India's Agriculture Minister fiddles, while the country faces the heat on food prices.

The media has finally woken up to the gross incompetence of the Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar that has led Indian agriculture into a mess. So far, the nation had remained oblivious to the games Sharad Pawar had been playing to corporatise farming, and facilitate interests of big business, including sugar industry and the GM industry. Agriculture remains outside the purview of the national focus, and therefore escapes public scrutiny. But the stupendous rise in food prices, continuing for more than a year now, has brought the attention of the nation on Sharad Pawar.

I have throughout maintained that the food prices are on an upswing because the Ministry for Food and Agriculture wants the prices to rise. There is no other reason why the prices should go up. At the same time, if it was not for the compulsions of the coalition politics, I am sure any strong government would have removed the Food and Agriculture minister by now.

Anyway, this editorial in the Deccan Herald today speaks of the games Sharad Pawar has been playing. I sometime wonder how and why is the nation tolerating a minister who has failed to measure upto the expectations.

Pawar's games

"The minister has tended to forget his responsibilities"

Union food and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has again created an awkward situation for the UPA government by predicting that milk prices will soon be increased. As if on cue from the top, prices in Maharashtra are set to be hiked. It is not for the first time that Pawar’s avoidable remarks have given a boost to prices. He had recently said that sugar prices will remain high in the country in the foreseeable future. Sugar prices were already on fire and the minister’s comment reassured the hoarders and blackmarkeers that the government was not expecting the prices to come down. That could have only given them more confidence. Pawar has unfortunately tended to forget that his responsibility is to see that the prices of essential items do not go beyond the reach of common people. When the prices of all food items are increasing, here is a minister who is almost talking up the prices.

The comment rightly invited immediate criticism from chief ministers like Mayawati and Nitish Kumar, and opposition parties. Even the UPA found it difficult to defend the minister and the best defence the Congress could make was to state that he should find a solution if there was a problem. Pawar’s recent performance as a minister has not reflected his long political experience and reputation as an administrator. He may be losing the political touch, instincts may be failing with age, or time, energy and attention may be getting diverted. There has also been criticism that big lobbies and vested interests thrived in his shadow. Businesses like sugar represent such interests. Whether caused by intentional mischief, incompetence or indiscretion, Pawar’s conduct has not helped the cause of the government.

Milk prices have increased by over 10 per cent in the last one year. When the minister suggests that there is scope for further increase because of falling supply and rising demand, that is a signal for producers to think of better prices, justified or not. That cannot be taken as good management of the price situation. Even when the general price situation was deteriorating, Pawar was blaming the state governments for the situation. It is easy to find scapegoats and excuses but claims that do not carry conviction and blaming others for one’s own faults can best be avoided. It is unfortunate that an important ministry is so mishandled by a person who once wanted to be the country’s prime minister.

Monarch butterfly is on its way out

For those who love nature, and the wonderful creatures of nature, here is a disturbing news. The beautiful monarch butterflies that you have seen ever since you were a child is finding it difficult to survive. Their habitat is under a severe threat. Perhaps one of the main reasons for their dwindling population is the spread of GM crops.

Read this para from the enclosed report: "Although weather can affect population numbers from year to year, Dr. Taylor said, the monarchs have been suffering from a loss of habitat. One problem is the massive expansion in the amount of genetically modified corn and soybeans planted by farmers. These crops have led to an increase in herbicide use, which has eliminated milkweed plants that the butterfly larvae depend on for food."

The full report Monarch Butterfly count at a record low can be viewed at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/monarch-butterfly-count-at-a-record-low/article1435827/

India to observe a nationwide fast against Bt brinjal on Jan 30, Mahatma's martyrdom day.

A tug of war has begun on the contentious issue of commercial approval for Bt brinjal, India's first 'poisonous' food crop. Ignoring the peoples' verdict, some ministers have now come out openly in support of Bt brinjal.

Leading the pack is Food and Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, who has otherwise made a mess of Indian agriculture. Food prices have been rising for over a year breaking the past ten year record. Ever since he took over as Food and Agriculture Minister, and that was in 2004 (under UPA-I), agricultural imports have multiplied. He turned the country into world's biggest importer of wheat in 2006-07 and that too at a time when there was no shortfall in production. Subsequently, he has opened up the country to a flood of imports -- edible oil, pulses, sugar, spices, fruits, vegetables and milk.

Everytime he opens his mouth, international prices shoot up, as a result of which India is forced to import at a higher price. Prices in India have been on an upswing, and many believe that his ministry has been according protection to hoarders and speculators. On top of it, he says he is not an astrologer, and then the next day says that his ministry has nothing to do with rising prices.

Sharad Pawar has lost touch with the people. He now only talks of the industry. No wonder, he is aggressively pushing for the Bt brinjal. His outburst against the Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has set a debate rolling. The Congress Party has very subtly backed the Environment Minister. You can read more about the squabble in The Times of India (Jan 22, 2009) In fight over Bt brinjal, Cong backs Jairam. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/In-fight-over-Bt-brinjal-Cong-backs-Jairam/articleshow/5490726.cms

While the political masters are fighting it out at the top, the aam aadmi has decided to express his rejection of the technology by following Mahatma Gandhi's way of expressing anger and disgust -- observing a day long fast. More importantly, the nationwide fast is happening on Jan 30, Mahatma's martyrdom day. A subtle reminder that the nation is once again faced with a threat to national sovereignty, and we have to adopt the peaceful Gandhigiri approach to ward off the evil forces.

Dr V S Vijayan, chairman of the Kerala Biodiversity Board, calls it the 2nd Quit India movement.

Bt brinjal is the beginning of a take-over. If the nation remains quiet, and accept the first genetically modified 'poisonous' food crop, it will be trigger a flood of such poisonous crops, and eventually the take-over of country's agriculture, farming, and food. As someone has said "..if you want to take control over societies, control food."

So wherever you are on Jan 30, please go on a solemn fast. Ask your family members, and your immediate neighbours, friends and relatives to join in. If you can look for an event in your city where people are collecting and sitting on a prayer, please join. But even if there is no formal event planned, observe a day long fast in any case. Do it, and you will see the collective power of the peoples' energies.

Here is a news report that announces the nationwide fast against Bt brinjal.

Bt brinjal: Kerala to join fast
Special Correspondent

NGOs are holding the nation-wide protest on January 30

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government will join the proposed nation-wide protest against Bt brinjal on Martyr’s Day.

Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran called upon the people of the State on Friday to join the fast being organised by non-governmental organisations on January 30 to protect farming, health and environment. The people could join the fast at their homes or offices.

The Minister told a press conference here that the decision of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee favouring the release of Bt brinjal for cultivation in the country lacked transparency. Details such as the scientific basis for the conclusions of the committee, factors considered by the committee and any dissent within the committee should be disclosed.

Not endorsed by WHO

Mr. Ratnakaran said the World Health Organisation and several European countries had not favoured consumption of genetically- modified (GM) food.

Referring to an article by Union Minister of State for Agriculture K.V. Thomas supporting the release of the technology, Mr. Ratnakaran said Prof. Mr. Thomas should be stating his opinion not in his individual capacity but as a Minister. Kerala was a biodiversity hotspot and could not allow its biodiversity to be contaminated.

Poet Sugathakumari, who attended the press conference along with others, said the release of Bt brinjal was the beginning of the release of more varieties of genetically- modified crops. The long-term impact of GM crops on the biodiversity would be known only later. She said that agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan had told her that he had recommended the establishment of government testing laboratory for GM crops as far back as in 2004.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/23/stories/2010012359570700.htm

Cows on the streets. You don't need to feel ashamed.

