The farmer and the farmer’s profession, agriculture, are an integral part of our society and culture. There is no doubt that our farmers who are the pillars and backbone of the country are superheroes. If you ask who feeds us, there is only one answer, it is the farmer, the one and only guardian of crop and harvest. These personalities should be most respected by society. But what is the current condition of the farmer who is at the helm of the country’s progress? The current condition of the farmers is very pathetic. Agricultural collapse, crop failure, debt, famine, poverty, epidemics, and even subsequent mass exodus and suicides have become daily occurrences. The peasants and agricultural laborers in this agricultural sector are the most marginalized section of the population. The truth is that the agricultural laborers who toil round the clock to feed us, save us from hunger, and provide energy for our health, are struggling even for that day’s food.

Our agricultural laborers are those who work for daily wages. There are farmers who work on their own farms. There are also those who work as agricultural laborers. As small farmers sell their land to settle debts and become agricultural laborers, the number of wage laborers in agriculture increases exponentially. The agricultural sector is in crisis due to many reasons and unemployment in rural areas is increasing day by day making life hell for farm laborers and the increasing number of landless farm laborers is adding to the scope of the crisis. Also, due to uncontrolled mechanization and indiscriminate use of technology, working days in agriculture are decreasing.

Every farmer is the lord of seed, crop, and harvest

Each grain has a story to tell, the story of the toil and sweat of its owner, the farmer. Each seed has a lot to say. The story of a farmer who sows a seed and waits patiently for it to grow, blossom, and bears fruit after giving it the necessary care. Have any of you ever thought about a situation where there is no farmer and no agriculture? Agriculture is undoubtedly one of the greatest professions. Agriculture is one of the most respected professions but neither agriculture nor the farmer gets the same respect. Farmers play a very important role in society. They are the ones who give us food, they are the ones who make the soil golden. They are protectors of the earth and nature. It is these farmers who provide us with meat, eggs, and milk. Without them, we will starve to death. Our health care and survival are in their hands. Even if they don’t own a piece of land, even if they don’t have a hut, they are the lord of seed, crop, and harvest. They are the guardian of the crop and harvest.

Agriculture and Culture

There is a culture in agriculture itself and this culture of agriculture is the basis of all cultures. Because agriculture is not only a way of life but also the foundation of human culture. Undoubtedly, all the great cultures of the world originated from agriculture. Primitive people who wandered around in search of berries and fruits to satisfy their hunger started living near the river banks for farming. That is how they began to settle permanently in one place. That is how world-class cultures like the great Indus Valley Civilizations were born. It is a matter of pride for every farmer that the same farmer who sows seeds to satisfy our hunger has also sown the seeds for great cultures.

Importance of farmers

A farmer is a person who works tirelessly on the farm. Farmers are the driving force of the economy. Every citizen of the country lives depending on the agricultural products they produce. That is why we are all directly or indirectly indebted to the farmer. The importance of agriculture and farmers and how they influence society cannot be overstated. They are not only growing food for us, but they are also growing it to export to other countries. Thus, they have a major role in international trade and therefore farmers are a part of building a strong economy and development of the country. They play a major role in international trade and therefore farmers play a role in earning us foreign exchange, building a strong economy, and developing the country. There are many job opportunities in the agriculture sector. They are not only the guardian of the crop and harvest but also provide employment to many people. Besides, farmers protect ecosystems and heal the environment.

Problems faced by the agriculture sector

There are many problems faced by farmers and the agriculture sector. The farmer, guardian of the crop and harvest is upset and worried today due to many reasons. Farmers are suffering due to increases in the cost of production, climate change, low prices of agricultural products, crop damage due to unexpected natural disasters, and crop loss due to wild animal attacks. Today is a situation where agriculture is facing a very serious crisis and the farmer and his grievances are being ignored. We must understand the difficulties faced by a common farmer today. Farmers whose crops have been damaged due to natural calamities are still waiting for compensation. They don’t ask for anything more, they only ask for the loss they have suffered. No one cares about the farmer’s problems. Is there no one to take care of the problems of our farmers? It should be understood that the problems in the agricultural sector are not the problem of the farmer or the agricultural workers alone. This is the problem for each of us.

Life values ​​that the farmer teaches us

The farmer who sows the seed germinates it, plants the saplings, water and fertilizes them, and waits for them to bear fruit also imparts the life values ​​of waiting and patience. Agriculture is not like other professions. Regular jobs get daily wages or salary at the end of the month but one has to wait for months and sometimes years to get the fruits of agriculture. Can’t relax while waiting. Water and fertilizer should be given to the crops and they should be protected from pest attacks. If the weather cheats, they have to fix it. Hard work alone is not enough good patience and endurance are needed for successful farming. We had a culture of togetherness in the past where parents, children, and neighbors all worked together. Agriculture and farmers have taught us the lessons of love, kindness, brotherhood, compromise, and community. Our country remained a good country because of the values ​​imparted by those old farmer parents. We must not allow that culture to be lost.

Has the new generation lost interest in agriculture?

The new generation is less interested in agriculture. They do not take up agriculture. The reasons are many. Don’t forget that when paddy fields, coconut groves, and vegetable gardens are alienated from our surroundings, our culture is alienated from us. Once upon a time, agriculture was life, a way of life and living air for us. Our forefathers are the ones who looked for farms to live in. Even though some people have moved away from agriculture today, don’t forget that we eat and live comfortably because others farm for us. Another problem is that policies are currently being implemented that are marginalizing the basic groups including farmers, laborers, and tribals.  That is why the farmers are upset. Farmers are now unable to move forward without the help of the government. Despite all the progress science has made, it has not been able to live without food or find any substitute for food. Life is impossible without food and agriculture. We should not forget the importance of agriculture. Then we should understand that the farmers’ problems are the problems of each of us.  They are the guardians of the crop and harvest.

We all have a responsibility toward farmers

We all have a responsibility towards the farmers, guardians of the crop and harvest. What can each of us do as an individual or as a community?

The attention of the rulers and the society should be called to the difficulties of the farmers.

Farmers should be taken to heart and advocated for them.

We have to organize and work for the needs of the farmers.

Farmers’ pensions and crop damage compensation should be disbursed without delay.

Senior farmers should be given special consideration.

Farm loans should be written off.

Interest-free loans should be provided to farmers.

Children of farmers should be given free education.

Farmers should be given free seeds and fertilizers.

Agricultural produce should get a fair price.

Conclusion

Sincerity and love for the guardian of the crop and harvest should not be confined to farmers’ day celebrations and award-giving ceremonies. Governments should urgently intervene in the farmer’s demands and we all must start kitchen gardens in every house so that the culture of agriculture does not go away. In this new era, we must recover the culture of family farming which has been lost to us amidst the various preoccupations of life. It is not only for food security but also for the value sense of our young generation. No matter how high-ranking you are, you should try to become a farmer in your free time. Know agriculture, understand the greatness of agriculture, love agriculture, and create a culture that respects agriculture. For that, we have to love agriculture, we have to be interested in agriculture, we have to know what agriculture is, we have to know the soil, we have to love the soil, and then you have to get into the soil. It should be understood that soil is not just rock dust. A farmer who loves agriculture turns the soil into nectar for his crops by adding organic matter. That’s what a real farmer does. Let us maintain the goodness of agriculture. We just need to recapture the agricultural culture that we have lost.

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