Plight of farmers of Jamui, a south-east district of Bihar negates the all-inclusive development theory
Bihar is growing faster. The
state government is portraying the growth trajectory stiff northward. The
provisional data released by Central Statistical Organization shows 9.48
percent growth in Gross State Domestic Product for year 2012-13. The ambitious
agriculture road map of Bihar, first of its kind in the country, aims at
raising agriculture growth of 7 percent per year and targeted to invest Rs1. 52
lakh crore over the period of year 2012-17 in the State. Much touted Bihar
Model of Development is being projected as inclusive and pervasive. Reportedly,
a farmer of Nalanda district, constituency of the Chief Minister, toppled the
father of rice from top position in production of rice per hectare. Sumant Kumar,
a farmer of Darveshpura Village in Nalanda district has astonishing record
production of rice, 22.4 tonnes on one hectare of land. It beats the 19.4
tonnes achieved by father of rice, the Chinese agricultural scientist Yuan
Longping. But, there is other way round also. Reality isn’t entirely like
Darveshpura in all over the Bihar, rather different and alarming in certain regions.
Villages at bordering area of Bihar and Jharkhand in Jamui district tell a
different story.
After visiting couples village in
Jamui district located at bordering area of Bihar and Jharkhand, it was
observed that farmers, particularly small and marginal farmers, are leaving agriculture
and are resorting to manual labour or migrating towards the city areas to
sustain their livelihoods. In most of the houses only women and old persons are
residing. Rainfall being sole source of irrigation in the area, most of the
agricultural land was barren and transplanting of wheat could not be possible
in larger parts of these villages. Jamui used to be the constituency of
Agriculture Minister of Bihar Shri Narendra Singh. This area of south Bihar which comes under
Zone III agro-climatic zone witnessed 56 percent depreciation in rainfall and mere
36 percent net sowing of paddy crops. Harvesting and threshing of wheat is
going on in rest of the state but in these villages one can hardly witness it.
The dry, deserted, and cracked land is noticeable in the area. If rainfall wouldn’t be adequate this year it
will led to greater consequences as drought like condition is already
prevailing in the area. As per official data only 58.49 percent area of the
district is cultivable and Chakai having mere 40.43 percent cultivable area is at
the bottom in list of 10 blocks of the district. Most part of the district has
hilly topography. The soil pattern of the district differs widely due to
topography of the region. Important soil is sandy soils and alluvial
soil of heavy texture having natural or alkaline
reaction. Jhajha, Khaira, Sono, Chakai and
Laxmipur block contain forest soil.
Reiterating the plight of farmers
in the area Mohammad Sarfuddin Ali, a farmer of Balkod village in Chakai block,
said that agriculture is primarily dependent on rain water. Local water bodies have
dried up. He, however, said that wells being constructed are by and large insufficient
and ineffective to irrigate the entire land of the village. Wells are useful
for limited area only. It is worth mentioning here that these wells were being
constructed under MGNREGA but residents of the village allege that instead of
using manual labour JCB machines were used, which is against the MGNREGA
guidelines. Though it is very common practices in the area as being stated by
villagers, it has caused resentment among the common masses because it has
denied their wages. In this village well is the only source of drinking water
posing threat to health and hygiene of the people. There isn’t a single hand-pump
in the village. Anjani Devi, a woman farmer of Balkod said that people were
utterly dependent on the well which is lifeline of the village.
Blaming the erratic weather condition
and rise in temperature for their plights residents of the village asserted
that in 2011 there was heavy downpour in the area and the last year witnessed high
depreciation in the rainfall. Both the conditions went against the farmers.
Sandy soil in slope land diminishes the water retaining capacity of the land in
the area. “Heavy rainfall in 2011 in last two months of the rainy season also
caused loss of crops in the area,”said Mohammad Islam Ansari of Gorsoti village.
“Rainfall during fruiting damaged the crops and made the crops grain less” he
added.
