Moin Qazi

Moin Qazi
Seeds of discontent
There are various reasons why India’s small and marginal farmers are unhappy.
Posted on 22 Mar, 2018 06:40 PM

Small farmers are the key to ending poverty and hunger and promoting sustainable development. In India, small and marginal farmers—those who work on less than two hectares (five acres) of land—constitute 80 percent of all farm households, 50 percent of rural households and 36 percent of the total of all households. Sadly, the plight of these farmers is very distressing.

Farming sector has a lot to worry about.
Thirsty crops drain India dry
As the country runs out of water fast, India needs to change its game for sustenance. Replacing water-intensive crops with sustainable ones in dry areas is a step in the right direction.
Posted on 16 Feb, 2018 09:56 PM

Water is a crucial part of all societies as it has myriad uses. In India, however, it is of much more importance as over 600 million people make a living off the land. They rely on the monsoon to replenish their water sources and the unpredictable nature of rain leaves them vulnerable. Even today, the country breaks out in a cold sweat every time the south-west monsoon is delayed.

Paddy is one of the thirsty crops. (Photo: IWP Flickr photos)
Invisible water wizards
With government support, traditional water harvesting systems could be revived, upgraded and productively combined with modern techniques.
Posted on 16 Feb, 2018 02:00 PM

India has long undervalued one of its most precious resources—water. Today the country’s chronic mismanagement of water has led to drought in nearly 2,00,000 villages. According to the World Bank data, Indian farmers use almost 70 percent of the total groundwater that is drawn in the country each year. Shockingly, India uses more groundwater annually than China and the United States combined.

Through SRDS method, monsoon rain is channelled back through borewells into the underground aquifers where it can be conserved for future use.
Water cup works where authorities fail
Paani Foundation tasks the villagers with the responsibility of managing their water and saving their villages from drought.
Posted on 12 Oct, 2017 09:58 AM

Historians will tell you that an explosion of creativity occurs the moment the world starts complaining that there is nothing left to invent, or that the search for solutions has come to an end.

Effective watershed management can solve the water crisis in Maharashtra. (Source: IWP Flickr photos--photo for representation only)
Does farm loan waiver save farmers from loan sharks?
It's the rich farmer who benefits from the government's loan waiver. As long as moneylenders lend money to the poor farmer, he would continue to be mired in debt.
Posted on 12 Sep, 2017 10:43 AM

The Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra has decided to expand the coverage of Rs 34,022-crore farm loan waiver scheme to extend the benefit to farmers indebted since 2009. The government had earlier said 89 lakh farmers would benefit from the scheme. The expansion of the scheme's ambit means the number of farmers, as well as the amount, will rise.

A poor farmer is always at the mercy of loan sharks. (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Therapy for India's distressed farmers
VISHRAM's psychological interventions to farmers under mental stress in rural Vidarbha provide a fitting solution to increasing farmer suicides in the country.
Posted on 12 Sep, 2017 10:40 AM

Large swathes of cotton farms in the central India have been the epicentre of a debt crisis that has gripped the rural population. For years now, it has driven thousands of farmers to commit suicide.

Psychological intervention can help reduce farmer suicides. (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
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