I too have been often asked this question. I feel that cows on the street is a reflection of the biodiversity we have. In fact, I go into a cheerful mood when I find elephants and camels on roads. At times of marriages, it is not unusual to find white horses on the streets (and mercifully, no one objects).

In any case, cows in the streets is also a reflection of the misplaced emphasis the nation paid on importing the exotic cows and cross-breeding our domestic breeds. As a result of this indiscriminate crossbreeding, more than 80 per cent of our cows have become non-descript. While we feel ashamed of our cows, Brazil has become the biggest exporter of Indian breeds of cows. At least four breeds, and that includes Gir, Kankrej and Ongole, are producing as much milk as Jersey and HF does. If only we had paid attention to our own cows, and built our own remarkable breeds, our cows wouldn't have been treated so badly by our own people.

Don't be angry when the next time you see a cow in the street. Remember, you are in a way responsible for her plight. Read what Biju Negi has to say. I found a very sensitive and meaningful response from him on this issue on the Punjabeco-crisis list. I would like to share it with you.

I, for one, even welcome cows on the road. They make it so much more human (if I may use the term) and earthy. They represent a life that is fast being lost, that eqully urgently we must recover.

Why, are the roads meant only for the cars? Must the roads be only for the cars? We seem to accept that nothing else matters. And so, the spaces for everything else except cars (the unchallenged demagogues and murderers of human existence - just think whether you agree with this statement) has become profane and so considered worthy of being 'acquired' or rather confiscated. It is the same mindset that marginalizes the cyclists and walkers on the road, that sees the municipality confiscating the meagre possession of the hawkers under the pretext of 'road safety' or 'cleanliness' drives!

Were the cows taken into consideration when the roads were built? It is like people and farmers not being considered, when SEZs are made to come up, forced upon the people. I see a cow on the road as representative of the marginalization of our agriculture, our small food producers, our traditions, and a symbol of the need to pull back the 'fast' pace of life that we are blindly getting into, and the symbol of the need to go 'slow'. For me, a cow on the road is a desperate reminder of what we are losing, a desperate call for what we must not lose.

So, where does, where must a cow go, what does or must it do, when her normal spaces are being 'eaten up' by thoughtless urbanization and even more thoughtless urban planning? I feel very good when I see a cow doing 'jugaali', sitting on the middle of the road, almost as if unmindful of the trafiic passing all around her. For her, it is the only way she can protest - quiet, firm, non-violent. I see it as the need for the cow to assert her sovereignty. I see it as a gentle reminder to us of what we must assert.

Biju Negi

To Bt or not to Bt

For quite sometime Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw has been commenting on the need to have GM crops. While we appreciate what she has done in her biotech business, but I think it is always advisable to keep yourself confined to your areas of specialisation. Treading into areas (read agriculture) about which you know little can be dangerous, and this is what she often does.

I was asked to respond to some of her remarks. Here is a brief news report that incorporates my response. Titled To be or not to Bt, the report appeared in the Bangalore edition of the New Indian Express.

To Bt or not to Bt

Imran Khan/Jayadevan PK

BANGALORE, Jan 20: There is a false propaganda against Bt Brinjal, said Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CMD, Biocon on Tuesday.

However, she was quick to be countered by food policy expert Devinder Sharma, who said Mazumdar was only interested in ‘making money’ and therefore does not mind ‘lying’.

Speaking for Bt brinjal and the use of biotechnology in agriculture at a curtain raiser event for Bangalore Bio 2010, Shaw said, “There is a danger of false propaganda against Bt, especially at a time when it is going commercial”.

She said, “We need to tackle this on a scientific basis. Bt is a very safe science and we are all very responsible stakeholders.

Agri-biotech can prove very helpful for the country.” The scientists and policy analysts, though, are divided on the issue.

In an online conversation with the Express, Sharma said, “Bt is a hazardous technology, and will poison successive generations.

People have rejected the technology and one should respect the sentiments of the people.” He terming the environmental clearance accorded by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) to Bt Brinjal as biggest “scientific fraud” in the country. The report, he alleged, “blatantly ignored dangerous impact of Bt brinjal on the organs of rats and other animals”.

He said, “There is a strong conflict of interest with several members of the committee being responsible for or associated with the development of Bt brinjal.” “It has been established that compared to Bt bio-pesticide sprays, the concentration of Bt toxin in Bt brinjal is thousand times more,” he added.

"There have been animal deaths after they grazed on Bt cotton leaves in Andhra Pradesh and Haryana. Bt is supposed to kill sucking pests like pink bollworm in cotton and thereby reduce pesticides consumption.

This, however, does not hold true for long.” Citing the case of China, Sharma said farmers growing Bt cotton are now reported to be spraying eight per cent more pesticides and incurring losses. This report is based on a study conducted by the Cornell University, he added.

Responding to the pro-GM argument that Bt in agriculture will ensure food security, Sharma said: “There is no shortage of food in the world. We have 6.5 billion people on Earth and we produce food for 11.5 billion people.

If more than one billion people are going to bed hungry, it is because of the faulty distribution process rather than the unavailability of food.”

State horticulture dept says no Bt brinjal

A senior official of the horticulture department said, “The department has submitted a report in this regard to the state government. But overall, our position is ’No to Bt brinjal’.’’ President of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Kodihalli Chandrashekar, said, “For the past 15 years, we have been fighting against genetic engineering technology. When Bt cotton was introduced, we even burnt the trial fields of Cargill and Monsanto. Bt brinjal is harmful not only to the environment but also for human beings. Hence, when Jairam Ramesh will be in town on January 25, we will hold protest in large numbers.”

While people say No to Bt Brinjal; ministers and officials begin to sing 'Bt is safe' chorus

The Gujarat baloon has been punctured.

I have heard time and again that Gujarat had a wonderful experience with Bt cotton and therefore would throw a red carpet for Bt brinjal. I have always thought that farmers preference for Bt cotton was actually at the behest of a favourable weather that we witnessed for the past four to five years. Cotton yields, whether of Bt variety or non-Bt, were high across the spectrum because the weather was not conducive to the growth of the dreaded bollworm pest.

Nevertheless, we will talk about it later. But first let us see what transpired at the 3rd National Consultation on Bt brinjal held at Ahmedabad on Jan 19. Contrary to all expectations (of the seed industry), Ahmedabad turned out in big numbers and said a loud NO to Bt brinjal. I am told close to 74 per cent of the people who were given a chance to voice their opinion, said No to Bt brinjal.

Interestingly, the honeymoon with farmers is also getting over. A majority of the farmers were against Bt brinjal. Eighteen farmers oppposed Bt brinjal, where as 12 said they favoured the technology.

You can read about the Ahmedabad event in this report from the edition of the Ahmedabad Mirror titled: No Bt-ing around the bush, please http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/20100120201001200225271132130546/No-Bting-around-the-bush-please.html

So, in all the three National Consultations so far -- held at Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar and Ahmedabad -- people have expressed their opposition to the harmful technology.

Knowing that the people have rejected the technology, the GM industry is now shifting the focus to the class of people with whom they hobnob and obviously are more comfortable with. Yes, you guessed it right. These are the ministers and the bureaucrats, who seem to have launched an orchestrated campaign vouching for the safety of Bt brinjal.

I am surprised at the statement of the Science & Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan. He was quoted in The Hindu in a New Delhi dateline report (Jan 18): Even as the debate over the release of Bt Brinjal for commercial cultivation continues unabated, Union Science and Technology Minister, Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday asserted that the genetically modified variety of the popular vegetable was ``safe’’.

``We stand by the results of the trials done by the regulatory bodies. It is safe for all’’, he said, replying to a volley of questions over the controversy at an interaction with journalists here.

