Meditation as a solution for psychological challenges of farmers

Introduction

No doubt, India's economy is agriculture based, but still the cultivator is facing lots of psychological challenges due to which forced to either leave agriculture as their profession or sell-off their land or hang themselves and end up their lives as an outcome of these miseries. The lands are shrinking from one generation to another as a result, production has been confined. When we identify various psychological challenges, a long list is there. These psychological challenges, impose a psychological pressure over Annadata and his family. One can imagine about standing crop in the field and anxiety of the farmer when sky becomes cloudy. It is totally unwelcomed at that very moment of ripening of seeds. Seeds will catch moisture and discolouration may occur. It will be a financial loss for the family and we know, most of the time, he is the only income generator. Education of family members, marriages of young ones, year wise budget, everything reels in his mind over that moment. One can think about his instant increase of blood circulation which can be fatal for his normal heart functioning or overthinking which can again result in anxiety, depression and ultimate set-back for overall health. High cost of raw material such as fertilisers, seeds, insecticides, pesticides, ploughing, tilting, watering of plants, also increase miseries of farmers. Since, agriculture is not considered as a profitable enterprise nowadays, unemployability of young male family members force them to remain unmarried, again a social issue, darkening day by day. If we talk about Maharashtra, agriculture constitutes 12% of the state's GDP while employing almost 50% of its population, highlighting its significant role in both the economy and employment. It has been the state, worst affected by suicides in farming sector with over 60,000 deaths counted between the period from 1995 to 2013 [1] . According to the NCRB i.e. National Crime Records Bureau, the suicidal cases of farmers are the live proofs of their pathetic situation which is an outcome of various psychological challenges, which are discussed further. Together, the highest five states recorded about 80 per cent of total suicides in the farming sector. According to NCRB: suicidal cases of farmer in India (2022) "One farmer/farm labourer dies by suicide every hour in India: NCRB data". 8 April 2024. www.extensionjournal.com

Above figure, shows the gravity of suicidal cases of farmers in Maharashtra, followed by Karnataka. According to the NCRB i.e. National Crime Records Bureau, the states with the highest incidence of farmer suicide in 2022 were Maharashtra (4,248), followed by Karnataka (2,392), Andhra Pradesh (917), and Tamil Naidu (728) and Madhya Pradesh (641). [2] Together, these five states recorded about 85 per cent of farmers' suicides. Almost every farmer now and then faces various down falls in their life. Government should take concern and try to raise such policies which speak out with solutions, so that dignity of Annadata can be maintained. They need a mental boost-up along with solutions. Mindful Ness and meditation can play a crucial role in diluting the situation.

Reptiles and insects bites:

Insects and reptiles such as snakes, Scorpios and other reptiles lead to hazardous health conditions and many times cost the life of victims. There should be, readily available mobile facilities at one call, at nearest points, to assist them instantly, to save their lives. Again, requirement of awareness on part of individual itself, is felt so that farmer himself can be beware of such insects and reptiles.

