Saturday, March 31, 2012

Massive Protest of Vidarbha Cotton Farmers and Traders against New Tax and Stalled Export

Massive Protest of Vidarbha Cotton Farmers and Traders against New Tax and Stalled Export

Nagpur:31/03/12

Massive hunger strike of cottontraders, farmers to demand abolish of new 5 % purchase tax on cotton imposed by Maharashtra and commerce ministry stringent rules of revalidation of RC for cotton export, has urged Govt. to pay all compens

ation for on going economic losses to farmers and traders due to wrong policies of export and taxation at Agrasen Bhav

an Pandharkawada today on March 31, 2012 demanding restriction free cotton export special incentive for cotton export, Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) informed (photo attached).

Farm activist Suresh Bolenwar ,Tukaram Meshram,Ankit Naitam,Moreshwar Watile And Mohan Jadhav and cotton trader

s association office bearers Suvidhi Surana ,Rikhab Mutha,Chandrakant Chokhani,Kishore Khera and Vijay Kondawar spoke at protest rally which attended by farmers widows Aprana Malikar ,Manju Ambarwar and Bebitai Bais and others,Tiwari added.

Five million cotton farmers who are facing cotton crop failure is being subjected ti very heavy economic losses due needless restriction put by commerce ministry on export and recent announcement of Maharashtra Govt. to imposing 5% tax on all raw cotton purchases in maharashtra and now cotton traders, cotton processing pant owners and exporters to have come together and decided to intensify stir if demands are not addressed soon, Tiwari announced in the rally.

Cotton prices in the state fell further by around Rs. 200 at Rs. 3,400 a quintal following the state government's budget announ

cement of imposing a value added tax (VAT) of 5% on cotton. The additional tax burden has hit the market sentiment which was already low with the virtual stalling of exports since March 5.While on the one hand the state government has decided to extend a relief of Rs2,000 crore to around 5 million cotton farmers after crop failure in more than nearly 40 lakh hectares, it took a harsh measure

to put 5% VAT on cotton.

Prices which were ruling around Rs4,200 in the first week of March have steadily declined to Rs 3,400 in the current week. "This will only add to economic losses of the already distressed cotton growers," said Kishore Tiwari (VJAS). He has urged the state to roll back the VAT proposed in the budget. In other

cotton growing states it was no more than 2%, he claimed.

The director general of foreign trade (DGFT) literally stalled cotton exports by sea and road since March 5 leading to crash in raw cotton prices. VJAS has demanded that the group of ministers (GoM), which is likely to meet on April 3, should review the

situation and lift all restrictions on cotton exports.

"When cotton arrival as per data is only 242 lakh bales as against 278 lakhs bales of last year and at least 120 lakh bales awaited in the markets, such restrictions will expose more than 7 million cotton growers, traders and exporters to huge economic losses and will damage Indian cotton trade. Just to protect a few garment manufactures, the DGFT should not be allowed to dictate its terms," said Tiwari.

"When domestic demand is just 20 million bales as against production of 33 million bales there is no reason to restrict exports. The move reeks of corruption," Tiwari alleged. "India, is a major exporter of cotton but a cartel which monopolies the garment export is lobbying for the ban since 2010 although India is signatory to the WTO," Tiwari said.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

महाराष्ट्र सरकारने ५% वॅट लावल्यामुळे कापसाचे भाव पडले--लोकशाही वार्ता

महाराष्ट्र सरकारने ५% वॅट लावल्यामुळे कापसाचे भाव पडले--लोकशाही वार्ता
यवतमाळ /२८ मार्च: महाराष्ट्रात ६0 लाख कापसाच्या गाठींची आवक होत असते. त्यापैकी फक्त १0 लाख गाठींचा वापर होतो. उर्वरित ५0 लाख गाठी इतर राज्यात निर्यात होतात. इतर राज्यात निर्यातीकरिता व्यापार्‍यांना फक्त २ टक्के वॅट अन्वये कर मिळतो. उरलेला ३ टक्के कर महाराष्ट्र सरकारकडून वसूल करणे अशक्य असल्यामुळे व्यापार्‍यांनी कापसाचे भाव प्रतिक्विंटल २00 रुपयांनी कमी केले आहे. कापसाला सद्यस्थितीत मिळत असलेला भाव आंध्र व इतर राज्यांपेक्षा कमी आहे. महाराष्ट्र सरकारने ५ टक्के कर लावून नापिकीग्रस्त ४0 लाख शेतकर्‍यांना अधिक आर्थिक अडचणीत टाकले आहे. सरकारने प्रस्तावित ५ टक्के वॅट कर मागे घ्यावा, अशी मागणी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी केली आहे.
भारत सरकारने निर्यातबंदी उठविण्याचा निर्णय घेतला. मात्र नवीन निर्यात होणार नाही व जुन्या निर्यातीला पुन्हा परवानगी घ्यावी लागेल, या जाचक अटींमुळे कापसाचे भाव हमीभावापेक्षा कमी झाले आहेत. महाराष्ट्रातील ३0 लाख कापूस उत्पादक शेतकरी आधीच नापिकीने त्रस्त झाले आहेत. सरकार आगीत तेल टाकण्याचे काम करीत आहे. निर्यातबंदीच्या आदेशामध्ये टाकलेल्या अटी रद्द कराव्या व आंतरराष्ट्रीय किंमतीमध्ये नाफेड व सी.सी.आय ची खरेदी करावी, अशी मागणी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केली आहे. वाणिज्य मंत्री आनंद शर्मा यांनी कापसावरच्या निर्यातबंदीचे सर्व आदेश मागे घेतले अशी घोषणा करून भारताच्या ७0 लाख कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांना दिलेला दिलासा त्यांच्या मंत्रालयाच्या आदेशाने आज पूर्णत: दुखी झाले आहे. कारण सरकारने नवीन कापसाची निर्यात होणार नाही व जुने सौदेही चौकशीअंती त्यांच्या तारखा वाढवून मिळतील, अशा जाचक अटी लादल्यामुळे आज सगळय़ा कापूस बाजारपेठात मंदीचे वातावरण पसरले होते. सरकारने शेतकर्‍यांनी दिशाभूल केली असून निर्यातबंदीची घोषणा सरळ सरळ धूळफेक आहे. सरकारने ५ मार्चपूर्वीचे निर्यात धोरण लागू करावे व कापसाची निर्यात मोकळी करावी. तसेच सरकारने प्रस्तावित ५ टक्के वॅट कर परत घ्यावा. जर सरकारला गिरणी मालकांची एवढी चिंता असेल तर सरकारने सी.सी.आय व नाफेडद्वारे जगात चालू असलेला ४ हजार ५00 रुपये प्रतिक्विंटल दराने कापसाची खरेदी करावी, अशी मागणी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी केली आहे. देशात सध्या १२0 लाख हेक्टरमध्ये सरासरी ३५0 लाख गाठीचे उत्पादन होत असल्याचा दावा सरकारच करत आहे. भारतीय कापड गिरण्यांना २00 लाख गाठी कापसाच्या लागतात. अशा परिस्थितीमध्ये १५0 लाख गाठीचे निर्यात धोरण तयार करून निर्यातदारांना कापूस निर्यातीसाठी विशेष अनुदान द्यावे ही काळाची गरज आहे. मात्र जागतीकीकरण व खुल्या बाजार व्यवस्थेचा उदो उदो करणारे सरकार मात्र गिरणी मालकांच्या खिशात बसून ७0 लाख कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांचे जीवन उद्ध्वस्त करीत आहे. सरकारच्या घिसाड व धरसोड करणार्‍या निर्यात धोरणामुळे भारताची आंतरराष्ट्रीय कापूस बाजारपेठेत पत घसरली आहे. वाणिज्य मंत्री आनंद शर्मा यांच्या चुकीच्या निर्णयामुळे भारताचे कापसासारखे महत्त्वाचे नगदी पीक धोक्यात आले आहे. सरकारचे धोरण हेच शेतकर्यांचे मरण असून भ्रष्ट नोकरशाही भारताचे कृषीमंत्री, महाराष्ट्र, गुजरात, आंध्रप्रदेश सरकारने मुख्यमंत्री व भारताच्या प्रमुख पक्षांच्या भावना व मागण्यांना केराची टोपली दाखवत आपल्या र्मजीचे धोरण राबवितात याला सं.पु.आ. सरकारमधील भ्रष्टाचार जबाबदार आहे. कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या सरकारच्या धोरणाचे बळी असल्याचा विजंसचा दावा यामुळे सिद्ध होतो. सरकारने खुली निर्यात धोरणे लावून विदर्भाच्या ३0 लाख शेतकर्‍यांना दिलासा द्यावा, अशी मागणीही विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केली आहे.