This is in clear contradication to what his colleague, Minister for Environment & Forests Jairam Ramesh, has to say about the safety aspect of Bt brinjal. A report published in Indian Express, datelined Ahmedabad (Jan 20), states: Admitting that all the environmental and bio-safety tests on Bt Brinjal in the country were done at private laboratories, Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said here on Tuesday that he had taken up the issue of setting up a full-fledged laboratory with the Centre.

How can Mr Chavan "stand by" the results of the trial done by the regulatory body (read GEAC), when these trials have actually been done in private labs.

The others to join the safety chorus are the Secretary of Department of Biotechnology, M K Bhan; and Samir Brahamchari, Director General of the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR). While I can understand the compulsions of Mr Bhan, whose mandate is to promote GM crops/research, why has the CSIR DG stood up in favour of the GM technology, I fail to comprehend. It only tells us about the reach of the private GM companies, and the power they yield.

I think Mr Brahamchari should spend time to resurrect his own organisation, which I understand has reached probably its lowest ebb in recent years. CSIR has failed to bring science and technology to the benefit of rural India. It needs to focus on developing simple, cheap and appropriate technology for rural population rather than spend time and money replicating what the private industry is doing in biotechnology.

A news report quotes both of them, and I share the relevant portions with you:

Thirty best scientists have cleared it and we stand by it. I am a health professional and let me tell that BT Brinjal is absolutely safe for all mammals,” said M.K. Bhan, secretary in the department biotechnology.

“It’s safe for the human body and it’s safer technology,” Bhan added.

This is the first time a ministry has openly supported the genetically modified product despite protests across the country.

“I don’t know whether people will like the taste or not but it is safe for all humans. Let me also say that adopting this technology will help thousands of farmers,” said Samir Bramhachari, chief of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the apex body of government-run research institutions.

The full report can be seen at : http://blog.taragana.com/health/2010/01/19/bt-brinjal-safe-for-humans-says-science-ministry-18435/

Needless to say, both the statements are factually wrong. And it is primarily for this reason that I have been demanding accountability in science. We must realise that scientists are no longer holy cows. They are easily influenced, and have made several faulty recommendations in the past. It is the common people who are left to suffer.

We cannot allow this anymore. Each human life is precious. The time has come when we need to bring in stiff provisions ensuring accountability in science.

A resounding No to Bt Brinjal across the country

It was a busy and triting day today. A strong and loud verdict against Bt brinjal came from three cities across the country. First, at the 2nd National Consultation held at Bhubaneshwar in Orissa, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, announced that with the State saying a loud and clear No to Bt brinjal, more than 60 per cent of the brinjal growing areas of the country -- Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa -- have formally rejected genetically modified brinjal.

I will bring you a report of the Bhubaneshwar event tomorrow.

But first let me share with you two more Bt brinjal events that happened in Hyderabad (in Andhra Pradesh) and in Baroda (Gujarat). My colleague Dr Ramanjaneyulu of the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture was at a meeting organised by the AP University for Agriculture. He tells me that the AP Agricultural University has formally opposed the introduction of Bt brinjal, and also called for a moratorium on Bt brinjal. This is encouraging indeed, and it is probably for the first time that agricultural scientists have asked for more tests.

I however would like to draw your attention to the report that Dr Ramanjaneyulu has sent me. I am pasting it below, and you will be amused to read about the role played by IARI scientists in promoting Bt brinjal. in fact, IARI is becoming a centre of national shame the way it unabashedly is promoting the commercial interests of the biotechnology companies. I hope Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is reading this. But I do not expect Sharad Pawar to take any cognisance of what his scientists are doing, because he too is pushing for an unwanted technology at the cost of farmers.

Meanwhile, I was in Baroda today, and had a long day. Starting with a preparatory meeting, followed by a press conference, I joined a silent march taken by concerned citizens in the city today culminating in submission of a memorandum addressed to the President and Prime Minister. The memorandum was presented to the Collector of the district, and he promised to forward it to the top functionaries. This peaceful march, organised by the Baroda-based voluntary organisation Jatan -- A Mision for Organic Farming along with several volunteers, attracted a lot of attention from shopkeepers and onlookers.

I was particularly very happy to see the involvement of the people. A lot of women, men and young students joined this rally, and this gives me strength and hope. When people take control over what they should eat, I am sure the industry and the agricultural scientists will behave.

And now, take a look at the report from Hyderabad:

Finally AP Government says no to Bt Brinjal. Today a meeting was organised by Acharya NG Ranga University and AP Horticulture University with farmers unions, farmers, NGOs and other concerned
people on the decision on bt brinjal. Earlier, Govt had appointed a three member expert committee with two vice chancellors Dr. Raghava Reddy of Agri. University and Dr. Shikamani of Horticulture University and Sri. Pankaj Diwedi, IAS, Agri Production Commissioner.

The committee has unanimously recommended to State govt that Bt brinjal is not needed as there are several good varieties already under cultivation and the safety issues are still under question and all the studies need to be done again against best varieties and technologies.

In today's meeting Dr. Anandkumar (of IARI New Delhi) made a "wonderful" presentation obviously expressing his intent to sell bt brinjal and made my job easier to say these men are the regulator (Several people including a scientist from agri university said he looked more like a salesman than a scientist or a regulator).

All the leaders from farmers unions dismissed the claims by Dr. Anandkumar and said they have seen several problems with bt cotton. The farmers from several districts also raised the issues very well.
Prof Purushottam Reddy opened the discussion saying environment concerns are more imp than yield or any thing else. AP Rytusangam (both CPI and CPM), AP Shepherds union, Telugu Rytu, AP kisan cell said completely NO. CIFA representative,who earlier on many occassions opposed bt cotton/bt brinjal, said technology should not be opposed just because it is developed by MNCs if it has problems we need to do proper testing.


I could get some 15 min times after lunch for my presentation. 


Surprise came with Vice Chancellor of Horticulture university who said there is no need for such technologies in brinjal. He said we should have a clear Environment Risk Assessment system in place and test against and do proper risk assessment if a relevance is established in any case. Both vice chancellors requested farmers unions to give in writing to Jairam Ramesh which will strengthen their report.

Kolkata public hearing: "Bt gene is stress intolerant"

As I picked up the newspapers at the Kolkata airport the day after the first National Consultation on Bt brinjal was held at the Bose Institute on Jan 13, I could sense the discomfort the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) and the seed company Mahyco (who are pushing for Bt brinjal) must have felt.

Every newspaper had prominantly carried reports of the consultation. The Times of India for instance sprang a surprise (normally, TOI downplays such issues) with its headline: Thumbs down to Bt brinjal and had a sub headline: Vociferous Opposition to 'Poisonous" vegetable in Stormy Meeting. I am providing you the links for some of the news reports below.

At the consultation, I was quite surprised by the surge of public outcry and anger against Bt brinjal in particular and the GM technology in general. Speaker after speaker, and that included retired agricultural scientists, entomologists, the farm technocrats association, the veterinarians association, the indian medical association, farmers and others stood up and questioned not only the flawed regulatory process but also the technology.

The Farm Technocrats and the Veterinary Association made a very forceful intervention, even challenging the claims of Mahyco seed company (and the DBT) on the extent of pest damage. The farm technocrat representative for instance said that they being involved with farmers at the grassroot level, know for sure that the damage by foot and shoot borer does not exceed 10 per cent on an average. "The claim that food borer damages upto 70 per cent is completely wrong," he said, adding: "if the insect attack is 60 to 70 per cent, please tell me why are the farmers then still continuing to cultivate brinjal?"

