It’s time to hit the undo button

In the past, farmers were the source of prosperity for Punjab; however, this is now a thing of the past. In the present day, the reality is that a farmer is a curse for Punjab. The Green Revolution has had a significant impact on the whole state, which is now experiencing its effects. The same farmer, who was the nation's primary provider until a few decades ago, is now being compelled to take their own life since there are not enough grains to even care for his family. The farmers who participated in the Green Revolution introduced a significant amount of poison into the soil, and as a result, the poison has now made its way into our bodies via the food that they grew and that we have consumed. The health condition in the state has deteriorated to such a degree that a train which runs from Bhatinda to Bikaner, has been given the moniker "Cancer Train" since sixty percent of the people who ride it are terminally ill with cancer.

Over the course of the last half-century, the farmers of Punjab have severed all of their connections with the natural world, and at the same time, they have severed the very limb of the tree that they were sitting on. The state that is now experiencing a drought is one that is traversed by five rivers. When the Green Revolution first began to take effect, the effects were somewhat unexpected. Farmers from all throughout the state were duped by the government and the corporate agricultural industry, who relied on this early success to justify their business practices. The same government and the corporate sector have turned a blind eye to the issue and people who are impacted by it, and this is happening at a time when Punjab is bearing the brunt of the movement. How come? Because if the government and the large corporations acknowledge that they have made a mistake and allow the news to spread to other farmers around the nation, it will have immediate repercussions for the profits that they make. The farmers will have an advantage over both the government and corporations as a result of this. And the dominant economic world is not going to allow it to take place.

This story also tells the narrative of a farmer who, like many others, has been affected negatively by the Green Revolution. Amarjeet Sharma is a farmer who was born and raised in Faridkot in the state of Punjab. When Sharma first began farming as a profession forty years ago, he began by introducing poison into the soil with his first crop. The use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers on his field continued for thirty years after he had started doing so. Sharma went so far as to cultivate cash crops in his determination to increase both his productivity and his profits. The earnings, on the other hand, did not continue to stream in for a very long time. In 2005, his whole cotton crop was unsuccessful, and as a result, he incurred a significant amount of debt. At a later point in time, when the government was doing field trials for BT cotton, he opted to plant BT cotton in his field because he had trust in the initiative that the government was taking. This crop would not be susceptible to pest infestation, according to what he had been assured. He performed as he was taught, which included applying the all the poisoned chemicals that he was instructed to apply to the soil and using the identical strategies that he had been instructed to use. The directions that were provided to him were followed by him like a step-by-step guide. Nevertheless, his whole lot was a failure once again. There was not a single government agency or chemical fertilizer manufacturing firm that provided him any type of compensation or assistance while he was looking for assistance. The death of Sharma's son by suicide was one of the effects of this significant loss, and it is a loss that Sharma is still unable to get over even to this day.

Chemicals have ruined our life," the Sharma said. The atmosphere, the land, the water, and the food that we consume are all contaminated in today's world. To a greater extent, our ecological system has deteriorated as a result of the government's widespread adoption of contemporary agricultural practices. As Sharma points out, there are virtually any farmers who cultivate native crops or utilize seeds that have been used for generations.

A short time after coming to this revelation, Sharma became a member of the Kheti Virasat Mission, which is an organization that is now trying to promote organic farming in the state of Punjab. As a result of his involvement with this movement, he was able to use organic and traditional agricultural techniques, which allowed him to reconnect with his roots and the earth.

Paddy (Rice) takes a significant amount of irrigation; when you include in the cost of water to the overall input cost of farming, the output from an acre of paddy will bring in between three and four crore rupees on average. On the other hand, this water does not have any economic value for us, and as a result, we have also ruined the bodies of water. People in Punjab, which is home to five rivers, are being compelled to purchase bottled water as a result of the current crisis, which has reached current levels. "What could possibly be more embarrassing for us?" enquires Sharma.

Today, Sharma cultivates over seventy different traditional crops in his land, which has contributed to the revitalization of the soil quality in his field. Even further, he works to preserve native seeds and encourages other farmers to make use of them. He speaks to various groups of farmers in order to convey to them the significance of returning to organic agricultural practices. "If a farmer adopts the traditional model of agriculture, he will be able to meet all of the needs of his family, from grains and vegetables to spices and clothes," Sharma states to other farmers. "This includes the ability to provide for all of their needs."

It is not only the greed of the farmers that is responsible for the ruin of Punjab; it is also the greed of the state and the corporations that are accountable for it. Acceptance of responsibility for this matter is required from both of the people involved. The farmers of Punjab will have to go back to the agricultural methods that have been used traditionally if the province is to be rescued. It will be necessary for farmers to develop a new crop cycle. Farmers will be required to reconfirm their connections with the natural world. Additionally, none of this will be feasible unless the farmers break free from the shackles of the Green Revolution. On the other side, in order to encourage traditional farming, the government would need to build research institutes all throughout the state and the nation. Additionally, it will be necessary for the government to guarantee that farmers are participating in the dialogues and policy-making that take place at the state level.

A farmer is someone who is familiar with the intricacies of farming. People who sit in nice offices, wear ties to work, and live in extravagant bungalows are incapable of comprehending the reality of the agricultural industry.

Note:- This story was originally written for 52 Parindey project, which was undertaken in 2016 by Rahul Karanpuriya