Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Cotton price touches new high but cotton farmer are dying-TIME OF INDIA -

Printed from

Cotton price touches new high, but who's benefitting?

*Farm activist Kishore Tiwari has questioned this tall claim and said that the cotton production was totally destroyed by the unseasonal rain and farmers have already sold out their produce to the private traders.

"If the claim of bumper crop followed by the farmers holding up the stock is taken for granted then why the inflow is alarmingly low despite such spectacular price in the local market?" Tiwari asked.**

YAVATMAL: With the order of district deputy registrar Harishchandra Hussey to 16 Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees in 16 talukas to submit a report on the details of cotton purchase made by them during the current season, the spree of buying cotton from door to door in the villages by the private players is set to stand exposed.

The price of cotton has increased to Rs 6,000 per quintal in recent past. Expecting a global demand for the white gold, the private traders have launched a door to door purchase through their select band of touts. The touts purchase the cotton from the needy farmers and allegedly stock those either in their village godowns or transport it to city cautiously. There are allegations of manipulation in weighing, system of down payment and ascertaining staple length.

If the money is paid instantly, a tout claims around 2% as commission and the needy farmers are left with no alternative but to succumb to the trade tricks. The loot is unabated and nobody was ready to hear the woes of the farmers. But, the DDR has taken cognisance of the hue and cry made by the farm leaders over the well-planned loot and accordingly issued the notice to all 16 APMCS to submit their purchase details. The DDR is expected to take action against those found guilty of exploiting the farmers after getting the report.

The prospects of the cotton production across the world seem to be bleak and the major cotton producing countries have experienced a setback during the current season owing to the adverse climatic adversity. But cotton production in India in general and the known cotton heartland of Maharashtra in particular have comparatively better crops this year.

Private traders, unscrupulous touts and money lenders operating across the region have already procured lion's share of this year's yield and they are set to grab the entire profit. According to sources, 22 lakh hectares were under cotton sowing and over 40 lakh quintals were expected this year from which 325 lakh bales are targeted. But, it has come down to only 225 lakh bales. Contrary to claims in BT cotton that 20 quintals is assured yield per acre but the farmers are getting only 2.46 quintal per acre despite spending huge amount for pesticides, seeds and fertilisers.

Chairman of the federation NP Hirani said that the farmers are still holding their yield with an expectation of getting higher price. The Cotton Advisory Board of India has in a recently held survey predicted the yield of a better quantum of 'fadtar' (low quality cotton) due to a second flowering. He said that this fadtar is also set to fetch a rate between Rs 50-55,000 per candy in the international market.

Farm activist Kishore Tiwari has questioned this tall claim and said that the cotton production was totally destroyed by the unseasonal rain and farmers have already sold out their produce to the private traders.

"If the claim of bumper crop followed by the farmers holding up the stock is taken for granted then why the inflow is alarmingly low despite such spectacular price in the local market?" Tiwari asked.

According to him, the cotton crop was damaged due to unseasonal rains and the poor farmers have sold their cotton well in advance to minimise the burden of heavy interest on the loan they have obtained from the banks, private traders and money lenders.

Whatever may be the current price buoyancy in the market, the benefit would certainly be reaped entirely by the private traders, Tiwari said, adding the cotton growers are still pushed to the lurch in a planned manner.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Vidarbha farmers flays promotion of Vilasrao Deshmukh

Vidarbha farmers flays promotion of Vilasrao Deshmukh

Nagpur-20th January 2011

Vidarbha farmers who are facing worst agrarian crisis and reported maximum suicides under the leadership then chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has flayed his promotion as Rural and Panchayat Raj ministry when everybody was expecting that he will punished after supreme court order that exposed his irresponsible conduct to perform his constitutional duties and held guilty of protecting the money lender Congress MLA Dilip Sananda ,Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) informed in

a press release.

“the elevation of Vilasrao Deshmukh to ministry related agrarian crisis even after he failed to perform his constitutional duties is satire with vidarbha farmer suicide issue and it shows complete insensible attitude of UPA govt. and it is insult of apex court too’ Tiwari added.

