For the first time in recent years, Karnataka is witnessing elections without any prominent farmers’ leader, as Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) president K.S. Puttannaiah, the lone voice of farmers in the Assembly, died recently. However,Chukki Nanjundaswamy , daughter of KRRS founder M.D. Nanjundaswamy, is optimistic. She points to the trend of educated youth returning to villages to take up farming. The return of KRRS president’s son Darshan Puttannaiah, a techie in the U.S., to India to contest the elections symbolises this change, she says.
Karnataka is witnessing Assembly elections without a strong farmers’ leader. What do you feel about it?
It’s true. But I see the emergence of new generation leadership in the KRRS. It is visible in some places and not visible in others. But in the next couple of years, you will see a team of new leaders.
What are the issues before the farming sector in these elections?
Definitely water. Climate change is one thing political parties do not want to understand. The water crisis is not due to natural disasters but due to climate change. We need to update and re-organise cropping patterns. We cannot continue to grow paddy and sugarcane and need to change our food systems. I think places like Mandya will be forced to go for millets to prevent a farm crisis. Of course, the important thing is getting remunerative prices for farmers.
Are you getting support from young farmers?
Yes, several young farmers, especially the highly educated ones, are coming into our fold. An interesting trend is happening. On the one hand, agriculture is being abandoned by classical/traditional farmers who are into chemical farming and gripped by debt. At the same time, young and highly educated farmers are taking to natural farming. This is a sign which we should not forget to look into.
