A four-day organic mela began on the Akkana Balaga premises here on Saturday.

The exhibition-cum-sale aims to popularise organically cultivated food crops and provide an opportunity for customers to buy organic produce directly from producers.

On display are foodgrains such as rice and millets, their value-added products, fruits and vegetables, and medicines. Padmarekha, Navara and red rice are among the local rice varieties available, while rare varieties of indigenous paddy and ragi are on display.

The mela has been organised by Sahaja Samruddha and the Deshpande Foundation. Members of Malenadu Paddy Growers’ Association and Desi Krushikara Balaga are among the organic farmers taking part.

Benefits

Inaugurating the mela, the former Mayor and physician Pandurang Patil noted the health and nutrition value of organic produce. Such vegetables and foodgrains may not look attractive or be of a large size, especially when compared to those cultivated using chemical fertilizer, but they were more nutritious and tastier, he said.

He stressed the importance of following an indigenous diet for one’s health and promoting traditional food.

Dr. Patil promised to help open an organic food stall on the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation premises.

Released

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic) Shrinath Joshi released ‘Namma Anna’ brand of ‘desi’ rice.

Sahaja Samruddha director G. Krishnaprasad, Desi Krushikara Balaga president Channabasappa Kombali and Savayava Krishikara Balaga president Veerannagouda Patil were among those present.

The mela is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/fair-aims-to-promote-organic-food/article4729271.ece)

Suicide rates among Indian farmers were a chilling 47 per cent higher than they were for the rest of the population in 2011.

In some of the States worst hit by the agrarian crisis, they were well over 100 per cent higher.

The new Census 2011 data reveal a shrinking farmer population. And it is on this reduced base that the farm suicides now occur.

Apply the new Census totals to the suicide data of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and the results are grim. Sample: A farmer in Andhra Pradesh is three times more likely to commit suicide than anyone else in the country, excluding farmers.

And twice as likely to do so when compared to non-farmers in his own State. The odds are not much better in Maharashtra, which remained the worst State for such suicides across a decade.

“The picture remains dismal,” says Prof. K. Nagaraj, an economist at the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. Prof. Nagaraj’s 2008 study on farm suicides in India remains the most important one on the subject. “The intensity of farm suicides shows no real decline,” he says. “Nor do the numbers show a major fall. They remain concentrated in the farming heartlands of five key States. The crisis there continues. And the adjusted farmers’ suicide rate for 2011 is in fact slightly higher than it was in 2001.” And that’s after heavy data fudging at the State level.

Five States account for two-thirds of all farm suicides in the country, as NCRB data show.

These are Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

The share of these ‘Big 5’ in total farm suicides was higher in 2011 than it was in 2001. At the same time, the new Census data show that four of these States have far fewer farmers than they did a decade ago. Only Maharashtra reports an increase in their numbers.

Nationwide, the farmers’ suicide rate (FSR) was 16.3 per 100,000 farmers in 2011. That’s a lot higher than 11.1, which is the rate for the rest of the population. And slightly higher than the FSR of 15.8 in 2001.

In Maharashtra, for instance, the rate is 29.1 suicides per 100,000 farmers (‘Main cultivators’). Which is over 160 per cent higher than that for all Indians excluding farmers.

Such gaps exist in other States, too. In as many as 16 of 22 major States, the farm suicide rate was higher than the rate among the rest of the population (RRP) in 2011.

The data for 2011 are badly skewed, with States like Chhattisgarh declaring ‘zero’ farm suicides that year. The same State reported an increase in total suicides that same year. But claimed that not one of these was a farmer. What happens if we take the average number of farm suicides reported by the State in three years before 2011? Then Chhattisgarh’s FSR is more than 350 per cent higher than the rate among the rest of the country’s population.

In 1995, the ‘Big 5’ accounted for over half of all farm suicides in India. In 2011, they logged over two-thirds of them. Given this concentration, even the dismal all-India figures tend to make things seem less terrible than they are.

