Son of the Soil: A Call to Empower Our Farmers for the Journey to the 100th Republic Day!!

As India stands on the cusp of the 76th Republic Day, it is time to reflect on the remarkable achievements that have shaped our nation and to chart a bold, new path for the future. Over the decades, our democracy has moved forward in leaps and bounds in various spheres—industry, technology, education, and public policy.

Yet, one of the core pillars of our society, the “Son of the Soil”—our farmers—continues to struggle under the weight of persistent debt, unstable incomes, and a system that does not fully recognize or reward their contributions. These are the same individuals and communities who secured our nation’s food supply and sustained our population through droughts, storms, and economic upheavals. They now find themselves at the edge of an existential crisis.

As we embark on the journey towards the 100th Republic Day, it is vital that we commit ourselves to freeing our farmers from misery and restoring dignity to their lives.

1. The Paradox of Food Security and Farmer Insecurity

One of the greatest ironies facing our nation today is the paradox that the very individuals who provide us with daily nourishment are themselves unable to secure their own livelihoods. Over the years, India has achieved considerable milestones in food grain production—especially in wheat and rice—thus becoming self-sufficient or nearly so in staple foods. However, our attempts to become Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) in pulses and vegetable oils have been recurring aspirations for over four decades. Despite the government’s vocal commitment and a series of policy interventions, we still continue to rely on large-scale imports for these essential commodities. This reliance keeps farmers trapped in cycles of uncertainty: prices fluctuate wildly based on international supply, domestic demand, and changing political considerations.

The heart of the matter is that while food security for the nation has been placed on a high pedestal, financial security for the farmer has remained elusive. Government interventions often revolve around keeping food prices low to protect consumers and controlling inflation. Meanwhile, farmers are left with meagre returns that do not reflect the labour, risk, and capital they invest each season. Over time, this mismatch of priorities has led to dissatisfaction and despair among a community that ought to be revered for its indispensable role in nation-building.

2. Fault Lines in Agricultural Policy

There is little doubt that systemic factors have contributed to the farmer’s plight. For one, research and development in agriculture, though robust in academic and scientific institutions, has struggled to transition from the lab to the farm. Many innovations remain confined to papers, prototypes, or sporadic pilot projects. The chain of technology transfer—connecting institutes, extension services, and farmers—often breaks down due to inadequate funding, limited manpower, or bureaucratic inertia. This results in productivity gains not reaching farmers’ fields, keeping yields lower than what they could be under optimized conditions.

Furthermore, fundamental legislative frameworks, such as the Seeds Bill, have languished for years without decisive action. Clarity on seed certification, quality control, and farmers’ rights is critical to ensuring that farmers have access to high-quality seeds, which are the starting point of any successful harvest. Similarly, significant agricultural reforms—like the much-debated Farm Bills—have been plagued by contentious politics and vested interests. Their potential benefits, drawbacks, and implementation strategies have rarely been discussed through an inclusive, consensus-oriented process. As a result, crucial reforms remain stuck in political gridlock, while farmers continue to suffer from archaic systems that do not address contemporary challenges.

3. The Imbalance of Power in India’s Food System

Historically, India’s food policy has been shaped by a desire to keep consumer prices low, particularly for essential staples. This has led to interventions that favour the urban populace and large corporations over the interests of small-scale cultivators. Complex import-export controls allow commodities to be imported and sold at prices that undercut domestic farmers. Conversely, sudden export restrictions can reduce farmers’ ability to capitalize on high international prices. In such a system, farmers find themselves at the mercy of market forces over which they have little control. Large agribusiness corporations, on the other hand, have the resources, scale, and lobbying power to influence policies to their advantage.

The overemphasis on providing cheaper food to consumers has often come at the expense of farmers’ profitability. While subsidies on inputs like fertilizers, seeds, and electricity do provide some cushion, they cannot substitute for a sound market-based mechanism that ensures fair returns to producers. In essence, subsidies and doles have served as band-aid solutions, temporarily mitigating symptoms of distress but failing to address deeper structural issues.

4. Existing Dilemmas and the Question of Sustainability

A large proportion of India’s farmers still rely on traditional methods, leaving them vulnerable to the effects of climate change and environmental degradation. Soil erosion, water scarcity, and the depletion of groundwater tables threaten agriculture’s long-term sustainability. The relative lack of robust, on-the-ground extension services means that many farmers remain unaware of or are unable to adopt climate-smart practices, improved seed varieties, or integrated farming systems that could boost yields and reduce vulnerability.

Moreover, the continual fragmentation of landholdings—due to inheritance laws, population growth, and the absence of land consolidation reforms—further complicates efforts to modernize agriculture. As plots become smaller, farmers find themselves with insufficient economies of scale to adopt mechanized solutions or invest in advanced irrigation systems.

