Active policy attention for farmers stressed

2014 declared as International Year of Family Farming by FAO, UN

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), agency of the United Nations has declared, the year 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF).

In this regard, the Deccan Development Society (DDS) held a meet in the city to create awareness about IYFF and its significance in the country.

This year will mark the arrival of peasants at the centre of all agricultural debates. The DDS has not only planned on celebrating the IYFF but have also pledged to work in support for the benefit of peasant farmers throughout the year.

Speaking at the meet, PV Satheesh, Director, DDS said, “Considering the large number of farmers in the state, we want to focus on AP’s peasant farmers. If the policies are implemented properly, there will be no misery with respect to food security and other such issues.”

“India is an agrarian society but people are in the misconception that farming on a large piece of land is profitable. The whole point of the IYFF is to re-introduce farming on a smaller scale so that the people become self-sufficient,” he added.

The various pointers that the DDS put forth in the meet were:

Family and small-scale farming are inextricably linked to world food security.

Family farming preserves traditional food products, while contributing to a balanced diet and safeguarding the world’s agro-biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Family farming represents an opportunity to boost local economies, especially when combined with specific policies aimed at social protection and well-being of communities.

Clarifying the term peasant farmers, PV Satheesh says, “Peasant farmers aren’t farmers who are poor. They are farmers who cultivate on smaller pieces of land.”

India is a home for 600 million farming families and Andhra Pradesh has 40 million farming families, the DDS representatives said that with such a large populace, the government cannot choose to undermine them. It is high time that there is some policy attention given to them.

“During the Green Revolution, the farmers were dispossessed of their independence and dignity. This, we assert is the reason for a continuing state of agrarian distress and the never-ending farmer suicide cycle,” Satheesh concluded.