While nearly 200 people were protesting outside the venue, inside the atmosphere was equally charged. At times, the Minister for Environment Forests Jairam Ramesh did lose his cool on a couple of occasions, but I think generally he handled the consultation quite well. Yes, he did  threaten to file a libel case against me, but that outburst needs to be overlooked. Please don't read too much into that brief episode, as such off-the-cuff remarks do fly around when you are tense.

Unfortunately, as a speaker mentioned: Bt gene is stress intolerant.

I am in fact overwhelmed by your messages pouring in from various parts of the country. I am also thankful to the lawyers who have extended their hand to me in case a defamation case is slapped against me. Well...well...as I said earlier there is no reason to get charged up. I have earlier been threatened by ministers in India and Nepal, and I am quite used to it. In fact, I would like someday to share with you the brisk political developments that followed when a former chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, the late Mr Ram Lal, threatened to eliminate me. I was then the Shimla Correspondent for Indian Express. But that's for some other day.

Returning back to the Kolkata consultation, I must tell you that the Mahyco brigade was quite in attendance. Among those I could spot were Mr Raju Barwale, and Mr M K Sharma. The GEAC was represented by its chairman, Mr Farooqui, and its member secretary, Ms Rajni Warrior. Besides, I met Mr Tripathi of the Department of Biotechnology and Dr K C Bansal of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute.

Except for Dr Bansal, who is trying to project himself as the face for the pro-technology group of scientists, none of the others I named spoke.

Interestingly, not many of the industry-sponsored participants took the mike but whenever there was a speaker in favour of Bt brinjal, you could hear a loud applause from the same section of the audience. Nothing wrong. In a democratic society, we must provide space to divergent views. At the same time, the media was in full attendance showing clearly how important and crucial the final decision on Bt brinjal is going to be for the nation.

The national consultations (or public hearings) being held are actually mandated under Environmental Impact Assessment.

What intrigues me is the manner in which the role of GEAC is being down played. The environmental clearance given by the GEAC (based on the report of the Expert Committee-II) is what needs to be revisited. The EC-II report is a scientific scandal, and has to be exposed. We cannot allow the quiet burial of one of the biggest scientific scandals in the history of Indian science.

People must raise their voice demanding the re-opening of the EC-II report, and at the same time demand liability clause to be included if anything goes wrong with the technology.

Anyway, here are a couple of news report about the Kolkata consultations:

Bt brinjal booed at first hearing
http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/kolkata/Bt-brinjal-booed-at-first-hearing/Article1-497189.aspx

Protests mark first public consultative meeting on Bt brinjal
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article80318.ece

Interest-free micro-finance is possible .... a lesson from Pakistan

While most of you were shocked to learn that the micro-finance insitutions (MFIs) are on a 'looting' spree, extracting their pound of flesh in the name of development, there were some (ostensibly involved in micro-finance business) who were angry with me for 'not understanding' the compulsions of their business model.

They feel they are doing a great service to mankind for lending small amounts to poorerst of the poor at an exorbitant interest rate of 24 to 26 per cent. And they have stories to share about the positive change the small loans have brought to the lives of the poor. After all, how can I be so cruel to them (by them, I don't mean the poor, but the real beneficiaries -- the people earning their livelihood from lending through micro-finance).

I am glad my track of what I consider as the micro-finance swindle has brought into focus a lot of hitherto little known facts. I have learnt a lot from the exchanges that followed, and without exception I have posted all the comments that I received. Meanwhile, here is a letter that I received from Pakistan that I am not only going to share with you, but I feel is the model of micro-finance that India needs to urgently adopt.

I hope the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is listening, and so are our brand of young leaders. Please esnure that those who are unable to follow, and have problems shifting to this model, should be asked to quit the MFI sector. There should be no scope for entertaining any apology. After all, we are playing with human lives.

Dr Amjad Saqib provided a loan of Pakistan Rupee 10,000 to a widow for buying a sewing machine in 2001. She eventually set up a small home-based boutique and returned the entire amount in the given time. Her success and return of the entire amount within the promised time-frame led to the creation of a pool of money for the poor – then recovering it so to recycle indefinitely. The organization soon gained credibility and gradually people offered more donations and lent more money to more groups on a guarantee basis with monitoring and evaluation at regular intervals, ensuring accountability and support to the borrowers.

This was the beginning of a unique and true concept of micro-finance. "Akhuwat" -- as the micro-finance organisation is called -- has since then successfully opened 28 branches in 16 cities of the country. Its cumulative disbursement has exceeded PKR 600 million and the number of beneficiaries has exceeded 50,000 in the past eight years with a phenomenal recovery rate of 99.8% which adds to its tremendous achievements. You can know more from www.akhuwat.org.pk

Imagine, the poorest being provide interest-free small loans !

Sehyr Anis, a volunteer with "Akhuwat," has sent me this moving letter. I am posting relevant extracts:

Dear Mr. Sharma

This is in response to your letter dated January 05, 2010. addressed to Mr. Lokesh Singh. Let me first take this opportunity to appreciate your vision of a low cost or interst-free micro-credit system for the poor and needy, which shall pave a revolutionary path towards an economically and socially prosperous society.

It is highly unfortunate that micro-finance organizations all over the world have become a victim of capitalist practices where market principles dictate the objectives rather than principles of social welfare. Sky-rocketing interest rates, necessitated by the high transaction costs incurred in micro-finance, only hurl the poor in the vicious cycle of poverty rather than improving their minimum living standard. I believe, before the situation worsens, it is the right time to reflect if micro-finance as a business venture rather than a philanthropic endeavor can sustain for long. The only survival for micro-finance is to make it into an extremely low-cost or interest-free practice for all times to come and emancipate the poor from the clutches of exorbitant interest-rates.

I myself am associated as a volunteer at an interest-free micro-finance organization "Akhuwat", based in Pakistan, whose mission is in consonance with your ideals of micro-finance. Akhuwat provides an alternative, out-of-box solution to the on-going debate of exorbitant interest-rates now synonymous with MFIs around the world and has been able to successfully achieve what its critics have deemed as impossible. "Akhuwat" is the first of its kind and teh only interst-free micro-finance NGO, successfully operating and growing enviably and nearing sustainability.

It was formed in the year 2001 by Dr. Amjad Saqib, its founder and Executive Director (amjadsaqib1@gmail.com), and till now has successfully opened 28 branches in 16 cities of the country. Its cumulative disbursement has exceeded PKR 600 million and the number of beneficiaries has exceeded 50,000 in the past eight years with a phenomenal recovery rate of 99.8% which adds to its tremendous achievements.

The premise of Akhuwat is interest-free loans (qarz-e-hasna) and its vision has been to foster a sense of common ownership and community among the borrowers and donors. It is the spirit of philanthropy and volunteerism and not profit-making that is the raison d'etre of its growing success.

It all began with an interest-free loan (qarz-e-hasana) of Rs. 10,000 provided to a widowed woman who did not believe in charity and wanted to buy a sewing machine to start a small home-based boutique. Her success and return of the entire amount within the promised time-frame led to the creation of a pool of money for the poor – then recovering it so to recycle indefinitely. The organization soon gained credibility and gradually people offered more donations and lent more money to more groups on a guarantee basis with monitoring and evaluation at regular intervals, ensuring accountability and support to the borrowers.

Akhuwat offers a diverse loan portfolio which reflects the economic needs of the community. All transactions take place at the local mosque or church where loans are promoted to the community after prayers, given out and collected. However, it is important to mention here that Akhuwat is not a religious organization. Having a mosque or church-centered structure provides an avenue for community participation and awareness and also creates a sense of good-will amongst people. Most importantly, this cuts organizational costs.

