By Toki Blah
Reading KN Kumar’s article “Pesticides cause Cancers: wake up Meghalaya!” ( ST May 5, 2023) is akin to reading some gruesome horror story where the characters of the story are slowly devoured by some horrible unknown, alien pestilence. What makes the article that much more horrifying, is the fact that, such a fate seems to be on the offing for the people of Meghalaya and their children and grand children. The article speaks of the conscious policy of past Governments of Meghalaya to reduce, to whatever extent possible, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides by farmers of this hilly NE state. This was done by doing away with the subsidy to farmers for purchasing such poison for their crops. This policy was implemented based on the irrefutable evidence that use of such pesticides and fertilizers on the vegetables we eat is directly related to the high incidence of cancer in the State.
Kumar, currently Chairman Meghalaya Farmers Empowerment Commission ought to know what he is talking about and has put up this early dire warning because it seems there is a file, moving at a very fast pace in the corridors of the Meghalaya Secretariat, to reintroduce the dangerous subsidy on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It would seem that the wisdom and caution of former informed heads of the Agriculture Department is now ready to be thrown to the winds – winds that comes in the form of Pesticide Companies who are desperate for the reintroduction of such poisons into our farming system and who are ready to pay huge amounts to whosoever is willing to help them. It seems they have now locked on to a very vulnerable target.
There are some hidden, unspoken truths that need to be exposed in relation to this hideous conspiracy to poison the communities of both the Hynniewtrep and Achik people of Meghalaya. A basic question must be asked as to who in their right minds would want to inflict such pain, suffering and misery on our innocent people and why. The answer is not difficult to find. First there are the retail commission agents, present in every Block and village, who earn a commission by peddling such venom. These are local businessmen who would be most anxious to continue with their cancer causing trade and who would be pressurizing their politician to revive the government subsidy on pesticides. Then there are the chemical pesticides and fertilizer companies desperate to increase sales of their products regardless of the human pain and suffering it might cause. And at the end of the line the most important person, the one who decides on reversing the good judgment of his predecessors for a few miserable votes he expects to buy. Fueling the whole process at every level is the temptation to make money at whatever cost. One understands the desperate need for funds on the eve of the 2023 polls but should this be done over our dead bodies? Is conscience, the sense of right and wrong, the principles of High Office and pledge of office to uphold the interest of the common man to be so easily bartered off simply so that one can win an election? Is it worth it? Is this why we elect people to such high offices that make policies?
Then one could counter with the argument that the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers are basic package components of the Green Revolution. True, but the Green Revolution was never meant nor designed for upland agriculture such as ours. As a matter of fact it is the Agriculture policy of the Government of India to promote organic agriculture for the hilly uplands of the NE. It makes better sense both from the health point of view of the people as well as the income generating potential of Organic farming. Meghalaya should be following this trend and actually ask for more funds for such a paradigm change in agriculture strategy. There is a huge market for organic products. There will be an increase in flow of funds for organic farming from the centre which will greatly benefit our small marginal upland farmers but very little would be left available for the politicians. Therefore, since it fails to line political pockets, a policy that refuses to subsidize “agents of death” is now to be dismantled!
Now, since when has the welfare of the common man been subjugated by profits of uncaring MNCs (Multinational Companies) ? Is this the policy of this MDA Govt? From the public health point of view and from the health angle of the citizens of Meghalaya the strategy must not be left to the whims and fancies of one politician and one Department alone. Does this move have the approval of the Cabinet? Doubtful if the attention of the Chief Minister has been brought to the rapidly developing affairs in the Department of Agriculture. Now the cat is out of the bag! The public must raise their voices and the common man’s concern must be heard. The Chief Minister must act. He must immediately ask for the file on the subject. The health and general welfare of the people of Meghalaya is at stake. The Government must reconsider the matter and make that public!