WILL ONION EVER MAKE A FARMER SMILE !

BY APURVA RAI

JUST a few days ago me and my family were invited to a dinner by a friend of mine who happened to be Brahmin by birth. Soon after reaching his home we were served with some cold juice and hot pakoras. The snacks made me comfortable and pepped up my hunger as I was more eager in a sumptuous food. 

A short while later we were very politely asked to join the family for dinner. I felt happy. The hosts were quite humble and guided us to the dining area which was adjacent to the drawing room. The dinner lounge was well lit and the table beautifully arranged. I felt even happier. However, the happiest moment came when the lids were removed and a nice aroma filled the entire room.

I have a strong belief that the way you are served food and the way you are treated at the dining table only gives you the impression what place you have in the minds and heart of the hosts. Here it was somewhat like that. Though there were not many dishes but the simplicity, grace and love showered on me and my family gave us a feeling that we are nothing less than VIPs. Perhaps it was an evening for us only.

Nice cutlery, perfectly placed plates, spoons and glasses proved how special we were for our hosts. To me the nicely done dinner table clearly spoke volumes about the hospitality showered by my friend's family and how well articulate was his better half who had taken care of every little thing that one could expect.

Everyone took his seat. My eyes were still gazing at the arrangement of things and the nice cutlery. To add goodness to the things there was nice food in the middle of the table. The colour and aroma was enough to shift my mind to a dream mode and it quickly started imagining how nice the food would taste once it is transferred from serving bowls to my plate. However, that precious moment was yet to arrive and my impatience and anxiousness was put to further test. Before we could help ourselves my friend dropped a bomb--- "the food has been prepared by my wife without using garlic and onion." It was then I realised that I was invited to the dinner by a Brahmin friend who would abstain from onion and garlic.

Onion brings smiles too!

I laughed and said you save a lot of money. The topic of discussion now turned towards escalating onion prices which have brought tears into the eyes of common man. While we were still laughing and discussing onion prices and the politics of onions in India I could see a sense of pride on my friend's face.

For quite some time onion is stealing newspaper headlines and the news channels clamouring over its north-bound prices. Even my mobile phone is full of various satires and satirical images related to onion which have poured in from various sources on WhatsApp. 

After the dinner was over and I had left the friend's place I realised that onion not only brings tears into eyes it also brings smiles on the faces of many.

Right from my childhood I have found onion finding place on the front page of the newspapers at least once in a year. I have also found it strange that even the prime minister of India needs to intervene or at least take note of onion prices which is a basic ingredient for cooking food in millions of kitchens. Ironically, not a single prime minister right from Indira Gandhi to Narendra  Modi has been able to solve the issue or stabilise the prices of onions which are the basic requirement of food whether it is the rich man or a poor man's kitchen. As a layman I have never been able to understand who actually determines the prices of onion and why is that every time only politicians need to interfere in the issue or need to get involved in the muddle. 

Biggest mystery

I feel onion prices are the biggest mystery in Independent India which not a single food minister or the prime minister has been able to solve till now. So much so that onions have even led to the fall of several governments in the past and even today they are a major issue during electioneering. It is again a mystery that the politicians make so of hue and cry over onion prices before elections but find themselves helpless as soon as elections are over and they are in power. It may also be true, I guess, that the politicians are not interested in stabilizing the prices of onions for obvious reasons.

What saddens me most is the fact that farmers producing onions continue to be poor, debt-ridden and often committing suicide in despair. What astounds me again is that not a single politician has ever committed suicide over onions though they express maximum concern over it. I feel sorry when I find those producing onions have to take loans and in case of failure to repay it they have to end their life.

Clever middlemen rule

On the other hand, politics over onion is done by those who are clever, have muscle power, money but no desire to find a solution. May be perhaps if onion prices are settled and the prices come down the farmers will live and the politicians die. While the crisis takes the lives of innocent, poor and ordinary, making hungama over it gives life to those who are influential, powerful and rich. 

While farmers grow and sell onion so that even the most ordinary person can fill his stomach the rich and influential just make an appearance midway without making any productive contribution and do everything to fill their wallets. This might not be noticed anywhere in the world but it happens in India. Hoarding of food is so very unique to India and still those involved in this (mal) practice have not even once been punished by any government that has ruled this nation which is known for its agriculture.

