Maharashtra to black list Mahyco-Monsanto -Economic Times.

Maharashtra agriculture minister warns black listing of Mahyco-Monsanto -Economic Times.

Tue, Jun 28, 2011 | Updated 06.02PM IST

28 Jun, 2011, 05.51PM IST,ET Bureau

Maharashtra agriculture minister warns black listing of Mahyco-Monsanto

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/maharashtra-agriculture-minister-warns-black-listing-of-mahyco/articleshow/9026993.cms

PUNE: Maharashtra agriculture minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said that his government is considering black listing Mahyco company for severe irregularities in sale of seeds, especially the Bt cotton seeds.

The state government has also issued written instructions to big fertiliser companies like RCF, Zuari and Dipak Fertilisers for linking sale of their other agricultural inputs with the fertiliser sale. Mahyco has denied the charges of the agriculture minister.

"Mahyco produces its seeds in this state. Yet there are so many complaints against them from the farmers and the delears. We have already filed an FIR against the company and may even suspend their license to sale seeds in the state and black list the company in Maharashtra," said Mr Vikhe Patil.

He added, "As against their contractual agreement to sale 16.5 lakh packets of Bt seeds, they have sold only 1.91 lakh packets, which is only 11.40% of their contractual commitment. This is cheating of farmers and the government."

Mahyco has however denied the charges of the agriculture department. "We have given an undertaking and promised the government of Maharashtra to provide 10.56 lakh packets of various hybrids of Bt cotton seeds for the Kharif 2011 season. As of date Mahyco has supplied 10.77 lakh packets against the agreed quantity in the districts of Maharashtra. The seed supply has exceeded the quantities indicated in the affidavit filed with the department of Agriculture. Hence, there is no breach of undertaking by the company as given to the department of agriculture," said the company in its reply.

Maharashtra farmers have been facing severe fertiliser and seeds shortage from past two to three years. The common problem is of linking the fertiliser sale with sale of other inputs like seeds, pesticides etc. Thus, if a farmer wants to buy specific seed of specific company, he is compelled to purchase also the other inputs of the same companies.

Mr Vikhe-Patil said, "We have complaints of linking against Zuari Industries , Dipak Fertilisers and RCF. The companies blame it on the dealers. So we have now asked the companies to take actions against the dealers to which they have agreed."

The agricultural department has already sealed fertilisers worth Rs 24 crore of the Dipak Fertilisers company in Pune. "We have issued stop sale notice to Dipak Fertilisers for the sealed quantity of fertilisers as some of the quantity was meant for linking purpose," said Mr Vikhe Patil.

Meanwhile, though the farmers have collected inputs after facing much hardships, the state is lagging behind in sowing as compared to the normal sowing schedule.

As against 28% overall sowing excluding sugar cane till June 27, last year, only 9% sowing has been done during the comparable period this year. But 41% talukas, mostly in Vidarbha and Marathwada in the state have received less than 60% rainfall. As a result the sowing of pulses, cotton and soyabean is lagging behind last year's sowing rate. Maharashtra has highest acreage of cotton and second highest acreage of soyabean and pulses.

Posted by VIDARBHA FARMER SUICIDE at 6:31 AM

Govt. ordered Land Auction of Credit Starved Vidarbha Farmers

Govt. ordered Land Auction of Credit Starved Vidarbha Farmers

NAGPUR: June 27, 2011,

All guardian ministers of vidarbha agrarian crisis district are asking all banks to disburse the crop loan to dying vidarbha farmers who are committing suicides due to debt trap private money lenders and private micro finance institutes (MFI) but same time administration has ordered the auction of all movable and immovable properties of defaulting farmers and such auction is talking place today in Yavatmal and 29^th June at Mohadi in Bhandara district .Co-Operation and Marketing Minister Harshvardhan Patil has issued fresh order of forcible recovery of short listed defaulters as Land development bank ’Kishore Tiwari Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti informed in press release today.

In letter written by VJAS to Maharashtra Chief Minister Prathiviraj Chavan enclosing the notice of auction on 26^th june 2011 today given by Yavatmal Land Devl.Bank (LDB) to one debt trapped farmer Anil Ramdas Patil of Sathephal Taluka Kalam in Yavtmal asking him to pay all dues with interest before 26^th June other his land will be auctioned by public auction notice Anil Patil is not the case of isolation another debt trapped in Bhandara district Surendra Barai of Mohadi village has received the similar notice of his land auction on 29^th June 2011 .it is also inform

ed to the chief minister that these farmers who are under default of Land Devl.Bank (LDB) have approached Mumbai High Court ,Nagpur bench where all petitions are awaiting final relief after admission hence state Govt. action is unjust and untimely as farmers are credit starved and finding difficult to get the money from open market for purchasing the seed and fertilizers as bankers are not giving the fresh crop

loan even after repeated appeals of local ministers including Maharashtra Chief Minister and Dy, Chief Minister hence Govt. has been urged to stop these forceful recoveries of LDB and stop the on going land auctions .