Ten States show a higher farm suicide rate in 2011 than in 2001. That includes the major farming zones of Punjab and Haryana. The average farm suicide rate in the ‘Big 5’ is slightly up, despite a decline in Karnataka. And also a fall in Maharashtra. The latter has the worst record of any State. At least 53,818 farmers’ suicides since 1995. So how come it shows a lower FSR now?

Well, because Census 2011 tells us the State has added 1.2 million farmers (‘main cultivators’) since 2001. That’s against a nationwide decline of 7.7 million in the same years. So Maharashtra’s farm suicide rate shows a fall. Yet, its farm suicide numbers have not gone down by much. And a farmer in this State is two-and-a-half times more likely to kill himself than anyone else in the country, other than farmers.

Karnataka, in 2011, saw a lot less of farm suicides than it did a decade ago. And so, despite having fewer farmers than it did in 2001, the State shows a lower FSR. Yet, even the ‘lower’ farm suicide rates in both Maharashtra and Karnataka are way above the rate for the rest of the country.

These figures are obtained by applying the new farm population totals of Census 2011 to farm suicide numbers of the NCRB. The Census records cultivators. The police count suicides. In listing suicides, the State governments and police tend to count only those with a title to land as farmers.

“Large numbers of farm suicides still occur,” says Prof. Nagaraj. “Only that seems not to be recognised, officially and politically. Is the ‘conspiracy of silence’ back in action?” A disturbing trend has gained ground with Chhattisgarh’s declaration of ‘zero’ farm suicides. (That’s despite having had 4,700 in 36 months before the ‘zero’ declaration). Puducherry has followed suit. Others will doubtless do the same. Punjab and Haryana have in several years claimed ‘zero’ women farmers’ suicides. (Though media and study reports in the same years suggest otherwise). This trend must at some point fatally corrupt the data.

At least 270,940 Indian farmers have taken their lives since 1995, NCRB records show. This occurred at an annual average of 14,462 in six years, from 1995 to 2000. And at a yearly average of 16,743 in 11 years between 2001 and 2011. That is around 46 farmers’ suicides each day, on average. Or nearly one every half-hour since 2001.

(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/farmers-suicide-rates-soar-above-the-rest/article4726193.ece)

Judgement to be delivered in Luxembourg

The EU’s General Court has announced a date for the judgement in Corporate Europe Observatory’s legal action, suing the European Commission for withholding information related to the EU’s free trade talks with India. The Commission is accused of discriminating in favour of corporate lobby groups and of violating the EU’s transparency rules. The judgement will be delivered in Luxembourg on 7 June 2013.

The lawsuit (T-93/11) concerns 17 documents related to the ongoing EU-India free trade negotiations. The Commission shared all of these documents in full with corporate lobby groups such as BusinessEurope. But Corporate Europe Observatory only received censored versions, with allegedly sensitive information about priorities, tactics and strategies in the negotiations deleted.

In an oral hearing in Luxembourg in January 2013, the Commission defended its practice, arguing that it was “fully justified” to censor the documents as their public disclosure would undermine the EU’s relations with India and in particular the ongoing negotiations for an EU-India free trade agreement (FTA).

But how can documents that the Commission has already shared with the business community at large suddenly become confidential and a threat to the EU’s international relations when a public interest group asks for their disclosure? This is the core question raised by the lawsuit.

What is at stake

The judgement comes as the EU and India are trying to sort out final differences in the FTA negotiations in technical level talks between the two sides in Brussels this week.

The negotiations, which started in 2007, have been shrouded in secrecy, with no text or position as yet disclosed to the public. Yet, there are major concerns prompted by the scant information that has emerged that the EU-India FTA will in fact fuel poverty, inequality and environmental destruction. And that the EU Commission and the Indian government have effectively handed the negotiating agenda over to big business (watch the video Trade Invaders).

Resistance has been particularly strong in India where the main opposition parties, industry bodies, street traders, farmers’ organisations and patient groups have voiced concerns over the proposed agreement for some time now.