Imposition of 5% VAT on cotton leads further price fall after stringent norms stalled all Cotton Export–VJAS.

Imposition of 5% VAT on cotton leads further price fall after stringent norms stalled all Cotton Export–VJAS.

Nagpur -March 28, 2012

Maharashtra Govt. who has declared relief package of Rs.2000 crore to around 5 million cotton farmers after crop failure in more than 40 lakh hector to address on going agrarian crisis but in the budget same Govt. has put 5% VAT on cotton which is 2% in all other cotton growing states has leads to further price fall of Rs.200/- per quintal and cotton has is reported to be traded around Rs.3400/- per quintal as against Rs.-4200/- in first week of march has increased economic losses of cotton farmers of vidarbha region where farmers are killing themselves due debt and distress, informed farm activist Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti VJAS today urging Maharashtra Govt. to roll back the increased 5% VAT proposed in the budget.

Earlier DGFT literally stalled on cotton export by sea and road both and which has dampen the market sentiments further and resulted price cash in candy for lint and for raw cotton too hence VJAS, has demanded GOM who is likely to meet on 3rd April to review situation to lift all restrictions on cotton exports and remove the environments of fear where traders’ and exporters’ are being scanned as smugglers’ and are being subjected to unwanted harassments and massive corruption .

“When cotton arrival as per CCI data is only 242 lakhs bales as against 278 lakhs bales of last year and as per lowered estimate till 120 lakhs bales arrival is awaited hence such restrictions will put more than 7 million cotton growers ,traders and exporters huge economic losses and will damage Indian cotton trade to larger extend hence protecting handful garments industries DGFT all unfair trade practices should curbed and there is urgent need to review the functioning of commerce ministry where some Babus are detecting their terms to ruin agrarian economy of cotton growing region of India henc ewe demand urgent intervention ”Tiwari added.

DGFT recent Trade Notice 24 dated 20th March, 2012 says that Government has decided that priority in scrutiny and revalidation should be accorded to the cotton consignments that were handed over to customs till 2400 hours on Sunday, 04 March, 2012, when the prohibition had come into force. Greater priority will be accorded to cases pertaining to Land Custom Stations (LCS) on Indo-Pakistan, Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Nepal border to ease congestion there but in fact they is no congestion and moreover main issue of clearing and issuing fresh RC to china which contributes more than 70% of total export hence motive behind the recent trade notice is also ill- managed as same trade notice further add that fresh export would be permitted only after revalidation of RCs and there is package deal for fresh revalidation and DGFT officials are demanding big cash fro RC hence we demand unconditional export of cotton as per WTO norms and Indian free tarde policies ,Tiwari added.

Earlier DGFT had disappointed exporters, traders and cotton farmers and hidden restrictions in roll back order has turned out to be fresh export ban to purchases and trades hereinafter as it is clearly says that issue of new RCs stands suspended until further orders and in respect of those RCs, that were valid as on 05.03.2012 and for which LEOs are yet to be issued & exports completed. All RCs would need to be submitted to DGFT for scrutiny and revalidation. Exports can be affected only after RCs are revalidated hence now getting extension to existing contracts will give scope further exploitation and corruption in DGFT that has deepen sentiments of market and bales which were traded @Rs.34,000 above has returned to @RS.32,400 level resulting there is no change in the local market were farmers are surprised see @ Rs.3400 per quintal as against international rates of @Rs.45,000/- hence roll back on cotton export ban is nothing but the eyewash hence we demand blanket lifting of export ban under free export of raw cotton under OGL that can save dying debt trapped 7 million farmers of India, informed farm activist Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti VJAS,.

‘If UPA Govt. has problem with growth of cotton export they want to protect textile cartel then they should buy cotton@ international rates with his agencies like NAFED and CCI. ,protecting the innocent dying cotton farmers’ who are forced to sale cotton at throw price to local dealers who are subjected to market forces and volatile export policies of UPA Govt. most of the time managed by handful people hence PM should intervene ’Tiwari urged.

“when Indian domestic demand is just 20 million bales as against national production of 33 million bales there is no reason put restrictions when interest of domestic textile mills are fully protected .the decision to ban Indian cotton export is another example rampant corruption going on in UPA Govt. there is big names involved in the sudden export ban will expose the all misdeeds of commerce ministry hence for the first time farmers suicide issue has given focus of wrong policies of state ,we will see that the truth is prevailed” Tiwari added.

“India, one of the largest exporters of Cotton in the world, had left alarm bells ringing across the World and cotton cultivated in more than 124 lakhs hectors and more than 7 million cotton growers are involved and this main cash crop of India but cartel which monopolies the garment export is managing commerce ministry to impose such ban since 2010 even India singed WTO has already lifted quantitative restriction on import-export and corrupt Babus with undue protect from concern minister are involved in such unjust ,untimely ,ill motivated decision hence to avoid it’s reoccurrence cotton export ban decision needs CBI probe and PM should arrange to sack his commerce minister as facts added by GOM and protest from Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and chief ministers of Maharashtra , Gujarat, AP and all political parties UPA and NDA hence only lifting ban is not sufficient and accumulated losses of cotton growers traders must be compensated by Govt. without delay” hence open free export of cotton is only solution , Tiwari added.

