Punjab, known as the land of five rivers, is currently counting its last breaths. Not because there is a shortage of trees here or because there is less water; This is why the farmers who grow grains on this land are in deep trouble. Nowadays farmers seem to be very worried about their crops. This is the story of those farmers who are away from the eyes of the government, away from worldly knowledge, and are surrounded by their own problems, not of those who always travel in expensive vehicles and are busy in politics. While these farmers were hit by floods some time ago, on the other hand, now in Punjab, farmers have started facing such a blow which no one had ever imagined. Although even before this, the farmers were forced to plow the fields due to not getting good prices for their crops, but in the present times, when the Central and State governments never tire of saying that they will double the income of the farmers of Punjab, at that time the farmers of Punjab are forced to commit suicide, at the same time these farmers are forced to plow their crops due to not getting good prices.
Farmers are already victims of economic recession
Potato farming in Punjab is currently facing a deep crisis, because due to the large-scale economic crisis in Punjab, potato growers are facing a loss of Rs 50,000 per acre. If potato producing farmers are to be believed, then they say that the government should fix the minimum support price of potatoes at Rs 20 and the government should make a guarantee of purchase. The huge decline in potato prices in the last several years has ruined the fortunes of farmers. The potato crop is proving to be a water loo for the farmers who are already victims of the economic recession, due to which the farmers are deep in thought to get rid of it. Well, potato cultivation is no less than an industry. This is directly providing employment to a large number of people, but due to the government not having any concrete policy regarding the potato crop, the potato crop is facing severe recession.
The government, which had given us the opportunity to break out of the traditional crop cycle of wheat and millet, has also given up. Due to lack of any help from the Centre, the farmer, already burdened by debt, is moving towards ruin. Many farmers had sown potatoes by taking land on contract; they have no hope of income, now even the contract for the land given to them will not be fulfilled. From sowing to harvesting of potatoes, a large number of men and women are required and the producer has to bear huge expenses. Potato is the main crop of Punjab, the potato crop was grown last year also and this time too it is being sold at Rs 3 to 4 per kg.
Low crop prices, what is left for the farmer?
According to the latest information, at present the price of potato is between Rs 350 to Rs 400, but on the other hand the same potato is being sold in the market at Rs 40 to 50 per kg. Farmers are incurring huge expenses on growing the potato crop, but what is the farmer saving? The cost of cultivating potatoes is at least Rs 80 to 90,000 per acre including land lease, but the direct loss of the farmer is between Rs 40 to 50,000. The main reason for this is that crops are not getting good prices.
According to a government report, potatoes have been cultivated on about 3 lakh acres in Punjab, due to which the farmers are likely to suffer a direct loss of about Rs 1500 crore, but neither the ruling party nor the opposition parties are speaking on this big issue. Even the Central Government is not paying attention to this problem of the farmers.
Governments are not ready to make policies in favor of farmers
Farmers have always alleged that whether it is the ruling party or the opposition party, their demands are not properly presented in the Parliament or in front of the media. There are one or two MPs who raised the demands of the farmers in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, but most of the MPs, whom the farmers voted into power, do not talk about the farmers at all.
According to the information received from the farmers, the farmers are being cheated by the private companies, their crops are being bought at cheap prices and in the name of quality, huge cuts are being imposed on them unfairly, due to which the farmers are incurring huge losses. The rate of a bag of potatoes which is Rs 2,500 in a city like Chandigarh is being purchased in the villages for only Rs 200 to 250. Many contractors are coming from the farmers’ fields and purchasing their goods, but do not give them good rates, due to which they are incurring losses. Even if farmers took their crops to the markets, they were not getting good rates there. In simple words, farmers are not getting the right price for their crops. While the farmers are bearing the brunt of natural calamities, on the other hand the governments are being harsh on them.
Most farmers do not even have their own equipment for agriculture.
This argument is also given by many that why farmers do not sell their crops themselves to street vendors or Sell in the markets? The farmer will also benefit from this, but those who talk like this do not see the condition of the farmer whether he Will he be able to transport his crops to the markets or not? Most of the farmers do not even have their own equipment for agriculture, but they do farming on rented equipment. In such a situation, how can it be said that farmers should sell their crops in the markets or sell them to traders? The seller does not have the tools to sell himself. Well, the farmer we are talking about is a farmer with four to five forts. We do not talk about big farmers who have expensive vehicles, big tractors and Apart from combines and machines, there are other tools also. We are talking about those farmers who have four to five kilos of land.
Need to make good laws and policies
By the way, MSP of farmers has been pending for a long time. The demand should be accepted by the government and all the crops sown in Punjab should be approved. MSP should be given on crops. Even if the government gets tender for giving MSP like other works, the price of crops will still remain unchanged. Farmers should get full compensation. When a sweaty farmer does not get the full price for his crop, he ends up dying. Is. So, at this time there is a need to make good laws and policies so that farming can be saved. Of course, this is the 2026 election year and during this time the MLAs, Ministers and Members of Parliament of Punjab have addressed this problem. To solve the problem, various methods have been adopted and statements have been made, but before that, think about One has to wonder why these leaders do such drama only during election years. Well, let’s see when the crops sown collectively across the country including Punjab will get good results. Available on MSP.
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