The Silent Struggle Behind Our Orchards
The people of the valley are mainly involved in horticulture, and the major sectors here are horticulture, agriculture, and tourism. Most people living in rural areas do not get direct benefits from the tourism sector, but they are deeply involved in agriculture and horticulture, which actually form the backbone of the valley’s economy. From the outside, it might look appealing, but in reality, there are immense hardships and continuous efforts that drain farmers not only financially but also physically.
To maintain good-quality crops, we need to use pesticides and other chemicals throughout the season, and this takes a toll on all of us. Many people are suffering from various health ailments, and perhaps these issues are linked to the chemicals we spray. Farming has become so dependent on these pesticides and fertilizers that we can hardly grow a good crop without them. Farmers rarely use protective gear while spraying these chemicals, leading to serious and sometimes fatal health conditions, including cancer. Many lives have been lost to such diseases. This not only empties their pockets but also affects society as a whole. People enjoying our fruits hundreds of miles away do not even know the hardship we endure to raise this produce.
When it comes to market rates, our fruits are sold at meagre prices, pushing farmers deeper into debt. Being burdened with such heavy debt, they can hardly afford proper medication or necessary treatments. Considering the rising prices of other essential commodities, the low price of fruits is not enough to help farmers overcome the challenges they face. In the end, I would like to say that things may seem fancy from the outside, but they come with immense hardships that only the cultivators experience, often without much consideration from the other stakeholders involved in this sector.
This year again, the story remains the same. The fruits did not bring any significant returns for the farmers, and they have fallen even deeper into debt. I have been experiencing this myself for the past few years as I have taken the responsibility of looking after these matters at my place, and now I truly understand the ordeal farmers are going through.
Most farmers have now started doing orchard work even before the actual farming season begins because they can no longer afford labour. With such low returns, spending money on labour is not feasible. These days, I have seen many people doing various tasks in their orchards by themselves—tasks that were earlier done by labourers. This shift has affected the rural population as well, especially those who relied on farm labour for their livelihood. Such is the impact that low market prices of fruits have on our society.
Thank you for going through my post. Have a great time ahead.
