Summer crops bring winter woes to farmers and netas

Last year, they were encouraged to export their onion crop and planted more this summer hoping the winter harvest will bring them greater returns. But far from easing their exports to Pakistan, the government has allowed Pakistani imports into Punjab, Haryana and Kashmir — three states that account for almost 30% of their onion sales. Now, these states have no need of Lasalgaon onions (from Lasalgaon, Nashik, which has the biggest onion market in India) as they have ample stocks from the neighbouring country.

The situation has gotten so bad this year that for the first time in living memory, India was in danger of seeing farm riots in various areas of Nashik district, between farmers and their workers. The farm labourers see only the bumper crops of the farmers and were demanding double the wages from their employers for helping produce the bountiful harvest. Farmers who could not recover even transportation costs, let alone that of the harvest, simply found themselves in no position to pay. Last week, this led to a standoff between labourers and farmers with emotions boiling over and a couple of workers beaten up by their potential employers.

Fortunately, the situation was resolved by the police before matters got out of hand — labourers were made to see reason about how they would suffer the more if they did not get a wage at all, let alone the higher wages they were demanding. Those farmers who could afford to pay more were told to do so but the police still had to keep a vigil to ensure that the labourers were not stopped by other farmers who could not afford the higher wages to seek employment on farms of their choice.

This has led to all-round resentment among farmers, creating bad blood among many. The farmworkers have no reason to be any less resentful either, given their belief that they are being cheated out of good earnings despite bumper harvests on the farms.

It is a classic case of shortages in the midst of plenty. No wonder the rural distress has been compounded and led to the unity of farmers and workers that manifests itself in not just the kisan morchas across India but also a swing in the electoral fortunes of various political parties across states in recent elections. As the French would say - guard your onions. They can cause more than just some tears.