The issue of debt traps of Maharshtra came into focus after the Supreme Court raised questions on union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's alleged links to congress MLA and money lenders who harasses farmers and it was expected that the supreme court order will bring relief to distressed for farmers who are struck by difficult times and exploited by money lenders being protected by then chief minister of Maharashtra like Vilasrao Deshmukh but in reality this is not true ,instead of being sacked from UPA cabinet Vilasrap Deshmukh has been elevated to rural and Panchayat Raj ministry which never worked in Maharashtra due to hostile and corrupt administration in the regime of Vilasrao Deshmukh ,Tiwari said

VJAS strongly objected the stand taken by Rural Development Minister Vilasrao Deskmukh a day after being sworn on the Supreme Court's observation on his links with moneylenders who harass farmers as isolated incident where he also said there was no link between his new portfolio and farmer suicides in Maharashtra, these two things cannot be connected and are two different things as termed it as unfortunate .it’s not true to claim that in vidarbha after the state government and prime minister have given some package, things have improved as farmers suicides are till continued and money lenders exploitation will get booster after the promotion of killer chief minister under his leadership Vidarbha had witnessed 5000 farmers suicides due to debt and failure get the relief aid being rewarded ,is matter of shame ,Tiwari added.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्षांकडून संपत्तीचे प्रदर्शन अयोग्य-सकाळ वृत्तसेवा

राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्षांकडून संपत्तीचे प्रदर्शन अयोग्य
सकाळ वृत्तसेवा
Monday, January 17, 2011 AT 12:15 AM (IST)

नागपूर - ""राजकीय नेत्यांनी साध्या जीवनशैलीचा अंगीकार केला पाहिजे. सार्वजनिक जीवनात वैभवाचे प्रदर्शन करू नये. दीनदयाल उपाध्याय यांचे नाव सातत्याने ओठावर ठेवणाऱ्या पक्षाच्या राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्षाने संपत्तीचे जाहीर प्रदर्शन करणे योग्य नाहीच.'' या शब्दांत भाजपचे एकेकाळचे थिंकटॅंक राहिलेले नेते व विचारवंत गोविंदाचार्य यांनी नितीन गडकरी यांच्यावर टीका केली.

नागपूर श्रमिक पत्रकार संघाच्या वतीने आयोजित वार्तालाप कार्यक्रमात ते बोलत होते. गडकरी यांचे नाव न घेता गोविंदाचार्य यांनी त्यांना कानपिचक्‍या दिल्या. राजकीय पक्षांनी आदर्शवाद जोपासणे गरजेचे आहे. नेत्यांनी संयम बाळगून साधी जीवनशैली ठेवली पाहिजे. दीनदयाल उपाध्याय यांचे सातत्याने नाव घेणाऱ्या पक्षाच्या राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्षाने लग्नसमारंभातून संपत्तीचे असे जाहीर प्रदर्शन करणे योग्य नाही. मी हे नागपुरात बोलतो आहे, याकडे गोविंदाचार्य यांनी लक्ष वेधले. भाजपची चिरफाड करण्यात आपल्याला रस नाही. सत्तेसाठी चटावलेल्या टोळ्यांपैकी (गिरोह) भाजप एक असल्याचे सांगत गोविंदाचार्य म्हणाले, संघाच्या सूचनेवरून आपण 1988 ते 2000 या काळात भाजपात काम केले. भाजपचे धोरण न पटल्याने आपण कुठलाही नकारात्मक दृष्टिकोन न बाळगता पक्षाला सोडचिठ्ठी दिली होती. मला सत्ता व राजकीय पक्षांमधील स्पर्धेचा भाग बनायचे नव्हते. राजकारणाला मूल्यांच्या व मुद्‌द्‌यांच्या मार्गावर आणण्याचे काम मी करतो आहे. साऱ्याच राजकीय पक्षांवर विदेशी पगडा दिसून येतो, अशी टीकाही त्यांनी केली.

पंतप्रधान डॉ. मनमोहनसिंग यांच्या अर्थशास्त्रातील ज्ञानाविषयी मला काहीही बोलायचे नाही. त्या ज्ञानाचा उपयोग त्यांनी राजकीय "बेइमानी'साठी केल्याची टीका करताना मोठ्या लोकांच्या छोट्या चुकाही अतिशय महागात पडतात, या शब्दांत त्यांनी सध्याच्या आर्थिक धोरणाबद्दल आपली नापसंती व्यक्त केली.
दहशवादी घटनांमध्ये संघनेत्यांच्या सहभागाविषयी विचारलेल्या प्रश्‍नावर बोलताना गोविंदाचार्य यांनी आताच कुठलेही निष्कर्ष काढणे घाईचे होईल, असे सांगितले. सर्व प्रकरणांचा तपास सुरू असून, राष्ट्रीय तपास यंत्रणा ही काही न्यायालय नाही, याकडे त्यांनी लक्ष वेधले. मालेगावसारख्या प्रकरणाच्या तपासात तपास यंत्रणा अचानक कशा युटर्न घेतात, यावरही त्यांनी प्रश्‍नचिन्ह उपस्थित केले.

