Monday, June 30, 2014

WATCH: Krishi Panan Mandal initiates 'Thet Shetkari Te Grahak' Bazaar in Pune

 
 
 
Saam Marathi


Saturday, June 28, 2014

6 - 8 November, 2014 - An International Trade Fair on Organic Products

Key Highlights:
  • Kerela a strong emerging hub for Organic Industry
  • International Buyer’s Delegation
  • Global Agro Business Meet
  • Knowledge driven Conference Sessions & Workshops
Date 6 - 8 November, 2014
Venue Adlux International Convention Centre, Ernakulum, Kerala
Contact Ms Priya Sharma
Email priya.sharma@nm-india.com

SOURCE: http://ofai.org/2014/06/an-international-trade-fair-on-organic-products/

OFAI - Organic Farming School - 28-31 July 2014 - Course Medium Hindi - Chattarpur

Training organized for Farmers in North India to be held between 28th to 31st July 2014. The course medium shall be in Hindi. 

Please refer farmer for this course and if anyone would like to attend kindly register positively by 15th July. 

Also note, the attached notification, please print and distribute to farmers who may be interested in attending this course. 

Source:  

WATCH: Video: Folk Rice Conservation in Sundarban in Bengali (2014)


The Folk Rice Conservation by Dr. Anupam Paul, in Sundarban by Paschim Sridgharkathi Janakalyan Sangha, Jogeshgunj, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India. They are maintaining 300 folk rice varieties and more than 2000 farmers have takne their seeds in 2013. In most of the cases rice is grown with almost zero input, no need to add organic matter or pesticide, it is a riverine belt with delta and low lying fields. Water stagnation and salinity is very common as it is close to sea - The Bay of Bengal. In the vast stretch of water body one cannot apply any fertilizer or organic matter, rather it is not needed. Those who speak in favour (System of Rice Intensification) with young seedling may visit here to see the reverse case. Older seedlings of 30 days are transplanted 1.5 feet apart under water stagnation of 9 inches. The folk rice gives profuse tillering and grain yield 4 - 6 ton / ha depending the variety and land situation. Various farmers share their experiences.
Source: http://anupamfolkrice.blogspot.in/

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Preserving rice varieties for posterity

MYSORE, June 23, 2014

R. KRISHNA KUMAR

Rice diversity mapping has helped document over 300 varieties

Through a Participatory Rural Appraisal technique, volunteers collect information on the various rice varieties in villages.— FILE PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM
Through a Participatory Rural Appraisal technique, volunteers collect information on the various rice varieties in villages.— FILE PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM
A unique volunteer-driven effort to map the rice diversity of Karnataka has resulted in the documentation of more than 300 rice varieties.
The project, an ongoing process, does not entail government help and is born out of the deep-rooted desire of organic activists to celebrate the diversity of rice in the State and create a seed bank for posterity.
“The concept of documenting rice varieties in the State began almost 10 years ago. It coincided with the emergence of the ‘Save Our Rice Campaign’, a movement that spread across the country among farmer groups who rooted for indigenous rice varieties as they were suited for the local climate and soil conditions,” said Seema G. Prasad, State coordinator, Save Our Rice Campaign.
She told The Hindu that the emergence of the high-breed variety, promoted by the government, saw a large many farmers opting for it and this has led to mono-culture in the present times. “Hardly any farmer cultivates the high-yielding indigenous rice variety. As a result most rice varieties will be lost to posterity,” she said.
The mapping of rice varieties began when engineer-turned farmer Krishna Prasad, co-founder of Sahaja Samruddha, was determined to conserve as many rice varieties as possible and began networking with farmers. “We found that in each village there were a few farmers who were interested in the conservation of old rice varieties. Rice is not merely a crop but part of the cultural heritage of the land and its people. Some varieties have aromatic and medicinal properties and many proverbs and folk culture have evolved around them,” Mr. Prasad said.
Through a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) technique, volunteers and farmers collected information on various rice varieties in each village. They obtained information from farmers belonging to the older generation on the yield and adaptability to local soil and climate.
“Thus began the concept of seed mapping. The Bangarkovi variety, mainly grown in Mysore, is now rare and difficult to come by,” Mr. Prasad explained.
The painstaking effort of rice mapping has led to the documentation of over 300 indigenous varieties of rice unique to the State.
These varieties are available to farmers for cultivation through Sahaja Samruddha, a network comprising nearly 2,000 farmers, including rice breeders, and 30 organisations which are part of the rice conservation programme.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/preserving-rice-varieties-for-posterity/article6140284.ece

Monday, June 23, 2014

Why women in India are farming with diverse plants – and without pesticides

In India, many women are planting more than 20 different crops on their farms with nutrition – and not money – in mind. This type of farming stems back to previous generations. 