I believe if Akhuwat can achieve its mission to sustain and expand an interest-free micro-finance organization, this model can also be replicated around the world to help the poorest of the poor to realize their dreams.

I would like you to visit Akhuwat’s website or contact me or Dr. Amjad Saqib (copied in this mail) for more details.

With Best Regards
Sehyr Anis

Newspaper Articles

Farmer suicides in Vidharbha come in handy to promote Bt cotton

Yesterday, I watched an excellent discussion about the role of media (essentially the TRP-driven TV Channels) on the IBN 7 Channel. This one hour programme did a lot of introspection with some senior journalists on the panel, and I was mighty impressed with the anchor who didn't feel shy in asking some difficult questions and therefore was able to extract the right answers.

If media begins to really introspect and take corrective steps I am sure it can resurrect its poor image. Otherwise, the media, which is now a laughing stock, will sonner than expected slide into the dustbin of history.

I wake up in the morning, pick up my daily newspapers, and realise that it may not be that easy for the media to walk the talk. There are huge versted interests, which are quite clearly visible. Newspapers are business entities, and therefore market the products surruptiously in the garb of news. I draw your attention to a front page news in The Indian Express today: First time in 4 years, annual suicide tally in Vidharbha is below 1,000.

The blurb below spills out the business connection. It says - Key to the dip: Rs 1,300-crore loan waiver, Bt cotton crop, market prices. Now this line played up by the newspaper will leave an impression on you that Bt cotton was the saviour. Knowing that the Corporate giant Reliance has been backing Indian Express, and knowing that the newspaper has time and again carried unsubstantiated reports promoting Bt cotton, you are not surprised at this sub-head.

But then, the average reader is unable to draw the connection. The headline therefore leaves a wrong impression on him, and he/she thinks that Bt cotton is a good technology. And if you read the report carefully, except for a mention of Bt cotton, there is nothing to support this argument.

Even Kishore Tiwari, who heads the Vidharbha Jan Andolan Samiti, is quoted in the report as saying that the falling figure of suicides is a welcome sign. Positive measures like loan waiver, release of credit and good prices of cotton have undoubtedly helped. Nowhere does he talk about the role Bt cotton played in mitigating suicides. In fact, we all know by now, Bt cotton had created more problems in the Vidharbha belt, and has actually been responsible for thousands of farmers to take the fatal route.

That 90 per cent of the cotton seed being used by farmers belong to the Bt cotton variety is no reason to celebrate its success. What is not known is that the seed companies, and the government, have worked hard to ensure that the non-Bt cotton seed disappears from the market. So if you go to the Vidharbha region, and ask for non-Bt cotton seed from seed dealers in the market, you will not be able to get even 100 gms.

The only option left for the farmers therefore is to buy what is available, and its only Bt cotton seed that is available.

Economists will not take this aspect into their analysis and for obvious reasons. You therefore have faulty and biased economic analysis coming out from institutes even  as respected as Tata Institute of Social Sciences. In fact, I have been saying for long that agricultural economists are in a way also responsible for the prevailing agrarian crisis. They had all these years been telling farmers how much they can earn from farming using the chemical inputs. They painted a rosy picture luring gullible farmers into a virtual trap. They weaved figures (of profits) which turned out to be eventually untrue.

No wonder, 40 per cent farmers want to quit agriculture if given a choice. And over 200,000 have taken to gallows since 1997.

I will bring you more about the Bt cotton story as we go along. Meanwhile, you can read the Indian Express report by clicking on this link: http://epaper.indianexpress.com/IE/IEH/2010/01/10/ArticleHtmls/10_01_2010_001_008.shtml?Mode=1

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The Nano Avtar threatening your food

While India is debating the need for GM crops, the global food industry is quitely moving forward using the still more dangerous technology option. Nanotechnology is now being increasingly used by the food industry to produce, among other things, foods with different colors.

A report published by the House of Lords Committee Science and Technology Committee tells us that at least 84 food products and packagings that using nanotechnology are available worldwide. The Lords committee heard that the global market for food nanotechnology will increase from $410 million (£260 million) in 2006 to $5.8 billion by 2012.

Scary indeed, knowing that the food industry is keeping the entire nano operations away from the public glare. I am sure India would be a major dumping ground for such unwanted foods. I am however not sure how many of such products are already in the Indian market.

My friend Mark Griffith of the Natural Law Publishing in Wessex has been tracking the controversy surrounding GM crops and also following the developments in nanotechnology. He says the notion that science has the capacity to assess the long-term health impacts of these minute novel particles in food is crass in the extreme. The techno fanatics believe, for example, that such feeble 'benefits' as making your food change colour when it approaches its use-by expiry justify all this.

By the time this is combined with GM ingredients coming generations can look forward to a veritable 'slow drip' witches brew on their plates.

Mark regrets that we never learned the lesson of trans fats, another artificial food supposed to have been good for consumers, but which decades later science finally admitted had been responsible for killing millions. For more on the trans fats 'experience' see http://www.nlpwessex.org/docs/transfats.htm

If you want to know briefly what nanotechnology is quietly doing to your food, read this report from The Times, London.

Secretive food firms risk public backlash, Lords warn
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6979809.ece

By Mark Henderson, Science Editor
Jan 8, 2010

The secretive attitude of food companies towards nanotechnology research risks starting a consumer backlash against products that could improve health and reduce waste, a parliamentary inquiry has found.

Nanomaterials that are 800 times finer than a human hair have the potential to deliver foods that are very low in fat and salt and packaging that changes colour when food is spoiled because of the strange properties of molecules at such a small scale. Their development, however, has also raised safety concerns because their effects on humans are poorly understood.

These fears have inspired a culture of secrecy about nanotechnology in the food industry because it is worried about a repeat of the GM crop safety scare, according to a report from the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee. This lack of transparency could encourage exactly the sort of mistrust that companies hope to avoid.

The committee also found significant gaps in scientific understanding of the toxicology of nanomaterials, which need to be addressed urgently with new research so that they can be regulated effectively.

Nanomaterials are attractive to the food industry because their very small size gives them different properties from larger molecules. The attractive tastes of salt and fat could be achieved with lower quantities if nanoparticles are used, making healthier mayonnaise or ice cream. Nanomaterials that change colour on contact with the by-products of decomposing food could be used in smart packaging.

While nanotechnology is not used in food in Britain, at least 84 food products and packagings are available worldwide. The Lords committee heard that the global market for food nanotechnology will increase from $410 million (£260 million) in 2006 to $5.8 billion by 2012.

However, the committee said that food companies had avoided discussing the products that they were developing.

“The food industry was very reluctant to put its head above the parapet and declare openly what kind of research was going on to develop nanotechnology,” said Lord Krebs, the former chairman of the Food Standards Agency, who chaired the inquiry. “Part of the reason is that it got its fingers burnt over GM technology, so it’s attempting to keep a very low profile.

“Our view is that this is exactly the wrong approach. Our view is that secrecy is more likely to generate a backlash than being open, particularly as there are potentially consumer benefits.”

A farming model to sustain the world

Ten years from now, in 2020, when we try to look back, Indian agriculture and for that matter global agriculture can be transformed into a healthy and vibrant system where farmer suicides have been relegated to history, where distress and despondency has been replaced by the lost pride in farming, where agriculture becomes truly sustainable in the long run, and does not add heat to the global environment. 

As we enter 2010, the script for a futuristic agriculture which brings back the smile on the face of farmers, without leaving any scar on the environment, is being rewritten.

What began as a small initiative some six years back in a non-descript village in Khamam district, has now spread to over 20 lakh acres in 21 districts of Andhra Pradesh. I remember when I first talked about the miracle brought about in village Pannukula in Andhra Pradesh, many thought I was simply trying to romanticise agriculture. How farming can be done without the use of chemical pesticides, I was repeatedly asked.