भारतीय समाज सध्या भ्रष्टाचाराच्या आजाराने ग्रस्त आहे. भ्रष्टाचार दूर करण्यासाठी सामजिक पुढाकाराची गरज असल्याचे सांगताना गोविंदाचार्य म्हणाले, राष्ट्रीय स्वाभिमान आंदोलनाच्या माध्यमातून 31 जानेवारीला होणाऱ्या कार्यशाळेच्या माध्यमातून भारतीयांच्या विदेशातील काळ्या पैशाबाबत कायदा करण्याची मागणी राष्ट्रपतींना निवेदनाच्या माध्यमातून करणार असल्याचे त्यांनी सांगितले. प्रत्यार्पणाची तरतूद व्यापक व्हावी, निवडणूक आयोगाला जादा अधिकार असावे, राजकीय व निवडणूक सुधारणांमध्ये नकारात्मक मतांना लोकप्रियता लाभावी, असेही ते म्हणाले. गुलबर्गा येथे अलीकडेच पार पडलेल्या भारत विकास संगमच्या दहादिवसीय अधिवेशनाची माहिती गोविंदाचार्य यांनी यावेळी दिली.
---------------------------------------

Monday, January 10, 2011

13 farmer suicides in New Year as cold wilts crop-Times of India

13 farmer suicides in New Year as cold wilts crop-Times of India
TNN, Jan 10, 2011, 10.15pm IST
Read more: 13 farmer suicides in New Year as cold wilts crop - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/13-farmer-suicides-in-New-Year-as-cold-wilts-crop/articleshow/7255429.cms#ixzz1AhnEo8kX
NAGPUR: The unusually cold winter in Vidarbha this year has taken its toll on the cotton crop too. Standing cotton crop in at least two lakh hectares in Vidarbha has been severely damaged by the cold wave that hit the region since January 2, the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti said even as it claimed that 13 farmers have committed suicide in the first nine days of the New Year.

The latest victims of the unending suicide spree by farmers in Vidarbha were identified as

Rameshwar and Babytai Pohekar of Tamaswadi in Amravati, Sunil Bhusari of Shendurjana in Washim, Dilip Belsare of Kawatha, Pramod Uike of Walki, Durpattabai Rathod of Bham, Avinash Wankhede of Asara and Prakash Pawar of Ajanti, Rahul Karthode of Kelzara (all six from Yavatmal district), Ravindra Kodape of Nandapur in Akola, Motiram Mohurle of Susand in Wardha, Kamalkar Sawarbandhe of Asegaon in Bhandara and Chotu Jabhorkar of Takalkheda in Amravati.

"Reports of farmers being shocked by sudden wilting of standing crop of cotton within a night are pouring in for the last one week. The situation is alarming," said Kishore Tiwari of VJAS.

"Farmers are unable to recover the heavy losses incurred in the capital intensive BT crop cultivation," he added. "After excessive rains in October, November dealt a heavy blow, the cold wave conditions worsened the situation. For the ninth consecutive year, the official statistics indicate that farmer suicide rate is highest in the cotton belt of Maharashtra," Tiwari said
शेतक ऱ्यांना सरसकट नुकसानभरपाई द्या-लोकसत्ता

विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीची मागणी
नागपूर, १० जानेवारी / प्रतिनिधी

