Page 49 - SCERT Kerala State Syllabus 8th Standard Basic Science Textbooks English Medium Part 1_Neat

Agriculture should be a means, for farmers, to lead a life without
hurdles. One of the crises faced by farmers is the fall in price of
products and exploitation by middle men. How can this be
overcome? Discuss and formulate an opinion.

Supporting Organisations
Agricultural societies that help farmers to market their
products without the help of mediators are on the rise
these days. The facility for storage of items such as
pepper, coconut, arecanut, rice, vegetables etc., is also
ensured along with marketing facilities. They can sell
such stored products when prices are high in the
market and make profit. Loans at low interest rates are
also made available to them.

Organizations online too!
With the rise in demand for organic products, online
organizations of farmers are gaining importance.
These organisations help to identify customers for
their quality organic products and ensure higher
prices. Thus, modern media opens up not only a
wide window for marketing but also possibilities
to share knowledge and experiences.

It is not sufficient to make agriculture productive and
sustainable. One should realize that agriculture is not the sole
responsibility of farmers. People working in other fields must
also try to engage in agriculture in a limited way atleast. The
concept of ‘agriculture for all in society’ is relevant here.
Is this concept practical? Do we have enough time to spend on
cultivation in the midst of the busy life? Isn’t it easy to buy things
from the market? Such doubts may naturally occur in our minds.
Read the diary of a farmer.

48 Basic Science VIII