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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

शेतकरी आत्महत्येला बीटी कंपन्या जबाबदार-किशोर तिवारी

शेतकरी आत्महत्येला बीटी कंपन्या जबाबदार-किशोर तिवारी

लोकशाही वार्ता/२0 मार्च
http://epaper.lokshahivarta.in/epapermain.aspx?queryed=12&eddate=#
दिल्ली : कोरडवाहू क्षेत्रात सरकारने अनियंत्रितपणे बहुराष्ट्रीय कंपन्यांचे बीटी बियाणे विकण्याची परवानगी दिल्यानंतर शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या सुरू झाल्या आहेत. विदर्भातील कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या नसून बहुराष्ट्रीय कंपन्या व सरकारच्या भ्रष्ट मंत्र्यांचे बळी आहे, असा आरोप विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनीदिल्ली येथे वुमन प्रेस क्लबमध्ये आयोजित पत्रकार परिषदेत केला.
दि.१९ मार्चला कॉन्स्टीट्यूशन क्लब ऑफ इंडिया येथे कृषी सांसदीय समितीचे अध्यक्ष वासुदेव आचार्य, भाजपचे प्रवक्ते खा. प्रकाश जावडेकर, समाजवादी पार्टीचे लोकसभेचे नेते रेवती रमन, विदर्भातील कापूस उत्पादक व या समस्येवर विशेष अभ्यास करुन पाठपुरावा करणारे खा. संजय धोत्रे, जळगावचे खा. ए. के. पाटील यांच्यासह बिहार, झारखंड, मध्यप्रदेश, उत्तरप्रदेश, आंध्रप्रदेश व केरळमधील खासदारांच्याबैठकीत विदर्भाच्या कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्येवर व अमेरिकेच्या बीटी बियाणे निर्माण करणार्‍या मोन्सॅन्ट्रो कंपनीला भारतात कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्यांची भरभरीत विकास झाल्याच्या दाव्यावर सखोल चर्चा करण्यात आली. सर्वच खासदारांनी सरकारच्या कापूस उत्पादक शेतकरी विरोधी धोरण व दिलेल्या माहितीच्या आधारे सरकारला जाब विचारण्याचे आश्‍वासन दिले. पश्‍चिम विदर्भात १९९६ पासून २00३ पर्यंत सरासरी वर्षभरात शेतकर्‍यांच्या जेमतेम ५0 आत्महत्या होत होत्या. मात्र पश्‍चिम विदर्भात अल्पभूधारक व कोरडवाहू शेतकर्‍यांनी बीटी बियाण्यांचा वापर सुरूकेल्यानंतर शेतकर्यांच्या आत्महत्येचा सरासरी वार्षिक आकडा हजारावर गेला आहे. बिटी बियाण्यापुर्वी शेतकर्‍यांना लागवडीचा खर्च प्रति हेक्टरला जेमतेम १0 हजार रुपये होता तर तो आज सरासरी २६ हजारावर आला आहे तर मागील ३ वर्षांपासून महाराष्ट्रात कापसाचे प्रति हेक्टरी उत्पन्न ३ क्विंटलच्याही खाली जात असल्याचा धक्कादायक सरकारी अहवाल आला आहे.
कापसाचे प्रतिक्विंटल भाव २५00 ते ३५00 च्या दरम्यान राहिले आहेत. त्यामुळे शेतकर्‍यांचे प्रचंड नुकसान झाल्याची कबुली सरकारने देत डिसेंबर २00५, जुलै २00६, फेब्रुवारी २00८, जानेवारी २00९ व डिसेंबर २0११ मध्ये शेतकर्‍यांना आर्थिक मदत देण्यासाठी सुमारे २0 हजार कोटी रुपये दिले आहे. मात्र सरकारच्या चुकीच्या धोरणामुळे व चुकीच्या योजनामुळे हा सारा पैसा कंत्राटदार, राजकीय नेते व महाराष्ट्रातील राज्यकर्त्यांच्या सहकारी बॅंकेने लुटला. कृषी मूल्य आयोगाने राष्ट्रीय कृषी आयोगाच्या शिफारसींना केराची टोपली दाखवून कापसाचा हमीभाव कायम ठेवला तर गिरणी मालकांच्या खिशात बसलेल्या भारताच्या वाणिज्य व वस्त्रोद्योग मंत्रालयाने वारंवार निर्यात बंदी लावून विदर्भाच्या ३0 लाख नैराश्यात असलेल्या शेतकर्‍यांना आत्महत्येच्या खाईत ढकलले हे सर्व आत्महत्या नसून विदेशी कंपन्यांनी केलेल्या हत्या असल्याचा आरोप तिवारी यांनी केला. बीटी कापसामुळे या दशकात कापसाचा पेरा ७0 लाख हेक्टरवर गेला. मात्र उत्पादन कमी झाल्याने कापूस संशोधन संस्थेचा अहवाल तिवारी यांनी सादर केला. कीटकनाशकाचा वापर कमी झाल्याचा बहुराष्ट्रीय कंपनीचा दावा पूर्णपणे खोटा असल्याचा अधिकृत अहवालच तिवारी यांनी सादर केला आहे. महाराष्ट्रात बीटी कापसाचे उत्पादन सुरु झाले. त्या वर्षी ३ हजार मेट्रीक टन कीटकनाशक वापरले गेले तर २0१0-११ मध्ये ५२६0 मेट्रीक टन कीटक नाशक कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांनी वापरल्याची कबुली सरकारने दिली आहे. ज्या बोंड अळीला मारण्यासाठी बीटी बियाणे आले होते, आता गुलाबी बोंडअळी बीटी बियाण्यामुळे मरत नाही अशी कबुली मोन्सेंट्रोने दिली आहे. मागील ५ वर्षात कापसाच्या पिकावर मिलीबग, लाल्या व इतर रोगाचे प्रमाण व अनियंत्रित तणनाशकाचा वापर यामुळे जमिनीची पोत जावुन पर्यावरण व सार्वजनिक आरोग्यामध्ये गंभीर प्रश्न निर्माण झाले असून बहुराष्ट्रीय कंपन्या शेतकर्‍यांच्या अज्ञानाचा फायदा घेत आहेत. मागील ५ वर्षात मोन्सेंट्रो कंपनीला बि.टी. बियाण्याच्या तंत्रज्ञानाची रॉयल्टी म्हणून २४ हजार कोटी रुपये देण्यात आल्याची कबुली सरकारने केली आहे. परंतु या २४ हजार कोटीमध्ये कोणते अधिकारी व कोणते नेते शामिल आहे असा सवाल किशोर तिवारी उपस्थित केला. भारताची कृषी व्यवस्था अमेरिकेच्या बहुराष्ट्रीय कंपन्यांच्या हातात जाऊ नये व नवीन गुलामगिरीची सुरुवात होऊ नये यासाठी खासदारांनी विशेष प्रयत्न करावे यासाठी आमची मोहीम सुरूच राहिल, अशी माहिती किशोर तिवारी यांनी दिली.
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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Cotton ban rolled back, but fresh exports curbed-DNA