विदर्भातील कडाक्याच्या थंडीचा फटका दोन लाख हेक्टरमधील कापूस आणि तुरीला बसला आहे. अतिवृष्टी आणि अवकाळी पावसाच्या धक्क्यातून सावरण्यापूर्वीच थंडीने शेतकऱ्यांची चिंता वाढवली. त्यामुळे सर्व शेतकऱ्यांना सरसकट नुकसान भरपाई द्यावी, अशी मागणी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केली आहे.
कापूस उत्पादक शेतकऱ्यांना वारंवार नैसर्गिक संकटाला सामोरे जावे लागत आहे. यापूर्वी अतिवृष्टी व अवकाळी पावसाचा २० लाख हेक्टरमधील पिकाला फटका बसला. गेल्या आठवडाभरातील थंडीच्या लाटेने पिकांना मोठय़ा प्रमाणात फटला बसला आहे. शासनाने पिकांना फटका बसल्याची तात्काळ चौकशी करून २००५ आणि ०६ मध्ये केलेल्या मदतीच्या धर्तीवर सरसकट मदत करावी, अशी मागणी समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी मुख्यमंत्री पृथ्वीराज चव्हाण यांना पाठवलेल्या पत्रात केली आहे.
पश्चिम विदर्भात कापूस व तुरीच्या पेरणीचे प्रमाण ७० टक्के आङे. २८ टक्के शेतीत सोयाबीनची पेरणी झाली. महसूल विभागाने अमरावती विभागाच्या सर्व तलाठय़ांना आदेश देऊन ज्वारीची नापिकी अधिक दाखवली आहे. पेरले नाही, त्याचे प्रमाण अधिक दर्शवून खोटे अहवाल तयार करण्यात आले, असा आरोप समितीचे मोहन जाधव यांनी केला आहे. हिवाळी अधिवेशनात मुख्यमंत्री पृथ्वीराज चव्हाण जाहीर केलेले पॅकेज फसवे असल्याची टीका करून किशोर तिवारी यांनी शानसाचा निषेध केला आहे. विदर्भ विरोधी मुख्यमंत्र्यांची वैदर्भीय मंत्र्यांनी पाठराखण करू नये, असे आवाहनही त्यांनी केले. शेतकऱ्यांचे नुकसान झाल्यानंतर १ हजार कोटी रुपयांची मदत जाहीर केली. यानंतर केंद्राकडून ६०० कोटी मिळताच १ हजार ६०० कोटी रुपयांची मदत देणार असल्याचे भासवले. प्रत्यक्षात राज्य शासनाकडून ४०० कोटी रुपयांचीच मदत करण्यात येणार आहे. त्यातही गेल्या हंगामातील गारपीट आणि अतिवृष्टीग्रस्तांना मदतीचे १७४ कोटी रुपये आणि द्राक्ष उत्पादकांच्या कर्जावरील व्याजमाफीचे २१० कोटी असे ३८४ कोटी रुपये असल्याने खरी मदत १६ कोटी रुपयेच होणार आहे. ही शेतकऱ्यांची दिशाभूल असल्याकडे किशोर तिवारी यांनी लक्ष वेधले आहे.

Crop Damages due to Cold wave claimed 13 Vidarbha Farmers Suicides in 2011

Crop Damages due to Cold wave claimed 13 Vidarbha

Farmers Suicides in 2011

Nagpur-10th Jan 2011

Where unseen cold wave and chilly weather since 2nd Jan 2010 has claimed at least 15 lives in rural part of vidarbha ,it has damaged the standing crop and ruined the cotton farmers of the region resulting 13 more farmers suicides since 2nd Jan in the year 2011 of which seven farmers suicides being reported in last 72 hours ,identified as





1.Rameshwar Pohekar of Tamaswadi in Amaravati

2.Sunil Bhusari of Shedurjana in Washim

3.Dilip Belsare of Kawatha in Yavatmal

4.Pramod Uike of Walki in Yavtmal

5.Durpattabairathode of Bham in Yavatmal

6.Bebitai Pohekar of Tamaswadi in Maravati

7.Avinash Wankhede of Asara in Yavatmal

8.Ravindra Kodape of Nandapur in Akola

9.Prakash Pawar of Ajanti in Yavatmal

10.Motiram Mohurle of Susand in Wardha

11.Kamalkar Sawarbandhe of Asegoan in Bhandara

12.Ghotu Jabhorkar of Talkalkheda in Amaravati

13.Rahul Karthode of Kelzara in Yavatmal

Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti(VJAS )informed in press release today

‘Even cotton prices started climbing back to earlier level of 4200 to 4400 a quintal after the last date for completing the fixed quota of cotton exports extended till February 24 and so called bumper crop of cotton India has no relation with economic growth of debt trapped vidarbha cotton farmers as steep rise in cultivation cost and mounting debt from private money lenders has increased acute distress so as on going high cost of health care and livelihood is adding fuel to the vidarbha agrarian crisis. Now integrated solution is must focusing on the socio-economic issues of rural vidarbha in order to stop on going farmers Genocide’ Tiwari added.

