Time to seriously introspect on the neglect of agricuture and farmers.

Farmers are the unluckiest lot in the economy despite the Government paying all possible attention and making lot of pomp and show in atleast recognising them as the vote Bank.Right from the days of 1930s,importance of agriculture does not lose sight of all those who matter. Politicians, bankers, professionals and industries all have lot of sympathies to revive agriculture and provide them all reliefs.Right from the establishment of RBI in 1935 as per the RBI Act, 1934,agriculture assumes significance in the economic schemes and RBI set up an exclusive Department Viz Agriculture Credit Department to give a boost to agriculture. Banks were nationalised in two instalments in 1969 and 1980 to give a special attention to agriculture. Since then several instituitions have been set up as per various Committees' recommendations. Regional Rural Banks were set up in 1975 exclusively to take care of farmers and the rural people with a feel of local feelings and the sentiments of the masses. It turned out to be a miserable failure.NABARD was set up in 1982 with alot of fanfare and what is that they are doing to develop agriculture and rural development, only God knows. Volumes would come out detailing the ways they helped to do justice for their existence. but the taste of pudding is in eating.Local area banks and coperative banks were in existence apart from several agencies doing all possible things as one can imagine to help the farmers. Several state level agencies including a Local Board of RBI have been involved directly or indirectly to take care of regional developments based on their potential. The result is simply agricultural sector stands murdered and farmers commit suicide. The resources and money wasted or spent to revive agricultural  and rural sector in fact could have better been utilised to remove their poverty by direct distribution of cash. It is time for all to introspect what is going wrong and where? Every body's existence depends on the strength of agricultural sector as these products essential for survival cannot be manufactured in an industry. They have to come from the soil and farmers have to be there to toil in the soil.

Dr.T.V.Gopalakrishnan