EVENT : 10 एप्रिल 2016, कराड - गोमाता संगोपन,पशु पोषण व देशी गोवंश शुद्धि आणि वृद्धि

व्यसनमुक्त युवक संघ आयोजित गोमाता संगोपन कार्यशाला

गोपालन करताना अनेक अडचणींना तोंड द्यावे लागत आहे, गायीचे दुध कमी आहे, दुधात तुप कमी आहे, गाई गाभण रहात नाही, गाईला चारा कोणता द्यायचा, गाई आजारि पडल्यावर घरच्याघरी कशी बरी करायची, असे अनेक प्रश्न आपल्यासमोर ऊपस्तित होत आहेत, या सर्व प्रश्नांची योग्य ऊत्तर आपल्याला मीळावी व गोपालन करतानाच्या सर्व समस्या आपल्याला सोडवता याव्यात या उदात्त हेतूने आम्ही सर्व गोभक्तांसाठी एक दिवसाची गोमाता संगोपन या विषयाची मोफत कार्यशाळा आयोजित केली आहे, आपन जास्तीत जास्त गोपालकांना घेवुन या कार्यशाळेला उपस्थित रहावे ही विनंती,

मार्गदर्शक -डॉ प्रशांतजी  योगी सातारा व डॉ सुहासजी देशमुख सातारा

 वीषय -गोमाता संगोपन,पशु पोषण  व देशी गोवंश शुद्धि आणि वृद्धि

 प्रमुख उपस्थिति -युवक मित्र बंडातात्या कराडकर, संत सखु देवस्थान सर्व ट्रस्टी मंडळी

 वेळ -रविवार दी, 10 एप्रिल 2016 रोजी सकाळी 11 ते सायंकाळी 5 वाजेपर्यंत

 ठीकान -संत सखुबाईंचे मंदिर कृष्णा नाक्याजवळ टीळक हाईस्कूल शेजारी मंगळवारपेठ कराड जि-सातारा

 संपर्क -
विलासबाबा जवळ -9403968366
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संयोजक -राजीवभाई आरोग्य मंदिर RAM

ही पोस्ट सर्व गोभक्तांपर्यंत पोहचवावी ही विनंती आपला सचिन शिंदे आळंदी देवाची धन्यवाद

EVENT : २१ मे ते २५ मे हुपरी, ता. हातकणंगले, कोल्हापूर

कोल्हापूर,सांगली,सातारा,सिंधुदूर्ग, पुणे,रत्नागिरी,सोलापूर व बेळगांव विजापूर जिल्ह्यातील तमाम "नैसर्गिक झिरो बजेट शेती" करणारे व करू इच्छिणारे सर्व शेतकरी बांधवांना एक अति आनंदाची वअत्यंत महत्वाची मेजवानी,

मे महिन्याच्या २१ ते २५ तारखेपर्यंत

" पद्मश्री भुषन श्री सुभाष पळेकरसाहेब " यांचा ५ दिवस " झिरो बजेट नैसर्गिक शेती----आजच्या काळाची " नैसर्गिक हरित क्रांती" व त्याची गरज" या विषयावर कार्यक्रम होणार आहे.
       आमचे परमभाग्यच म्हणावयाचे की "पाळेकरसरांनी" हुपरीतील शेतकरी बांधवांच्या विनंतीस प्राधाण्य देऊन आपला ५ दिवसाच्या चर्चासत्राचा कार्यक्रम दिला त्याबद्दल त्यांचे मन:पुर्वक आभार.

       वर दिलेल्या तारखेस जास्तीत -जास्त शेतकरी बांधवांनी हजर राहून या चर्चासत्राचा लाभ घ्यावा ही विनंती.
संपर्क ;                    
Vishwanath metri 09404268274  09021132200
महावीर शेंडूरे- ९९२२६९२१०१
रविंद्र चौगले  - ९८५०१२७६२२
अभिनंदन सौंद्दत्ते - ८४४६९७४६६५
घनशाम आचार्य -९४२३२८५१८१

 तसेच " किसान विकास मंच हुपरी " चे सर्व सभासद, हुपरी.