After many decades of politics over onions I am waiting to see when this small necessity for even a poor man's food will bring tears in the eyes of hoarders and make a farmer smile.

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To read another related article please copy/paste the given link.

1) Land Acquisition and Fate of Farmers

https://apurvaopinion.blogspot.com/2015/06/land-acquisition-and-fate-of-farmers.html

LAND ACQUISITION AND FATE OF FARMERS

BY APURVA RAI

FOR a long time there has been a raging debate on Land Acquisition Bill. Earlier it was the UPA, under command of the Congress Party, that wanted to bring changes through land reforms and now it is the NDA government, under BJP command that wants to bring Land Acquisition Bill.

Whatever the government-- either dominated by the Congress or by the BJP, each wants to bring changes in land bill saying they are working in the benefit of farmers. If every government is working for the benefit of farmers then why are they still poor, neglected, dependent and living on the mercy of others? It is sad that almost every party politicises the issue and every politician wants to bargain a vote in the name of farmers of the country. It is, indeed, a sorry story.

I wish to talk about the farmers only as I believe that all politicians are standing on the same platform and are just another side of the same coin. I feel ashamed of the politicians that when in power they seem to be talking and working in the benefit of farmers and the moment they are out of power they are seen opposing the ruling government and use farmers to prove their point. However, the only community that loses every time is that of farmers as neither the ruling government does anything nor the opposition comes up with positive ideas or support.

No doubt the farmers of India are poor and ironically this financially poor community is feeding the entire nation including those who are rich, prosperous and powerful. Farmers of India are the ones who work day and night to reap rich harvests so that the rich can eat to their contentment. What is even more tragic is that the rich want to buy the land of these farmers and use this land to reap bigger profits by doing anything other than harvesting. Does it all not sound strange?

I would have felt happier had the government framed such laws on land acquisition that would have helped the farmers besides giving a boost to the agriculture of the country. The governments are keen to bring land reforms or pass land acquisition bill but nobody is crystal clear on the way acquisitions will be made. Unclear and complex bye-laws and hidden ideas behind the rules have only added fire to the fuel.

I see only two-types of land-- one that can be harvested and the other that is totally infertile. It is not difficult to classify these two categories as well. Then what is the problem in defining the land acquisition bill?

While talking of infertile land there can be clear strategy that how it shall be used-- either by establishing large factories for defence, aviation or other sector or using it for commercial purpose like raising a hotel, housing society, hospitals for senior citizens or children and so on.

As far as fertile land is concerned the government will have to come up with clear strategy and schemes to boost farming activity. Agriculture has been grossly neglected and nothing concrete has been done to help the farmers. this is perhaps the major reason why many farmers are running away from villages and have become unskilled or skilled labours in metropolitan cities where large-scale construction activity is in progress for the 'welfare of wealthy' citizens of India.

If the government comes up with the idea that only infertile land will be purchased with enough financial compensation, rehabilitation and other help to the owner I don't thing there will be much of protest.

Now comes up the question of fertile land. I feel there would be least protest if the land is leased to corporates who may use the land only for farming activity. The farmers can be given good lease rent and share in harvest. With lease contract the farmer will remain the owner of his land, get financial benefits and share in yield besides getting employment as farmer for which he specialises. On the hand the corporates will invest money in buying seeds, fertilisers, hiring agriculture specialists and bring in all tools and equipment that is necessary to yield rich harvest. Since the farmer will have nothing to invest from his pocket he does not stand to lose anything and he continues to remain owner of the land as well.

So far we have only known industrialists but a now it is very important to rope in richer people and develop a new class to be known as Agriculturinsts. The agriculturists will in the long run come as saviours to the farmers of the country.

Land acquisition for the benefit of farmers will hardly face protest from rural India and that is what is my Second Opinion.

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NOTE

To read another related article please copy/paste the given link.

1) Will Onion Ever Make a Farmer Smile?

https://apurvaopinion.blogspot.com/2015/09/will-onion-ever-make-farmer-smile.html