‘farmers are being sandwiched due to anti-Govt. policies of import export as they are not able to sale cotton ,pluses and paddy and now they are getting seed and fertilizer in open market even after paying premium moreover bankers are delaying the disbursement of fresh crop loan as NABARD has stopped the fresh Agri credit to Maharashtra Cooperative Bank which gives more than 80% crop loan through district corporative bank and societies and now this forcible recovery and fresh process of auctioning the land for recovery is adding fuel to already aggravated agrarian crisis which has claimed more than 10,000 farmers suicides since June 2005 in the vidarbha and more than 2,50,000 suicides in Indian since 1999 hence we want urgent intervention of chief minister ’ Tiwari informed .

‘In order to stop on going atrocities on cotton farmers and to wake up the officials who are deep into slumber we are starting drum beating agitation from 2nd July Challenging the government ‘s claim that there was no funds crisis and there was no shortage of seed and fertilizer and banks are in a position to lend money is hoax in ground reality there is no seed and fertilizer for poor dry land farmer and thousands of farmers have denied agricultural fresh crop loan even they are illegible.The Samiti has also pointed out that co-operative banks were strapped of cash farmers who were unable to secure the crop loans from the banks had no alternative but to borrow from private moneylenders as the kharif season has already started hence we are starting 'Daphade wajava' that beating drums to ‘awaken’ bankers and administration tiwari added.

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When paddy turns poison - Farmer kills himself as harvest is rich but no one to buy - JAIDEEP HARDIKAR -Telegraph IN

When paddy turns poison Farmer kills himself as harvest is rich but no one to buy

JAIDEEP HARDIKAR http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110627/jsp/frontpage/story_14165282.jsp#