What is at stake in the lawsuit is whether the Commission can continue its habit of granting big business privileged access to its trade policy-making process by sharing information that is withheld from the public. This practice not only hampers well-informed and meaningful public participation in EU trade policy-making, it also leads to a trade policy that, while catering for big business needs, is harmful to people and the environment in the EU and the world.

(Source: http://corporateeurope.org/blog/court-ruling-over-privileged-access-business-eu-india-free-trade-talks)

The Delhi high court on Wednesday ordered surprise checks of wholesale and retail markets in the Capital to ensure that vegetable and fruits on sale do not have pesticide residue beyond permissible limits.

The court was acting on survey reports filed by consumer rights NGOs which said that vegetables and fruits finding its way to Capital’s markets are a toxic cocktail capable of pesticides including those banned causing cancer, heart disease and infertility and posing a risk to nervous system and liver.

The banned pesticides included chlordane, a rat poison that affects the nervous system and endrin, an insecticide that causes headache. A bench headed by chief justice D Murugesan directed a panel formed by the Union agriculture ministry to pick samples and get them tested in labs and recommend prosecution of errant traders so that they shall not be allowed to contaminate their produce with chemicals and endanger people’s health for profit.

They are to file an inspection report in the court on May 29.

Under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, a trader selling contaminated produce can be jailed upto six years and fined up to Rs. 5,000.

“The amount of pesticides in fruits and vegetables in India and especially sold in Delhi markets was as much as 750 times the European standards”, NGO Consumer Voice told the court.

“The court panel had in May 2011 visited markets in Kotla, Mayur Vihar, Sarojini Nagar, INA, Defence Colony, Vasant Vihar and Lodhi Estate. We found that pesticides, toxic colours and hormones are being used by farmers and traders to speed up growth, ripen and improve colour,” said lawyer Meera Bhatia, member of the court-appointed panel.

“We have a laboratory near Delhi Vidhan Sabha where samples from each wholesale fruit and vegetable market are checked every day,” said Rajinder Sharma, chairman, Agricultural Produce Market Committee. “In case chemical residues are found in any sample, action is taken as per the norms,” he said.

Fruit and vegetable traders of the Capital, however, feel that it is difficult to check and maintain complete absence of pesticides or chemicals in products.

(Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Delhi-HC-for-pesticide-check-on-vegetables-fruits/Article1-1060721.aspx)

Chandigarh, May14, 2013: The Punjab government has formulated an extensive training programme for the farmers aimed at encouraging them to adopt the latest techniques in crop cultivation and also promote organic farming in the state.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the government said that the government would impart training to the farmers in the government run Farmers Training Centers including PAU Ludhiana and Khalsa College, Amritsar. About three lac farmers are being imparted training every year during Rabi and Kharif seasons and also by holding specialised training course in agriculture and other allied subjects. 6016 training camps/programmes were organised to disseminate latest farm technology amongst farmers under various schemes like Training, National Food security Mission, Extension Reforms etc.

Adding further, he said that besides this the state government would lay more emphasis on the organic farming especially in the Malwa belt where due to the excessive use of pesticides together with water contamination has caused tremendous damage to human beings. Focused awareness campaign would be generated among the farmers to change their mindset guiding and helping them in the proper implementation of organic farming techniques. Organic fertilizer and organic pesticide would be arranged for healthy cultivation, he said. To Increase agro-bio diversity through mix-cropping, conserving water resources and increasing genetic diversity would be introduced.

(Source: http://www.cityairnews.com/content/punjab-promote-organic-farming-0)

The new variety — Gujarat Anand Yellow Hybrid Maize-I (GAYHM)– is suitable for sowings during kharif season under rain fed conditions in North and central Gujarat – a maize growing beltin the state covering tribal areas.

The variety is rich in Lysine (an essential amino acid) and is touted to be a source of rich protein diet for the tribals, who are its major consumers.

“In a first, a hybrid of yellow colour variety maize has been released, which gives 13 per cent higher yield as compared to High Quality Protein Maize-I (HQPM), a hybrid developed at Hissar in Haryana and recommended for Gujarat,” AAU Director Research K B Katheria said.