Pannukula dug out a lonely furrow, but eventually blazed a trail. In the next four years, more than 318,000 farmers in 21 out of the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh have discarded the intensive chemical farming systems, and shifted to a more sustainable, economically viable and ecologically friendly agriculture. A silent revolution is in the offing. In Kharif 2009, some 14 lakh acres was covered with what is now known as Community Managed Sustainable Agriculture (CMSA).

As I write this in the first week of January 2010, the area had expanded to 20 lakh acres of 21 districts. Six lakh acres increase in a farming system that does not use chemical pesticides, and is also phasing out chemical fertiliser, that too in matter of few months, is a record of sorts. And all this has happened without any push from the government agencies and the private sector. I see no reason why this environmentally safe, and a farmer-friendly system of sustainable agriculture, cannot cover 200 million acres across the country in another ten years or so if the government gets serious.

Six lakh acres increase in a farming system that does not use chemical pesticides, and is also phasing out chemical fertiliser, that too in matter of few months, is a record of sorts. Ten years from now, in 2020, when we try to look back, Indian agriculture can be transformed into a healthy and vibrant system where farmer suicides have been relegated to history, where distress and despondency has been replaced by the lost pride in farming, and where agriculture becomes sustainable in the long run and does not result in climate change.

What began as an experiment to evolve a farming system without the application of chemical pesticides is now also phasing out the use of chemical fertilisers. It uses a mixture of scientific proven technologies, indigenous knowledge and traditional wisdom. Farmers are replacing chemical fertilisers and pesticides with microbial formulations, intensive use of composting techniques, vermi-composting, and apply bio-fertilisers, and use bio-extracts for controlling pests.

It therefore brought in a complete shift from conventional agriculture and offered secure and stable livelihoods. The crop yields have remained the same, the pest attack has drastically reduced, and the soil is returning back to its natural fertility levels. As soil fertility improves over the years, crop yields have started going up still further. More importantly, farmer's expenditure on health problems emanating from pesticides application has also gone down by 40 per cent on an average.

There is more money now in the hands of the farmers. The cost of cultivation per acre has also come down by 33 per cent. Take the case of cotton, a CMSA farmer saves more than Rs 12,500 per hectare in a year on account of no application of pesticides alone. With his crop productivity remaining stable, cotton farmers have got a new lease of life. The environment too has become healthier and safe.

Normally, 56 per cent of the cost of cotton cultivation is primarily on account of pesticides. And don't forget, elsewhere in the State and for that matter in the country, 70 per cent of the farmers who are committing suicide are engaged in cotton cultivation. No farmer has committed suicide in the areas where non-pesticides management system of farming is being followed.

More money in the hands of farmers means less debt. I haven't seen any other village in the country in past three decades of my work in agriculture, which has been able to recover its entire mortgaged land from the money lenders in just three years of adopting non-pesticides management. This happened in village Ramachandrapuram in Khamam district where all 75 farmers have even paid back the outstanding rate of interest.

Studies in five districts show that out of the 467 families that had mortgaged their land, at least 386 have recovered it in two years time.

This is a roadmap for the future of Indian agriculture, and for that global agriculture. It not only provides a sustainable path, with a very low carbon footprint, and has tremendous potential to remove poverty and hunger. It has been conclusively demonstrated that household food security has improved with a 40 per cent drop in the purchase of food from the market. The crop yields have gone up, and farmers are now able to cultivate two crops in a year. This is the Zero Hunger model that I normally talk about which needs to be adopted under the proposed National Food Security Act.

Women and farmer Self Help Groups' play a critical role in CMSA. Savings have increased, and a federation of 850,675 self-help groups now involves 10 million women from the poor households. This federation now holds a corpus of US $ 1.5 billion providing a bundle of economic services. No wonder, sustainable agriculture without external inputs can revolutionise the rural landscape, where hunger and poverty becomes history.

India is divided into three nations: Manhattan, India and Bharat

At a national seminar on 'Challenges of Growing Rural-Urban Disparities' in New Delhi the other day, I met a very impressive line up of distinguished economists and policy makers. The more opportunities I get to meet them, the more I become disenchanted. I think most of them have no idea of how the country looks like, and probably have no clue as to what needs to be done. For them, it is business as usual.

Speaking briefly in a session on 'Challenges of Accelerated, Diversified and Inclusive Growth', I drove home the point that the fundamental cause behind the worsening urban-rural divide (as well as climate change) is the model of growth economics itself. Unless the economists demonstrate courage to challenge the prevailing economic paradigm, it is futile to talk of inclusive growth.

In fact, mainline economists, like the agricultural scientists, have also failed the society.

The urban-rural divide in India is no longer to be seen through the lense of the popular two-nation concept: India and Bharat. The geographical borders of the country now comprise three nations: Manhattan, India and Bharat. Manhattan are the Special Economic Zones (SEZ), an euphemism for princely Estates that are being carved out in the name of economic growth. India comprise the urban centres, and Bharat of course denotes the poor and backward rural countryside.

While all resources (including natural wealth) of Bharat is being diverted to feed the growing demand of Manhattan and India, the nation feels satisfied that it has given the poor in the 600,000 villages of Bharat a magic potion in the form of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (popularly called NREGA), promising assured employment for 100 days in a year to the poor.

In other words, NREGA has become the Surf Excel for all ailments that the urban-rural divide exhibit.

If you have seen the advertisement for the Surf Excel detergent, you would understand what I am trying to say. A child falls down and his clothes get dirty. He looks upto his mother, and she says: "Don't worry. Surf Excel hai na." Similarly, the poor have nothing to worry from the continuous onslaught over their resources, from increasing marginalisation, being pushed deeper and deeper into the cesspool of poverty and deprivation.

NREGA hai na.

My new book: 'Bhookh Ka Asli Chehra' (The Real Face of Hunger)

It is time for a commercial break now.

I take this opportunity to introduce my new book -- Bhookh Ka Asli Chehra (The Real Face of Hunger) -- published in Hindi. It has still not been formally launched, but I received an advance copy from the publishers yesterday.

The book (230 pages) has been published by the South Asian Dialogues on Ecological Democracy (SADED) in New Delhi.

I can't say much about what the book says. To give you an idea, I would rather reproduce what is stated on the back cover:

This book contains Devinder Sharma’s incisive analysis and interpretation of the politics and games being played in the name of hunger, free trade and food security. In his own inimitable style, Sharma exposes the myth of utopian growth and sustainable development that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) promises to usher in. Drawing a clear connection between corporate control, political power and commercial greed, Sharma amplifies the market and technology transfer processes that are likely to destroy food self-sufficiency and aggravate problems of food security and hunger in the developing world.

For more information, please write to Mr Vijay Pratap at info@saded.in or networkscommunication@gmail.com  

Response to Microfinance Article, and my reply

Mr Lokesh Singh, CEO of Sanchetna Microfinance, has very kindly responded to my article on microfinance. His letter, published on http://www.indiamicrofinance.com/, was brought to my attention by an avid reader. I am penning down my reply below, with the hope that the microfinance industry will wake up and realise that the poor beneficiaries are not only mere figures in their balance-sheets, but are human beings too.

Dear Mr Lokesh Singh,

Thank you very much for your letter dated Jan 1, 2010.

First of all, I am glad you appreciate my concern for the poor. Not only me, I am sure any sensible Indian would be aghast to learn that the poorest of the poor are being charged such a high rate of interest for the smallest of the small loans.