Suggestions

1. Awareness about the way to incorporate land sustainability a. Porosity of land: Constant use of fertilisers for long time declines porosity of land. Fertilisers accumulates in between the pores of sand particles, resulting in hardness, affecting its capillary action. If some nitrogen fixing bacteria are released at the site, they eat away fertilisers and in return produce biological degradable content which acts as organic manure. In return, it increases porosity of land. They fix nitrogen from atmosphere and also release carbon dioxide as byproduct, both of these gases make the sand porous. Porosity increases capillary action, resulting in transportation of nutrients and good yield is the outcome. b. Organic manure: Farmers should be motivated for organic production with least or no fertilisers and manure. High MRP rates, should be allocated to their production. Graceful subsidies should be there, to promote organic production which in return will save life of individuals, country and nation in whole. A person practising meditative practises always keep their concern towards sustainability. If a farmer plan to donate one green crop to his beloved land then he can behold the concept of sustainability. Ploughing of green crop to the land will increase the nutritional content of the mother earth. c. Promotion of natural nitrogen fixation: Farmers can be made aware of nitrogen and other nutritional requirements. Fertilisers are not the only source of nutrients for plants. There are number of bacterias, which trap and fix nitrogen, sulphur and other gaseous components from atmosphere. Two kinds of nitrogenfixing bacterias are identified. The first one, free-living bacterias which are known for their non-symbiotic association, such as cyanobacteria or blue-green algae, Azotobacter, and Clostridium. The second kind, comprised of symbiotically associated bacteria, such as rhizobium, associated with leguminous plants [3] . Their culture is available in market. They can be spread among the fields. These bacterias will not only increase nitrogen content of the crop as an alternative fertiliser but also increase porosity of the land which is degraded by constant use of chemicals. The yield will definitely increase by these simple techniques. d. Policies for welfare of farmers: Each and every word, each and every line, each and every paragraph of any policy, drafted for farmers, should resonate only and only with welfare of farmers and their families, not for welfare of, mediators or politicians or high profile businessman so called, industrialists. Any policy should impart independency to the farmers and play its role as a facilitator, not profit snatchers. Locate vivid ways to satisfy their needs not to dig them. They are the real energy producers. No policy should negatively affect their lifeline. Their legacy of ownership should be celebrated not discouraged no matter how much small piece they possess. e. Facilities to enhance their conditions: 1. Market oriented production: Processed food gives more selling cost when compared with raw material. Latest, tools, technologies and machines are needed to transform raw material into market-oriented production. There must be strong extension work so that the lab technologies can go directly to their fields and their home.

Central facilities:

Small farmers cannot afford highlypriced, machines and technologies. Central cold-storage can conserve and preserve their production, especially perishable ones to elongate life of their perishable food. Such central facilities provided under supervision Vilochan increase a feeling of cooperation among users.

Free counselling centres:

They should be established in each and every village, within reach of farmers, to guide them humbly about production to marketing. These counselling centres also helps them to control their stress level in every adversity. Ample margin of benefit should be included in minimum support price of the yields, so that the farmer can meet out his basic fundamental needs effortlessly. Government can provide subsidies to meet out the deficient figure, if it exist [3] .

Extension lecturers of successful farmers:

To sustain motivation of this profession, success stories of successful farmers opting for organic production, with respective hindrances and ways to overcome them, should be shared through extension lectures. Their distinct identification and financial benefits will drag the common farmers towards organic approaches. Awakening of self of farmers will embark their journey towards sustainability and organic production.

Conclusion

Farmers suicidal cases and mental stress is increasing at a faster pace. They are highly influenced by over monsoon, drought, untimely rain and so many other types of uncertainties. More attention is paid to the problems of debt, hyper-commercialization, skyrocketing input costs, water use patterns, and extreme price shocks and volatility. State policies play a vital role in all of these elements. Polices should be constructed keeping in mind welfare of farmers. A step towards sustainability is one of the another factor to raise their financial resources and to secure their health. Provision of financial help to the farmers, as explorer in field of organic production, will be a turning point for whole society if health and wealth of Annadata is considered. Awakening about crop cycling, role of bacterias in nitrogen fixation, use of organic manure, least dependency over fertilisers, are some of mindful steps, for welfare of farmers.

Deep meditation empowers the meditator to filter thoughts, mental and physical relaxation and wellness, soothing impact of internal acupressure, energy balance of various plexus or chakras and blissful state with positive secretion of hormones. Overthinking, low energy level, anxiety, stress related challenges can be sorted out with meditation.

References

1. Maharashtra crosses 60,000 farm suicides. Published April 8, 2024. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Accessed April 8, 2024.
2. One farmer/farm labourer dies by suicide every hour in India: NCRB data. Published April 8, 2024. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Accessed April 8, 2024.
3. Centre hikes wheat MSP by 6.59 per cent for 2025-26 marketing season. Business Standard. Published October 16, 2024. https://www.businessstandard.com/economy/news/centre-hikes-wheat-mspby-6-59-percent-for-2025-26-marketing-season124101601137_1.html.
4. Gold rate in 2025 24 carat. Google. https://www.google.com/search?q=gold+rate+in+2025 +24+carat&gs_ivs=1.