“The average production of maize with pre-dominantly used varieties is around 1,439 kg per hectare, whereas the new hybrid variety GAYHM-I has the potential of up to 4,000 kg per hectare yield,” he said.

The new hybrid seed variety of maize has been approved by the state level research council, official sources said.

Gujarat Maize(GM)-II is a predominantly used seed variety in the state, besides HQPM-I.

“As compared to GM-II, the new hybrid has potential to give 24 per cent higher yield. GAYHM-I is an early maturing variety, say between 80-85 days, compared to any other usual variety which takes 100-120 days,” Katheria said.

“Lysine, an essential amino acid required for human body, is available up to 2.85 per cent in protein of this maize, which is higher compared to other variety,” he said, adding that it is a good source of protein for the tribals.

A cash crop in Gujarat, maize is largely grown by farmers in tribal dominant districts like Sabarkantha, Banaskantha, Panchmahal, Dahod, amongst others.

It is also cultivated in districts like Mehsana, Kheda, Anand, Vadodara and Patan.

The average acreage under maize in Gujarat is pegged at around 4.23 lakh hectares, while annual production of the crop is estimated to be around 6 lakh tonnes, sources said.

“The yellow grain variety of maize is widely used as poultry feed too as its colour is linked to beta-carotene, which potentially can improve directly the yoke quality of the egg,” Katheria said.

The new variety was developed by AAU’s research station at Godhra. Last year, the agri varsity had released Gujarat Anand White Hybrid Maize-II, to enhance productivity.

“But, compared to white, yellow colour maize is more popular in Gujarat as it has wider application,” he said.

“It will first have to pass a few more requisite clearances… It can be made available to the farmers only by next year,” Katheria added.

(Source: http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/new-hybrid-maize-seed-developed-for-gujarat-113051300105_1.html)

The pesticide residue levels in cardamom and curry leaves sold in the state are found to be at an alarming rate. Presence of pesticides that are banned in the state was also found in a study conducted by Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Vellayani.

Tests on the samples collected from various markets in the state showed that the pesticide levels in these spices cross the maximum residue levels(MRL), the permissible amount of pesticide residues in food materials.

Five to six types of pesticide residues were found in four out of the six cardamom samples tested. The intoxicated cardamoms are found to be coming mainly from Puducherry. A number of pesticides that are banned in Kerala is still used by farmers in other states. This is the reason behind the increased amount of pesticide residue levels in vegetables and spices coming from other states.

“In the analysis, pesticide residues were found in vegetables including bitter gourd, green chilli, capsicum and cucumber and fruits mainly grapes and apples in minor amounts. Alarming levels of pesticide residues were found in a sample of China apple collected from the Palakkad market,”  said Nazeema Beevi of College of Agriculture, Vellayani.

The study was conducted as part of the regular monitoring programme by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, to find pesticide residues in vegetables, fruits, cereals and spices. Ten varieties of vegetables, six types of fruits, five varieties each of rice and wheat and six varieties of spices were tested under the programme.

Samples of vegetables and fruits were collected from markets and shops in Kottayam, Palakkad and Ernakulam districts. Milk samples were gathered from Thiruvananthapuram district and cereals and spices from Kottayam district. These samples were tested in the nationally-accredited Pesticide Residue Research and Analytical Laboratory of the College of Agriculture, Vellayani.

The monthly monitoring programme is conducted in selected centres in every state as part of the All-India Network Project on Pesticide Residues. This years programme was started in May last. An annual report will be prepared by IARI on the basis of these studies.

(Source: http://newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Alarming-pesticide-residue-levels-detected-in-vegetables-fruits/2013/05/11/article1584966.ece)

Organic farming is all set to get the offical nod for the goverment through it’s new department in the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU).

