###P. Sainath Says Agrarian Crisis in India is a Crisis of Civilization

Udaipur: Renowned journalist and P. Sainath delivered the fifth Prof. R.N. Vyas Memorial Lecture on Sunday at the Vigyan Samiti auditorium in Ashok Nagar. Speaking on the topic “Indian Agriculture: The Crisis of Inequality,” Sainath described the agrarian crisis in India as not merely a social crisis but a “crisis of civilization.”

He said that the number of farmers is declining globally. Referring to Japan, he noted that the average age of farmers there has reached 65–70 years and warned that in the next 15 years there may be virtually no farmers left in the country. He explained that although India is often described as a nation where 55 percent of the population depends on farming, the actual number of full-time farmers working more than 180 days annually is only around eight percent. Including marginal farmers, the figure rises to 18 percent, while landless agricultural workers account for nearly 42 percent.

Sainath stated that the number of farmers in India increased between 1961 and 1991, but has been steadily declining since then. He claimed that nearly 15 million farmers have left agriculture over the last two decades and currently around 2,000 farmers are quitting farming every day. According to him, rising production costs and market-driven pricing policies are the key reasons behind this decline.

He alleged that government policies are encouraging corporate agriculture at the cost of family-based farming, leading to displacement and loss of agricultural autonomy. He pointed out that rapid urbanization has transformed countries such as Brazil, where only 12 percent of the population now lives in rural areas. Similar trends, he said, are visible in the United States, the European Union and Canada, where the farming population has declined significantly over the decades.

Questioning where displaced farmers eventually go, Sainath said many become labourers while corporations replace them in the agricultural economy. He highlighted rural indebtedness, farmer suicides and the exploitation faced by farming families as serious consequences of the crisis. Saving farmers and agriculture, he asserted, is essential to preserving the country’s civilization and social fabric.

He called for greater solidarity between farmers and non-farming communities and urged civil society organizations to mobilize support for agriculture. He also advocated special sessions in Parliament and state assemblies dedicated exclusively to agricultural issues, with direct participation from farmers.

Referring to the recently imposed Trump tariffs, Sainath said their impact on Indian farmers was not being discussed adequately. Cotton farmers, he claimed, were among the worst affected and were being forced to sell produce below production cost. He criticized the reduction of import duty on cotton by 11 percent, describing it as a severe blow to cotton growers. He also mentioned the adverse impact of tariffs on Tamil Nadu’s leather industry and Andhra Pradesh’s seafood sector.

Sainath further warned that multinational corporations have increasingly taken control of the seed trade, while soaring fertilizer prices are devastating farmers’ livelihoods. He appealed to citizens to directly purchase products from farmers and support them economically.

Former President of Vidya Bhawan Society Ajay Mehta attended as the guest of honour and remarked that violence and inequality are increasing globally due to development models that have destroyed livelihoods and prioritized profit over ethics. Referring to Mahatma Gandhi’s book Hind Swaraj, he described Gandhi’s ideas on development as highly relevant even today.

The programme was chaired by noted writer and social activist Dr. Kusum Meghwal. At the beginning of the event, coordinator Prof. Hemendra Chandalia spoke about the life and contributions of Prof. R.N. Vyas. Dr. Himanshu Pandya introduced the keynote speaker, while Shankar Lal Chaudhary delivered the welcome address.

During the programme, guests also released Prof. Hemendra Chandalia’s book The Power of Pen. Dr. Iti Vyas and Dr. Shankar Lal Verma shared personal memories associated with Prof. R.N. Vyas.

A large number of academicians, students, journalists, intellectuals and social activists attended the lecture, including Sukhadia University Registrar Dr. V.C. Garg and several distinguished guests from Udaipur, Kota and Bhilwara. Tribute was also paid to late members associated with the committee, including Prof. B.C. Mehta, Prof. Naresh Bhargava, Prof. R.M. Lodha and Prof. R.S. Rathore.