Causes:
The causes for Peasant Movement:
(a) Feeling of deprivation: Peasants are deprived of the facilities when compared to organized sectors like industry. They face problems like shortage of quality seeds, fertilizers and pesticides, lack of adequate price and support price waiving of loans, subsidies for agricultural implements, insurance for crops, etc.
(b) Negligence of farmers problem: The previous governments have neglected the interests of farmers. In this behalf Bengal Government banned the Blue Crop and acquired farmers’ lands and also imposed heavy taxes.
(c) Unbearable debts: Peasants raise loans from Banks and Financial Institutions but they are not in a position to repay it for reasons like market fluctuation, the tactics of brokers, etc. This leads to unbearable debts and they commit suicide.
(d) Natural calamity: Peasants depend more on monsoon which are usually irregular. Hence it is popularly known as ‘‘Indian agriculture is playing gamble with monsoons”. As a result, floods and famine, diseases to crops, soil erosion leads to infertility of the soil.
(e) Unscientific land acquisition: In the wake of Urbanisation and industrialization, the governments are acquiring cultivable lands of farmers. Many a tines, proper compensation is not given and they are not provided with alternate. As a result they become landless and unemployed.
(f) Support price: Amidst innumerable problems, farmers do not get adequate price to their produce. At that time the Government has to intervene and announce support price to the farmers produce. When the Government fails to do so, they intensify agitation.
All the above facts are the main causes for Peasant Movement.
Political Implications: The Governments have taken the following measures to reduce the problems of peasants:
(a) Agricultural Loans: The Governments have made provisions for the farmers to avail National Crop Insurance Programme. National Agricultural Insurance Scheme. Weather based Crop Insurance Scheme and Primary Land Development Bank was established to provide agricultural assistance to the farmers.
(b) National Agricultural Scheme: The National Development Council has made enormous arrangements in 2007 for the agricultural improvements. The National Agricultural Scheme was implemented to determine agricultural policy and provide essential facilities.
(c) Waiving of Debt: When farmers are not able to get the yield to their expectations, they cannot clear the debt. To uplift the farmers from debts, the Governments have taken necessary measures to wane the debts of farmers. This has reduced the suicide and death rate of farmers.
(d) Establishment of Peasant Liason Centre: The Peasant Liason Centres are opened to provide necessary information related to protect the farmers from low quality seeds, fertilisers and protection of crops from diseases.
(e) Veterinary Sendees: Government is providing veterinary sendee to the livestock which also supports agriculture. It also encouraging dairying and saavayava krishi.
(f) Land Reforms Act: National Land Reforms Act was implemented to provide justice to the real fanners.
