This articles by SA Aiyar is being shared with a lot of unadulterated enthusiasm by opponents of farmers - I can understand why his not so subtle hint about ‘shooting farmers’ is giving a lot of people tiny little boners, but let’s get to his arguments. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/Swaminomics/farmer-agitation-use-iron-fist-in-a-velvet-glove/

> But by growing water-guzzling crops like rice in a low-rainfall state, Punjab farmers lowered the water table dramatically.

For decades Punjab’s farmers have literally been exporting our water to feed the country. There was no complain about the water table then- why?

Our ground water wasn’t the only thing we exported to feed the country - here is a quantification of nutrients exported from Punjab’s soil, for a 25 year period, from 1980-2005.

The green revolution ofc began decades earlier so you can extrapolate.

So, let’s not hear the tired arguments about ‘fertiliser subsidy’.

This is another estimate of nutrient export from Punjab Agriculture University:

Aiyar also rehashes the lies about farmers rolling in cash.

But, take a look at this survey of household income v expenditure, do any of these incomes look lavish to you :

But Aiyar says :

> Their high farm income translates to high land prices of Rs 50-100 lakh/acre.

First, lies. Second, what are ‘high prices’ worth unless you sell it? And that, Swamyji, is the game isn’t it?

What I don’t understand is why there is such a need to vilify farmers. Why is there no criticism of the government which has failed to treat agriculture as an industry that needs thought out plans and policies to transform during this crucial period.

FARMERS WANT REFORM.

Let’s talk about crop diversification. Transitioning from one cropping pattern to another requires RISK. Is there any plan to mitigate this - why not? Any infrastructure to support that shift?

This is the investment the government has made: https://twitter.com/sialmirzagoraya/status/1337837221508997122

You cannot absolve the government of its responsibilities. Imposing ‘band-aid’ reforms from above on a sector which employs a substantial proportion of your population when it needs structural overhaul from below is a recipe for DISASTER. It will destroy you all - in time.

Please take some time out to listen to this discussion in which @amaanbali discusses the Swaminathan Commission report (interspersed with my rambling - which you can ignore) : https://twitter.com/sialmirzagoraya/status/1338199490293977088