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From seeds of suicide to seeds of hope


  3. JanforGore
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The increasing costs of production and the falling farm prices that go hand in hand with globalisation and corporate hijack of seed supply, combined with the decline in farm credit is putting an unbearable debt burden on farmers. The lure of huge profits linked with clever advertising strategies evolved by the seeds and chemical industries are forcing farmers into a chemical treadmill and a debt trap. It has been witnessed that across the country, farmers are taking the desperate step of ending their life. The pesticides, which had created debt, also became the source of ending indebted lives. More than 150,000 farmers have committed suicide in India due to distortions introduced in agriculture as a result of trade liberalisation. More than 20,000 farmers have committed suicide in Andhra Pradesh alone. After the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July 2006, the suicide has increased alarmingly, reaching more than 1400 with debt trap cotton farmers putting an end to their lives in Vidharbha region alone.

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Apart from providing guidance and help to the farmers for the revival of agriculture, Navdanya, under the "Asha ke Beej" (Seeds of Hope) program, distributed the indigenous variety of seeds to the farmers and encouraged them to shift to organic and sustainable agriculture. More than 6000 farmers were distributed indigenous seeds.

Navdanya also realized that one of the crisis farmers were facing was a seed famine created by Monsanto. Navdanya therefore started a seed bank in Kalaspur village. And on 2nd and 3rd June seeds were distributed from the seed bank in villages in Vidharbha.

Navdanya is committed to ending the vicious cycle of violence in agriculture, which is leading to farmers' suicides. We are committed to strengthening the virtuous cycles of peace based on cooperation with nature and among communities to promote a sustainable and life enhancing food system.
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People taking it upon themselves to fight Monsanto and give people hope gives me hope. Dr. Vandana Shiva is a woman who has been fighting for farmers and women, and against Monsanto and corporate ownership of seeds and resources including water for years. She is a heroine whom I personally love and respect very much for her tireless work on behalf of others.
JanforGore

8 responses // From seeds of suicide to seeds of hope

  • http://current.com/items/88946721_debt_woes_drive_thous...
    Debt woes drive thousands of Indian farmers to sucide.

    Now with inflation in India hitting 11% prices will only rise. I truly feel that we are approaching a time in our history when revolution globally will take hold. Those companies like Monsanto cannot thrive forever on such tactics.
    JanforGore
  • Agricultural warfare, what a concept. This is so cruel and devoid of humanity to destroy the livelihoods of vulnerable people. Monsanto doesn't seem to have any good intentions; just a relentless pursuit of greed.
    jubal
  • http://current.com/items/89016683_dr_vandana_shiva_now_...
    More regarding Monsanto and water.

    This is what Monsanto thinks of the business opoortunitites to be derived from preying on the vulnerable in our world.

    John Bastin of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development has said, "Water is the last infrastructure frontier for private investors."

    Doesn't matter how many die as long as they get theirs.
    JanforGore
  • http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2005/07/seeds_o...
    This is a great report on this basically unreported tragedy from PBS which debuted about three years ago (you can watch the video at the link.) Sadly, this has been going on since the late nineties with no end in sight. Death by pesticide and GM cotton which leads to debt they cannot free themselves from. The vicious cycle perpetrated by multi-nationals and governments in search of profit over life.That is why to see people like Dr. Vandana Shiva and the Seeds of Hope program working to do what they can to overcome it is a good positive turn.

    Unfortunately however, the rating system on this station is not permitting this important issue to be seen by as many people as should be. How almost FIFTY percent can redlight this shows either an immense meanspiritedness on the part of others here, or trolls are running amuck. Either way, it is grossly unfair and I will continue to voice that everytime I see it on an important story here.
    JanforGore
  • I think this is a very important story and I have been sharing it with people.

    Greenlight from me.
    jubal
  • People don't you get it, companies have patents on seeds, then they enforce their patents by monopolizing the seed production and distribution within a country, then they extort vast sums from the populace. They don't even allow them to grow their own, you have to grow theirs.

    That is why this is so important. Freedom to engage in agriculture is fundamental to the survival of these people being savagely exploited. That is why the work of these seed banks is so important.
    jubal
  • Agriculture is the root (no pun intended) of our very existence. Without control of the food or the water to grow it we are at the mercy of those who will dictate to us what to grow and how to grow it to best suit their needs not ours. I suppose it will not be seen as important like so many things until it hits home... of course it already has since GM foods I am sure are in our own diets without our knowledge. But that's OK, let Monsanto, Cargill, EXXON and all the rest of them run this Earth into the ground... maybe only then will people see this as important when it hits them personally. And Jubal, thank you for your support on these threads.
    JanforGore
  • I think it already is starting to affect people in this country personally.

    I know it has in my tiny corner of the world. Local farmer's markets are proliferating all the time. We have so many local farmers committed to using more natural methods of pest control and helping to preserve the water quality and the decontamination of the land.

    The major market chains are now carrying more and more organic local produce and choices because the market demand is there. They have to compete with the market chains dedicated to whole, natural, and organic foods as their mainstay of commerce.

    I think it all boils down to education. Nutrition education is severely lacking in this country and children need to have emphasized to them the importance of clean, free food that we have a natural god given right to enjoy.

    The audacity of these people who seek to deprive basic human rights to water and food and self sufficiency angers me to no end.
    jubal

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