“My grandfather used to say that farmers are kings, as we grow food for all. But this is hardly true now. Every day is full of challenges and the cycle of loans to harvest never gets easy for small farmers. For many of my friends, it is the choice of drinking alcohol or deadly pesticides. It is not much of a choice really…but that’s how it’s been for farmers over the years, simply the best of the worst.
Most of us are not educated and I am no exception. Farming is all I know…but the rest of the world seems to know everything else, especially cheating us in the name of seeds, fertilizers, loans…the list is endless. Even nature does its bit to bring in more uncertainty. Finally, when the crop is out, we end up selling at half the price we used to sell previous year. Losses keep mounting and so does the pressure from my wife to quit farming. I cannot blame her as she takes the major brunt of all our worries.
Our hope does get rekindled every time Government announces new schemes. Some reach us and some don’t. It feels nice that someone is at least thinking of us. But, the days when first-aid are gone, a farmer now is an emergency patient. The assistance should come in soon and be substantial to extend the entire cycle of farming. Hope it happens fast and our choices improve for the better.”
#Amaravati #HumansOfAndhra