Cotton ban rolled back, but fresh exports curbed

DNA / Yogesh Pawar / Tuesday, March 13, 2012 8:00 IST

**This will worsen exploitation and corruption in DGFT and affect market sentiment. Already, bales trading has plummeted from Rs34,000 and above to Rs32,400.This, when international rates are around Rs45,000,” said Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti. “Unless the export ban is completely lifted, the cosmetic relief will mean little to the 7 million cotton farmers in the country,” said the activist.Tiwari, in fact, proffers a conspiracy theory — that the powerful readymade garments lobby is behind the move and pulling strings to ensure the ban stays.According to him, the domestic demand for cotton is just 20 million bales as against a

national production of 33 million bales, which means the interests of the domestic textile mills is fully protected.**


A day after commerce minister Anand Sharma announced that the decision to ban cotton exports was being revoked, the government on Monday said the rollback is only for quantities already registered but not shipped.For the rest, the ban continues. “No new registration certificates will be issued,” said commerce secretary Rahul Khullar.


The central government hereby withdraws the notification dated March 5, 2012,” the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) sai

d in a notification.

“Issue of new RCs (registration certificates) stands suspended until further orders,” it said, adding that even the RCs already issued need to be revalidated.

A group of ministers is likely to review the ban in two weeks, said Khullar.

The government has been under fire from its allies and advocacy groups over the decision to ban cotton exports.

The latest flip-flop too has drawn sharp criticism.

“This will worsen exploitation and corruption in DGFT and affect market sentiment. Already, bales trading has plummeted from Rs34,000 and above to Rs32,400.

This, when international rates are around Rs45,000,” said Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti. “Unless the export ban is completely lifted, the cosmetic relief will mean little to the 7 million cotton farmers in the country,” said the activist.

Tiwari, in fact, proffers a conspiracy theory — that the powerful readymade garments lobby is behind the move and pulling strings to ensure the ban stays.

According to him, the domestic demand for cotton is just 20 million bales as against a national production of 33 million bales, which means the interests of the domestic textile mills is fully protected.

“Is the cartel monopolising garment exports so strong that the government chooses to ignore protests from its agriculture minister, the CMs of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and political parties across the spectrum?”

URL of the article: http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_cotton-ban-rolled-back-but-fresh-exports-curbed_1661695-all
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Sunday, March 11, 2012

On Bt Trail… Bengaluru to Bhamb (Raja)=Kartik Lokhande in HITAVADA

On Bt Trail… Bengaluru to Bhamb (Raja)=Kartik Lokhande in HITAVADA



The last two weeks saw interesting developments in India, which is at crossroads of choice between adoption of Biotechnology in agriculture to ensure food security and widespread opposition to genetically engineered/modified crops. In a conference held at Bengaluru, scientists from across India and abroad aggressively pushed for biotech crops for food security in India. They even came down heavily on Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, who had imposed indefinite moratorium on Bt Brinjal when he was Union Environment Minister, and batted for lifting moratorium. And, close on the heels of that, on the eve of visit of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, a non-descript Bhamb (Raja) Gram Panchayat in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra hit the headlines as it passed a resolution seeking ban on Bt Cotton. The Hitavada Chief Reporter Kartik Lokhande, who watched both the happenings from close quarters, presents what he saw and heard on Bt trail from Bengaluru to Bhamb (Raja).

“HEAVENS are not going to fall,” said Dr Gurdev Khush, Adjunct Professor with Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, when asked about fears of gene flow or gene pollution caused by genetically modified (GM) crops. According to him, possibility of gene flow or gene pollution was an ‘unimportant fear’ as it was not sufficient a reason to rule out planting of GM crops in India.
However, within a week since he made the statement in ‘Biotech Crops for Food Security in India’ conference held at Bengaluru in Karnataka, a not-so-qualified farmer from a virtually non-descript village Bhamb (Raja) in Yavatmal district, the hotspot for farmers’ suicide in the country, in Maharashtra said ‘no’ to grow Bt Cotton or any other Bt crop. The reason Gajanan Dumale gave was, “With Bt Cotton, leave alone other things, soil fertility is going down. Besides, I feel, no Bt crop is remunerative as it increases input cost tremendously.”
Putting things in perspective, one can say that both were right in their own right. Scientist was right as he knew science side of the story while a farmer knew ground reality as he was the one expected to adopt newer scientific strides in agriculture. And, here starts the debate in favour of or in opposition of Bt and ‘non-Bt’ or GM and ‘non-GM’ crops. Of course, between Bengaluru and Bhamb (Raja), the only difference was food crops and cotton crop. Still, the connecting dot was the same – Bt or Biotechnology in agriculture. Talking of food crops, India had faced a similar situation some time back when then Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had conducted public consultations across the country before imposing moratorium on Bt Brinjal.
As far as Bt Brinjal is concerned, the scientists believe that its advantages have been proved scientifically by many research bodies in the world. Whereas, the rights groups and those in favour of organic farming or ‘non-GM’ crops, say the bogie of food crisis is being raised to tap potential of Indian market for GM crops. Besides, there are concerns about bio-safety of these crops and their impact on human and cattle health. Though ill-impact on human health is a feared thing, farmers in many villages like Bhamb (Raja) are saying it openly that their cattle died or contracted hitherto unknown diseases after consuming leaves of Bt Cotton plants.
Dr Gurdev Khush, however, says that GM crops are safe and at least eight reputed research organizations across the globe have recorded their findings in this regard. These organizations include; National Academy of Sciences (1987, 1989), Advanced Committee on Releases to the Environment, UK (2007), 81 studies by the Research Directorate of the EU (Kessler & Economidis, 2001), French Academy of Science and Medicine (2002), Royal Society, UK (2003), British Medical Association (2004), Union of German Academies of Science and Humanities (2004), and FAO (2004).
However, independent commentators ranging from Devinder Sharma to Indian groups like Swadeshi Jagaran Manch feel that there is actually no need for GM crops. As far as GM food crops are concerned, Sharma had pointed out in one of his articles that India was a food surplus country and hence it did not need to introduce Bt or GM crops to ensure food security. Swadeshi Jagaran Manch also had made a similar point and had pointed out that instead of introducing GM crops, the Government should provide the farmers good amount of subsidy and introduce indigenously developed techniques and technologies as well as encourage organic farming to increase productivity and production.
On this point, even the scientists agree that India is a food surplus country. Still, feels Dr C Kameswara Rao, Secretary of Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education (FBAE), one needs to consider a scenario in the country in 2050. By then, India’s food demand will grow tremendously and conventional methods will not be able to meet challenge. Hence, encouraging biotech crops now will be a step in right direction to mitigate food security challenges ahead.
“Delays and hopeless scenario on the front of regulators is causing incalculable damage as no fresh investment in agri-biotech sector in India will mean continuing with the challenge of food security,” feels Prof Shanthu Shantaram, Visiting Professor, Iowa State University.
If this is the scenario on the front of GM food crops, despite a few years since release of Bt Cotton, controversy still continues in non-food crops. Almost every Government agency claims that Bt Cotton has increased income of farmers. The companies say that improved yield has helped cotton-growers a lot. Renowned social scientist of Cornell University, who is known for his pioneering work on agriculture in South Asia, Prof Ron Herring, too, sounds in agreement to these claims. “Bt Cotton has improved income of farmers definitely.”
However, here, none other than farmers are talking against Bt Cotton in various pockets across the country. Many felt cheated when they saw that despite tall claims by Mahyco-Monsanto and other companies, Bt Cotton plants were not pest/disease resistant. Even the agri-biotech giant Monsanto recognizes this. Dr K S Mohan, who was earlier with Indian Institute of Horticulture Research and currently is IRM Manager (India) with Monsanto and a Monsanto Science Fellow, says that planting techniques need to be improved. “Refuge is an important aspect. Along with Bt, traditional variant of cotton needs to be planted so that performance of Bt variant is better,” he observes.
But, then, there are problems on this count also. As many farmers pointed out before Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture headed by Basudeb Acharia during its visit to Maregaon (Son) village in Yavatmal district, ‘non-Bt’ seeds of Cotton are not available in the market. Though the farmers did not know much about usage of words like ‘seed monopoly’, an accusation hurled by critics at multi-national agri-biotech companies, they pointed out a strategy adopted by these companies.
With all these pros and cons, whether the pro-biotech or anti-biotech groups succeed in India will be decided by the stand adopted by the Government. If the Government succumbs to pressure from pro-biotech groups, it is likely to lift moratorium on Bt Brinjal and also allow pushing further Bt Cotton till area under its cultivation is 100 per cent. If that stage benefits everyone or complicates the matter further, remains to be seen.