By Food Tank 

  • View Caption
Occupying much of south-central India, the Deccan Plateau represents a large swath of the country’s agricultural terrain. The region is home to three states, the major population centers of Bangalore and Hyderabad, and land used to cultivate many traditional crops, including sugar, maize, and sorghum. However, a growing number of peasant women, many organized within the Deccan Development Society (DDS), have taken the initiative to farm through unique, sustainable techniques that harken back generations. The implementation of diverse crops and organic growing methods devoid of chemicals and pesticides have resulted in the creation of a network and model through to feed families and communities successfully and improve livelihoods.
Planting a diversity of crops, these women farmers avoid many physical and mental heath problems found in large-scale Indian farming, and are able to feed their families effectively. According to the DDS, farmers who suffer from poor harvests often battle depression and suicide, and the successes realized by biodiverse planting alleviates many of these concerns. Many of the women plant more than 20 different crops on their land, ignoring scientists and economists that argue against cultivating crops that do not typically command high prices in the open market. In his profile on the region, P.V. Saathesh, a founder and the General Secretary of the DDS, cites the example of yellow sorghum, which is not a big money crop, is both nutritious and very resilient, growing in dry soil and sub-optimal conditions.
Deccan peasant women represent empowerment, tradition, and the strength that accompanies responsible living. With the ability to grow many different crops, these women can preserve their heritage by planting and cultivating foods that, while nutritious and delicious, are not typically grown on a modern industrial scale. Saathesh cites this type of “farm to table” agriculture as a simple yet powerful way to connect families, maintain aged and treasured cultural aspects, and live under a fairly low-income umbrella. Biodiverse farming allows women to build seed collections to be envied that support entire communities. Since 1998, annual Mobile Biodiversity Festivals attract over 150,000 farmers in the region, and the Indian National Biodiversity Board has labeled the area as an Agricultural Biodiversity Heritage Site. Encouraged by this recognition of their work, the women are measurably content with their results; a peasant woman named Mahbatpur Swaroopa noted that the farmers “…are totally disinterested in any monetary benefits. It is the recognition that (they) cherish.” The successes of their seed collections and biodiverse planting schemes have earned them respect from their husbands, appreciation from their families, and recognition from national organizations applauding their efforts.
Biodiversity has helped women peasant farmers in the Deccan Plateau of India construct positive, sustainable lives for their families, futures for their children, and empowerment for generations of Indian women to come. The DDS notes that by avoiding health problems that typically beset commercial farmers dependent on cash crops and chemical enhancements, the Deccan women can produce nutritious, cost-effective foods that are resistant to climate variations, adverse growing conditions, and provide lasting, measurable results for their communities.
Source: http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/The-Bite/2014/0622/Why-women-in-India-are-farming-with-diverse-plants-and-without-pesticides

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Kuthiraivaali cultivation promises to make farming profitable

THE HINDU | TODAY'S PAPER » NATIONAL » TAMIL NADU  
VIRUDHUNAGAR, June 21, 2014
S. SUNDAR

  • A farmer explaining the salient features of cultivating Kuthiraivaali (Barnyard Millet) during summer in Watrap region of Virudhunagar district.— Photo G. Moorthy
    A farmer explaining the salient features of cultivating Kuthiraivaali (Barnyard Millet) during summer in Watrap region of Virudhunagar district.— Photo G. Moorthy

Virudhunagar district to produce 12.5 tonnes of seeds

Summer cultivation of ‘Kuthiraivaali’ (Barnyard Millet), introduced for the first time by the Department of Agriculture, has been a hit among farmers of Virudhunagar district.

While, initially, officials found it tough to convince farmers to come forward to cultivate the minor millet as a major alternative crop to cotton and paddy, the success tasted by a few farmers has helped more farmers evince interest in this crop.