‘Area under cotton cultivation in India cross 110 lacs hector and 42 lacs hector in Maharashtra then claim of 325 lacs and 75 lacs bales in India and Maharashtra respectively reflects that average yield of Bt.cotton is less than 400kg /quintal, resulting average losses to the tune of Rs.5000/- per acre that the matter of mounting debt and distress hence withdrawal of cotton cultivation in most serious issue that has to be addressed’ Tiwari said. In a letter to Indian Prime Minister,Dr.Manmohan Singh , VJAS has given details of sky rocking cultivation cost and gravity of losses due excessive rain and recent cold wave which is exposing the truth of the agrarian crisis in the cotton growing area of India, here is that table

Crop damages due to excessive rain and clod wave 110 lakhs hectors Bt.Cotton

Region

Area

seed

Fertilizer

Pesticide

labor

Fluking ,family labor and interest

Total

Losses

India

110 lakhs hector

5500 crore

5700 crore

7700 crore

5200 crore

1500 crore

27700

Crore

Maharashtra

42 lakhs hector

2100 crore

2200 crore

2940 crore

2840 crore

2100 crore

10200 crore

vidarbha

28 lakhs hector

1400 crore

1500 crore

1960 crore

1300 crore

5500 crore

7,700

‘we are expecting central intervention to stop this mass genocide of innocent farmers who are victims of wrong policies promoted by state as in dry land area rain sensitive crop like Bt.cotton is being cultivated in more than 95% causing huge financial losses to the cotton farmers and water crisis in the area. We have been demanding the ban on rain sensitive crop in this region and promotion of food crop in all rain fed area of vidarbha since 2004 but nobody is giving any attention to this serious demand resulting more and more farm suicides in the region’ VJAS stressed in press release today.

When Monsanto manufacture of Bt.cotton seed and Central Institute of Cotton Research (C.IC.R.) are planting the fabricated news of record bumper cotton crop in India same time more than 5 million Indian cotton farmers who opted this year Bt.cotton seed manufactured by are crying the different tune of sudden climate change has ruined agrarian economy of the region and added the fuel in on going agrarian crisis which claimed highest from suicides in the cotton belt of India.

VJAS has urged Govt. of India to recover the losses from US MNc Bt.cotton seed manufacture Monsanto as this is failure of technology not the complete failure as farmers who are cultivating Non-Bt.cotton an organic cotton there is no damage reported of excessive rain October –November and cold wave hence state should regulate the technically failed seeds and stop the exploitation of US MNc at the cost of Indian farmers suicides as per official figure of Indian Govt. has crossed 2,17,000 in last decade and most of suicides are closely related to debt and despair due crop failure of modern genetically revolutions in agriculture and killer seed of America .hence we repeat our demand of complete ban on imported seeds in India. , Tiwari added

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Cold Wave and Excess Rain damaged standing Bt.Cotton Crop in record 110 lakhs Hector in India: VJAS demands complete ban killer Bt.Cotton Crop

Cold Wave and Excess Rain damaged standing Bt.Cotton Crop in record 110 lakhs Hector in India: VJAS demands complete ban killer Bt.Cotton Crop

Nagpur -9th January 2011

‘yesterday my 10 acre plot of Bt.cotton was lush green and I was expecting to recover my crop losses due to excessive rain but record cold wave has damaged my whole plot within one night .now the bumper crop of cotton has been dream for me .I am not alone there thousands of farmers who drop second ruby food crop and continue the irrigation from any source available to them as climate in December was ven hot and humid was favoring second flash hence everybody gave fertilizer dose and hope to make the losses but sudden drop in temperature below 3-4 deg.Centigrade . As ruined the hopes of all farmers, we have lost very thing ,over sensitive Bt.cotton has been killer crop for us’ Sudhakar Gohane (Mobile-09420773972) of village Kawatha in Kalapur Tahsil of Yavatmal District was talking to Agriculture officer who has been surveying thousand s damaged crop in farm suicide hit district of Yavatmal.

When Monsanto manufacture of Bt.cotton seed has been planting the fabricated ‘paid news’ of bumper crop through media team on company payroll with help Bt.cotton promoter of Indian expert of cotton crop like head of Central Institute of Cotton Research (C.IC.R.) regarding recore bumper cotton crop in India same time more than 5 million Indian cotton farmers who opted this year for khariff season 2010-11 ,thanks to US MNc Bt.cotton seed manufacture Monsanto more than 3 million farmers are from maharashtra alone where Bt.cotton is under cultivation in 42 hector are crying the different tune of sudden climate change has ruined agrarian economy of the region and added the fuel in on going agrarian crisis which claimed highest from suicides in the cotton belt of India , Suresh Bolenwar (mobile-758889402) a progressive cotton farmers of vidarbha informed in press note today.

“Due to excessive rain has jumped the cultivation cost to double but expected yield is likely to reduce to 50% resulting more than Rs.27,000 crore huge financial losses to Indian cotton growers hence we want that Govt. of India should come out of the cotton growers unusual sudden losses and urged to ban this Gm technology which not suitable to the dry land farmers of central India ‘ kishor tiwari of VJAS asked the Indian Prime Minister to day.

