The state of affairs of the farm sector in Punjab is really in a very bad shape now-a-days. It is unfortunate but true that no government from last three decades could feel the pulse of the people and provide any relief to the reeling economy of the Punjab and the debt ridden farming community.  Like Ahmed Shah Abdali, they, the politicians, as class, come and loot the state exchequer with both hands.

The politics of free power made the whole state powerless. No power, even paid, is available to anyone. Noise and smoke emitted by round -the-clock- run generator sets paralyzed the common people psychologically. No one can concentrate fully on one’s work or talk in this earsplitting surroundings. Punjab Government’s ego driven stand on providing free power the farm sector fractured the Punjab economy. No politician but an economist can heel this badly wretched economy.

Some harsh policy decisions can pull the ailing state economy from this deep dig. At first, the politician, as a class, should drop the idea of giving free power the farm sector because the policy of free power to the farm sector has proved a failure politically. In the last two state assembly elections, no party, congress or SAD-BJP combine could garner many votes with the idea of giving free power to the farm sector.  Moreover, if we analyze it critically, from last ten years, despite free power to the farm sector, no major improvement in the out put of the farm produce is seen. And it could not help stop or decrease the rate of farmers’ suicides in the state.

Secondly, if the Punjab government really wants to help the poor farmers, it should give heavy subsidy on dip-irrigation system to the farmers so that they can water their farms with minimum water and help restore the underground water table. It will help reduce their power bills too.

Thirdly, Punjab government should make the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices of Government of India include the water and power costs while calculating the cost of production of wheat and rice so that MSP of the same may be raised as per their international market prices.

Thirdly, special farmers’ markets, as in the foreign countries, should be established where farmers can sell their produce directly to the end consumers on retail prices so that they can earn maximum from the trade.  

Finally, government should establish government-run Kisan Seva Kenders to provide genuine seeds, fertilizers and pesticides at control rates so that exploitation by the private companies can be stopped.

I sum, Punjab government should not give the farmers the fish free of coast but make them learn how to fish. Their skills should be updated so that they can repay their loans themselves. They, the government and the politicians,  should understand the fact that the farmers are not the beggars.         

The end