Europe Vs US
Don’t get surprised by this expression. In fact, this is what most of the scientists in favour of GM crops and some of the officials with the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India think.
Those in favour of GM crops think that opposition to the Bt or GM or transgenic crops is guided by Europe or Scandinavian countries. Ask Dr Gurdev Khush and he says, “Opposing new trends is a religion for Europeans.” Dr Klaus Ammann from University of Berne (Switzerland) is more vocal in his criticism. Calling organizations like Greenpeace and others operating in Germany as ‘Eco Vaticans’, Dr Klaus Ammann says, “Protests are used to make money and to capitalize on public fear. It is a faith of raising fear.”
Even Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had advocated recently introduction of Bt or genetic engineering technologies to increase productivity of agriculture, and had said that there were NGOs ‘often funded from the US and Scandinavian countries’ opposing this.
Still, according to some independent observers, at international level it is a war for market domination between chemical fertilizers lobby and multi-national corporations in agri-biotech business. On one hand, chemical fertilizers lobby backed the NGOs and provided them data that goes against GM crops. On the other, agri-biotech companies go on organizing sensitization events for Government officials, scientists, and policy-makers to convince them about ill-effects of chemical fertilizers and advantages of Bt or GM or transgenic crops.

What’s on the platter?
Already, biotech or GM or transgenic crops are being planted on 160 million hectares in 29 countries in the world. In India and China, scientists and multi-national corporations in agri-biotech business have been convincing the respective Governments to allow release of GM crops.
However, if sources in Government of India are to be believed, there might be GM or biotech crops already in the market. GM or Bt variants of rice, cotton, peas, potato, papaya, soyabean, brinjal etc are suspected to be in the Indian market already. Besides, research on Golden Rice (claimed to have potential to reduce Vitamin A deficiency), tomato (with high anti-oxidant and anti-cancerous activity) are at advanced stages. Research is being conducted on apple, brassica, other vegetables and fruits also.
Some of the scientists who do not wish to be quoted told ‘The Hitavada’ that there were illegal stocks of Bt crops including virus-resistant Papaya. “Transgenic germplasm travels across international borders. Bt Rice is all over China and it is exported to India also. However, officially, it does not exist,” said a scientist.

BRAI Bill -- A braid of arguments and counter-arguments

While the nation is debating whether to go ahead with GM crops or not, attempts to suppress information at the Government level regarding Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill is raising suspicion regarding the Government’s intentions.
Probably, that is the reason, the draft of the Bill is not available on the websites of Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. Instead, the ‘leaked’ draft is available on websites such as http://indiagminfo.org. There are several provisions in the Bill that raise these suspicions even more. The most debated provisions are Section 28 (I) and Section 70 (I).
Section 28 (I) reads: In case an application to be submitted under sub-section (I) or Section 24 or sub-section (I) of Section 27 requires the disclosure of confidential commercial information, such information shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the Right to Information Act, 2005, be retained as confidential by the Authority and not be disclosed to any other party.
(II) If the Authority is satisfied that the public interest outweighs the disclosure of confidential commercial information or such disclosure shall not cause harm to any person, it may refuse to retain that information as confidential commercial information.
This has attracted criticism from various quarters. Those against the existing version of the Bill say that the provision contained in Section 28 (I) seeks to bypass Right to Information Act in the garb of not allowing disclosure of confidential commercial information. However, argues Dr S R Rao of Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, “Confidential commercial information pertains to trade secret or any other information that has commercial or other value, or information relating to lawful commercial of financial affairs of a person, organisation, or undertaking dealing with products or organisms specified under Schedule I of the Bill. The said information does not include information on data related to safety or efficacy of the product.”
Besides, says Dr Rao, Section 8 (I) (d) of RTI Act itself provides for exemption from disclosure of information. This provision states, “Information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, unless the competene authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information.”
There is Section 70 (I) in the Bill that states, “No court shall take cognisance of any offence punishable under this Act or the rules or regulations made thereunder, save on a complaint made by the Authority or any officer or person authorised by it.” The activists against BRAI Bill are opposing this tooth and nail as they feel that BRAI officers or authorities will not be answerable to anyone else than themselves. Obviously, the Government has not been able to provide any logical and convincing reply to this allegation.
Points of concern are many. For instance, the Bill does not make it mandatory to go for public consultation in decision-making process of BRAI. Interestingly, the public will be informed of all applications for field trials and clinical trials and regulatory decisions made by the Authority.’ However, this implies that they will not be ‘consulted’ but only ‘informed’.
Then, there is concern that BRAI Bill is against federal polity and powers vested with the States and the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Bypassing the States and PRIs, BRAI will be able to take decisions in a centralised manner. Already, many states have expressed strong opposition to BRAI Bill.

Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India
BRAI Bill proposes to put in place a statutory independent regulator to be named Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI). The authority will be the Government of India’s nodal agency for comprehensive safety assessment of organisms and products of biotechnology. It will regulate research, transport, import, manufacture and use of organisms and products of biotechnology.
The BRAI will have various branches for different purposes. These include Agriculture, Forest, and Fisheries Branch (AFFB); Human and Animal Health Branch (HAHB); and Industrial and Environmental Applications Branch (IEAB). There is provision for other branches to come into existence in future as per requirement. As on date, the provisions specify that AFFB will be entrusted with the task of regulating GM plants, animals, and micro-organisms in agriculture, forestry, fisheries sectors. HAHB will regulate GM organisms with applications in human and veterinary health. Scope of HAHB will include assessment of potential risks to environment and benefits of applications of GM organisms in pharmaceutical development or recombinant livestock vaccine production. The IEAB arm will regulate GM organisms used in industrial manufacturing and in environmental applications, like for bio-remediation of contaminated sites or oil spills.
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Vidarbha farmers welcome withdrawal Cotton export ban

Vidarbha farmers welcome withdrawal Cotton export ban

Nagpur- Sunday, 03/11/2012 -

Vidarbha 3 million cotton farmers who are facing crop losses and are commiting suicides @ 3 farmers a day since 2005 welcomed Union commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma announcement that the government has decided to withdraw the ban on the export of cotton from India,informed farm activist Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti VJAS,

“India, one of the largest exporters of Cotton in the world, had left alarm bells ringing across the World and cotton cultivated in more than 124 lakhs hectors and more than 7 million cotton growers are involved and this main cash crop of India but cartel which monopolies the garment export is managing commerce ministry to impose such ban since 2010 even India singed WTO has already lifted quantitative restriction on import-export and corrupt Babus with undue protect from concern minister are involved in such unjust ,untimely ,ill motivated decision hence to avoid it’s reoccurrence cotton export ban decision needs CBI probe and PM should arrange to sack his commerce minister as facts added by GOM and protest from Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and chief ministers of Mahatshtra, Gujrat,AP and all political parties UPA and NDA hence only lifting ban is not sufficient and accumulated losses of cotton growers traders must be compensated by Govt. without delay” Tiwari urged .

Sharma said in a statement that "Keeping in view the facts, the interests of the farmers, interest of the industry, trade, a balance view has been considered by the Group of Ministers to roll back the ban and a formal order will be made public tomorrow by the Government which clearly shows that his earlier arguments supporting cotton export ban fabricated and ill intended which has lost creditably Indian export policy and cotton exportor that is unfortunate hence we demand sacking of Anand Sharma with out delay" Tiwari added.

Last month cotton was traded above @Rs.4200/- quintal but the fear of export ban brought down @Rs.3700 quintal till 3rd march but news of export ban on 5th march has crashed the Indian cotton prices and at Adilabad in AP and Ghatanji farmer sold the cotton @Rs.2500/- per quintal before traders started the agitation to boycott the cotton traders in most cotton markets in Maharashtra but real impact has been the restarting farm suicide spiral in vidarbha as more than 30% cotton is till lying with farmers and other 30% are with local ginners and traders hence cotton export ban has it’s severe impact as there is very little demand domestic market since October hence all arguments of commerce ministry are untrue and far from ground reality, Tiwari added.

“when Indian domestic demand is just 20 million bales as against national production of 33 million bales there is no reason put restrictions when interest of domestic textile mills are fully protected .the decision to ban Indian cotton export is another example rampant corruption going on in UPA Govt. there is big names involved in the sudden export ban will expose the all misdeeds of commerce ministry hence for the first time farmers suicide issue has given focus of wrong policies of state ,we will see that the truth is prevailed” Tiwari added.

“When UPA promotes free trade and fair trade practices to stake holders then who is strongly protecting this unfair trade practices at cost of innocent cotton farmers lives, there are 7 million cotton farmers families cultivating cotton in 12 million hectors and handful Babus and finger counting garment exporters can not ruin the rural economy of Maharashtra ,Gujrat,AP,MP,Rajthan and Punjab.when Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said he was kept in the dark about the ban and Maharshtra Chief Minister Prathiraj Chvan ,Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy have strongly objected to the ban on cotton exports then who is protecting Anand Sharma ???”Tiwari asked.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Revealing Vidarbha’s plight: ‘Cotton for my shroud’=Hindustan Times

iconimg Sunday, March 11, 2012
Hindustan Times
March 10, 2012


Story of debt-ridden Vidarbha farmers in one of the India's richest state, Maharashtra, has been told many times. The burdening figure of quarter of a million farmers buried in the region’s ‘cotton-field graveyard’ since 1995 tells how an agriculturally productive region can turn into a death-trap just because of the government's ill-conceived policies and inaction. But, capturing a disaster spread over almost two decades of time wrap is not easy.

Nandan Saxena and Kavita Behl took on the arduous task in 2009 to tell the world about the 'mute genocide' taking place in white cotton fields of Vidarbha through the lives of three native families. “It gave us a window into drama and despair that forms the wrap and weft of life at Vidarbha,” Saxena said. The documentary talked about the trap of private money lenders and rising cost of growing genetically modified cotton.

The painstaking effort and pro-active narrative on how a farmer lands in the honey trap of investing in BT Cotton got the government’s recognition in 2012. The 45-minute documentary “Cotton of my Shroud” received National Award (Rajat Kamal) for the best investigative film.

Laxman Mohurle (62) of Yavatmal district in Vidarbha region has no idea what “cotton of my shroud’ means and is clueless that a film on their miseries has received a national award. For him, life is in turmoil since his only son, Kisan (38) committed suicide in November last because of failure of his cotton crop.

Kisan succumbed under monetary pressure after banks turned their backs on him and he failed to repay R75,000 loan borrowed from a private money lender at an exorbitant rate. “Crop failure, abysmally low return for his little cotton produce and mounting pressure from the money lender forced him to take the drastic step,” Mohurle recalled.

The British had identified Vidarbha as India’s cotton belt because of its close proximity to Mumbai, from where bales could be transported to Manchester in United Kingdom. It remained so till early 1990 when the government introduced BT Cotton. Farmer distress started and suicides became rampant in the second part of the decade.

Nobody can exemplify the horrifying transition better than 81-year-one year-old Bapuraoji Gurnule, who received Maharashtra government’s “Krushibhushan award” in 1987 and lost his 33-year-old son to the cotton grave-yard a few years back.

“Till early 1990s, everything was all right. Suddenly, the government suggested use of the American BT cotton for increasing yield. Once used, the land became unfit for using Indian variety of cotton. In a way the farmer was trapped,” he claimed.

'Cotton for my shroud' amplify the transition and Saxena, a former television journalist, successfully highlights the farmer despair it had caused through their voices impressing the national award jury, which found the documentary an outstanding for its ground reporting.

