Dr. Shanker Suwan Singh
India is an agricultural country. More than half of India’s population depends on agriculture. Farmer earns his living by growing grains and people survive by eating this grain. When the farmer grows the grain, then it comes in the plate of the people. The person who does the work related to agriculture is called farmer. Farmer is also called by the names of farmer or cultivator. The arrangements from the production of food grains to marketing are the responsibility of the farmers. The farmer can be the owner of the farm. A laborer hired by the owner of the agricultural land can also be a farmer. Without labor it is impossible to be a farmer or a worker. Therefore the farmer and the laborer complement each other. The word farmer is derived from labor. Labor means hard work. There are two types of hard work, physical hard work and mental hard work. A person who earns his livelihood by doing manual labor is called an agriculturist. Labor in economics means physical labor. It also includes mental work. As fish is related to water, similarly farmer is related to labor. Fish cannot survive without water, similarly a farmer cannot survive without labour. It means to say – labor is the means of livelihood. on which the farmer depends. The farmer feeds himself and his family by doing physical labor. On the other hand, the educated class feeds themselves and their families by doing mental labor. Both the peasantry and the educated class are labourers. One depends on physical labor and the other on mental labor. Therefore it is meaningless to talk about a farmer without labor. If there is labour, then there is a farmer. Farmer is the biggest proof of selfless service. Farmer is another name for hard work life. It is our farmers who turn the soil into gold. The flourishing crops in the form of diamonds and jewels add beauty to the earth. The farmer is the powerful medium of the beauty of the earth. The farmer is a Karmayogi. Karmayogi is described as the mental discipline or attitude that governs the actions. Like a Karmayogi, he remains engrossed in his spiritual practice in the scorching sun, bitter cold and torrential rain. The farmer enjoys all the seasons. The farmer adapts himself to all the seasons. It seems as if the weather and the farmer complement each other. All the seasons pass laughing and playing in front of the farmer. The farmer is the follower of the soil The soil of the earth spews gold only when the farmer makes that soil fertile. Food production is based on soil only. Just as Lord Vishnu manages the creation, in the same way the farmer manages and does welfare of the universe by beautifying the soil. The operation of the universe is possible only through food grains. Everyone is blessed if there is food. Therefore, thank the food so that the farmer gets inspiration. We can see Lord Vishnu in the farmer. If the soil of India is gold then the farmer of India is goldsmith. Only a good goldsmith can prove the authenticity of gold. Similarly, a farmer proves the authenticity of the beautification of soil or earth by his swaying crops. That is why it is said that the land of my country spits gold, spits diamonds and pearls. The condition of the farmer in the country always remains a topic of discussion. Especially at the time of elections, a lot of emphasis is placed on this topic by political parties. Agriculture is the source of most of the income in the country of India and the farmer is an integral part of it. Farmers have an important role in maintaining the economic system of the country. Farmers are the foundation of this country and when there is a crisis on this foundation, then the foundation stone of the country gets shaken. That’s why today we all should come together to raise the level of farmers and agriculture even more. The farmer is the provider of food, therefore he is also called the son of the earth. National Farmers Day is celebrated on 23 December in the honor and respect of farmers in India. Farmers Day is celebrated to commemorate the birthday of Chaudhary Charan Singh. The tradition of celebrating Farmer’s Day started from the year 2001. This day is very important for the country and the farmers as it gives an idea to empower the farmers of the society with the latest learnings in the agriculture sector. Farmers’ Day celebrations held on this day serve to educate people about the various issues faced by farmers. Country’s Prime Minister and farmer leader Chaudhary Charan Singh had carried forward the legacy of Sir Chhotu Ram for the betterment of the farmers. He also formed the farmer trust on 23 December 1978. So that, awareness can be spread about the issues of farmers in the country. Chaudhary Charan Singh was the fifth Prime Minister of India. During his prime ministership (July 1979-January 1980), Chaudhary Charan Singh took important decisions in the interest of the farmers and formulated many policies. Chaudhary Charan Singh had once said that true India resides in its villages. Various felicitation programs, debate competitions, seminars, quiz competitions, discussions, workshops and exhibitions are organized in educational institutions and government departments related to farmers. The contribution of farmers in India is incomparable, which is not possible for any person to describe in words. India is the fifth largest economy in the world. Agriculture contributes the most to the economy. If there is no farmer in any country, then the lives of the citizens of that country will be in danger. India is one of the emerging agro-based economies of the world today. According to a report by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), 10.07 crore households in the country are dependent on agriculture. This number is 48 percent of the total families of the country. India ranks fourth in terms of agricultural production in the world. Food items are produced in sufficient quantity in India. India today is fast on the line to become the largest economy in the world. The Government of India needs to encourage the works related to agriculture even more. The economic level of the farmers has to be raised, only then India will one day be at the forefront of the world.
Author
Dr. Shanker Suwan Singh
Senior Columnist & Thinker / Senior Blogger
Assistant Professor
Agriculture University, Prayagraj (U.P.)
Mail id- shanranu80@gmail.com
