Where does this leave us now? The survey casts a very deep shadow on the impact of the so-called green revolution and the general farm policies of the country in eradicating poverty from the fields of the poor farmers of India. In fact, if one critically examines the farm economy and the impact of green revolution in India on rural income, it would become clear that it is only the land-rich and capital-rich farmers who have made the most of the high input technology of the green revolution and not the capital-poor and land-poor marginal farmers of India. Free electricity is being provided in Andhra. When poor farmers have no wells to draw water from, nor enough cash to sink one, of what use is free power? Free power is being cornered by the farmer barons, who have extensive land holdings of hundreds of acres.

Currently, the per capita food availability hovers around 350 grams per day, which is only 70% of the minimum requirement of 500 grams, stipulated by the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad. Per capita availability of pulses per day, the most important protein supplement for the vast Indian poor, is a measly 28 grams! Between 1992/93 and 1999/2000 (the first generation reform period) food production rose 13.41%, which is about 1.7% per annum, which has now plummeted to about 1.3%. The NSSO data has shown that the indebted rural farm household spends more than 50 per cent of the measly Rs 300 on food alone.

Against this grim background, what should one make of Sharad Pawar’s decision to hike the issue price of wheat from the public distribution system (PDS) outlets and slash the quantity allotted to the poor? That most of the PDS food is funnelled by the unscrupulous to the black market is an open secret. But, what the agriculture and food minister is planning to do is throw the baby with the bath water, in the name of saving the nation from food subsidy.

... contd.