Bharat i.e., India is an agrarian country and has rich cultural heritage of agriculture since time immemorial. It plays seminal role directly or indirectly in everyone’s life. Our glorious past is nothing but our agriculture. Sans it, our brain will be drained. No creative work or research is possible with empty stomach. All agricultural products, like different food grains, vegetables, cerals and fruits in the kitchens of scientists, engineers, medicos, professors, actors, writers and businessmen, do come from the farm land, with the help of farmers.
Thus, the role of agriculture and farmers in the development of civilization can’t be ignored or undermined. But in recent couple of decades the educated mass of this country are turning their heads and hands away from it .They think farming as an emblem of backward people as if their education has nothing to do with it. They hesitate to work in the field of agriculture. They seek government jobs, or jobs in multinational companies. Surprised to say that who have mass farming lands, gradually they are selling their cultivable lands away. In present day connotation, people of this country endeavour to find their ideals in America and other European countries in terms of technological advancement. But they don’t utilize their powerful weapon ,i.e. agriculture through which they can lead their lives to a next level. Many educated ones don’t feel embarrassed while giving crores of rupees as bribe to get good jobs in Government sectors which they could invest in MSME and other creative works. But lo! They follow shortcut ways to grab any opportunity. They don’t have utmost trust in their inner calibre, ingenuity and their glorious treasure trove.
They don’t try to take risk. And many amongst us believe that dense population is also deep cause of unemployment. Yes, that is true to some extent. But that is not the absolute point. Look at China, in spite of dense population China is the second highest economy in the world after America. It is because of policy of the government and civic sense of its citizens. The Government of China and its citizens have mutual understanding over how to tackle the economical issues. No blame game is going on there. But here in our country many parties come to power making so many sugary promises and form their own Government. Once government is formed, they forget the promises they made in election campaigns. Instead of solving issues they go on multiplying issues to save their pocket votes and perpetuate their rule in the country. Neither do they try to restrict population explosion, nor they check the illegal foreign infiltrators. That’s why the economical condition of this country is getting deplorable day by day.
Now time has come. People of this country must stand with great solidarity to address such kind of issues creatively and wisely. The educated mass must think of their future in agriculture also. It’s agriculture that can eradicate unemployment issues. It is educated people who can bring about drastic change in agriculture sector by linking technology and science with it. Applying their academic knowledge they can prevent soil, water and air from being poisoned. They can promote organic farming and natural farming without affecting biodiversity. And the government must develop support-system without any discrimination. And this is high time that educated youngsters must take risk in agriculture sector and make it profitable business. In nutshell, I would like to say- it is better to take risk than to neglect. Tomorrow is too late.
Author – Antaryami Maharana, Columnist
