The headline may not catch the attention of those in developed nations. However, it is integral to the Indian economy. Nearly 60-70% of India’s economy is dedicated agriculture. The agriculture sector is composed of:
This is the largest and poorest segment due to the disparity of power. These laws eliminate the commission agent (arthiya) which has been integral to the farming economy, as the arthiya employs individuals who load and offload trucks, weigh the products, and find price rates. Each town has multiple arthiyas and individuals who work with them. This goes on to have a huge impact on the logistics industry since local truckers will be losing their livelihood. There was a “go green revolution in the 60s” where India asked Punjab and Haryana to feed the nation by planting wheat, so that they would no longer need to rely on foreign imports. The method for farming ruined the land, through various chemicals being introduced to the very same agricultural crops that feed the nation. Punjab and Haryana land specifically has sacrificed so much to feed India, but now that India needs them - everyone is turning their backs. Punjab’s economy is heavily agriculturally based, given that it is endowed with five rivers and fertile land. That being said, are Punjab’s interests always upheld at the national level through the saddening increase in farmer suicide rates over the years and the lack of governmental support for shopping local or fair pricing. As someone who practices the Sikh faith, I have been seeing a lot of the teachings of Sikhism in the hard work and determination of the farmers. In Sikhism, the first Guru, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji laid the principles as “Kirt Karo (an honest and earnest living), Naam Japo (pray) and Vand Chhako (share the fruits of your labour with others).” The first and third principles have deep roots in farming, as farming was seen as a practice of being self-sufficient and serving the community. This has also helped to develop the practice of langar through feeding individuals free meals, which can be seen in Gurudwaras across the world. During the pandemic, langar seva overseas for those who could not make ends meet, was witnessed around the world - to any person of the human race. By: Karen Randhawa and Sukhdeep Kullar Comments are closed.
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