Wednesday, November 04, 2015

Parched Land

PHOTO PROMPT – © Connie Gayer
When the call came he was ready.  Quickly gathering his cap, he and his men stepped out, the driver waiting as he slipped into the front seat while the men clambered into the back.             

They sat in a sullen silence as the vehicle clattered along the road.  The road, set in the rural heartland, taking them past the once busy fertile fields.  In days gone by this would have been the start of the harvest season.       

They found the body in the midst of the parched land, a pesticide bottle next to it, just another farmer who took his life.

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Written for the Friday Fictioneers  Word Count : 100.  

I have written a fictional version of what is a very sad scenario playing around the world these days.  Small, family farms are closing down all around the world for the past few decades with disastrous consequences for farming families.  According to the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) of India, as many as 5,650 farmers committed suicide in India last year. This works out to one farmer suicide in every 100 villages or one farmer suicide in every block in the country last year. One of India's leading newspapers reported this story recently.  In midst of Government apathy this journalist has been documenting these stories.

To read contributions by the other Friday Fictioneers click here

20 comments :

  1. Topical take on the prompt Subroto. And very sad too.

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    1. It is a sad subject. Thanks for reading and commenting Sandra.

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    1. Thanks Ce, I am glad you liked it.

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  3. Wow, how sad. We went through a period here where a lot of farmers were losing their land due to foreclosure. The only way you can make a living farming in America is on a grand scale, and that takes money. Farmers go deeply in debt for equipment, seed, and fertilizer--then, if the crop doesn't pan out they've no way of repaying the debt.

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    1. Thanks Russell, it is indeed strange that as the world population grows and lives longer, we rely on farmers to enable a sustainable food supply. But farmers everywhere face various food production challenges that make it difficult to make a living.

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  4. Sad story... because it is too real. Like Russell said, so many farmers struggle.

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    1. Much more than we consumers realize. Thanks for your comments Dale.

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  5. Dear Subroto,

    A sad but well told story. All too true for small farmers around the world. I defer to Russell's comment. My husband is from a farming family and we saw his uncle go in debt more than once. Again, very well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Thank you Rochelle. that photo of the parched land set me off.

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  6. Farmers are just getting fewer and fewer... If the pace is gentle and alternatives exist it could work.. But an end like this change is coming too quickly.

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    1. The challenges faced by the small scale farmers are indeed many and you are right alternatives exist, but that is a challenge in itself. Thanks for reading and commenting Björn.

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  7. It seems to be the same everywhere. Very sad, good story.

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    1. It is a sad scenario that needs to be addressed. Thanks for your comments GaH, I am glad you liked it.

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  8. Nice impact at the end, makes the point well.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Perry.

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  9. Anonymous2:43 pm

    sad story...

    I came here to boost your readership :). Do you write other posts too? Other than 100 word stories for Friday Fictioneers? I just find the 100 word thing very limiting and unsatisfying...

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    1. Thank for the boost ;-)
      There is other stuff to read, the categories are at the top.

      Try writing a few entries, you will find it is good exercise in a) writing, b) learning to convey more through lesser number of words & c) an addictive writing exercise

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  10. I just hate it when I read of a farmer's suicide. It's extremely sad and happens far too often. Well done, Subroto. ___ Suzanne

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    1. Far too often these days. Thanks for your comments Suzanne.

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