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Ok since Shruti's hot takes get worse each time, I'm going to try to break down everything wrong with this tweet from an environmental perspective. Like she says, I will "leave aside the authoritarian quelling of the protests."
Thread. https://twitter.com/srajagopalan/status/1356699059986300933
Thread. https://twitter.com/srajagopalan/status/1356699059986300933
Farmers depleting ground water:
Over 80% of water consumption in India is by the agriculture sector. Which is a lot.
But no sector causes harm to our ground water system the way mining does.
Over 80% of water consumption in India is by the agriculture sector. Which is a lot.
But no sector causes harm to our ground water system the way mining does.
Companies like Coca cola and Pepsi mine groundwater using exploitative practices and pollute the groundwater system. Sand mining has entirely screwed with our rivers and river beds. Coal mining severely pollutes ground water.
There are countless incidents of industries dumping waste in water bodies and how it has messed with the lives and livelihoods of farmers, fisherfolk and other indigenous communities.
Best resource for understanding water usage and wastage in India: http://indiawaterportal.org
Best resource for understanding water usage and wastage in India: http://indiawaterportal.org
Yes, most freshwater withdrawals in India are for agriculture. More than anywhere in the world. And it can be better managed. But to blame farmers for "depleting ground water" knowing the ground reality is astonishingly stupid for someone with such qualifications.
2. Causing massive air pollution:
Stubble burning is a very complex topic. It is the cheapest and most efficient way for farmers to get rid of stubble. Also very bad for the air, yes. But when there aren't enough incentives by the govt, and the existing ones barely translate to+
Stubble burning is a very complex topic. It is the cheapest and most efficient way for farmers to get rid of stubble. Also very bad for the air, yes. But when there aren't enough incentives by the govt, and the existing ones barely translate to+
Efficient on ground execution, it is incredibly naive and impossible to expect farmers to face losses to reduce air pollution. Especially in a country that refuses to give up unnecessary things like firecrackers.
3. Overusing free electricity
One of the major concerns with the free electricity for farmers scheme is the impact it has had on water. Free electricity means farmers drill deeper into the ground for water and considerably strain the water table. But it is important to look at +
One of the major concerns with the free electricity for farmers scheme is the impact it has had on water. Free electricity means farmers drill deeper into the ground for water and considerably strain the water table. But it is important to look at +
Why they are drilling deeper in the first place. The climate crisis is worsening by the day. So when you don't have enough water, you will drill deeper for it. Many farmers have already abandoned their crops due to water shortage. They ones who can't, need water from someplace.
Also it is very important to note that free electricity is one of the biggest cards politicians use for votes. When you have a government manned by irresponsible people, you expect farmers to be saints and prioritise the environment over the well being of their families?
The agriculture sector is one in dire need for innovation. Despite the sector not being too profitable, we have so many farmers because this is what they have been doing for generations. And they don't have opportunities laid out for them like us urban elites.
Farmers can only exist within the framework provided by the government. You cannot expect farmers (or any group of citizens) to care for the environment more than the govt. One of the most basic things in governance is understanding that people will shift behaviours +
more easily when provided with incentives. And if the incentives provided by the govt are for electricity and diesel, farmers will use that. It is as simple as that.
Agricultural laws, subsidies, policies as they exist today definitely need reform. Esp with climate change +
Agricultural laws, subsidies, policies as they exist today definitely need reform. Esp with climate change +
Already affecting the farmers so badly. But the new farm laws will essentially destroy what little profits farmers already make. And it is the opposite of the kind of reforms we need.
The govt needs to invest more in research, in understanding how we can farm sustainably.
The govt needs to invest more in research, in understanding how we can farm sustainably.
We need to go back to indigenous crops and farming methods, we need to acknowledge problems with distribution and storage of harvested crops that leads to massive wastage and losses. We need to look efficient irrigation methods.
What we need to stop doing is blaming farmers for the incompetence of the govt. And stop taking the envt problems in the agri sector at face value when it is so complicated and nuanced.
Shows how high qualifications mean so little when it comes to understanding ground realities.
Shows how high qualifications mean so little when it comes to understanding ground realities.