The voices were backed by testimonies from scientists to drive home the point that Vidarbha farmers are victims of government’s faulty paradigm of development. “One cannot blame only BT Cotton. It is a complex multi-faceted problem with no one stop solution,” said Abhijit Sen, agriculture economist and member of the planning commission.

The 45 minutes of catches a part of the problem and Saxena agrees that 45 minutes is not enough to tell a story of over a million poor aggrieved farmers."Will this documentary bring any change in our life?" asks Mohurle.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Cotton Export Ban Impact –four Vidarbha Farmers Suicides reported 48 Hours

Cotton Export Ban Impact –four Vidarbha Farmers Suicides reported 48 Hours

Nagpur-March 10, 2012

After on going protest in cotton belt in Maharashtra where all Traders and Ginners are boycotting the cotton auctions and farmers blocked road in Yavatmal, Wardha, Akola, Amaravati, Nagpur including burning of cotton before collectorates offices in Amaravati and other offices in various places in vidarbha now serious impact of Govt. decision to bring export ban has started to come up as four more vidarbha farmers suicides reported after imposition on export ban v.i.z.

1. Bapurao of Village Shidola in Mamravati

2. Nilkant Mandole of Village Khategoan in Gondia

3. Sheshrao Rajpallu of Village Sawanga in Yavatmal

4. Shankar Vaidhya of Village Barjali in Yavatmal

Informed farm activist Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti VJAS,

Last month cotton was traded above @Rs.4200/- quintal but the fear of export ban brought down @Rs.3700 quintal till 3rd march but news of export ban on 5th march has crashed the Indian cotton prices and at Adilabad in AP and Ghatanji farmer sold the cotton @Rs.2500/- per quintal before traders started the agitation to boycott the cotton traders in most cotton markets in Maharashtra but real impact has been the restarting farm suicide spiral in vidarbha as more than 30% cotton is till lying with farmers and other 30% are with local ginners and traders hence cotton export ban has it’s severe impact as there is very little demand domestic market since October hence all arguments of commerce ministry are untrue and far from ground reality, Tiwari added.

“When UPA promotes free trade and fair trade practices to stake holders then who is strongly protecting this unfair trade practices at cost of innocent cotton farmers lives, there are 7 million cotton farmers families cultivating cotton in 12 million hectors and handful Babus and finger counting garment exporters can not ruin the rural economy of Maharashtra ,Gujrat,AP,MP,Rajthan and Punjab.when Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said he was kept in the dark about the ban and Maharshtra Chief Minister Prathiraj Chvan ,Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy have strongly objected to the ban on cotton exports then who is protecting Anand Sharma ???”Tiwari asked.

Earlier Indian cotton farmers were very optimistic with the Group of Ministers (GoM) meet to review the ban on cotton exports after after Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said he was kept in the dark about the ban and Maharshtra Chief Minister Prathiraj Chvan ,Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy have strongly objected to the ban on cotton exports remained inconclusive on Friday as a result of this the ban stays “Talks remained inconclusive and further discussion is required. The meeting can place take tomorrow," Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said” .this is delay and face saving tactics till any decision is taken in more meetings to be held in the coming days, has disappointed and delay in revoking the unwanted cotton export ban will not only ruined 7 million cotton farmers but more 2 million traders ,ginners and workers involved in cotton trade. This is betrayal and this is farmers will react it will force GOM to take decision to lift ban, farm activist Kishore Tiwari of PUCL added.

“GOM meeting was high-jacked and Babus involved commerce and Cotton Advisory Board managed justifies the ill-motivated ban even after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had asked review decision of ban cotton exports. We are till confused to understand the justification to protect finger counting people by pushing more than 10 million agrarian community and cotton trade community to push in to death trap when country has already witnessed more than 2,50,000 farmers suicides in last decade which is till growing in cotton belt of India. The delay in decision is stage managed and cartel which has managed this export ban will take advantage and same GOM will revoke in forthright when damage would have been done .we take all farmers on the road will intensify stir so that justice is prevailed.” Tiwari added.

“when Indian domestic demand is just 20 million bales as against national production of 33 million bales there is no reason put restrictions when interest of domestic textile mills are fully protected .the decision to ban Indian cotton export is another example rampant corruption going on in UPA Govt. there is big names involved in the sudden export ban will expose the all misdeeds of commerce ministry hence for the first time farmers suicide issue has given focus of wrong policies of state ,we will see that the truth is prevailed” Tiwari added.

The decision for imposing ban has been taken ‘to favors garment manufactures’, he alleged while seeking CBI probe into the matter along with restoration of cotton under open general license(OGL)

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Vidarbha farmers welcomes Sharad Pawar’s plea to PM to lift Cotton Export Ban

Vidarbha farmers welcomes Sharad Pawar’s plea to PM to lift Cotton Export Ban

Nagpur- March 6, 2012

Vidarbha cotton growing 3 Million farmers today welcomes the initiative of India's farm minister Sharad Pawar who he has requested the prime minister to lift a ban on cotton exports announced this week, saying he had been kept in the dark about the decision. Sharad Pawar told reporters informed media that "This is a very serious issue.I was kept in dark on the issue and have requested the prime minister for revocation of the ban as our production is higher this year and farmers are complaining of falling prices." .India banned cotton exports on Monday to ensure supplies for domestic mills, boosting global prices as the absence of shipments from the world's second-largest producer might tighten a market facing weak demand but revoked protest from all political parties and activist thought-out India as this move was baseless and ill motivated too, now GOM meeting has been called on 9th march to correct commerce unjust and lift the ban put cotton under OGL, Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) informed in press note .

The most controversial decision of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in the Commerce Ministry announcing the ban on cotton export with immediate effect without any consultation with concerned textile ministry and agriculture ministry on commerce ministry baseless plea that there is shortfall in domestic market when Textiles industry is expressing reservations over government's decision to ban cotton exports, saying domestic millers have enough stock to meet requirement has raised eyebrows of farm activist of vidarbha region where cotton farmers’ are committing suicides due agrarian crisis and cotton price failure mainly due to export restrictions and monopolies few MNCs who are controlling total input-output of cotton crop. This is decision of export ban has shocked Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and textile industry by surprise that the move would prove "disastrous" for farmers as last year too commerce ministry put needless ban on cotton export when prices and demand in the international market was very good and farmers and traders were forced to offload stock to local mill owners in throw price and textile was blamed for that but this time it is reported that this move of commerce ministry has been taken textile industry as a surprise and CITI Secretary General D K Nair said "The ban has surprised us. “A meeting in textiles ministry was held few days back where we told that the government’s intervention is not needed in the cotton market. On March 2, our chairman wrote a letter to the government saying that no government intervention is needed and yet it has been done”, the government had imposed restrictions on cotton exports for few months which is ill motivated”, which is clear indication that move to ban cotton export when it is needed most has been deep rooted scam by handful babus in commerce hence vidarbha farmers has written to parliament panel on agriculture who is looking after truth of cotton farmers’ suicides for CBI probe of recent order of commerce ministry putting restriction on cotton export ,Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) added in press note .