Virudhunagar has been chosen to produce 12.5 tonnes of ‘Kuthiraivaali’ seeds as part of the State government’s ambitious project to increase the area under millet cultivation to ensure food, fodder and livelihood security.

“We have given 125 kg of CO (KV) 2 seeds provided by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University to 25 farmers. Cultivation of minor millets has been taken up on 50 acres,” Joint Director of Agriculture K. Subbiah said. The seeds are expected to be ready by August for sowing in September across the State.

Assured yield
Deputy Director P. Vanniyarajan said diversification to millet cultivation, especially during summer, would give assured yield with higher returns.

P. Poongavanam, a farmer in W. Pudupatti, said he had increased the extent of summer cultivation to eight acres because of ‘Kuthiraivaali’ that consumed less than 50 per cent of the water required for paddy or cotton.

S. Vijayakumar (54) of Maharajapuram is used to rain-fed irrigation of ‘Kuthiraivaali.’ He expected more than double the yield now, thanks to the improved variety of seeds and modern irrigation technique.
Another farmer, R. Gnanagurusamy (63), said that cultivation of the minor millet had the advantages of less water and fertilizer, no pesticide and free from crop damage by birds and animals.

Input cost less
“The input cost is less because of decreased need for weeding and farm preparation,” he said.
Stating that the plants grew taller (up to 6.25 feet) under irrigated condition, the Assistant Director (Seed Certification), S. Ramamoorthy, said farmers had the benefit of getting more quantity of fodder.
Besides getting higher yield and higher price, farmers who have taken up ‘Kuthiraivaali’ for seed production are given higher price. “While the market price is Rs. 25 to 30 a kg, we have promised to give them Rs. 50 a kg,” Muthaiah, an Agricultural Officer, said.

The officials are also planning to set up a unit to process the minor millet at a cost of Rs. 2.20 lakh after forming a cluster of ‘Kuthiraivaali’ farmers. “The farmers will get a better price for value addition,” Mr. Vanniyarajan said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/kuthiraivaali-cultivation-promises-to-make-farming-profitable/article6135838.ece

Saturday, June 21, 2014

27th, 28th and 29th of June 2014 - Phase 1 Rice Characterization Training For Farmer-Conservators


Most biopiracy patents are logically and legally untenable, as they systematically violate the patentability clauses of “novelty” and “prior public knowledge”. This scientific training effort is first of its kind and is a part of the national movement for local sovereignty over biodiversity. It upholds people’s fundamental rights to their resources and knowledge through Community Biodiversity Registers (CBRs).  A special form of CBR which registers a significant part of indigenous agro biodiversity with its scientific characterization is essentially needed in different parts of the country. A workshop training in three phases – at three life history stages of the rice plant, is therefore proposed to train conservators/ farmers to create database in form of a special Community Biodiversity Registers (CBRs) for rice varieties.
 AIM:   To create a farmer database of their rice varieties, in order to prevent biopiracy of the heirloom varieties.
 OBJECTIVES:
1) To enable farmer-conservators to assess and document 52 characteristic descriptors of rice varieties.
2) To train farmer-conservators to rogue out the off-types based on selected descriptors in order to maintain genetic purity.
MODULE:
Training to be given in three phases – at three life history stages of the rice plant, namely:
3 DAYS during the Sowing stage (June): 6-10 days after sowing.
This phase of the training will include a day for methodological Introduction and orientation.
5 DAYS around the Flowering stage (August-September): Panicle initiation to milk stage: approx.
5 DAYS around the Harvesting stage (December): Maturity to post-harvest assessments.
Total: 13 days.
Dates for phase 1: 27th, 28th and 29th of June 2014
RESOURCE PERSON: Dr. Debal Deb, Basudha, Odisha
 SUBJECT OF TRAINING:
Assessment of 52 rice morphological characteristics/ descriptors, according to INGER and Biodiversity International guidelines
 INSTRUMENTS:  4 Hand lenses, 4 measuring tapes, Graph papers, pencils.
EXPECTED OUTCOME:
All trainees will be repeatedly examined and assisted until they attain full capability of rice characterization at the international standard, and qualify as trainers for farmer-conservators.
 OPTIMAL NUMBER OF TRAINEES:                      25 (off-campus accommodation)
 LOGISTICS:
1.      Participants or their NGOs have to bare their own train travel expenses to Odisha thrice in a year
2.      Simple food and accommodation at the field station will be provided by OFAI
REGISTRATION FEE: Rs. 400/ day/ person
A certificate will be issued by OFAI and Basudha for each participant on completion of the training.
For more information please contact:
Ms. Shamika Mone, OFAI
Phone: 08888862293
Source: http://ofai.org/

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Centre plans to turn eastern states into organic farming hub

IANS | Jun 16, 2014, 04.49PM IST

Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh said organic farming has more scope and potential to change the face of the eastern states.