           " धन्यवाद "

(तारीख - २१ मे ते २५ मे हुपरी, तालुका-हातकणंगले, जिल्हा-कोल्हापूर)

SOURCE: social networking group

Green Current - The Organic Lifestyle Store at Ville Parle (East), Mumbai

for all those in & around Mumbai (Ville Parle-E) get your non-toxic & non-GMO food stuff from Green Current - The Organic Lifestyle Store ( Vinit Waghe , Leena Anerao)

 

COMMUNITY MARKET EVERY FRIDAY AT HIRANANDANI-POWAI ( MUMBAI)

For those in & around Hiranandani Powai ( Mumbai ) ... buy your toxic-free & GMO-free farm fresh food from Organic Farmers collective of Natures Gram ( Vishal V Ghodke ) at a community market every Friday..

 

NEWS : Feel Free To Leave India, Says Government to Monsanto In GM Cotton Row

 Agencies | Last Updated: March 16, 2016 20:18 (IST)

profit.ndtv.com

 

US seed company Monsanto is welcome to leave India if it does not want to lower prices of genetically modified cotton seeds as directed by the government, a minister said on Wednesday, in a sign the rift between New Delhi and the firm is widening.

The comments come as the government expects to develop its own genetically modified (GM) cotton varieties early next year to end Monsanto's dominance; it controls over 90 per cent of cotton seed supply.

Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Minister of State for Agriculture, told news agency Reuters that the government is trying to rectify what he called past mistakes that allowed a foreign company to dictate seed prices and stifled local crop research.

"It's now upon Monsanto to decide whether they want to accept this rate or not," Mr Balyan said. "If they don't find it feasible, then they are free to take a call. The greed (of charging) a premium has to end. We're not scared if Monsanto leaves the country, because our team of scientists are working to develop (an) indigenous variety of (GM) seeds," he said

The introduction of Monsanto's GM cotton seeds in 2002 helped turn India into the biggest producer of the fibre. Despite the gains GM cotton brought for more than 7 million cotton farmers in India, some of them and their associations have complained Monsanto overprices its products.

Under pressure to assist farmers hit by three straight crop failures due to bad weather, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has imposed a cut of around 70 per cent in royalties that local firms pay Monsanto for its cotton technology. Monsanto has taken the government to court over the royalty.

India's anti-trust regulator is also investigating whether the company misused its near-monopoly to jack up rates. A Monsanto joint venture with a local company says it is confident the allegations will be proved groundless.

Monsato said in a statement this month it would have to reevaluate its India business, because it was difficult to bring in new technologies in an "environment where such arbitrary and innovation-stifling government interventions make it impossible to recoup research and development investments..."

A Monsanto spokesman declined to comment beyond the statement, but analysts said it was unlikely to withdraw from India lightly given the huge size of the market and its strategic importance now that China has bid to snap up the company's biggest rival, Syngenta, for $43 billion.

The emphasis on home-grown technology could be good news for a GM mustard variety developed by Indian scientists and being considered by the government.

A committee of government and independent experts will have their fifth meeting this year in April to evaluate trial results on what could be India's first lab-altered food crop.

Monsanto is also developing GM corn varieties to be sold in India if allowed, which analysts cite as another reason pulling out would be difficult.       

Story first published on: March 16, 2016 19:52 (IST)

 
SOURCE : http://profit.ndtv.com/news/corporates/article-feel-free-to-leave-india-says-government-to-monsanto-in-gm-cotton-row-1287871

1-3 APRIL 2016 Biodiversity Festival @ Hyderabad

WATCH : Water for farmers

COMMUNITY MARKET EVERY SATURDAY AT ANDHERI-W ( MUMBAI)



For those in & around Mumbai (Andheri - W) buy NON-toxic & NON-GMO food from Community Market by Natures Gram (Vishal V Ghodke)

 

NEWS : RSS Stand on Bt Cotton Forced Government’s Hand on Monsanto

By Bhavdeep Kang on 13/03/2016 • 2 Comments

RSS-affiliates Swadesh Jagran Manch and Bharatiya Kisan Sangh have pushed the government to cut royalty on Bt cotton seeds and the cap on the price of the seeds

New Delhi: The hand of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), detectable in various aspects of policy-making, on occasion curls into an uncompromising fist that stops the Central government in its tracks, as in the case of the Land Acquisition Bill and more recently, on genetically modified (GM) seeds.