“Indian cotton production is around 34 million bales as against domestic demand of 20 million bales and there was last year stock of 8 million bales ,there is less demand in domestic market hence prices of cotton are around @Rs.3500/- quintal as against global prices which are above @ Rs.5000/- quintal hence all arguments of commerce for export ban are ridiculous more recent disclosure Agri. Minister sharad pawar ,textile minister and textile mil owners association has exposed unjust ,unholy and unwanted ban which is result of large scale massive corruption in commerce ministry, we will take this issue to all forum relief and moving PIL too in Nagpur bench of Mumbai High court so that cotton farmers get fair deal in this state owned unfair trade practices protected by Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, export ban scam is annual corruption of commerce ministry by changing EXIM policies to suit handful touts who defeco ministers running Govt. keeping dark parliament and nation ”Tiwari added.

‘This ban on cotton export is completely contradict earlier announcement that this year there will no export ban on cotton and there was huge cry last year when Indian farmers were forced to sell cotton in throw away price when there was crop failure through out the world and UPA said that we will not repeat the same while the ban on export of cotton. Today decision is bias to favor garment manufactures who are close congress party and decision is in exchange of huge funding to the party and Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and Textiles Anand Sharma is involved in this corruption hence we demand CBI of the whole issue’Tiwari said .

Monday, March 5, 2012

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture visit Vidarbha-DNA

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture visit Vidarbha-DNA




Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture visit Vidarbha

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_parliamentary-standing-committee-on-agriculture-to-visit-vidarbha_1657341

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture led by its chairman basudep acharji visited Vidarbha on Friday to understand the impact of the Genetically Modified (GM) cotton on the country’s peasantry.

Coming close on the heels of PM Manomohan Singh's support for biotech in the agriculture sector, this visit has raised the hackles of farmers’ groups in suicide country where an average of three farmers ends their lives daily.

In an open letter to Yadav, the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) which works closely with farmers in distress has welcomed the visit, but added, “We are sure that the first-hand look will surely help the committee in taking a position on all the issues concerning the producers, which, in turn, will aid the Parliament in formulating policies that serve the interests of the people (in this case, farmers) rather than serving a few business houses.”

The letter goes on to charge, “We have witnessed that in all such previous official visits – from the Planning Commission’s fact finding mission in February 2005, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s tour in June 2005, to several other high profile official visits, the administrative machinery hijacks the itinerary giving them only an official view of the issue,” and suggests, “We hope you will also visit farmers, farm widows and activists.”

The VJAS, in fact, insists the government has sufficient reasons to ban climate-sensitive crops like GM cotton which is linked to and responsible for many farmer suicides.

It has since been officially admitted by the Agriculture Ministry that dry and arid land cotton farmers who opted for Bt cotton across 40 lakh hectares are likely to lose Rs10,000 crores according to the initial estimate of crop failure by Maharashtra state government.

“It is imperative that a ban be brought with immediate effect,” says Kishore Tiwari who heads VJAS.

“Unless the government does so, it is mocking the farmers who’ve died and their bereaved. Its soft pedaling the issue only confirms suspicions that the government is working in cahoots with agro MNCs aggressively pushing Bt Cotton. Its officers want to keep the issue of farmer suicides alive since they get to make to money with corruption in the compensation as has been borne out in the past.”

It will be recalled that in an interview to Science magazine, the Prime Minister had said: “Biotechnology has enormous potential, and in due course of time we must make use of genetic engineering technologies to increase the productivity of our agriculture. But there are controversies. There are NGOs, often funded from the United States and the Scandinavian countries, which are not fully appreciative of the development challenges that our country faces.”

Tiwari termed Maharashtra Chief Minister Prathiviraj Chavan’s announcement that of a bailout package of Rs2000 crore a case of “too little, too late.”He pointed out, “In 2005-2006 when Bt cotton was grown in in only 4 lakh hectares, the government compensated farmers for crop loss to the tune of Rs220 crore. By that standard this is lesser.”

Bt Cotton was first approved for commercial cultivation in nine states by Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC). Now Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s has himself admitted that average yield of Bt Cotton in dry land areas of Maharashtra is only 125 kg.

“We are hoping that unlike farmers’ long-standing complaints, the Centre and State will take Pawar who is a senior member of the cabinet more seriously. Mere compensation is only first aid, actual treatment will need the uprooting of Bt Cotton which has shown a poor record consistently since 2005, completely,” added Tiwari.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti slams netas too busy to meet house panel-Times of India


Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti slams netas too busy to meet house panel

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Vidarbha-Jan-Andolan-Samiti-slams-netas-too-busy-to-meet-house-panel/articleshow/12128059.cms?prtpage=1

YAVATMAL: Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) president Kishore Tiwari has slammed the 'indifference' of MPs, ministers, MLAs and other people's representatives to farmers' plight. Tiwari's comments came in the wake of the March 2 visit by parliamentary standing panel on agriculture during which no public representative turned up to brief panel head Basudeb Acharia on the farmers's issue and prevailing agrarian crisis.

NCP leaders, including ministers and legislators, arranged a programme to felicitate the newly elected Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad members but did not meet the panel members.

Social justice Minister Shivajirao Moghe and his supporters arranged a 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony at Pandharkawda despite the scheduled visit to Sonbardi, a village in his own constituency.

Yavatmal MP Bhavana Gawali (Shiv Sena) considered the visit as a routine affair and did not attend. Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Rathod preferred to work in his constituency as a volunteer for the 54th death anniversary of Mungsaji Maharaj of Dhamangaon Deo.

MPCC President Manikrao Thakre and other MLAs of Congress did not meet the panel members. Chandrapur MP Hansraj Ahir of BJP too was not seen.

The panel was scheduled to visit two villages - Bhambraja of Yavatmal Tehsil and Maregaon Sonbardi of Pandharkawda Tehsil. Elaborate arrangements were made so that the panel was able to interact with the farmers and acquaint themselves with the issues confronting them.

District collector Shravan Hardikar came out with a report that the panel cancelled its visit to village Bhambraja which was once known to produce white gold but later saw a downtrend after the farmers were asked to use the Bt cotton. Irked over the report of the cancellation of visit, villagers staged protests and blocked roads.

The panel went to Pandharkawda and met a few farmers. But, Tiwari alleged, farmers or their representatives with vested interests, were introduced to the panel. Efforts were also made to hijack the panel's scheduled visit to Sonbardi.

'Finally, on our request Acharia agreed to go to Sonbardi and listen to grievances of affected people," said Tiwari. The panel visited Sonbardi and just before the start of public hearing, two members, Upendra Kushwaha and Satyavradh Chaturvedi left for Bambraja.

The two members went to the venue where hundreds of farmers and farm widows were anxiously waiting for them. The farmers and farm widows spoke about their problems and appealed the two parliamentarians to find a permanent solution to their woes