While the 24 to 26 per cent rate of interest (for an average loan of Rs 7000) may make perfect business sense for the MFIs, but seen from the eye of the loanee it is nothing short of an organised crime. I think we need to put ourselves in their place and then see how far the rate of interest that the MFIs charge, is justified.

The other day I was on a TV show. I felt amused when the chairman of a financial company disclosed on the show that his company was planning to enter the housing sector, and would provide a loan of Rs 5 lakh on 8 per cent interest, and Rs 20 lakh for 8.5 per cent interest. Isn't it shocking that for a higher amount you have to pay a very nominal rate of interest whereas for a pittance you are charged exorbitantly.

There would always be stories of some women in some remote corner making a livelihood from opening a paan shop from the small loan she got as microfinance. SEWA does that exceptionally well. Basix has hood-winked the policy makers to believe their stories. Muhammed Yunus has built an Empire selling his microfinance. There are others like them doing the same in more than 134 countries. The common thread being that they are all exploiting the poor, divesting the poor of their hard earned money, living off the hungry stomachs.  

I feel outraged at this systematic exploitation that goes unchecked. I think the time has come to launch an international campaign to weed out these unscrupulous brand of organised money lenders. I am overwhelmed by the response that has poured in ever since I began trailing the MFI claims. I am sure slowly but steadily the voice against this unbrazen exploitation will gain strength, and the poor will get the much needed respite. 

I am looking for the day when the poorest of the poor gets a microfinance loan at not more than 4 per cent rate of interest. Whether it makes business sense or not to provide small loans at 4 per cent interest rate is not important. What is important is whether the poor can get loans at a nominal interest so as to carve out a sustainable livelihood for themselves. 

There is no question of winning brownie points. I am more determined to win a brownie future for the poor and marginalised. I am aware that there are many among the existing MFIs who feel equally concerned about the poor. I am hoping that people like you would also join my campaign to bring some sanity to the microfinance business. We need to look out of the box and come out with viable alternatives. With help from people like you, I am sure we would be able to build a better tomorrow for the poor.

Regards
Devinder Sharma

Mr Lokesh Singh's letter is placed below:

Response to Microfinance Article by Devinder Sharma
Published on http://www.microfinance.com/ Jan 1 2010 

Dear Mr. Sharma,

Though as much I like the sympathy that you have for the poor of the country I could not disagree more with you. The article that you have been writing show the shallow knowledge that you have about the entire dynamics of poverty and how to get rid of it.

Though you have been more than vitriolic with your criticism for the entire system which has evolved because of the market failure to reach the poor but to my surprise you do not offer any alternative system to this. By just focusing on interest rate (which I think is important factor but definitely not the most important) you are missing the woods for the jungle.

It is very easy to criticize but had you been little more objective with your observation then you would have realized that the cost of funds to the MFIs itself comes to 13 – 14% plus if you add the cost of conducting meeting with the borrowers every week in the villages and the entire systems part to that the combined cost would be at least 22%.In such a scenario it will take either some ultra-rich guy to dole out money from his/her pocket to get people out of poverty or some body who has no sense about doing business. I do not know which one you would prefer but I think none of this will be long lasting solutions to the problem at hand.

Please mind this that I in no way defending some dark horses which might be involved in profiteering but you can not paint everyone with the same brush. Please learn how to distinguish between what you perceive to be bad and what is bad.

In case if you want to discuss this objectively rather than going after winning brownie points you can always discuss this with me.

Lokesh Singh

Lokesh – lokesh.singh@sanchetnaindia.com
Devinder Sharma can be contacted at hunger55@gmail.com

http://indiamicrofinance.com/blog/microfinance/microfinance-articles/response-to-microfinance-article-of-devinder-sharma.html

A Bt Walk in Chennai

When people begin to take control over what are termed as public issues, things begin to change in the right direction. History is replete with such examples. I don't have to reassert the importance of creating public awareness, and what it can do to bring about a meaningful change.

More importantly, the need for people to understand what public policies mean to them. Are these public policies, like the Public Schools in India (there is nothing public about the Public Schools), actually promoting the commercial interests of the companies? I am eagerly waiting for the day when the public begins to scrutinise the so called public policies, and the public takes over the Public Schools.

I was pretty taken by surprise when I heard that a group of people in Chennai were planning to organise a Bt Walk, and thereby creating more awareness among people about the need to take cotrol over their food chain. I must confess that I do not know much about SWAT (the Society for Welfare of All Things), which is behind this peoples' initiative to take the issue of Bt brinjal to the people, but it certainly gives me hope.

Hope in the sense that the day is not far away when people will wake up from deep slumber and question the need and relevance of these unwanted technologies. The Marari panchayat in Kerala did that a few days back with its unique Brinjal Festival (you probably read about it in my previous blog posting). SWAT is following it up with its Bt Walk in Chennai.

And as someone had said: "It takes a village, and then another village, and then another...and a revolution is born."

Here is what SWAT is planning:

THE Bt WALK

A SWAT INITIATIVE TO SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT GM FOODS

SWAT (Society for Welfare of All Things) is a registered Non-Governmental Organization, working towards the upliftment of our society and our environment without any boundaries or bias.

Monsanto, a U.S.-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation, is trying to introduce BT Brinjal (Genetically Modified Brinjal) into the Indian market. The dangers of untested genetically modified (GM) food are mind boggling. Italy, Greece, Austria, Poland and numerous other nations have banned GM food. Innumerable deaths and complications have been recorded all over the world because of GM food.

Developing nations which do not have concrete laws against GM are easy targets for these MNCs. GM foods are patented, meaning, farmers don’t own their seeds anymore. This will give the MNCs an ominous control over our food industry.
In view of this, SWAT will be conducting an awareness rally, THE Bt WALK, on the 5th of January, where all our volunteers will be in an Open Terrace meet, at

VENUE : Jains Eden Park
              No:4, Judge Jambulingam Road.,
              Chennai – 600 004

TIME :   2:00 PM
DATE :  05/01/2010 (Tuesday)

After an initial session regarding GM food; the current BT Brinjal crisis, our volunteers, with their faces painted thematically, will take to the streets and interact with the general public, spreading awareness about GM food and the hazards that surround it. Brinjals with messages written on them will be given to the public. We hope to educate people about their rights to choose what they wish to eat and the current scenario of GM food in India and in other countries. We hope you can support us in the endeavor by providing us media support and coverage.

GAJAN SOORIAN
VIVEK MURALIDHARAN

Call for a moratorium on GM Foods

In the dense fog blanket that covers up entire north India, the only bright spot was a four column news report on the back page of The Hindu today.  Titled: "Call for moratorium on GM Foods" the news report from the ongoing Mararikulam Brinjal Festival being held in Kerala did cheer me up.

Mararikulam is a small panchayat in Kerala.

My colleague Sridhar R who has been part of the organising team informs that every day some 15,000 to 20,000 people are visiting the brinjal mela. This is not surprising considering that awareness about biodiversity has never been on the public agenda. People are keen to know but sadly the educational institutes as well as the government are not interested.

I wish the Ministry for Environment & Forests (MoEF), which has the responsibility of preserving and conserving India's rich biodiversity, takes this brinjal mela to different parts of the country. If a panchayat can do it, why can't the MoEF be made to replicate the initiative throughout the country? Also, let us not forget that 2010 is also the UN International Year of Biodiversity.

It will be a sensible effort on the part of MoEF to sensitise the people about the diversity of plants that lie in our own backyards, and which is being discarded simply because the scientific community is keen to help the private seed and biotech companies to plunder the available genetic wealth for the sake of corporate profits. MoEF job is not only to endorse the fraudulent conclusions of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC).

