That's the catch phrase of Indian agriculture. I definately remember from my school text-books that there is lots of fallow land, and uncultivable wastelands in our country. Though fallow lands are made use in some parts of the year, most of the time, it remains uncultivated. If we go in reverse, why are the industries pouncing on the agricultural lands?
1) there is lots of availability of water (Originally meant for irrigation of lands) which the industries can make use of.
2) The displaced farmers can become cheap sources of labour (The farmers will not have any source of livelihood when their farms are snached by the industries. They are recruited not because the industries are doing a favour, but because the farmers have got no choice whatsoever)
3) There will be plenty of land available for the industries to exploit, without touching the residential areas.
4) The industries will make use of the cheap power available in the agricultural region.
5) Road connectivity is really good (Originally meant for farmers to transport their produce)
These five points are the main reasons. But we must keep in mind that the industries too cannot survive withour adequate supply of land, water, transport, energy and labour force. They cannot come up in any distant land and start business. So, the government should make an endeavour to supply these essentials to the industries even in the distant locations. If this is done, the industries will not hesitate to leave the farmers and their farms alone. It is all left to the government. If the government provides this facilities to the industries, everything will be in harmony. But the real question is 'will the government do it?'