PATNA: The central government is planning to turn India's eastern states into an organic farming-hub, Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh said here on Monday. 

"Our priority is to develop Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and eastern Uttar Pradesh into an organic farming hub for development of the region and to provide opportunity to millions of farmers to earn more," Singh told media persons. 

Singh, who hails from Bihar, said organic farming has more scope and potential to change the face of the eastern states. 

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly made it clear that development of eastern states is his priority and agriculture is very important sector for it," he said. 

Singh said without development of villages, farmers and agriculture, the country cannot grow and become stronger. "The government's priority is to work to strengthen the rural and village economy." 

Singh said farmers would be given soil health cards. "The government would issue soil health cards to farmers. By using these, farmers would increase their production through right seeds and fertilizers," he said. 

He said the National Democratic Alliance ( NDA) government also decided to launch Pradhan Mantri Gram Sinchai Yojna to give boost to agricultural produce in the country. 

It will be on the lines of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Centre-plans-to-turn-eastern-states-into-organic-farming-hub/articleshow/36662153.cms

Monday, June 16, 2014

Punjab farmers try religious route to shun pesticides

Date:Jun 15, 2014

Ask religious institutions to grow organic crops and accept organic crops as donation for langars
In Punjab, people follow a tradition of donating a part of their food produce to gurudwaras for feeding the poor (Photos by Jason Taylor)In Punjab, people follow a tradition of donating a part of their food produce to gurudwaras for feeding the poor (Photos by Jason Taylor)
Gurlal Singh and Jagdish Singh, farmers from Punjab, say the practice of ensuring food security through langars may actually be poisoning people because of the pesticide-laden good grown in the state   Gurlal Singh and Jagdish Singh, farmers from Punjab, say the practice of ensuring food security through langars may actually be poisoning people because of the pesticide-laden good grown in the stateIn Pandori Ragsangh village in Amritsar, farmer leader Gurlal Singh takes a large sip of hot milk and asks fellow farmer, Jagdish Singh, about the “poison.” “This year, there is too much of poison,” Jagdish replies. It takes a while to understand that the farmers are discussing  lethal pesticides used to grow wheat. While Gurlal and Jagdish have grown organic crops for family consumption on patches of their fields, they feel guilty while donating pesticide-laced food grains for langars or daswants.
For ages, Punjab has the rich tradition of donating a part of their food produce to gurudwaras for feeding the poor, also known as langar. They also follow a religious tradition of Daswant that means donating one-tenth of the produce to grurudwaras or to the community. Both Gurlal and Jagdish say that the practice aimed at ensuring food security is actually poisoning people by serving them nearly poison-laced food grains.
These guilt ridden farmers no longer want to remain silent. Lately, a section of farmers are demanding that religious institutions should serve organic grains to devotees. This will not only ensure good health of people but also encourage farmers to grow organic food, they say.
Read more on organic movement
While organisations like Dera Sacha Sauda, Radha Soami and institutions like Pingalwara are already growing organic crops on their fields, farmers are demanding that other religious organisations should follow suit and insist on accepting only organic crops as donations. “This will at least reduce the amounts of pesticides used by farmers,” says Gyani Kewal Singh of Pandori Ragsangh village in Amritsar.
Gyani Kewal Singh of Pandori Ragsangh village says if gurudwaras accept only organic produce, it will at least reduce amount pesticides used by farmers Gyani Kewal Singh of Pandori Ragsangh village says if gurudwaras accept only organic produce, it will at least reduce amount pesticides used by farmersPunjab farmers, who own 2.5 per cent of agricultural land in the country, use 18 per cent of the pesticides used, according to the state agriculture ministry. The Malwa region, known as the cotton belt of Punjab, accounts for 10 per cent of the pesticides used in the country.
Several studies have established that such high use of pesticides is resulting in high incidence of cancer and birth defects in the state. Recently, an epidemiological study sponsored by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and conducted by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Research (PGIMR) in Chandigarh has indicated that lethal pesticides used in the cotton belt of Punjab are causing major health problems, including cancer, reproductive disorder, birth of mentally retarded children and other pesticide-related diseases. The state accounts for 90 cancer patients per 100,000 while the national average is 80, according to the report. In 2013, the state has for the first time initiated headcount of cancer patients.
Jagtar Singh, a member of Kheti Virasat Mission that motivates farmers to adopt organic farming, claims that Punjab farmers are fed up of government policies on farming and have shifted their focus to religious leaders to pave a way for change. “Farmers have to take hefty loans to buy pesticides which they repay after harvest. It’s not that they are not eager to do organic farming, but they fear the loss and want a bailout package from the government,” he says.
Farmers of Pandori Rangsangh agree with Jagtar. “The government dumped pesticides on us during the Green Revolution,” says Gurlal. “Now we grow wheat but it rots in the open,” says an angry Jagdish. According to official figures, the state purchases around 14 million tonnes of wheat a year, while the storage capacity of the godowns of Food Corporation of India is only 6 million tonnes. Major Singh, another farmer of Pandori Rangsangh, says the government should have drafted an exit policy for curbing the use of pesticides once the goals of Green Revolution were achieved. “But it did not do so. Now things have gone out of control.”
Six months ago, Gurlal Singh and several other farmers submitted a petition to the Sri Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee (SGPC), urging that the committee should grow organic crops on its 320 hectare farm. In their petition, farmers have mentioned that food grains and vegetables used for serving people in langars and for preparing “kada prasad” should be organic. “This initiative would motivate the farmers to shun pesticides,” notes the petition. Though they are yet to receive a reply from SGPC, they have pinned their hope on god. Kewal Singh says, “The government has given us poison. Now only the god can clean it up.”