5. The Need to Elevate Farmers as Enterprises

Each farmer can and should be viewed as an individual enterprise. This shift in perspective is crucial if we hope to usher in meaningful and sustainable change. For too long, farmers have been cast as “beneficiaries” of government schemes rather than as active entrepreneurs capable of managing resources, investments, and innovations. To transform this mindset, policies should focus on empowering farmers with business skills—production efficiency, financial planning, market intelligence, supply-chain negotiation—so they can make informed decisions about what to grow, when to sell, and how to invest in their lands and futures.

Equipping farmers with these skills would also attract more private-sector engagement. Agriculture can be a lucrative business when practiced at scale with efficient processes, technological innovations, and sophisticated marketing strategies. If investors see farmers as serious partners and profitable enterprises rather than mere welfare recipients, there is potential for significant inflows of capital and expertise.

6. Accelerating Technology Adoption

Technology adoption is one of the fastest ways to boost farmers’ incomes and help them compete on the global stage. Digital platforms, including mobile-based apps, are already making strides in providing real-time weather forecasts, market price updates, and agronomic advice. However, coverage and usage remain patchy, especially in remote and less-developed regions. Scaling up these solutions will require collaborative efforts between government agencies, tech companies, and civil society organizations to ensure last-mile connectivity and effective training.

Biological innovations, from high-yield seed varieties to biofertilizers and biopesticides, could significantly reduce the cost of inputs while maintaining or even increasing yields. However, such solutions must be tested and validated on local soils to ensure they work under real-world conditions. Extension services need to be strengthened so they can effectively demonstrate these techniques and guide farmers through adoption. Public-private partnerships in research and development, coupled with robust field-level implementation, will ensure that breakthroughs in laboratories quickly find their way to the fields.

7. The Role of Secondary Agriculture and Processing

One promising avenue for boosting farmer incomes lies in the development of secondary agriculture—processing, value addition, and agri-based entrepreneurship. When farmers are able to convert raw produce into processed goods—such as turning wheat into flour, oilseeds into edible oil, or pulses into packaged dal—they move up the value chain and capture a larger share of the final selling price. This shift not only increases profitability but also buffers farmers against the volatility of raw commodity markets.

Governments and private entities can support this transition by creating agro-processing clusters, providing soft loans for setting up processing units, and developing market linkages for finished goods. By facilitating collaborations between farmers’ producer organizations (FPOs) and large-scale buyers, the transaction costs of marketing and distribution can be reduced significantly. Additionally, infrastructure investments in cold storage facilities, warehousing, and transportation networks are key to preserving produce and ensuring efficient movement of goods.

8. Managing the Transition of Labour and Land

A forward-looking strategy must also recognize that agriculture cannot sustain everyone at the same level. We need well-conceived policies that facilitate the movement of surplus labour from marginal farms into non-farm sectors. This transition is not about abandoning our farmers; rather, it ensures that those who remain in agriculture can consolidate landholdings and realize economies of scale. Meanwhile, those moving out of agriculture can find gainful employment in manufacturing, services, and other thriving areas of the economy.

While encouraging consolidation, land rights must be protected, and safeguards need to be in place to prevent dispossession of small and marginal farmers. Programs offering vocational training, skill development, and financial support for starting non-farm enterprises can ease this transition. In turn, agriculture becomes more viable for those who choose to stay, enhancing productivity and profitability.

9. Urgent Policy Reforms and Consensus Building

For years, India’s agricultural legislative framework has lagged behind economic realities. Important bills remain pending, and consensus-building efforts have struggled to address the complexities of farm bills. Moving forward, the government must establish transparent, inclusive platforms that bring together farmers, farmer unions, policymakers, scientists, and agri-business representatives. By facilitating open dialogue, mistrust can be reduced, and reforms can be tailored to the needs of all stakeholders.

Such consensus-building processes should aim to create policies that are dynamic rather than static. Given the pace of global economic and climate changes, agricultural laws must possess built-in flexibility to adapt to new technologies, evolving market conditions, and emerging environmental realities. Clear definitions and transparent protocols for contract farming, price discovery, dispute resolution, and quality assurance could benefit both farmers and buyers alike.

10. Balancing Consumer Interests and Farmer Welfare

A comprehensive agricultural strategy recognizes that balancing interests among consumers, corporations, and farmers is an ongoing challenge. Consumers’ need for affordable food is valid, especially in a country with substantial poverty and malnutrition rates. Corporations require stable regulatory environments to commit capital and undertake long-term investments. Farmers, on the other hand, must earn enough to reinvest in their land, modernize their methods, and support their families with dignity.

