1. Research report on the impact of international farm-trade on the livelihoods of arecanut farmers and labourers in Karnataka and Kerala

CEFS carried out a field research on the impact of WTO and trade liberalization on the livelihoods of arecanut farmers of Uttar Kanara, Shimoga, Davangiri and Dakshina Kanara districts of Karnataka, and Kasargod district of Kerala. This research project carried out during July-December 2003 also involved a field trip of over two months undertaken by CEFS director Parshuram Ray.

To assess and understand the impact of price crash in arecanut on the areca growers and labourers, CEFS carried out a random survey in more than 10 areca growing villages spread over 5 districts of Karnataka and Kerala. During this survey we conducted open-ended interviews of more than 100 Areca farmers and over 50 labour families. Besides visiting these 10 villages, we went to another 15 villages to study the individual cases of areca farmers' suicides in these five districts.

More than 95% of areca growing families interviewed were burdened with heavy loans from banks, cooperative societies and private money -lenders. Till 1999, most of these areca farmers were leading a comfortable life and earning a decent livelihood. These families enjoyed very high status in society and non-areca growing farmers of other regions were jealous of their prosperity. Among the 100 families interviewed, there were less than 5 who were not borrowing money and these had large areca gardens and some bank savings from a pre-1999 period when areca prices were very high. We came across only one farmer family who had not taken any loan, because he himself was a money- lender and a very big farmer.

Over 95% of areca farmers are under heavy loan burdens, have completely stopped repayment of interests to the banks and societies and depend on the mercy of banks, cooperative societies and money lenders to meet their survival needs. They are facing tremendous psychological distress because their earnings from areca gardens at the current price are not sufficient to meet their interest liabilities, what to talk of principal repayment or maintenance of family. Among the interviewed farmers, many said that they were feeling like committing suicide because life has become unbearable and there is no ray of hope. The current areca prices are less than a half of the ruling price of 1999.

The livelihood crises in arecanut areas is not limited to growers alone. The entire economy of these areca growing areas has been ruined. Whether it is petty traders, retailers or street vendors, the crises has hit everybody. The entire economy of the region has come to a standstill. There is no flow of money in the market because the entire economy of this area is dependent on the purchasing power of arecanut farmers. Since growers themselves are finding it difficult to survive, the dependent and allied sectors of the economy are facing similar distress conditions. As a community, labourers are the second most affected people, farmers being the hardest hit. We interviewed more than 50 labour families from 5 villages. These labourers are entirely dependent on areca gardens for their livelihood. Till 1999, they could find work for the whole year. The average daily wage was Rs.80-100 for male and Rs. 50-60 for female. But after the price crash of areca in 1999, the daily wage for male has been reduced to half at Rs.40-50 and that for female to Rs. 25-30. Moreover, they find it difficult to find even 8-10 days work in a month now because areca farmers are themselves engaged in the proverbial "struggle for existence", hence unable to employ labourers in their areca gardens. Out of 50 labourers interviewed, there was not a single one getting two square meals a day. Most of them feel lucky and happy even if they get one square meal in a day. Most of them survive on ganji (distress-time food of liquid rice) and wild roots, stems and green grasses available from forests and plains. These labourers are literally on the verge of starvation. Asked about their food and livelihood security during pre- 1999 period, all of them without a single exception said that up to 1999 they could not even imagine of skipping a meal or worrying about their food or livelihood security. The children and women have been the worst victims. Many of children live on only mid-day meals served in their schools. Many of the children said that, at best, they get some "boiled grass" before going to bed. Out of 20 children interviewed (10 boys and 10 girls) all of them were scared at the mention of words like 'holiday', 'Sunday' or 'long vacation' because when school is open they are guaranteed a mid-day meal. During the closure of schools, the children starve. Many of them narrated chilling stories of hunger in their families. These children don't even go and ask for food from their mothers, because they know that there is no food in the home. These labourers have been earning their livelihood from working in areca gardens for decades and centuries and are so "attached" with these gardens that they do not think of migrating to towns and cities in search of work even when they are hungry. Prior to three years ago they had not experienced anything like this. All of a sudden their livelihood has been destroyed by the price crash of areca caused by its indiscriminate import from South East Asian countries. To see full report, please click Reports

2. Research report on Farmers' Suicides in India
To see full report, please click Reports

3. Panel Discussion on Farming Crisis and Union Budget 2004-2005

CEFS hosted a panel discussion on "Farming Crisis and Union Budget 2004-2005" at India International Centre, New Delhi on 10th July 2004.The panelists included Shri B P Singh, Dr Vandana Shiva, Prof B B Bhattachrya, Dr Devinder Sharma and Shri Paranjoy Guha Thakurta.To see the full minutes, please click Reports.

4. Dossier on Agrarian Distress and Farmers' Suicides

The issue of agrarian distress and farmers' suicides is on the top of CEFS agenda. Apart from doing desk research on this issue, we have prepared a dossier on "Farmers' suicides and farming crisis in India". This is a collection and compilation of in-depth research papers, interesting case studies, incisive analysis, authoritative writings, popular newspaper articles and instructive reports on agrarian distress and farmers' suicides in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab and Maharashtra. This dossier contains an exhaustive array of theoretical and empirical insights of distinguished academics, experts, journalists, economists, environmentalists and researchers like Professor Utsa Patnaik, Professor Jayati Ghosh, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Dr. Devinder Sharma, Mr. P. Sainath, Mr. Sunil Mitra, Ms. Shanta Gokhale, Mr. Raju Bist, Ms. Pushpa Surendra, Ms. Kasturi Das, Mr. Rick Giombetti, Professor Kamal Nayan Kabra, and Ms. Katherine Aigner, Ms Amy Waldman, Mr Ramesh Menon and Mr. Krishna Kumar, etc. This dossier also includes many interesting news items and field reports published in popular newspapers and magazines like The Hindu, The Hindu Business Line, The Indian Express, The Deccan Herald, The Tribune, Frontline, etc.

5. Dossier on Contract Farming in India

Contract farming is now a buzzword for many agricultural experts and agri-business corporations. Many state governments are introducing facilitating legislations to promote contract farming as a panacea for all the farming problems facing Indian farmers. However, there is complete ignorance about its details and there are serious doubts raised about its implications for Indian agriculture. Realizing the importance of this issue, we have prepared a compilation of published and unpublished literature, research papers, articles and lectures on the pros and cons of contract farming for a country like India.