In a letter to Indian Prime Minister,Dr.Manmohan Singh , VJAS has given details of sky rocking cultivation cost and gravity of losses due excessive rain and recent cold wave which is exposing the truth of the agrarian crisis in the cotton growing area of India, here is that table

Losses due to excessice rain and clod wave 110 lakhs hectors Bt.Cotton

Region

Area

seed

Fertilizer

Pesticide

labor

Fluking ,family labor and interest

Total

Losses

vidarbha

28 lakhs hector

1400 crore

1500 crore

1960 crore

1300 crore

5500 crore

7,700

Maharashtra

42 lakhs hector

2100 crore

2200 crore

2940 crore

2840 crore

2100 crore

10200 crore

India

110 lakhs hector

5500 crore

5700 crore

7700 crore

5200 crore

1500 crore

27700

Crore

VJAS has urged Govt. of India to recover the losses from US MNc Bt.cotton seed manufacture Monsanto as this is failure of technology not the complete failure as farmers who are cultivating Non-Bt.cotton an organic cotton there is no damage reported of excessive rain October –November and cold wave hence state should regulate the technically failed seeds and stop the exploitation of US MNc at the cost of Indian farmers suicides as per official figure of Indian Govt. has crossed 2,17,000 in last decade and most of suicides are closely related to debt and despair due crop failure of modern genetically revolutions in agriculture and killer seed of America .hence we repeat our demand of complete ban on imported seeds in India. , Tiwari added.

=================================================================

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Govt. makes mockery of pluses MSP hike

Three more debt trapped Yavatmal(vidarbha)cotton farmers committed suicide on 5th Jan.2011.


Three more debt trapped Yavatmal(vidarbha)cotton farmers committed suicide on 5th Jan.2011...taking toll 8 in last five days of 2011 in yavatmal district alone....

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Six farmers ended their lives in Vidarbha in the last 72 hours- Pradip Kumar Maitra-Hindustan Times.

Six farmers ended their lives in Vidarbha in the last 72 hours- Hindustan Times.

Pradip Kumar Maitra ■ pradipmaitra@hindustantimes.com
NAGPUR -5th Jan.2010

In the initial years when farmers distress came to attract public attention it was said that indebtedness through use of Bt Cotton were the main cause for farmers suicide.

IN VIDARBHA The victims took the extreme step despite the market rate of raw cotton being reasonably satisfactory
AMONG THE LATEST VICTIMS, TWO ARE FROM YAVATMAL AND ONE EACH FROM WARDHA, AMRAVATI, AKOLA AND BHANDARA DISTRICTS
The agrarian crisis continues to drive distressed farmers in Vidarbha to suicide. Six more farmers ended their lives in the erstwhile cotton belt in the last 72 hours.
6 farmers end life in 72 hours. According to reports reaching here on Tuesday, most of the victims were cotton growers and the tragedy occurred when the prevailing rate of raw cotton in the market is approximately Rs 4,200 a quintal.

Among the latest victims, two are from Yavatmal and one each from Wardha, Amravati, Akola and Bhandara districts.

The district collector of Yavatmal Sanjay Deshmukh was not available for comments.
Fifty-two farmer shad committed suicide in December 2010.

Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Anodolan Samiti, an organization that is documenting farmers’ suicides in the region, said crop failure was the primary reason for the latest farmers suicides. “The market rate of raw cotton was reasonably satisfactory despite a meager guarantee price of Rs3,000 per quintal announced by the government.

But the farmers could not cope with the situation because of crop failure due to untimely rains this season,” he said.

Tiwari criticized the state government for its lackadaisical approach towards the cotton growers of Vidarbha while announcing the relief package after the unseasoned rains damaged crops. While grape growers of the state got a compensation of Rs 25,000 per hectare from the government, cotton growers got a only Rs 5,000 per hectare.


“This is an insult to the crisis ridden cotton growers of Vidarbha,” he said.
The issue figured in the winter session of the state legislature held in Nagpur in December. The state’s rehabilitation minister, Patangrao Kadam, had told the Assembly that 4,427 debt-ridden farmers from Vidarbha had committed suicide between 2001 and October 31, 2010.

In the initial years when farmers distress came to attract public attention it was said that indebtedness through use of Bt Cotton were the main cause for farmers’ suicide.

Here it is important to notice that in the context of Indian history the moneylender is considered to be a particularly evil person and the farmer an unwitting subject of his machinations.