Source: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/punjab-farmers-try-religious-route-shun-pesticides

Saturday, June 14, 2014

जींद जिले के किसानों को कीट ज्ञान का पाठ पढ़ाएंगे कीट कमांडो किसान

जिले के पांच ब्लॉकों में चलेंगी किसान खेत पाठशालाएं

कृषि विभाग और कीट कमांडो किसान चलाएंगे पाठशालाएं

नरेंद्र कुंडू 

Friday, 13 June 2014

 किसान खेत पाठशाला का फाइल फोटो।

जींद। थाली को जहरमुक्त बनाने के लिए जिले के लगभग एक दर्जन गांवों में चल रही कीट ज्ञान की मुहिम अब जिले के दूसरे गांवों में भी फैलेगी। कीट ज्ञान की इस मुहिम से जुड़े कीट कमांडो किसान कृषि विभाग के अधिकारियों के साथ मिलकर जिले के दूसरे गांवों के किसानों को भी कीटों का ज्ञान देंगे। इसके लिए इस बार कृषि विभाग ने जिले के कॉटन बैल्ट के पांच ब्लॉकों का चयन किया है। कृषि विभाग द्वारा इन पांचों ब्लॉकों में सप्ताह में एक दिन किसान खेत पाठशाला का आयोजन किया जाएगा। सभी पाठशालाओं के लिए अलग-अलग दिन निर्धारित किए जाएंगे। कीट कमांडो किसान इन पाठशालाओं में मास्टर ट्रेनर के तौर पर शिरकत कर किसानों को कीटों की पहचान तथा उनके क्रियाकलापों के बारे में बारिकी से जानकारी देंगे। इन पाठशालाओं की एक खास बात यह भी होगी कि इन पांच पाठशालाओं में एक पाठशाला महिला किसानों की भी होगी।

