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Writer's pictureVarad Patil - 2020 Scholar

Agriculture: The Real Culture of India



I think our main culture, Agriculture hidden from many of the Indians. Over more than 54% of the land is occupied by the agricultural industry. Agriculture is a way of life the Indian people live with emotions, beliefs, expectations, and much more. What we are getting on our plates is because of farmers. Agriculture has a deep sense of oneness and attachment with family, and selflessness in relations, which is not seen in other countries. We got this rich heritage of agriculture from our ancestors. Every generation is transforming this unique style of farming to their successors.

Although we often say that hard work is the path to success, farmers face the harsh reality that even their unwavering effort may not guarantee a bountiful crop due to drought and excess rainfall. They don’t think about future results. He gets up early in the morning, takes his plough, and with his cattle goes to his field even before it is full daylight. He works there all day without caring about the hardships of the weather there is winter, summer, or rain, it is all the same for him. We find him working on his field sowing, ploughing, or reaping in biting cold as well as in the hot winds or summer.

To understand the life of a farmer better, let's delve into the story of B Mahipal Reddy from Kowdipally village, Medak. He earned Rs. 1.8 crore selling his red tomatoes. From academic struggles to agricultural triumph. He carefully nurtured his tomato crop on eight acres, using protective nets to shield it from adverse weather conditions. His produce, graded as A Grade, fetched a remarkable price of over Rs 100 per kg. Despite potential crop losses due to excessive rain, he remains optimistic about surpassing Rs 2 crore in total income this season, with 40% of the crop still on his farm. Highlighting the economics of tomato farming, he mentioned investing Rs 2 lakh per acre and the potential for substantial returns with proper farming techniques in a regular season. This time his work and a bountiful crop, coupled with high prices, resulted in fantastic returns. His story teaches us the value of perseverance and adaptability, even in the face of potential losses due to excessive rainfall.



To enhance Indian agriculture further, we can adopt modern techniques such as Indoor vertical farming, farm automation, livestock farming technology, and Modern greenhouses. Let’s see how modern technology helps farmers. Mobile technology plays an important role in monitoring and controlling crop irrigation systems. With this modern technology, a farmer can control his irrigation systems from a phone or computer instead of driving to each field. Moisture sensors in the ground can communicate information about the level of moisture present at certain depths in the soil. This helps farmers to save their time and improve productivity. Weather plays a very important role; with modern tools, we can accurately predict climate changes and farmers also get an idea about what’s the right time for sowing and different agricultural activities. Ex. Plantix App

There are many challenges in front of farmers like Soil erosion, Loss of agricultural land, Irrigation problems, etc. But according to me, there are three main challenges drought, excess rainfall, and less market value to the crops. During a drought, water sources such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater reservoirs can dry up, making it difficult for farmers to irrigate their crops. This lack of water can lead to crop failure, reduced yields, and even loss of livestock due to a lack of drinking water. Farmers mainly use water conservation techniques like drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting to mitigate the impact of drought. Excess rainfall can lead to flooding, causing significant damage to crops, infrastructure, and livestock. To address this issue techniques such as improved drainage systems and selecting crop varieties that are more resistant to waterlogging. Low market value for crops can be a consistent problem for farmers, especially if they are unable to get fair prices for their produce. Sometimes it drives farmers to extreme measures like suicides.

The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways

In conclusion, Indian farmers play a vital role in our lives, sustaining our food supply with dedication and hard work. While modern technology offers promise, challenges like drought, excessive rainfall, and low crop prices persist. It's crucial to support farmers with both advanced techniques and fair market opportunities to ensure a prosperous and resilient agricultural sector that honours their invaluable contributions.


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1 Comment


Guest
Sep 21, 2023

Excellent 👍

A son of farmer can write this type of blog. God bless you dear .

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