Moreover, in recent times there has been a considerable ideologically driven movement against the use of Bt crops
=======================================================

Monday, January 3, 2011

Amidst bumper cotton crop claim ….Six Vidarbha Farmers suicides reported in 2011

Amidst bumper cotton crop claim ….Six Vidarbha Farmers suicides reported in 2011

Nagpur-4th Jan 2011

When cotton research wing of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (I.C.A.R.) Central Institutes for Cotton Research (C.IC.R.) Claimed that this year record 325 lacs bales (170 kg-lint) in India and record 75 lacs bales in Maharashtra terming it’s bumper crop in 110 lacs hectors in India and 42 lacs hector in Maharashtra is not showing any effect to lower down the despair and distress among the suicide prone vidarbha cotton farmers as in last 72 hours six more debt trapped farmers suicides have been reported ,identified as

1.Ravindra Kodape of Nandapur in Akola

2.Prakash Pawar of Ajanti in Yavatmal

3.Motiram Mohurle of Susand in Wardha

4.Kamalkar Sawarbandhe of Asegoan in Bhandara

5.Ghotu Jabhorkar of Talkalkheda in Amaravati

6.Rahul Karthode of Kelzara in Yavatmal

Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti(VJAS )informed in press release today

‘Even cotton prices started climbing back to earlier level of 4200 to 4400 a quintal after the last date for completing the fixed quota of cotton exports extended till February 24 and so called bumper crop of cotton India has no relation with economic growth of debt trapped vidarbha cotton farmers as steep rise in cultivation cost and mounting debt from private money lenders has increased acute distress so as on going high cost of health care and livelihood is adding fuel to the vidarbha agrarian crisis. Now integrated solution is must focusing on the socio-economic issues of rural vidarbha in order to stop on going farmers Genocide’ Tiwari added.

‘Area under cotton cultivation in India cross 110 lacs hector and 42 lacs hector in Maharashtra then claim of 325 lacs and 75 lacs bales in India and Maharashtra respectively reflects that average yield of Bt.cotton is less than 400kg /quintal ,resulting average losses to the tune of Rs.5000/- per acre that the matter of mounting debt and distress hence withdrawal of cotton cultivation in most serious issue that has to be addressed’ Tiwari said.

‘we are expecting central intervention to stop this mass genocide of innocent farmers who are victims of wrong policies promoted by state as in dry land area rain sensitive crop like Bt.cotton is being cultivated in more than 95% causing huge financial losses to the cotton farmers and water crisis in the area. We have been demanding the ban on rain sensitive crop in this region and promotion of food crop in all rain fed area of vidarbha since 2004 but nobody is giving any attention to this serious demand resulting more and more farm suicides in the region’ VJAS stressed in press release today.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Lobbying against cotton farmers-Indian Express

Indian Express

Lobbying against cotton farmers

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/lobbying-against-farmers/732413/0

Milind Murugkar Posted online: Mon Jan 03 2011, 03:15 hrs
It has been two decades since India embarked on market-oriented reforms — and yet, in the political discourse, the market is not considered a social force for poverty alleviation. It is not hard to understand why. Although India’s liberalisation has been responsible for unprecedented growth, the benefits of market expansion have gone disproportionately to the relatively well-off. They have bypassed the vast majority of the poor, especially in the villages. A lack of education and infrastructure continues to hold down the capability of the poor to benefit from market opportunities.

No wonder, “market” remains a word without much appeal for the poor. This widespread feeling of disappointment serves well the cause of certain lobbies that can successfully shield themselves through protectionist policies at the cost of the poor. It also enables politicians to use a clever vocabulary that makes them appear “pro-poor” while tacitly defending anti-poor protectionist lobbies.

Newly appointed Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, speaking from a common platform recently, promised the state’s cotton growers that they would try to increase the export of raw cotton. Pawar assured the audience that since cotton was the main crop of Maharashtra, its export will be “encouraged”. He stated his commitment to step up cotton exports before American cotton arrives in the world market this month.

Such statements might appear as balm to the aggrieved cotton farmers of Vidarbha, a region that has witnessed many farmers’ suicides. But, ironically, they are made even as cotton growers are being unfairly denied higher international prices, by imposing restrictions on export. By choosing not to speak against this policy, these leaders are in fact acting as apologists of such policies. Cotton exports need no “encouragement”, as these leaders want farmers to believe. All that is needed is that the government does not come in the way of farmers who want to take advantage of the opportunities that trade presents. It is a cruel joke on farmers when the agriculture minister talks of the need to step up exports before the arrival of American cotton lowers the world market prices — because, if exports had been free, Indian farmers would have already seized the opportunity.