“Following the number of negative reactions to the ‘green revolution’ programme and after witnessing the people’s positive response to organic farming, the TNAU has decided to start the ‘Sustainable Organic Agriculture Department’, focusing on organic farming practices. This new department is expected to function from this May,” said S Ramasamy, TNAU.

Ramasamy, who is a professor of Agronomy and Head of the proposed new department recently arrived at Chennai to participate in the project launch of ‘Sustain’, organised by Bayer Material Science, here on Tuesday. Speaking to City Express, he said, “The new department has been established with a view of taking organic farming both in low intensity crop fields and high intensity crop fields.”

He added, “Through the department, organic farming can be carried out in three forms. In the first, we maintain and extend the organic farming, in the second, we develop the potential of ‘default organic farming areas’ and in the third, we integrate agricultural practices in high intensity crop fields”.

He said that maintaining and extending organic farming exclusively will lead to an ‘organic certification’ of the products from the farms. “By this we can achieve ‘premium price’ for the product,” he said.

He stated that Tamil Nadu has 10 to 15 percent of ‘default organic farming areas’ where the soil has good nutrients naturally. “Regions like Ramnad district, Kolli Hills are able to cultivate one or two annual crops. Identifying such areas and developing the potential of organic farming there will increase the economy of the local farmers. Implementing integrated agriculture practices like following both organic and chemical used farming in the high intensity crop fields will enhance the yield and increase the economy of the farmers,” he added.

He further noted that, “Though Sikkim has very limited annual crops, it has been declared as the first organic state in the year 2003. But Tamil Nadu has numerous crops and if we practice organic farming in a systematic way we too are able to become an organic state”.

He also pointed out that the policy for organic agriculture of the state is being prepared by the concerned departments and it may be brought to public domain soon.

(Source: http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Organic-farming-at-TNAU-to-take-off/2013/05/02/article1570578.ece)

This is Parchure’s ‘No Premium Insurance Scheme’ which he hopes will help regain farmers’ confidence in agriculture and wean them away from methods that lead to economic distress and suicide. Under this, an eleigible farmer will have to cultivate one acre land with organic method while he undertakes conventional farming on remaining land. In case he suffers any losses on account of organic farming, Parchure and his associates will make them good.

“I am 100% sure that even during extreme conditions, organic farming is a better alternative then conventional farming using chemicals. In rain fed or dry land areas like Vidarbha, farmers can earn certain minimum profits provided they use rain water intelligently and save each drop,” he told TOI.

Parchure, along with a group of like-minded persons, will support at least 1000 farmers to begin with in entire state with this informal insurance scheme. For this, the farmers will not be required to pay any premium. Those who join the scheme will have to follow certain guidelines and maintain record of every paisa they spend on both organically and conventionally grown crops including details of money spent on fertilizers, pesticides, weeding and labour etc.

“Every farmer will be required to only cultivate one acre of his land organically while taking up conventional cultivation on remaining land. This is to prove to the farmer that the losses due to erratic rains and other factors would be less in the organically cultivated land. We are sure our method will conserve at least one lakh litres water per acre,” Parchure said.

Parchure could dare to come up with such a scheme only after himself experimenting through some progressive farmers. He is sure that compared to conventional farming, organic farming always has much less loss of crop in any conditions and he will not have to pay much compensation to farmers. “This is why we are not asking for any premium. We should actually demand a share if there are profits in organic crop cultivated under our guidance bu we are not doing that too,” he said.

Farmers will be required to follow water conservation procedures as well as specific cultivation method and practices on the experimental one acre. They will be made to take up trench and soak pit methods for conserving rain water and using natural wastes like tree leaves, solid and liquid jeevamrut and use of an equipment called Nindan Mukta Yantra for removing weeds. Multi-cropping is another compulsory addition.

Basic principle is that if a farmer earns Rs 30,000 on three acres of land, he should get at least Rs 10,000 on one acre organic land. If a farmer gets less than this, he will be compensated by Parchure and his supporters.

