The word Chakbandi can do wonders for the hills , that's what this movement claims, i just want to understand how this can help the already dying agriculture sector in the hills?
The farming has been the main source of livelihood for the hilly folks since inception. We always depended on this source of livelihood, but with liberalization and economic development in India , the same did not stand for this sector in hills. The liberalization has not helped traditional farming or added value to this already suffering sector. The commercial farming is now being talked and discussed in forums but it is still not practiced in the hills. I can see two reasons for that, A. The farmland is not available in plenty at one place, all scattered at different places B. Youth not interested in taking farming as career.
A. The reason the farming is scattered from different place is the main reason why we have never given a serious thought to farming, the cost of farming increases many folds and it becomes economically nonviable. The scientific farming has not caught the attention of the people the because farmland is not available in plenty. The distance from one farm to another ,sizes of farmland , the water resources , the fertility of land are some of the bottlenecks which needs to be addressed. Chakbandi seems to be one process which may address most of the issues, through CHAKBANDI one can have plenty of land at one place at own disposal and scientific farming can really come for the rescue of the farmer. The technology can be at play, the soil testing, the weather, water resource and produce can be planned accordingly. The ownership issue can be discussed by the government legally, people staying away from hills can also be a partner since their land is getting ploughed and it remains fertile. One can then discuss different ways to increase produce and be a partner in India's growth story. We all know the way the agriculture land is diminishing, the day is not far when the farmer becomes the king again. Since we do not have a viable CHAKBANDI policy at hand the hilly land is getting wasted and we all know the land sharks are already buying land and converting this fertile land into township and concrete jungle. This erosion has another aspect the pahari will soon move out of hills and he will suffer the most , because as of now somebody with no skills can still survive through this land in hills , but once he had sold it all what will the family do then, that is a bigger question we all have to think as a community.
B.We have Pant Nagar Agriculture University to our credit, but the youth of today still do not take agriculture seriously as career. The reason is land availability, once we give them enough land and skills to experiment , things will dramatically change. There are many incumbents who are trying many things in hills as of now also and are also making money , but with a proper land policy they can do wonders. The traditional farming in olden days also gave encouragement to cattle farming and this can also be another source of income. The pure milk and ghee is rarity today , so once a person becomes a farmer in hills then the other addition he does to his profile is he starts cattle farming along side and this income can add to his bank balance. Another source of income , and if we can only focus on these two sources we can make lot of money and chances are soon reverse brain drain will happen. The agriculture can do wonders for a state like us , which is very rich in nature and minerals.You show the money the youth will come.
We are having this Garib Kranti Diwas on 01 MARCH 2014 at Jantar Mantar New Delhi , Mr Ganesh Garib and Kapil Dhobal will also address the audience and will enlighten us with the benefit of CHAKBANDI. Please join us.
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