To harmonize these interests, agricultural pricing and trade policies should be evidence-based and formulated through inclusive stakeholder engagement. For instance, flexible trade tariffs—adjusted through transparent mechanisms—could protect farmers from price crashes without entirely cutting off global competition. Direct income support for the most vulnerable farmer segments, combined with well-structured implementable Minimum Support Price (MSP) policies, can serve as safety nets.

11. Investing in Research, Education, and Extension

India’s agricultural universities and research institutes have produced countless studies and innovations. The challenge is bridging the gap between research and practice. Strengthening extension systems is crucial. This includes hiring, training, and equipping with technology agricultural extension officers who can directly interact with farmers, conduct field demonstrations, and assist in the adoption of new technologies. Collaboration with non-governmental organizations, private enterprises, and local communities can enhance outreach efforts.

Furthermore, agricultural education should not be limited to specialized universities. Integrating basic agricultural science and entrepreneurship modules into mainstream education would cultivate a generation that views farming as a viable, modern profession rather than a last resort. Such educational initiatives would also help reduce the stigma often associated with manual farming, thus encouraging youth to consider careers or entrepreneurial opportunities in the agriculture sector.

12. An Optimistic Vision: The 100th Republic Day and Beyond

If we take decisive steps today, the face of Indian agriculture could transform by the time we celebrate our 100th Republic Day. Imagine an India where small and marginal farmers are empowered with technology, access to credit, and comprehensive market linkages. In this future, farmers operate as entrepreneurial units—some focusing on premium organic produce, others venturing into advanced agro-processing, while still others diversify into agritourism or bioenergy production.

Such a trajectory requires unity of purpose and strategic planning. Technology adoption needs to be scaled up at lightning pace, bridging the digital divide by ensuring every village has reliable internet access, digital literacy, and supportive governance structures. Joint efforts from public and private sectors should turn research institutions into dynamic hubs that work in tandem with farmers’ cooperatives. When each farmer is seen as an enterprise and farming itself becomes profitable and sustainable, the impact on India’s overall economic growth will be tremendous—boosting rural incomes, creating jobs, and spurring innovation in ancillary industries.

Yet, this bright scenario will remain incomplete if farmers continue to toil without dignity.

A glorious celebration of the 100th Republic Day will ring hollow if the soul of our nation—its farmers—remains in distress. Empowering them is not merely a matter of economic development; it is a moral and cultural imperative that speaks to the heart of India’s identity.

13. Conclusion: Reclaiming the Soul of Our Republic

As we stand at the threshold of the 76th Republic Day, we must recognize that our future success as a nation is inextricably linked with the well-being of our farmers. Their existential crisis—spawned by inequitable policies, inconsistent market support, and limited technological reach—represents a deep fault line in our social fabric. This fault line can be healed only by ensuring that agriculture becomes a thriving, profitable, and respected profession. We have the knowledge, the resources, and the institutional frameworks to make this happen, but it requires a collective resolve to place the farmer at the center of agricultural reform.

Our pledge for the coming years must be to reposition farmers as the prime stakeholders of our economy, ensuring that their interests guide policy decisions on imports, exports, subsidies, and pricing. Investing in technology, processing infrastructure, and farmer education will yield exponential returns, not just in economic terms but also in social cohesion and national pride. As we move towards the 100th Republic Day, let us envision an India where being a farmer is a mark of entrepreneurial spirit, resilience, and dignity—an India where the “Son of the Soil” finally finds the prosperity and respect he or she deserves.

In the final analysis, a nation that aspires to global leadership must first secure the prosperity and dignity of those who feed it. India’s farmers have carried the burden of our food security on their shoulders for generations. Now, as we look to the future, it is time for us as a nation to lift them out of misery, empower them with the tools of modernity, and honour them for the indispensable role they play in our collective destiny. Only then will the tricolour fly with true pride and purpose, as India stands as a beacon of inclusive growth and resilience when the 100th Republic Day dawns.

About Author

Deepak Pareek, Founding Convener, Global Grains and Pulses Council

Deepak Pareek is a visionary in the agriculture trade and policy domain, renowned for his unparalleled expertise as a serial entrepreneur, investor, and ecosystem builder. With a rich tapestry of 25 years of diverse experience spanning 34 countries. His accolades speak volumes about his impact and dedication. Honored as one of the Top 10 Agropreneurs of 2019 by Future Agro Challenge, Greece, and recognized as a Technology Pioneer in 2018 by the World Economic Forum, Switzerland, Deepak’s contributions are globally acknowledged. His advisory roles with various private, public, and multilateral organizations have driven significant advancements in agriculture and technology.