FAMILIES OF AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS AND FARMERS

FAMILIES OF AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS AND FARMERS

In Kalpattu village there are agricultural labourers like Thulasi, and many small farmers like Sekar, and a few big farmers like Ramalingam. In India, nearly two out of every five rural families are agricultural labourer families. All of them depend on the work they do in other people's fields to earn a living. Many of them are landless and others may own very small plots of land.

In the case of small farmers like Sekhar, their land is barely enough to meet their needs. In India, 80 percent of farmers belong to this group. Only 20 percent of India's farmers are like Ramalingam. These large farmers cultivate most of the land in the villages. A large part of their produce is sold in the market. Many of them have started other businesses such as shops, moneylending, trading, small factories, etc.

We have looked at farming in Kalpattu. Apart from farming, many people in rural areas depend upon collection from the forest, animal husbandry, dairy produce, fishing, etc. For example, in some villages in central India, both farming and collection from the forest are important sources of livelihood. Collecting mahua, tendu leaves, honey, to be sold to traders, is an important source of additional income.

Similarly selling milk to the village cooperative society or taking milk to the nearby town may be the main source of livelihood for some families.

More to know about Terrace Farming in Nagaland

This is a village called Chizami which is in the Phek district in Nagaland. The people of this village belong to the Chakhesang community. They do 'terrace' cultivation.

This means that the land on a hill slope is made into flat plots and carved out in steps. The sides of each plot are raised in order to retain water. This allows water to stand in the field, which is best for rice cultivation.

The people of Chizami have their own individual fields. But, they also work collectively in each other's fields. They form groups of six or eight and take an entire mountainside to clean the weeds on it.

Each group eats together once their work for the day is over. This goes on for several days until the work is completed.

Source: This topic is taken from NCERT TEXTBOOK

ARUNA AND PAARIVELAN

ARUNA AND PAARIVELAN

In the coastal areas, we find fishing villages. Let us find out more about the lives of a fishing family by reading about Aruna and Paarivelan who live in Pudupet, a village close to Kalpattu.

Not very far from Kalpattu is the village of Pudupet. People here earn their living by fishing. Their houses are close to the sea and one finds rows of catamarans and nets lying around. At about 7 o’clock in the morning, there is a lot of activity on the beach. This is the time when the catamarans return with their catch and women gather to buy and sell fish.

My husband Paarivelan, my brother, and my brother-in-law returned late today. I was very worried. They go to the sea together in our catamaran. They said they were caught in a storm. I have kept aside some fish for the family. I will auction the rest. The money I get from the auction will be divided into four shares. One each for each person who went fishing and the fourth one is for the equipment. Since we own the catamaran, engine, and nets, we get that share too. We have taken a loan from a bank and purchased an engine, which is fixed on to the catamaran. Now they can go far into the sea so that they can get a better catch.

The women who buy fish here will carry them in baskets to be sold in nearby villages. Then there are others like traders who buy for the shops in the town. I'll only finish this auction by noon. In the evening my husband and our relatives will untangle and repair our nets. Early tomorrow morning around 2 a.m. they will set out to sea again. Every year, for at least about four months during the monsoon, they cannot go to the sea because this is when the fish breed. During these months we survive by borrowing from the trader. Because of this, later on, we are forced to sell the fish to that trader, and cannot do our auction. Those lean months are the most difficult. Last year we suffered a lot because of the tsunami.

Activity:

1. Why do both Sekar's and Aruna's families have to borrow? What similarities and differences do you find?

2. Have you heard of a tsunami? What is this and what damage do you think it might have done to the life of fishing families like Aruna's?

Source: This topic is taken from NCERT TEXTBOOK

RURAL LIVELIHOODS

RURAL LIVELIHOODS

People in rural areas earn their living in various ways. Some work on farms while others earn their living on non- farm activities. Working on farms involves operations such as preparing the land, sowing, weeding, and harvesting of crops. We depend on nature for the growth of these crops. Hence life revolves around certain seasons. People are busy during sowing and harvesting and less so at other times. Rural people in different regions of the country grow different crops. However, we do find similarities in their life situations and in the problems that they face.

How people are able to survive or earn will depend upon the land that they cultivate. Many depend on these lands for work as labourers. Most farmers grow crops both for their own requirements and also to sell in the market. Some have to sell to traders from whom they have borrowed money. For their survival, many families need to borrow money for their work or when no work is available. There are some families in rural areas that thrive on large acres of land, business, and other activities. However, most small farmers, agricultural labourers, fishing families, craftspersons in the villages do not find enough work to keep them employed throughout the year.

Source: This topic is taken from NCERT TEXTBOOK