Home ›› 09 Jan 2023 ›› Editorial
In Khatkhatia village under Rangpur City Corporation, Alauddin Ali (aged 60) owned half a bigha of land, which he used for farming. Six years ago, the owner of the land adjacent to his almost succeeded in taking his land away. He was forced to lease the land to him before he set up a chicken farm next to his house. Although the farm was going well for three years, he shut it down at one point. As the price of poultry feed was high, he could not afford to run it. After this, he took a loan from an NGO to buy three Friesian cows and started rearing them in the house.
Alauddin said, "Cattle feed is often so expensive that I cannot buy it. I have a man who milks and cleans the cows. I have to pay him 7,000 taka per month. Aside from this, the milk is packaged at home using a machine. Despite spending so much, it has not been fruitful. So I am thinking of selling the cows."
When asked about his plans for the future and how he will be managing his family’s expenses, Alauddin further said, "I have grown old. I cannot work as hard as before. I feel that it has become very difficult to survive for those like me who do not work as labourers and work independently on a small scale. We cannot figure out how to make ends meet."
For the last 6–7 years, small farmers like Alauddin and the workers involved in this work have been going through many changes. Those who are working as labourers are surviving by changing professions. But those who are small- or medium-scale farmers are not earning well and are not able to lead a pretty decent life. They can neither work as labourers nor do anything else independently. Modern technology and automation in agriculture and farms, high cost, lack of credit facilities, and change in the workplace: they are not getting any opportunity in any sector. The question arises: why is this happening, and what will they do?
In 2016, the Ministry of Agriculture took several initiatives and steps with the aim of digitizing agriculture and farmers with the technical help of A2I. The government has taken various initiatives through digital means to make agriculture easier by reducing the labor of farmers by using technological methods. Various projects are being implemented using e-agriculture or advanced technology. Some projects are in progress, and the government has plans to undertake new ones in the future.
Compared to other countries of the world, automation in agriculture was introduced much later in our country but farmers are adopting it. This reduced the work of agricultural workers, but the use of modern technology in agriculture has made farming easier. Similarly, there has been a change in poultry, dairy, cattle and fisheries. As the wages of workers in all these sectors, including agriculture, have increased several times, people are turning to machines as an alternative. In all these jobs, a worker earns a daily wage of 600 taka. But with the help of machines, one worker can take care of thousands of chickens, cows, and fish. As a result, people prefer to use machines. But it is true that many people are losing their jobs. The question is, where are they going? What are these workers doing?
In fact, it is seen that there has been a huge change in the rural life of people. Most of those types of workers are working in brick kilns. There are many brick kilns all over the country. Urbanization is increasing the way the wheels of the country's economy are turning. People's purchasing power and living standards are increasing. As a result, it is seen that the people of almost every village in the country are demolishing the houses made of bamboo and tin. The number of two-story houses is also increasing in the village. Infrastructural development is also increasing in the city.
As experts say, along with development, people also reach for destruction. That destruction is multifaceted. All that discussion is not necessary here. We need to ensure that development does not harm the environment. The brick kiln produces a lot of smoke, which is very harmful for the environment. But nowadays, bricks are also being made by machines in brick kilns, but not that much. Bricks are still widely made by burning soil. So the workers of those agriculture-poultry-farms cattle and fisheries are getting work, but it is not health-friendly for them, nor is it environment-friendly.
Another thing that has been seen is that health centers, diagnostic centers, and hospitals have been built in almost every city and upazila in the country. There, those workers are working as cleaners, helpers, security guards, etc. They are also working in the infrastructure development and construction industries in cities and villages. The demand for markets and shops in villages and towns is also increasing. People are working there too. The number of convenience and food stores is also increasing, providing another employment opportunity. Some people are driving auto rickshaws and vans. Thus, they have kept themselves alive by changing professions. Thus, the participation and labor of the poor and low-income people have played a major role in the economic development and socio-economic transformation of the country during the last decade. Have we ever thought of this?
Let’s take, for example, cattle or poultry feed. Those who are doing all these projects on a large scale are bringing the main ingredients of the food of those animals directly from outside the country. They are bringing in large quantities from countries where the price of these materials is low and making their own feed here. Even if the prices of animal feed increase, it would not affect them. For these types of work, the government gives out a loan to the investors. But those who are doing medium or small projects cannot afford to do the same or work on such a large scale. This is because they don't have enough capital for this; they also don't get bank loans. And when crisis of animal feed occurs or prices rise, they have to buy at higher prices or they fall into losses. It is seen that many small and medium farming projects are closing due to this type of problem.
Many are unable to sustain a farm after a few years. The same is the case in agriculture. Small farmers are leasing land. Otherwise, those doing big projects are forcing the small farmers to sell or lease the land. This is creating a problem. Small farmers are not being able to accept these problems mentally. This is leaving them with a sense of sadness.
In this kind of situation, people are suffering. Those who have become landless, those who are unable to work on their land, and those who are unable to adapt themselves to other professions are all financially struggling. If these types of farmers are brought together for farming or farming through cooperative societies, they will benefit. It can be done both publicly and privately. There needs to be arrangements in place for small and medium-scale farmers to be given loans on easy terms and it is of the utmost importance to stand by them. Thus, they will find it easier to sustain their profession.
Today in developed countries, block brick is being used. Block bricks can be used instead of making bricks by burning our soil. This will not cause environmental pollution. Even if bricks are not burned in the brickyard, there will still be a lot of work at the yard. Thus, the rural workers are sustaining themselves through various changes. No matter where they work, the authorities concerned need to take initiative to ensure that they can survive and earn enough through the work they do.
The writer is a columnist. She can be contacted at shanu.mostafiz@gmail.com
