Date:20/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/20/stories/2007102056391202.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Rural poverty

This refers to the article “Dimensions of rural poverty in Tamil Nadu” (Oct. 19).

In any State, the marginal and small farmers and the landless agricultural labour constitute the rural poor.

A comprehensive agricultural package should ensure that every farmer produces marketable surplus, enjoys good marketing facilities, gets loans at low rates of interest and, above all, has some non-farming activities available during the lean season.

Investment in social infrastructure (schools, colleges, hospitals, etc.) in the rural areas must be enhanced so that the rural poor are not forced to migrate to urban areas.

S. Ramakrishnasayee,

Ranipet

* * *

Is it not time to shift the focus from harping about rural poverty to trying to enhance prosperity in the rural clusters incorporating the ideas propounded by M.S. Swaminathan in the article ‘From killing fields to smiling fields’ (Oct. 17)? The Government should shed its glamorised approach to industrialisation and focus on rural areas.

A. Krishnamurthy,

Chennai

* * *

Most small farmers lack access to non-local markets for their produce mainly due to inadequate market information and transport costs. The government can assist such farmers by helping them form cooperative marketing arrangements and by offering daily price information.

Further, seasonal fixed price purchase arrangements can be negotiated by the cooperatives with buyers and processing companies to improve the collective bargaining power of the small farmers, without direct involvement by government officials in the determination of prices.

T. Marx,

Karaikal

* * *

At a time where there is a crying need for frequent hard-hitting articles on rural poverty, the article is welcome. However, it seems to have missed the crux of the problem.

The average size of farm holdings (among those who own farmland) is 1.4 hectares. The average excluding holdings of over 10 hectares is 1.2 hectares.

The average farmer income from cultivation (agricultural year ending June 2003) was Rs.969 a month nationally, Rs.659 in Tamil Nadu, Rs.336 in Orissa and Rs.2,822 in Punjab.

The average household size was 5.1. The agricultural commodity prices have since risen, but not enough to make a material difference.

We desperately need to move people from agriculture into far more productive and remunerative activities, not fight to keep them there.

N. Bala Ganesan,

Chennai

* * *

The article certainly provides valuable insights into the reasons for rural poverty. However, there is no information on whether there has been any social audit and field level evaluation of the Tamil Nadu scheme described in the article. For example, how many land assignees under the scheme have not been able to retain the ownership of the lands assigned to them?

In our country, while intentions may be good, schemes tend to flounder and fail to have an impact because those who formulate them often ignore the need to consult the beneficiaries.

E.A.S. Sarma,

Visakhapatnam