Dear readers,

Almost every movie made in this country, has compelling discourses on ‘mitti ki saugandh’ or the pledge of mother earth - to protect, defend and worship our soil for an eternity. Nothing could perhaps be further away from the truth however - in the real world, we defy all lofty ideals with impunity. A listing of issues will perhaps lend some clarity - beginning with indebtedness and farmer suicides, genetically modified crops, endosulfan poisoning, alarmingly declining water table, eutrophication of water bodies to declining productivity and impacts of a changing climate - the world of farming does not seem as green.

As, I always assert, panacea for all ills is education. Not your ‘by the rote, meet-your-friends, enjoy’ kind of formal education - but true-in-spirit knowledge exposures that will teach the farmers to ‘enjoy’ with restraint. No, please don’t run the water pump all night even if you do get free electricity. No, please don’t add ‘Xtra large’ packets of fertilisers or pesticides - they will in the long run reduce soil productivity. Find out the right amounts and the right needs of your land. And most importantly learn to address the system. In a day and age when the Right to Information is being used effectively, and sometimes with maleficity, farmers too need to get their house in order to beat indebtedness and the changing climate threat. I know it is easier said than done - but how long can we support doles, even if farmers - especially the ones with large holdings, are perfectly capable of pulling themselves out of misery.

Self-reliance, is the key to stability.