The Hindu Business Line : Yarn and reality

Across the country, are there major differences in the attitudes of farmers to their livelihood activity? One always believed peasants are peasants in any part of the country; indeed, anywhere in the world — committed, focussed, hardy and seeking maximum output and remunerative prices. True, various regions have different natural endowments and, therefore, the efforts of farmers to produce a crop may vary; but devotion to work is believed to be a constant that unde rpins a farmer’s attitude. Apparently the Union Textiles Minister, Mr Shankersinh Vaghela, forgot this when he recently passed critical comments about the attitude of cotton farmers in Maharashtra even while commending the performance of Gujarat’s cotton-growers. He has thus at one stroke criticised the State (Maharashtra) ruled by his own party and praised his native State (Gujarat) ruled by a political adversary. The irony has not been lost on many; and any damage control exercise is bound to take time and effort. It is yet another instance of how important it is for public figures and people’s representatives to rise above sectarian or regional considerations in matters of national importance.

There can be no two opinions about the big strides in cotton cultivation Gujarat has made in recent years. At about 90-100 lakh bales, the State’s output is about a third of the country’s total production of 280-300 lakh bales. At over 700 kg a hectare, yields are at least 50 per cent above the national average. Cotton from Gujarat, known for its quality, forms a large part of the commodity’s exports. Surely, the Gujarat government’s water management policies have brought about a major agricultural transformation. Irrigation projects in the State and numerous check-dams in Saurashtra have begun to change the face of the State where agriculture logs double-digit growth, sharply contrasting with the rest of the nation.

Policy-makers in Maharashtra have been obsessed with sugarcane. Cotton, horticulture and dairy are important too, but the sugar sector always received special attention and support. Given the large acreage under cotton and current modest yields, the potential for boosting cotton cultivation in Maharashtra is immense. The State accounts for 30 per cent of the country’s total area under cotton but produces only 20 per cent of the crop, with yields just half of national average. Mr Vaghela would have done Maharashtra cotton-growers a world of good — unintended, of course — if his stinging comments galvanise the State government to initiate rapid action to prove the State is no less aggressive. Introduction of technology has surely played a role in boosting the country’s cotton production the last four years. But, in addition, local efforts in terms of agronomy and water management are necessary to raise output.

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