விவசாயீ

Disclaimer:

I would not discuss about modern technology; digital Agriculture; drone monitoring; vertical farming; Agriculture 4.0; mobile Apps etc, etc. Let’s talk about “ground reality” of small farmers with land holding of less than 5ac (by definition < 2ac) or income less than per capita (R.1.79 lakhs / $2500). Let’s also be informed that there are variations in the farmers’ attitude across the flora, hence the empirical average mind-set would be discussed.

ஏழை in my definition (for the sake of discussing the economy) is the one with less than per capita income. Similarly, Agriculture as a whole, has lots of sub-sectors (Services; Industries; Retailing), while I would ignore the sub-sectors, and focus only on farming, considering the need for potentials.

I also would not like to discuss farming profession is better than IT/any other. "விவசாயிகள் தான் தெய்வம், அவங்க இல்லேன்னா நமக்கு சோறு கிடையாது" – என்று கூவி காசு பார்க்கும் movies / social-media / politicians / whatsapp-*blind*-forwarders (through TRP-rate; google add-sense/ votes / entertainment) போன்ற "தன்னலமற்ற" விவசாயிகளின் தொண்டர்களை பற்றி நினைக்க, எனக்கு நேரமுமில்லை. இதுல, எவனோ நாலு, IT பசங்க, வேலைய விட்டுட்டு, விவசாயம் பண்றாங்கன்னு - பெருமை பேசும், விவசாய பக்தர்களையும், நாம் மறந்து விடலாம். To me, every profession is of unique importance and vitality for the growth of the country. I wouldn’t undermine any profession, however, I might touch the need for balancing this vitality.

Let’s get to the bottom of this later.