Name some challenges that farmers face today. What might be their impact for people? Class 7
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Expert Answer
Name some challenges that farmers face today. What might be their impact for people? Class 7
Name some challenges that farmers face today. What might be their impact for people? Class 7
Answer:
Challenges faced by farmers:
- Decreasing Landholdings: Average landholding is about three-fourths of a hectare (similar to a football field). Land is divided among family members over generations, leading to smaller plots.
- Income Limitations: Small landholdings limit income potential. Difficulty in utilising modern machinery, which is often designed for larger farms.
- Diverse Income Sources: Farmers traditionally rear livestock (cows, goats, poultry), practice apiculture, fish, and collect forest produce. Growing trees for fruit and timber on bunds provides additional income. However, today this is proving to be inadequate to provide a good quality life to farmers.
- Climate Change: Unpredictable weather patterns (e.g., untimely rains) and extreme weather events (e.g., droughts, heavy rainfall) increase crop destruction risk.
- Environmental Concerns: Stress on the Ganga River affects agriculture in its basin.
- Global warming, glacier melting, and water diversion impact water availability.
- Debt Trap: Farmers often take loans during hardships, leading to repayment difficulties. Many abandon agriculture due to unsustainable conditions, with estimates of 2,300 farmers leaving the profession daily.
- Potential Impacts on People: These challenges can lead to reduced food production, increased poverty levels, and a decline in rural livelihoods, ultimately affecting food security and economic stability in communities.