फसलों में अंधाधुंध प्रयोग हो रहे कीटनाशकों के कारण दूषित हो रहे वातावरण तथा खान-पान को दूषित होने से बचाने के लिए वर्ष 2008  में जिले के निडाना गांव में डॉ. सुरेंद्र दलाल के नेतृत्व में निडाना तथा आस-पास के गांवों के किसानों ने कीट ज्ञान की मुहिम की शुरूआत की थी। यहां के किसानों ने फसलों में पाए जाने वाले शाकाहारी तथा मांसाहारी कीटों की पहचान कर फसल पर पडऩे वाले उनके प्रभाव पर भी बारिकी से शोध किया। किसानों द्वारा पिछले 5 -6  वर्षों से कीटों पर किये जा रहे शोध में एक मुख्य बात यह निकलकर सामने आई की किसानों द्वारा कीटनाशकों का प्रयोग कर बिना वजह बेजुबान कीटों को मारा जा रहा है। जबकि इन कीटों को मारने की कोई जरूरत ही नहीं है। क्योंकि पौधे समय-समय पर अपनी जरूरत के अनुसार भिन्न-भिन्न किस्म की सुगंध छोड़कर अपनी सुरक्षा के लिए कीटों को बुलाते हैं और कीट तो फसल का उत्पादन बढ़ाने में मुख्य सहायक की भूमिका निभाते हैं। ऐसे में किसान बिना जानकारी के इन बेजुबान कीटों की हत्या कर पाप के भागी बन रहे हैं और साथ की साथ वातावरण तथा खान-पान को भी जहरीला बना रहे हैं। अब इन किसानों ने इसी मुहिम के साथ जिले के अन्य किसानों को भी जोडऩे का निर्णय लिया है। इस मुहिम को जिले के अन्य किसानों तक पहुंचाने में कृषि विभाग इनका माध्यम बना है। कृषि विभाग द्वारा जिले के पांच ऐसे ब्लॉकों का चयन किया गया है जहां कपास का उत्पादन होता है। कृषि विभाग इन पांचों ब्लॉकों में सप्ताह में एक-एक दिन किसाना पाठशालाओं का आयोजन करेगा और यह पाठशालाएं लगभग 18 से 20 सप्ताह तक चलेंगी। सभी पाठशालाओं के लिए अलग-अलग दिन निर्धारित किये जाएंगे। इसकी एक खास बात यह भी रहेगी कि इन पांच पाठशालाओं में एक पाठशाला महिलाओं की भी चलाई जाएगी। इसके लिए कृषि विभाग ने पूरी योजना तैयार कर उच्च अधिकारियों से भी इसकी मंजूरी ले ली है जल्द ही इस योजना को अमलीजामा पहना दिया जाएगा।

किसानों के साथ सांझा करेंगे अपने अनुभव

किसान खेत पाठशालाओं में कीट कमांडो किसान मास्टर ट्रेनर के तौर पर शिरकत करेंगे। इस दौरान उनके साथ उस ब्लॉक के दो कृषि अधिकारी भी मौजूद रहेंगे। पाठशाला में मास्टर ट्रेनर किसान अन्य किसानों के साथ अपने अनुभव सांझा करेंगे और किसानों को फसल में पाए जाने वाले मांसाहारी तथा शाकाहारी कीटों की पहचान तथा उनके क्रियाकलापों के बारे में विस्तार से जानकारी देंगे। इस दौरान कीट कमांडो किसान अन्य किसानों को यह भी बताएंगे कि कीट आखिर हमारी फसल में क्यों आते हैं और यह किस तरह से उत्पादन बढ़ाने में सहायक हैं।

कहां-कहां चलेंगे किसान खेत पाठशालाएं
ब्लॉक का      नाम गांव का नाम

जींद निडाना (महिला पाठशाला)
जुलाना किनाना
अलेवा अलेवा
उचाना बड़ौदा
सफीदों मुआना

Source:  http://nkundu.blogspot.in/

Friday, June 13, 2014

PM cites example of Sikkim as Big Organic producer..

Following statements from the PM's reply on motion of thanks on President's address in Lok Sabha (11-06-2014) :

" Giving the example of Sikkim emerging as a big producer of organic food, he asked why the entire north-east cannot be made an organic hub to meet the emerging global demand for organic produce. He said we have agri-universities, but the transition from "lab to land" is not happening to the extent that it should. The Prime Minister said his promise to reduce inflation is not an empty slogan – it is a resolve, because the poorest of the poor too must have sufficient food to eat. "


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It is necessary that every Govt. ( individual, office, body, institute, etc.) is supported when positive words are spoken or effective steps are taken, so that statements get implemented and steps taken are ensured in positive direction.  

What each one of us can do, is write to the PM personally at http://www.pmindia.nic.in/interact_with_pm.php It will be good to simply send a congratulatory note in support of PM's statement, while urging him to make available organic food i.e. without toxic chemicals and GMOs to all in entire India. 

Each one writing on own as an individual/citizen will make a huge difference, more the merrier.