Farmers are largely dependant on
hybrid seeds and chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Local traditional seeds
are entirely out of practice and not a single farmer bothers to conserve it. They argue “hybrid seeds are more fecund than
traditional seeds, while former yields 80 Kg per Kathha later reduces to 20 Kg only.” However, using hybrid seeds
has its own complications. They shared that while traditional seeds were less
susceptible to pests, weeds and grains usually come out from every shoot;
hybrid seed is a different story. They explained grain-less shoots are common in
hybrid paddy crops and yielding capacity of hybrid seeds also is not as claimed
by the government. Government claims that one Kg of hybrid seed can yield up to
6-7 Quintals but in fact the yields are reduced to 2 Quintals only.
When asked about practice of SRI
(System of Rice Intensification) method for growing paddy crops, most of the
villager denied from practicing it. As transplanting the saplings of paddy
crops is essential within 14 days, it is not possible in the area due
depreciation in rainfall. The much hyped SRI method of growing rice has become ineffective
in the area due to lack of proper irrigation system. They also claimed that
this is a labor intensive practice which is difficult for us as people
particularly young males are migrating towards the city area. Here, concept of
organic farming has reduced to limited use of vermicompost only as couple of
farmers of the village accepted the access of vermicompost. Yet, farmers are
dependent on chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.
In addition to it, villagers
confirmed that weeds are now growing faster which usually surpasses the paddy
crops and uncommon weeds have now become common. “I have been observing new
varieties of weeds for last couple of years that never witnessed in past,”
added Safaruddi. Pests also damage the crops seriously. Sakina Bibi a woman
farmer of Balkod village said that paddy
crops first turn red and then become like grasses and ended with grain less
stalks after the attack of pests in the field.
A farmer who has been growing onions for last 15 years said that a new
variety of weed which he has not witnessed earlier is hampering the growth of
onion for last two years. This particular weed spreads faster and covers the
entire crops. Considering the labor cost of repeated weeding most of the
farmers accepted to avoid frequent weeding.
Their misfortune is not confined
to the farming only rather extended to livestock also. Lack of green pasture, paddy
husk and water coupled with rise in temperature are affected animal adversely.
Milk yields have also went down drastically. Farmers insist that it has reduced
to one fourth. Animals are dying due to new and uncommon diseases. Sakina Bibi
of Gorsoti village said that around 45 goats had died last month in a single
day in this village while Mohammad Hakim, another resident of the village
claimed that hens were dying in large number. He had dozens of hens last month
but all succumbed to diseases gradually.
Farmers in this region are also
completely devoid of access to credit and insurance facilities. Not a single
farmer in the area possesses Kisan Credit Card. Extension and support services
are severely restricted as only one farmer said that he was in touch with Kisan Salahkar.
Farmers who are still farming
despite the adverse condition where deficit rainfall, reduction in number of
rainy days and drought like situation are prevalent, have tried different
adaptation practices to sustain their farm production. They grow Kurthi in high land area, practice mixed
cropping like mustered and linseed (tisi)
with wheat, lentil with paddy crops. Khalil Miyan, a resident of Tilkasar
villages said that he had grown linseed instead of wheat after harvesting the
paddy crops. Linseed yields 1.5 quintal per acre. Important, factor with
linseed is that it needs less water and animal avoid destroying this crop too. He, however, denied adopting same practice
this year due to complete avoidance of rainfall. While, some farmers prefer to sow
short duration paddy crops, which they harvest in early October.
People demanded for urgent
intervention of the government to improve the irrigation system in this area
which might include establishing government tube wells, renovation of local
water bodies, and to establish water harvesting system. Extension and support
services need to be enhanced to reach the every people of the village. Farmers
are also less informed about the government run schemes and programmes. Nonetheless,
rising resentment against the ‘system’ due to lackadaisical approach of
government officials and village Pradhan must be taken care off seriously.
(This story is based on author’s interaction with more than 40 farmers
of Balkod, Gorsoti, and Tilkasar villages under Jamui district. )