It can also direct the National Biodiversity Authority to create wider awareness about the brinjal biodiversity that exists in the country. The NBA has so far confined itself to merely accessing biodiversity for commercial purposes. It is high time the Minister for Environment Jairam Ramesh directs NBA to take on its fundamental role of spreading more awareness about India's mega-diveristy.

Meanwhile, here is The Hindu news report: 

Call for moratorium on GM Foods

Scientist P.M. Bhargava speaks at the national seminar held as part of the Mararikulam Brinjal Festival in Alappuzha on Saturday. Kerala Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac, Karnataka State Women’s University Vice-Chancellor Geetha Bali, environmental activists Dinesh Abrol and Suman Sahai and others are present -- The Hindu pix

ALAPPUZHA: Noted scientist and founder of the Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, P.M. Bhargava, has called for a moratorium of at least eight years on genetically modified (GM) food products in India.

Inaugurating a national seminar on Bt. Brinjal and Alternatives in Agriculture at the Mararikulam Brinjal Festival here on Saturday, Dr. Bhargava said the moratorium period should be used to set up an independent laboratory in the public sector exclusively for risk assessment of GM products. Only after extensive research at this lab should any GM product be considered for approval as a commercial product in the country, he said.

'Ludicrous document’

Lambasting the report based on which the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee’s Expert Committee II, headed by Arjula R. Reddy, recommended the approval of Bt. Brinjal, Dr. Bhargava said the report was “full of lies and absurdities,” a “ludicrous document that brought down Indian science in front of the whole world,” and one which looked like it had been written by the public relations officer of the Mahyco-Monsanto collaboration, the makers of Bt. Brinjal.

Further, Arjula R. Reddy confided in me that he was under tremendous pressure to clear it. Many tests that should have been done were not done. Those that were done were not done properly. Further, the report is based more on data supplied by Monsanto, a company with an abominable record,” he said.

“The widespread aversion to GM food products also cannot be ignored. A majority in the U.S., the European Union and Japan among others are against it. Even Zambia and Nigeria have stood up against GM food products. If India still approves Bt. Brinjal, that will be the single, greatest tragedy in the history of independent India,” Dr. Bhargava said.

These points would be conveyed to Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh during the public hearing on Bt. Brinjal in Hyderabad on January 22.

‘Decisive intervention’

Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac, who said the Mararikulam North Grama Panchayat was “acting locally but thinking globally” through the ongoing Brinjal Festival, added that the panchayat was also attempting a decisive intervention in national policy.

The State government had already decided to keep Kerala totally GM-free while the panchayat wanted sufficient precautions and research on Bt. Brinjal.

Noted environmental activists Suman Sahai (of the Gene Campaign), Karnataka State Women’s University Vice-Chancellor Geetha Bali, Dinesh Abrol of the All-India People’s Science Network and others also spoke.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/03/stories/2010010360911800.htm

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Poison on the platter - Say NO to GM Food

Poison on the Platter”, is an eye-opening film, made by Mahesh Bhatt and Ajay Kanchan, illustrating how all of our lives are gonna be (adversely) affected by genetically modified foods. It is no more a farmer’s issue alone, it’s a matter of the consumers’ right to food safety. You and I wouldn’t even be able to separate/choose a normal Brinjal from/over a GM one, if Bt Brinjal - a GM crop produced by the mighty agri-MNC Monsanto - is let through by our corrupt regulatory body. Let’s put up strong resistance, demanding a ban on GM food/crops for 5 years, until they are proven safe for human consumption by independent, long-term studies

Poison on the Platter - Full length @ Yahoo! Video

About

Devinder Sharma is an award winning journalist, author, thinker and is internationally respected for his incisive analysis on food and agriculture.

Trained as an agricultural scientist, Sharma has been formerly with the Indian Express, and then left journalism to research and analyse policy implications on free trade and agriculture, biodiversity and patenting, genetic engineering and corporate control, and its implications for food security and the survival of the farming communities.

Passionately involved in fighting hunger, he continues to be one of the strongest voices against the international and national policies that acerbate the crisis in hunger and malnutrition. Sharma was also on the forefront of the recent nationwide movement that saw India reject the first genetically modified food crop -- Bt brinjal.

Widely traveled and honored, he chairs the New Delhi-collective Forum for Biotechnology & Food Security. The popular Indian weekly The Week had in its Independent Day Special issue (Aug 19, 2009) named Devinder Sharma among the 25 Most Valuable Indians.

Two inspiring lessons for farmers, from farmers

As 2009 fades into history, let me begin by sharing two relevant news items that you can use. Moreso, at a time when the world is racing towards global warming and turning fertile agricultural lands into deserts, we need to provide everlasting solutions to the innumerable problems created in the name of growth economics.

To begin with, I draw your attention to my earlier blog about this amazing farmer breeder in Varanasi who has developed some 100 improved plant varieties. In case you missed it, here is the posting: You have to meet this farmer breeder. He has developed more than 100 improved crop varieties (http://devinder-sharma.blogspot.com/2009/11/you-have-meet-this-farmer-breeder-he.html).

Prakash Singh Raghuvanshi has just returned from his travels to Poona and Jalna districts in Maharashtra. Like all of us, he has been much concerned about the plight of farmers, perpetually in distress, in the infamous Vidharba belt in Maharashtra. He strongly feels that one of the major reasons behind the farm distress is that these farmers have handed over the control over their crop seeds to private seed companies. "Once you allow the seed companies to dictate to you, you not only lose your sovereignty but also become dependent upon them for all times to come," he says, adding : "This is beginning of the end of farming."

Raghuvanshi has therefore been telling fellow farmers to take control over their seeds. For the past 6-7 years, hundreds of farmers in Jalna district have been cultivating Kudrat-9 and Kudrat-17 wheat varieties that Raghuvanshi developed. These two dwarf varieties are basically selections from the RR-21 wheat (Rust Resistant Sonalika variety) that he made in 1991-92, and are resistant to the tambera disease that afflicts wheat in the Maharashtra region).

With the help of farmers from Jalna, who provided him with 20 quintals of seeds (and an additional 12 quintals he brought with him from Varanasi), Raghuvanshi distributed 32 quintals of wheat seed, in packs of 100gm each, to over 25,000 farmers in the two districts. Isn't this inspiring to begin the New Year with? What a powerful message Raghuvanshi leaves behind.

I think this is an outstanding feat, and is a lesson for all of us involved in farming and agriculture. After all, when farmers realise the advantages from controlling their own seed supply, they come forward to share the seed without any profit motive. I am sure similar initiatives must be happening in other parts of the country too. If you know of any, please let me know. Let us build a farmers movement where sharing of seeds and  its related traditional knowledge is revived.

The second feat that I wish to share with you is the effort that a farmer in Jind district of Haryana has made, to find a natural control for the mealy bug menace in cotton. As you are aware, mealy bug has suddenly emerged as a major pest of cotton, especially after the introduction of Bt cotton. Farmers have incured huge losses as a result of the expensive pesticides they were made to purchase to control this dangerous pest. Mealy bug has in fact become a multi-billion rupee business for the pesticides industry.

Surender Dalal has been relentlessly on the mealy bug trail. He has done a lot of research on the subject, and is now very confident that the harmless and attractive Lady beetle (scientifically called Coccinella septempunctata) is the right predator for the mealy bug. It feeds merrily on the mealy bug. You can watch a small video on this natural pest control. This video has been prepared with help from farmers in rajpura, igrah, nidana, roopgarh and lalit khera villages in Jind district.

Our ally in war against mealy bug
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalalsure/4227291625/

Who said farmers are not innovators! Give them the right enabling environment, and they will provide you the right solutions for sustainable farming.

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