All for the Best !
Tejal

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Small Farmers Are Feeding The World on Less Land

June 11th, 2014
Small-scale farmers are producing the majority of the world’s food on just 25% of farmland. GRAIN report says small farms are more productive than large scale industrial monocultures.
Permaculture
by Rozie Apps
Credit: Srl
Small-scale farmers are using just one quarter, 25%, of the world’s farmland to feed the world!
This atonishing figure comes from a new report by GRAIN, a small international non-profit organisation. They also discovered if China and India are taken out of equation, this figure drops to one fifth!
The extensive report explores farming across the world, from each countries definition of a small farm, to how much food is produced, how much land is actually owned and farmed by these small farms and the changes over the last few decades.
From this report, GRAIN have reported six major conclusions:
1. The vast majority of farms in the world today are small and getting even smaller.
2. Small farms are currently squeezed onto less than a quarter of the world’s farmland.
3. Big farms are getting bigger, and we’re losing more small-scale farmers.
4. Small farms continue to be the main food producers.
5. Small farms are overall more productive than larger farms.
6. Most small-scale farmers are women.
There are various reasons why small-scale farming is important, from growing a range of crops, to providing local jobs, but this report reveals that even with such a small percentage of land, these small farms are producing the majority of the world’s food, which means they feeding us – the most important aspect of all.
In regards to the research surrounding the amount of land small-scale farms are using, GRAIN’s report found:
– in Belarus, on 17% of the land, small farmers are producing 87.5% of fruit and berries, 82% of potatoes, 80% vegetables and 32% of eggs
– in Kenya, with just 37% of the country’s farmland, small farms produce 73% of the agricultural output
– in El Savador, small farmers manage 29% of the land and yet produce 90% of the country’s beans, 84% maize and 51% pork.
These are just a few examples showing how important these small farms are to each country.
GRAIN believe the reason small farms are producing such huge quantities of their countries food is because localised farmers make food production a priority, growing food for local markets and communities. So instead of reaching national statistics, the food is feeding the urban and rural poor. Also, large farms tend to focus on exports, usually crops to feed animals rather than the people, so these products leave the country, offering nothing for the population. GRAIN also reported that these large farms are becoming more common, buying up several small farms and turning them into one large export operation – a devasting blow for local farmers and food production.
Not only are small-scale farms producing the majority of the world’s food, but GRAIN also found that they are more productive than larger farms. Large scale monoculture farming lends itself to higher crop failures because there is a lack of diversity, whereas smaller farms grow a range of crops, and a lot of the time through companion planting which helps prevent diseases and pests. GRAIN found that if all farms in Kenya had the same productivity as the current small farms, agricultural production would double.
In a world of changing climate, food production is changing quickly. Droughts, floods and extreme weather are causing crop failures across the globe. So making sure there are plenty of farmers producing a range of crops, rather than just a handful of big companies, is going to become ever more important.
To read the full report click HERE.

SOURCE : http://www.cornucopia.org/2014/06/small-farmers-feeding-world-less-land/

Friday, June 6, 2014

Pollinators Among Chief Beneficiaries of Organic Farming, Study Shows

February 5th, 2014

Image courtesy of  Jeff DelViscio
Image courtesy of Jeff DelViscio
Organic farms are home to around 30 per cent more wildlife species than conventional farms, a meta-analysis of nearly 100 studies by researchers form the University of Oxford and from Sweden and Switzerland has found.
“This result has been robust over the last 30 years of published studies and shows no sign of diminishing,” they concluded.
They also noted: “The effect size varies with the organism group and crop studied, and is greater in landscapes with higher land-use intensity,” while the effect was also smaller in orchards and vegetable fields than on arable land.
But pollinating insects showed an even more marked benefit from organic practices, with species numbers around 50 per cent higher.
Welcoming the study, Soil Association head of policy Emma Hockridge said: “There is a clear solution for pollinators with a known outcome – support organic farming and we can have 50 per cent more species of pollinators in our countryside.
“Yet in return for this, and many other benefits, UK organic farmers currently receive the lowest payments across the whole of the EU. We are urging the Government to redress this balance and ensure organic farmers in the UK are adequately supported in the new Common Agricultural Policy.”
Source: http://www.cornucopia.org/2014/02/pollinators-among-chief-beneficiaries-organic-farming-study-shows/