Monsanto, the controversial munitions manufacturer-turned-multinational seed giant, had threatened to quit India if the agriculture ministry capped royalty on its Bt cotton seeds – currently the only GM seeds available commercially in India. In response, RSS-affiliates Swadeshi Jagran Manch and Bharatiya Kisan Sangh said farewell and godspeed. They cheered as the ministry cut royalty on Bt cotton seeds by over 70% on March 9 and capped the price of the seeds – which earlier retailed at 1,000 rupees or more – at 800 rupees per 450 grams. A miffed Monsanto-Mahyco Biotech India (MMBL), which licensed its Bt seeds to 28 Indian companies, has moved court.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, regarded as a competent agriculture minister in the previous NDA regime, is believed to have played a significant role in moderating the Modi government’s stand on GM technology. Singh is on the same page as the RSS with regard to GM technology and while in the opposition, he had questioned the Seed Bill proposed by the then Minister of Agriculture, Sharad Pawar, on the grounds that it allowed a loophole for registration of GM seeds.

The RSS battle against GM seeds goes back to the introduction of Bt cotton in 2002. The RSS’s aversion to GM technology is by no means shared by the government. As chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi encouraged Bt cotton. As prime minister, his signature Make in India programme touts the country as a GM destination. He has even said, “Hybrid seeds, including GM seeds, represent new business opportunities in India” and “India has the potential to become a major producer of transgenic rice and several genetically modified or engineered vegetables”.
But his view does not quite keep with the BJP’s election manifesto in 2014, which says “GM food will not be allowed without full scientific evaluation” – a nuanced statement arrived at after a prolonged tussle between pro- and anti-GM factions in the Sangh.

Environment minister Prakash Javadekar took shelter behind the “scientific evaluation” clause when the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee approved field trials of 13 GM crops, including mustard, brinjal, rice and chickpea, in July of 2014.

A few months later, he told parliament, “The Union government is of the view that research in GM and confined field trials for generating bio-safety data with all due precautions should be allowed to continue in the national interest.” Most state governments, including BJP-ruled ones, refused permission for field trials.

In a lateral move, the anti-GM lobby launched an offensive against Monsanto. “We attacked on several fronts,” said the Swadeshi Jagran Manch’s Ashwini Mahajan. First came the Competition Commission of India’s observation that MMBL was “abusing” its dominance of the Bt cotton market. Then, farmers’ groups lobbied for the regulation of cotton seed prices, which led to the setting up of a committee under the agriculture ministry for that purpose. The National Seeds Association of India (NSAI) questioned MMBL’s monopoly and restrictive licensing norms in the cotton seed sector and supported the regulation of cotton seed prices. It came down hard on the Big Seed MNCs – who are members of the NSAI – for opposing price regulation.

MMBL was further cornered when research found that its GM cotton seeds, Bollguard 1 and Bollguard 2, had failed. The USP of these seeds was that they would be a pest-proof version the cotton crop, at least from the pernicious pink bollworm. But the Central Institute of Cotton Research found that these seeds did not work. On a complaint from the BJP’s Kisan Morcha, the commerce ministry’s Department of Industry Policy and Promotion served a notice to MMBL, asking why its patent should not be revoked. Bt cotton, it now turns out, is a self-limiting technology, effective only for a few years, until the target pest develops resistance. Besides, it is ineffective against other major cotton pests, such as the mealy bug and white fly, which have heavily damaged Bt crops in recent years.

India has always been opposed to an intellectual property rights regime in agriculture, maintaining that seed sovereignty is undermined by proprietary technologies. Also, GM and hybrid seeds – developed in labs rather than by farmer-breeders on the field – eventually displace traditional varieties. Bt cotton is a shining example, now sown in over 90% of the land under cotton.
The RSS-BJP meetings of December 2015 and January 2016 are believed to have sharpened the budget’s stated focus on agriculture. Specific items on its wishlist – such as crop insurance, the U-turn on MNREGA and the emphasis on micro-irrigation – were accepted, as were recommendations on the Dalit entrepreneurship fund, which dovetails with its “samajik samrastha” campaign, and on the Deen Dayal Upadhyay centenary. On GM, however, the struggle is likely to be a prolonged one.   Powerful forces are at work, with the US government – notably current president Barack Obama and presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton – nudging India towards “transformative technologies” in agriculture.

