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| One thousand nine hundred and twenty* farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra between January 2001 and August 2006, according to Government figures. Unofficial figures put it at three times that number; between 2005 and 2006, there was reported to be one death every eight hours. Most of these were in there region of Vidarbha, the cotton belt of Maharashtra. Hanging by cotton threads The cotton sowing season in Vidarbha falls just before the monsoon, when the air is thick with moisture and anxiety. Cotton, also called “white gold”, is a crop that needs water at exactly the right times and in the right amounts. If the monsoon comes too early or too late, it would mean a below par crop: lesser earnings for a farmer who already struggles to meet ends. Much of Vidarbha is rocky terrain and hilly jungles, and, if not for a generous monsoon, unsuitable for farming. For the 3.2 million farmers here, growing cotton is a high-risk operation. Their dependence on cotton means a huge investment in seeds and insecticides, and overdependence on a capricious climate. Going Hybrid Click here to read more.............. |
Vidarbha farmers to learn Art of Living
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Posted on: Friday, February 3, 2012
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