Neo-liberalism gave birth to the emergence of cash crop culture in the country. A huge surge was seen among farmers who shifted from food crops to cash crops to receive better profits. This has shifted the complete control of farming into the hands of corporates whether it is seeds, water, fertilizers, input or cost. 

The smallholder farmers were the worst affected due to their vulnerability, low risk-taking aptitude and climate change. The agrarian crisis increased manifold with record farmers’ suicide cases in the country. 

 The State of Telangana showed a staggering number of farmers suicide who were unable to handle crop loss and mounting debt. The farmers of Alirajpet from Sidhipet district of Telangana continued their ordeal due to cash crop farming.

Caritas India and Hyderabad Archdiocesan Social Service Society (HASSS) under the Ujjwala programme took an effort to discuss the situation with the lead farmer on the cropping systems and the issues pertaining to their present practice of farming. The programme is promoting sustainable farming practices of food crops through “fostering and securing self-sustaining climate resilient-cum-adaptive agriculture and livelihoods through community-owned processes in the state of West Bengal, Karnataka and Telangana”.

The discussion revealed that the farmers in this area cultivate BT Cotton, Maize, Paddy, Bengal gram, vegetables, and floriculture (Marygold). Most households have a practice of growing vegetables and flowers; in a few families, fruit trees like Guava, Custard apple, mango, and sapota can be seen. BT cotton has been a common crop in this area which is being cultivated for the last 20 years. Farmers used to get good yields and hence better income earlier. The same practice continued but the farmers’ profits started reducing compared to those of seeds/fertilisers/pesticide sellers.

The application of high dosages of chemical fertilizers and pesticides over many years leads to deteriorating the poor health condition of the soil and the people. While analysing the cost-benefit of Mr Sathayya, we have realized that their hard work for 6 months in growing BT cotton on his half-acre land is earning very less. Meanwhile, Mr. Sathayya was affected by kidney disease and had to undergo a kidney transplantation donated by his wife. He is on medication. He said Farming is not supporting his livelihood, which was realized when we helped him conduct the cost-benefit analysis. 

He is cultivating BT cotton on 50 cents (half an acre) of land in which he buys 450 grams of BT Cotton seeds for Rs. 800, uses 40 kilograms of Urea, 40 kilograms of DAP and 40 Kilogram of Potash by spending Rs. 3300 and uses 4 types of pesticides/insecticides by spending Rs. 7100. All together the input cost is Rs. 33700. He receives 500 Kilogram of Cotton which the farmers says is a reasonably good harvest. He sells the produce at Rs. 7500 per quintal and receives of Rs. 37500. The total profit for this farmer for cultivating BT cotton for slogging for 6 months is only Rs. 3800.

On the other hand, Caritas India has been encouraging farmers to shift to natural farming of food crops, especially millets.

Whereas, Mr. Kankayya, progressive farmers who shifted to natural farming started millet cultivation with fewer efforts. Natural farming is good for health and nutrition and supports his 14-year-old son affected by diabetes. Mr. Kankayya owns two acres of land where he cultivates Maize, Cotton & Groundnut during the Rabi season. With Millet diet, his son’s condition has improved as it has high fibre content. He is cultivating two millet species such as Setaria italica which is commonly called Foxtail millet (Korralu in Telugu) and Eleusine coracana, commonly called as finger millet (Ragulu in Telugu).  

The cost-benefit analysis was done together with other farmers who are cultivating BT Cotton. It is realised that Mr. Kankayya gets 200 Kilogram organic millet from 50 cents of land. He spends only Rs. 6200 and gets Rs. 14000 making a profit of Rs. 7800. This comparison of cost-benefit analysis of BT Cotton and Millets prompted other farmers in this village to cultivate more food crops, especially the millets.

Caritas India is working to build the knowledge and awareness of the communities to secure nutrition and livelihoods to foster climate-resilient adaptive agriculture for their self-sustenance and bring more participation and decision-making.