SOURCE : http://thewire.in/2016/03/13/rss-stand-on-bt-cotton-forced-governments-hand-on-monsanto-24653/

ARTICLE : Interviews - Organic Farming for a Sustainable Livelihood...

 sli-av.blogspot.in
Thursday, 10 March 2016

Return to Traditional Organic farming for safe and secured Future

An interview with Safe Food and Organic Fabric Entrepreneur and Safe Food Activist, Mr.Ananthoo by Dr. Padmavathy

 

Dr. Padmavathy is an ecological farming researcher researching and conceptualizing farming related interventions on behalf of the AVSLI unit and supporting the activities of SLI, particularly in preparation of the location specific background material for each of the farming programmes. The interview was conducted when Mr. Ananthoo visited the SLI and shared his experience and insights with the Stewardship for Sustainable Livelihoods participants on 10^th March 2016.

 

After listening to Mr.Ananthoo interactive session and talk on need of Organic farming total food link and supply chain in SLI on 10 Feb, 2016, I had an opportunity to interview him. It was a great privilege to spend time with such a real social activist, who has truly dedicated himself to organic farming and welfare of the society.

“Sir, What’s do you think about the current status of Agriculture and farmer in India?”

 “It’s in pretty bad shape and very critical. Today farmers became more modernized, market and enterprises dependent, making them to invest more and get less profit. Farmer, as well as, public is unaware of health problem that lie behind the modernized farming practices. First they must come out of this modernized farming thinking and return to traditional organic farming practices and know its importance. They must understand that self reliant/locally made organic bio-fertilizers will cost less, this will provide them sufficient economic returns apart from providing them self satisfaction and ensuring environmental and health security.

What has to be done for water restoration and conservation on which agriculture is so dependent?

Avoid “modernized farming” which was the major cause for the ground water depletion, usage of more water in spraying pesticide/insecticides and fertilizers, will only lead to more ground water depletion, finally leading to desertification. We are not recharging the ground water, unless until we recharge it by rain water harvesting, creating temporary water ponds and trenches in the farm fields for future use. Merely ¼ of the water used in chemical farming is more than sufficient, if we do traditional organic farming and efficient minimal water usage via drip irrigation, mulching etc. 

What is your opinion on GM crops?

In simple term it’s totally useless, not required, not safe both for environment and public health. Whole concept of GM is only for the benefit of corporate and multinational companies, nor the farmers nor the society.  GM concept ultimately leads to an irreversible state of total loss of traditional indigenous seed varieties, which are reliable, economically stable, most importantly they have the capacity to withstand/adaptable to extreme environmental stress and condition. For example, introduction of Bt Cotton (the first GM crop in India) caused about eradication of 95% of our valuable traditional varieties of cotton. It is an irreversible process once we lost is lost we can’t bring back what we lost.

Does the climate change will have impact on Agriculture, if it does how can we overcome it and achieve food security for this ever growing population?

Climate change plays a very drastic role/impact in agriculture. Last year merely 50% of agriculture land in India lost its fertility due to desertification/water stress- mainly due to seasonal change and climatic fluctuation. Our way of farming and agriculture must be synchronized along with the environmental condition/climate; farmer and people must learn to live along with nature. Unless until we understand, accept and adapt to condition, the problems what we are going to face will be severe and drastic, but never going to change its negative consequences.

 In terms of achieving Food Security, first of all farmers must get a self esteemed equalized recognition in the society, this will automatically encourage the farmers and involve future generation in farming, which will obviously reduce the conversation of agriculture fields to corporate companies or industries etc., and making strong agricultural policy/controlling the misuse of power to some extend will also be helpful in restoring the agricultural fields. More land area will increase cultivation, production and we can achieve (nutritious) food security for the ever growing population, but it can be achieved only via organic farming.

What do you think of the role played by SLI in Sustainability and especially Sustainable Farming training programmes?

