Farmers Contribution to Society: The Unsung Heroes of Our Food Supply Chain

The World has been growing at an exponential rate in terms of technology and consumerism and we often forget those who are working behind the scenes to keep us alive and healthy. The farmers spend their entire lives nurturing their land to provide for our sustenance and we don’t give them enough credit. The farmers are truly the unsung heroes of our Nation.

The Essential Role of Farmers in Our Food Supply Chain

Food is one of our most basic necessities and a smooth-functioning food supply chain can boost an economy towards a sustainable future. The most important component of the food supply chain is the farmers who grow the food and bring it into the market for the populace. To further elucidate:

• Farmers are the cultivators of crops hence making them the primary producers of food.
• Their understanding of weather patterns and soil fertility enables them to increase production and induce sustainability. 
• To maintain food security within any economy farmers need to generate sufficient produce to feed an entire nation.
• Farmers often have to innovate and adapt to changing weather patterns, market demands and technological advancements.
• Farmers can induce economic stability by producing enough for the economy and more for exports that would enable trade thus creating a global presence. This also helps in diversifying the food supply chain and avoiding shortages in food supply.
• Farmers are also responsible for maintaining rural landscapes and biodiversity which promotes sustainability of the environment.

Related Blog: Doctors Contribution to Society: The Lifesaving Impact of Medical Professionals

Agricultural Practices and Innovations

When we think of innovation we are looking to take a step towards higher yield, productivity and sustainability. Over centuries of farming and understanding weather patterns and the changing environment, we have devised many tools and solutions that would improve productivity and resilience.

Traditional Farming Methods

India has always been an agricultural economy with farming traditions based on Indigenous knowledge. The Vedic texts provide many solutions to changing weather conditions and an organic approach to increase productivity. Some of the traditional farming techniques are as follows:

• Mixed Cropping – Multiple crops are grown together on the same plot of land to improve soil fertility, reduce pests and optimize land use.
• Crop rotation is a practice where different crops are grown alternatively according to the changing seasons.
• Organic farming is an ancient practice in India that involves the use of natural products to improve soil fertility and production. These natural products like green manuring and natural pesticides protect the environment and promote biodiversity,
• Terrace farming is usually practised in hilly regions to avoid erosion and maintain fertility by creating flat surfaces along the hills or mountains.

Other traditional farming practices involve dung management, integration of livestock, water management, seed saving, etc.   

Modern Agricultural Practices

The last 50 years have given India much perspective in the farming industry thus adopting many modern practices that would increase productivity, profitability and induce sustainable development.

• The creation of High-Yielding Variety (HYV) crops during the Green Revolution enabled the production of higher yields for consumption and export.
• Setting up intelligent irrigation systems and water storage systems such as canal work, rainwater harvesting, and drip irrigation have improved farming techniques. These strategies tackle the problems of flooding and droughts.
• Mechanization of agriculture has reduced the work of labour and increased efficiency exponentially.
• Genetically modified crops through biotechnology have set India on a path of increased production and more resilient crops from various pests and other chemicals. Inventions of biotechnology have tweaked the nutrient content within crops to provide higher levels of nutrition and become more adaptable to the forces of nature.
• Market-oriented farming techniques cater to the farming of crops which are higher in demand.
• Hydroponics is a method of protected farming that enables crops to grow within urban settlements through the setup of greenhouses.
• Precision farming is a rich farmer’s game and includes the use of Hi-tech machinery and gadgets like drones, sensors and GPS.

How Do These Practices Benefit Both Farmers and Society at Large?

1. The use of higher-yielding seeds helps increase produce and thus enables the farmer to sell more and increase earnings.
2. Setting up canals and water irrigation systems can protect the land in case of floods or droughts and preserve the food supply chain.
3. Genetically modified crops are more resilient to harsher conditions which keeps the supply chain running.
4. The use of heavy machinery and technology reduces the farmer’s labour cost and increases efficiency and production. 

Challenges Faced by Farmers

Farmers all over the world face multiple challenges in their quest to provide and some of them have been mentioned below:

1. Water scarcity and lack of irrigation systems is a major challenge with could ruin crops and the yield of the farmers.
2. Natural disasters like floods and droughts could kill crops and adversely affect the food supply chain. This includes erratic weather conditions like floods, droughts, cyclones, etc.
3. The existence of pests like insects, rodents, and pigs can ruin crops and hence pose a big challenge for farmers as they have to eradicate all kinds of pests before they generate a good yield.
4. Lack of finance and credit is a major concern, especially in a developing nation like India where most farmers are from poor backgrounds.

Farmers have to face a myriad of challenges to ensure a good yield and the above mentioned are just some of them. There are many others like land degradation, soil erosion, demand and supply, price volatility, market access, lack of education, institutional policies, and labour shortages. etc.

Farmers’ Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable development has been the goal of every sector in India and in the agricultural sector, the farmers are at the forefront of maintaining sustainability in the following ways:

• Adopting natural and organic methods of farming to conserve soil fertility.
• Reduce the use of chemicals to maintain the integrity of crops.
• Adopting methods like agroforestry to conserve natural resources.
• Farming generates a lot of employment in our country which also adheres to sustainable development goals.
• The use of water management systems can regulate the use of water efficiently and store water for fortune purposes.

The Importance of Supporting Farmers

Farmers are the backbone of the global economy. their efforts keep economies running and their role in society is unparalleled. Hence as a community, we should support farmers and indulge in their cause which eventually works towards the greater good.

• Farmers ensure the stability of the food supply chain.
• Farmers generate employment in rural areas and promote economic stability.
• Farmers are at the forefront of ecological sustainability as their methods can ensure the proper use of natural resources.
• Supporting farmers can induce a sense of community in our economy as they are an integral part of it.

Key Lessons to Learn From Farmers:

1. Commitment to work.
2. Risk-taking ability.
3. Resilience and adaptability.
4. Sustainable use of resources.
5. Importance of protecting the environment.
6. Importance of innovation.
7. Building a sense of community.
8. Importance of education and its application in our lives. 

FAQs about Farmer’s Contribution to Society

Q1. What is sustainable agriculture, and how do farmers contribute to it?

Sustainable agriculture is a method that involves the adoption of organic farming techniques and efficient utilization of resources that ensure better yield, high-quality crops and ecological protection.

Q2. How do farmers contribute to the economy?

Farmers are the main source of food production in an economy and hence are integral in maintaining the food supply chain. farmers contribute to society by preserving natural resources, providing employment opportunities and promoting sustainable development.

Q3. How has technology impacted farming practices?

The use of technology has enabled farmers to increase their yield and reduce production costs in the long run.

Q4. What are some ways consumers can support local farmers?

Consumers can help farmers in the following ways:

1. Buy directly from the farmers.
2. Reduce wastage.
3. Fight for farmer rights and policies that will alleviate their oppression.
4. Spread the word on sustainable development.
5. Consume organic products.

Q5. What are some government policies that support farmers?

Since India is an Agro-based economy, many policies support farmers:

1. Minimum Support Price.
2. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
3. National Agricultural Market (e-NAM)
4. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture.
5. Kisan Credit Card Scheme (KCC)

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is safe to say that farmers are the backbone of our economy who risk their lives to provide for the nation. This credit is long overdue as they sit behind the scenes and watch the nation grow.