PROMOTING ORGANIC FARMING

Technology Package to be followed under scheme

Water conservation methods

I Soak Pits

* 50X50cmX4m soak pits (about 28-30) along border of one acre land

* Each pit can store 1000 litres water in season and they will be full at least 3-4 times in season

* They will allow water reach up to half to one metre depth and maintain enough moisture for rabi crop

II Micro-locking of rain water

Farmer to use a bullock driven instrument called dawra or kolpe for inter-cultivation of crop after August

This is to be used twice to control weeds between rows of crops

III Inputs

Farmer to become self sufficient in inputs like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc. Since farmer here only uses seeds as input he cannot become self sufficient in one year. He should use improved seeds and no hybrids to ensure enough seeds for next year

IV Fertiliser

Soil has to be converted into living soil by using solid (2000kgs) and liquid Jeevamrut (1000 lit) in five equal doses

Solid jeevamrut is prepared in advance in summer months before onset of monsoon

Liquid jeevamrut is applied in first 40 days of growth of crop

IV Pesticides

To do away with pesticides, farmer should do mixed cropping with one principal crop and 1-2 secondary crops

Farmer should also grow 15-20 different crops along the border at small distances

This generates a variety of smells and confuses pests

Allow natural predators to take action

Create bird perches to catch insects

V Weedicides

Use Nindan Mukti Yantra and remove all weeds without harming crops

VI Other important factors

Increase distance between crop lines to allow adequate sunlight (5X5 ft)

Maintain accounts of all expenses on both types of crops

Farmer free to choose his own crop combination

Only 1000 farmers will be registered for the scheme this year

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Farmers-can-now-adopt-organic-farming-sans-risks/articleshow/19921814.cms)

The State government will soon come out with a comprehensive organic agriculture policy, according to K. Ramasamy, Vice- Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU).

Addressing the launch of ‘SUSTAIN,’ a Public Private Partnership initiative to deploy innovative drying and storage technology to farmers, Dr. Ramasamy said here on Tuesday that various components of the policy, including the formation of a Department of Sustainable Organic Agriculture and establishment of a Directorate for Organic Agriculture, were under preparation and the policy was expected shortly.

On SUSTAIN, which envisages promoting sustainable agriculture and improvement of quality of life of farmers through solar drying and cold storage technologies, Dr. Ramasamy said the TNAU could assist in identifying suitable locations where the project could be rolled out across the State and in matching the right crop with the soil type.

According to Dr. Ramasamy, organic certification for products would help farmers’ collectives compete in the global markets and fetch much better prices, which in turn, would motivate them to achieve higher productivity. It was important that organic agriculture was not only environmentally sustainable but economically viable, he said.

SUSTAIN, a government-supported three-way partnership, will help farmers, over an 18-month period, install the equipment, transfer knowledge to empower participant farmers to train others and even establish market linkages. One of the farmer communities where the project is being introduced is in Theni, where banana cultivation is the mainstay. Around 100 farmers have been provided two solar dryers and three cold storage units free of cost on common farm land. Farmers are also trained to use the equipments and maintain them in proper working conditions.

The initiative involves DEG, a development finance institution in Germany, and two other organisations. The 3.21 lakh Euro (equivalent to Rs. 2.27 crore) funding for the project is shared by Bayer and DEG.

Isaac Emmanuel, Head-Business Development and Social Business Initiatives, Bayer Material Science (P) Ltd, one of the three partners in the initiative, said the project was being rolled out for the first time in India in Tamil Nadu.

Farmers’ collectives would be provided Solar Drying and Cold storage energy efficient farming technologies that would help generate new and value-added products.

Sreenivas Narayanan of ASSIST, an international NGO and the third partner, said the project was significant in the context of India losing almost 40 per cent or 59 million tonnes of all agriculture produce due to wastage and spoilage every year due to fragmented supply chain, inefficient harvesting facilities, lack of post harvest management solutions like proper cooling and drying facilities.

Keywords: Tamil Nadu government, organic agricultural policy, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, SUSTAIN, storage technologies

(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/state-to-unveil-comprehensive-organic-agriculture-policy-soon/article4676351.ece)