The programmes conducted by SLI about Sustainability and Sustainable Agriculture is what is currently needed for the society, creating awareness, especially among the farmers and especially in rural areas will alone bring about changes in the society. SLI is in right track and the work done by this Institute is really tremendous and impressive. Great work, it is an appreciable initiative towards sustainable future.  You need to expose the farmers coming here to visit local organic farmer’s fields and also serve organic food to the people, by doing that people will obviously feel the difference between the organically grown food in terms of taste, flavor and nutritious value as well.
Ananthoo's Blog
ReStore Organic Food Store
Tula Organic Fabrics
Organic Farmer's Market

SOURCE : http://sli-av.blogspot.in/2016/03/interviews-organic-farming-for.html

NEWS : Monsanto threatens to withdraw Bt tech after Govt panel moots cut in royalty

KV Kurmanath | The Hindu

 

Hyderabad, March 4:   

 

Global agri biotech company Monsanto has threatened to withdraw Bt cotton technology after a Union government-appointed panel reportedly cut seed price and royalty for the upcoming kharif season.

In a veiled threat, the Indian arm of the St Louis-based firm said that Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (India) would have no choice but to re-evaluate every aspect of “our position in India”, if the committee recommends a sharp, mandatory cut in the trait fee.

“It is difficult for MMB to justify bringing new technologies into India in an environment where such arbitrary and innovation stifling government interventions make it impossible to recoup research and development investments,” Shilpa Divekar Nirula, CEO, Monsanto India Region, said in a statement.

Lower royalty

Monsanto licenses the Bt technology to MMB – a joint venture it formed with Mahyco – which in turn sub-licenses it to seed companies, charging a trait fee or royalty. The Union government panel has reportedly recommended cutting the price BG-II cottonseed by about ₹130 from ₹930 a packet (of 450 gm) last year to ₹800 and ₹635 (₹830) for BG-I for the upcoming kharif season.

Bulk of the reduction comes in the form of a lower royalty to MMB that is put at ₹49. This component varies from State to State. While it is ₹50 in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh puts it at ₹90.

The committee, which met in Delhi on Thursday, had submitted its recommendations to the government for a final decision. Amidst litigations and requests from farmers’ organisations, the government has decided to announce a uniform price for the cottonseed for all cotton-growing States.

The committee, with representatives from various stakeholders, was formed after the government issued Cotton Seed Price Control Order (CSPCO). MMB has moved the Delhi High Court challenging the move.

Industry and media reports suggest that CSPCO plans to recommend an imposition of 70 per cent reduction in the trait fees paid on Bt cottonseed. Fixing of the fees will affect MMB’s business in the country.

The Centre is attempting to reduce the farmer’s expenditure on cottonseeds by controlling its prices. On an average, a cotton farmer spends three per cent of his total farming cost on seeds.

MMB, in a statement, said that the Centre’s intervention and any recommendation to reduce trait fees, if made, comes against the backdrop of a bilateral dispute where few licensees refused to honour their commitments to pay MMB, over ₹450 crore. They have collected these amounts from the cotton farmers in Kharif of 2015.

Pricing row

The prices of BG-I and BG-II vary in different States, with local governments issuing orders every year giving a break-up of actual seed cost and the royalty, which has become a bone of contention between the States and farmers’ organisations and seed companies on the other.

This row has resulted in a virtual split in the seed companies, with Monsanto and MMB and nine other firms supporting their view and a host of others in the National Seed Association of India (NSAI) that backed the Central government price order.

“Such a drastic intervention overrides existing private bilateral commercial contracts, and undermines the overall operating environment in India,” the Monsanto official said.

ABLE-AG reaction

The Association of Biotechnology Enabled Enterprises Agriculture Group (ABLE-AG), which comprises 11 seed firms including Monsanto, MMBL, Syngenta, has opposed the recommendation.

“If the reports come true, it will not be in favour of the farmers in the long run and will violate the principle of free market economics. When the cost of producing cotton runs in several thousands, saving hundred rupees will not benefit the farmers,” Shivendra Bajaj, Executive Director of ABLE-AG, said.

(with inputs from Our Mumbai bureau)

(This article was published on March 4, 2016)

 

SOURCE : http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/monsanto-hints-at-reviewing-its-position-in-india-as-panel-cuts-royalty/article8314193.ece