl. Apart from this, isolated small patches also observed in almost all districts except Raigadh
district.

Heat level is raising hence the chance of surviving the crop against rising temperature and low
rainfall has decreased. From 1970-2014 rainfall has decreased with various ratio.

Increase in CO2 to 550 ppm increases yields of rice, wheat, legumes and oilseeds by 10 to 20
percent. A 1oC increase in temperature may reduce yields of wheat, soybeans, mustards,
groundnuts, and potatoes by 3 to 7 percent. There would be higher losses at higher
temperatures. Productivity of most crops decreases only marginally by 2020 but by 10 to 40
percent by 2100 due to increases in temperature, rainfall variability, and decreases in irrigation
water.

Out of the total 355 talukas in the state, 226 talukas received deficiant rain. While 112 talukas
received normal rainfall, only 17 talukas received excess rainfall.
According to officials, a study done by TERI has identified Maharashtra as one of the most
vulnerable states in India. Based on biophysical, social and technological indicators, the state
has low “adaptive capacity” to climate change, meaning that it has little potential to respond
successfully to climate variability and change, including adjustments in resources and
technologies.
The state falls in the zone of high to very high climate sensitivity, with a widespread dependence
on agriculture.