It is bad to do nothing about poor irrigation, as well as the ineffective extension of services; but it is worse to control or ban exports that directly affect farmers’ incomes. However, nobody has come forward to resist such policies. Civil society groups by and large are sceptical of markets and do not find the issue appealing enough.

The Indian textile sector benefited immensely from the expiry of the Multi-Fibre Agreement in 2005, since that facilitated the removal of restrictions on the import of textile products to developed countries. But the benefit of this trade liberalisation can flow to the rural poor only if the textile lobby purchases cotton at international prices. Instead, every year before the harvesting season, this lobby clamours for restricting — preferably banning — the export of cotton, and the government inevitably yields to their pressure.

Our cotton growers have to put up with poor infrastructure at home. They also have to bear the brunt of high subsidies doled out to cotton growers in the US, against whom they have to compete in the international market. But despite such odds, Indian cotton farmers have proved themselves competitive internationally. We should encourage them by providing the infrastructure they require. Instead, we continue to subject them to unfair taxation. Would we tolerate such a policy for, say, software exports? There is no dearth of experts who wax eloquent on the benefits of free trade. But they rarely make the case for cotton growers.

Is there a case for supporting the textile industry, as a labour-intensive industry that creates demand for poor unskilled labour? If it is so, the government should support it directly through financial assistance, and not by allowing the industry to ride on the back of farmers. And let us not forget that cotton is a highly labour-intensive crop too. Cotton prices thus matter not only to the cotton growers, most of whom are poor, but also to the labourers.

The writer is a Nashik-based food and agriculture policy, express@expressindia.com

Saturday, January 1, 2011

MSP Hike and Incentive to Tur Pulses is turning to be Hoax: VJAS urged opening of NAFED- TRIFED Pulses Procurement Centers

MSP Hike and Incentive to Tur Pulses is turning to be Hoax: VJAS urged opening of NAFED- TRIFED Pulses Procurement Centers

NAGPUR-2nd January,2011

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=68620

The Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) today urged the Government in order to implement decision to raise the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for pulses for the current kharif crops and incentive of Rs.500 per quintal for . The increase which ranges from Rs. 380 per quintal to Rs. 700 per quintal is part of the Government’s strategy to boost the production of pulses in the country. The rise in MSP for pulses this year is significant, both in terms of absolute increase and percentage rise. For Arhar (Tur) has been fixed at Rs. 3000 per quintal, of Moong at Rs. 3170 per quintal and of Urad at Rs.2900 per quintal, marking an increase of Rs. 700 per quintal, Rs. 410 per quintal and Rs. 380 per quintal, respectively over the last year’s MSPs. In addition, an additional incentive at the rate of Rs. 5 per kg for tur, urad and moong sold during the harvest/arrival period of two months to procurement agencies was promised but it is turning out to be hoax as major central owned procurement agencies National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) has not purchase a single kg. of pluses in vidarbha and traders are buying all pluses below the MSP where as so called incentive to the tune of RS.500/- per quintal has turned out to be another eyewash for dryland farmers who opted pluses cultivation under Govt. initiative to introduce the major schemes, viz. the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) and the Macro Management of Agriculture Scheme which is now have special components for pulses development as to encourage farmers towards growing pulses informed Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS ) In letter to Indian Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh ,informed in press release today.

The farmers in west vidarbha opted to cultivate tur due to the rise is Rs. 700 per quintal, from Rs. 2300/q last year to Rs. 3000/q, which represents 30.43% rise over the previous year’s MSP. This rise is higher than the rise of Rs. 500 recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). The rise in MSP for pulses this year is significant, both in terms of absolute increase and percentage rise. For tur, the rise is Rs. 700 per quintal, from Rs. 2300/q last year to Rs. 3000/q, which represents 30.43% rise over the previous year’s MSP. This rise is higher than the rise of Rs. 500 recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) but all promises are turing out to be hoax as there is no procurement from Govt. agencies moreover the concern ministry failed to develop the mechanism so that suicide prone area’s dry land farmers financial interest is protested .

“This was long pending demand of dry land farmers to west vidarbha who are cultivating mono-cash crop BT. cotton which very much rain sensitive and highly volatile to the international pricing due US subsidies and created lot of complex problem of water crisis in drought prone west vidarbha where 98% farmers are dry land farmers .we welcomed Centre decision to spend Rs. 837.03 crore on pulses development this year but the hostile functioning of babus involved in Arhar (Tur), Moong, Chana, Urad promotion programme under The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) has failed to protect the debt trapped cotton farmers who replaced cash crop of ‘tur’ with Bt.cotton hence we have urged Indian Prime Minister to start pluses procurement centres of National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) ,Tiwari informed

======================================================================