Opinion | Kisan Diwas

To commemorate Kisan Diwas in India and to respect the farmers’ work – it is critical to note that farmers are pillars of our nations economy and womens contributions in farming needs acknowledgement as its seen in rural areas women working in farms shoulder to shoulder with men.

Kisan Diwas, also known as Farmer’s Day is observed in India on 23rd December every year in an endeavor to pay tribute to farmers who bow to the soil for their toil towards bringing decent harvest in the agrarian economy of the country. It is a special occasion of acknowledgment and the efforts the farmers put into propagating the agrarian sector in the country. Kisan Diwas provides hope for India, where agriculture is still one of the key components of the country’s economy and where farmers need to be encouraged to provide people with food, stabilize the economy, and work on rural development. All the farmers of the region need an honorable mention particularly those of Kashmir who, with their grit, hard work, and innovative ways have irrigated the valley, fed the nation, and conserved the natural beauty of the region that helped in shaping the composite culture of India.
Indian agriculture has great importance in the Indian economy, as more than 50% of people are directly or indirectly involved in this sector & it contributes nearly 17-18% of total Indian GDP. The farmer is an essential focal point simply because they feed millions of people, and provide raw materials to other industries like textiles, food processing, and biofuels. Punjab, the North Eastern states to the hilly regions of Kashmir valley farmers are the hard-working unsung performers who feed the nation by working through all rough weather, volatility in market demand, and sometimes harsh terrains of Agriculture enterprise. The day was selected to pay our respect to farmers and make society recall their importance, that is why it is called Kisan Diwas. On this day, the government, organization, and people acknowledge farmers, and celebrate their importance to the economy, and the difficulties they face. It is also a day to demand that policies favor their welfare, enhance their standard of living, and equip them to succeed.

Farmers of Kashmir
The beauty, cultural heritage, horticulture, and impeccably produced land, all these facets form the pride of Kashmir, its identity is nurtured in the agricultural field. This area has always been well developed in agriculture due to the fertile soil together with the experience passed down through the generations and the recent advances in agriculture. Kashmir farmers under one or other circumstances like political unrest, severe winters, and lack of technology are now practicing agriculture in the region. The crops grown in Kashmir include those crops that are important for both the regional as well as national economy. Saffron is known to be the cash crop of the region and apples are also produced here, rice and dry fruits also have an important place in the region’s economy and also have cultural importance. Kashmiri saffron which is special and used for its flavor and smell is in great demand in all four corners of the globe. Some of the obstacles that have affected growers include low yields and pressure from other counties but, growers have remained adamant in the cultivation of this crop maintaining the tradition. Another part of Kashmir’s agricultural land is its apple orchards, which occupy thousands of acres of land. The apples mainly grown in the region including the Kashmiri Red Delicious are ranked among the best in India and are sold there and in other countries. The quality of apples has therefore been enhanced due to hard-working and professional apple growers in Kashmir who have developed techniques of horticulture over time. Apart from apples, rice as a crop has defended the structure of food in the valley of Kashmir. Rice cultivation in the region is dominated by small-holder producers, for whom rice is an important source of livelihood for their households and other dependants. These farmers present substantial knowledge and efficiency of the earth, the climate, and the water management that is required to make the area more favorable for agricultural production. From time to time, farmers of the region have been able to cultivate and sell better quality crops due to the continuous development in the kinds of irrigation facilities and farming techniques. Kashmir’s dry fruits especially almonds and walnut industries are also not far behind. These nuts, from the fertile ground of this region, have been part and parcel of the local population’s diet as well as a cash crop for export. Some of these dry fruits have for many years been grown and processed by Kashmiri farmers who have taken the art of agriculture to the next level of professionalism.
Political instability and conflicts have also had a bad influence on the horticulture industry of Kashmir on a direct basis. There are times farmers have had curfews in which they could not transport their produce to markets; there are times farmers have had restrictions on the roads; and there are times there are road blockages. Also, farmers have poor access to modern inputs and act equipment while their markets remain incompetent and volatile.
Moreover, the region has faced such a problem as a depletion of soil fertility, especially within those areas that were used for intensive farming throughout the years. The unavailability of sustainable farming practices and modern irrigation techniques; and the overuse of pesticides; have also been issues for Kashmiri farmers. But still, this all makes the situation very challenging, and at the same time, the strength of the Kashmiri farmer does not have a parallel. Now, the farmers of Kashmir are gradually incorporating the improvement in technology, and research practices to counter the obstacles that they encounter. Advanced methods of irrigation and mechanized cultivation methods, the use of organic manure, and high-quality seeds have enhanced yields. Some farmers are also engaging in agro-tourism whereby tourists are taken through farms to learn more about farming and at the same time being sold farm produce. Another shade has been the increased interest in the natural way of cultivating crops as farmers of the valley have reduced the use of chemicals in farming. Promotion of organic products especially organic saffron, fruits, and vegetables is on the rise, and the farmers are now able to get better prices for their products.
There are countless programs launched by the Government that have helped the farmers to train them on new technologies for farming, enhancing cropping intensity and also getting better market linkages, noteworthy are, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana (PMFBY), Soil Health Card Scheme, Farm Mechanization, Kisan Cell Centre, mKisan, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY), Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) These endeavors are gradually altering the dynamics of the agriculture sector and in the process are better placed to satisfy the needs of a changing world.
Looking at today’s to commemorate Kisan Diwas in India and to respect the farmers’ work – it is critical to note that farmers are pillars of our nations economy and womens contributions in farming needs acknowledgement as its seen in rural areas women working in farms shoulder to shoulder with men and the least division of labour is observed in agrarian societies. My salute to such hardworking, persistent, and dedicated farmers who are realizing and writing a new future for agriculture in India putting food on the table and earning for their future generations.

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