Ashwini, widow of Vidarbha farmer Hargovind Harne who killed himself in January, with daughter Gayatri Bhandara/Yavatmal, June 26: When he drank poison on January 11, farmer Hargovind Harne’s run-down hut was bursting with freshly harvested paddy. Yet he was neck-deep in debt. Even the bottle of pesticide that he used to take his own life had been bought on credit, as the bill shows. His large stock of grain wasn’t the only puzzle in the 47-year-old’s suicide. Vidarbha is infamous for continuing suicides by cotton farmers but Harne grew food, not cotton. A silent epidemic, however, has gripped food-grain cultivators not just in Vidarbha but across central India’s rain-fed belt. This year, many of them have suffered huge losses despite a good crop, and despite the food inflation in the markets. There are no buyers for their grain or pulses. The government isn’t buying because its godowns are crammed with the old crop — a fallout of the delay over the food security bill. Till the bill is spelt out and implemented, the Centre cannot work out how much food stocks it will need. So, it is holding on to what it has and has banned exports. The big private traders aren’t buying from the farmers, either, because they largely stock their grain in the government silos, which are bulging. So, while inflation rages, the farmers have only managed to sell a little paddy to small-time local traders at Rs 750-850 a quintal, far below the support price of Rs 1,050. But these traders can buy only a little. The rest of the crop is stashed at the farmers’ homes and might rot in the rain over the next few months. In Maharashtra’s Gondia district, 25,000 tonnes of rice procured by cooperative societies are lying in the open. “It’s difficult to carry on,” a distraught Harne, a postgraduate in Marathi literature, scribbled in his signed parting note. “I have unpaid loans.” Harne was meticulous in keeping records. His ledger showed he had suffered losses of about Rs 10,000 for each of the six acres he cultivated ---- Rs 60,000 in all. Together with his outstanding loans of around Rs 2.5 lakh, the going had looked tough. Five months on, the situation is equally grim for his frail widow, Ashwinibai, at Songaon village in eastern Maharashtra’s Bhandara district. “We had to sell our paddy at a throwaway price,” she said. House full The rabi season that ended in April produced a record 84 million tonnes of grain across the country. But data till April 21 suggest that the Food Corporation of India, the country’s main procurement agency, was short by 52 per cent of what it had procured in the same period last year. Yet, in early June, India had about 67 million tonnes of grain (mostly rice and wheat) in its godowns, more than its storage capacity of 63 million tonnes and far above the buffer of 40 million tonnes. The food ministry says the government plans to increase its procurement to 80 million tonnes in 2011-12 without any additions to storage capacity. Ashok Gulati, the chairman of the Commission of Agriculture Costs and Pricing, recently warned the Centre that it needs to clear its grain silos before the kharif harvest arrives in the markets three months from now, else there could be a worse crisis. One remedy, experts say, is to allow exports. The other is to have the grain distributed among the poor before it rots. If central India is reeling, even farmers in the grain basket of Punjab and Haryana are struggling to sell their crop. So depressed are the prices that paddy growers in Andhra Pradesh recently declared a “crop holiday” for the pre-kharif season, deciding not to grow the summer crop. One ray of hope is that a panel headed by Planning Commission member Abhijit Sen is studying the economics and logistical feasibility of building a sufficient number of modern grain silos through public-private partnerships. M.S. Swaminathan, widely regarded as the father of India’s Green Revolution of the ’60s and ’70s, had long ago recommended a national grid for grain storage, stretching from the farm level to large rural godowns to about 50 regional ultra-modern silos. Tur paradox Across central India, thousands of quintals of unsold tur are piled up at farmers’ homes although the country faces a shortage. India is expected to import 3.4 million tonnes of tur this financial year to “plug the demand-supply gap”, the food ministry says. Even though the retail prices are still high, the farmers are being forced to sell their lower-grade pulses at Rs 1,500 a quintal and the higher grades at Rs 2,450, down from the Rs 5,000 and Rs 6,500-7,000 last December. “I thought tur prices would go up because we have a shortage,” said Pravin Thakare, a three-acre farmer, in Yavatmal’s Gawara village. He has about 15 quintals of tur left at his home; the entire village is stuck with about 400 quintals. “I have to now borrow money from private lenders to prepare for the kharif crop since the banks are yet to begin loan disbursements,” Thakare said. Harne’s widow Ashwini too is struggling amid the debt and distress as she takes to farming to try and rebuild her life. The family had suffered a double blow when, the day after Harne’s suicide, his ailing father Bajirao died of a heart attack. Ashwini, with daughter Gayatri clinging to her, said she had sold 15 quintals of paddy after setting a little aside for the family. “At Rs 825 a quintal,” she said, about a fifth less than the support price. This coming season, she hopes, both the monsoon and the markets would be kind. “I would tell my husband not to worry and that the bad days would end,” she said, fighting back tears. “I now try to remind myself of the same thing.”

आश्रमशाळांची मान्यता कायम ठेवण्याच्या निर्णयाची चौकशी करा-विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीची मागणी-लोकसत्ता

आश्रमशाळांची मान्यता कायम ठेवण्याच्या निर्णयाची चौकशी करा-विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीची मागणी-लोकसत्ता
नागपूर, २१ जून / प्रतिनिधी

http://loksatta.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=165456:2011-06-21-20-55-01&catid=45:2009-07-15-04-01-33&Itemid=56
आदिवासी आश्रम शाळांमध्ये सोयी, सुविधा नसतानाही त्यांची मान्यता रद्द करण्याच्या नोटीसा विभागाने बजावल्यानंतर मान्यता कायम ठेवण्यासाठी आदिवासी विकास मंत्र्यांनी कोटय़वधी रुपयांची लाच घेतली असल्याचा खळबळजनक आरोप विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केला आहे. यासंदर्भात मंत्र्यांशी संपर्क साधला असता होऊ शकला नाही.
तत्कालीन आदिवासी विकास आयुक्त उत्तम खोब्रागडे यांनी गेल्यावर्षी अनुदानित खाजगी आश्रमशाळांचा दौरा करून तेथील गैरसोयीबद्दल तीव्र आक्षेप नोंदवले. यानंतर राज्यातील बडय़ा नेत्यांशी संबंधित व अन्य आश्रमशाळांची मान्यता रद्द करण्याच्या नोटीसा बजावण्यात आल्या. आता मात्र, त्या नोटीसा मागे घेत त्यांची मान्यता कायम ठेवण्यात येणार असल्याचे समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी म्हटले आहे.
आश्रमशाळांमधील गोरखधंदा तात्काळ बंद करण्याचे आश्वासन मुख्यमंत्र्यांनी समितीला गेल्या २६ मे रोजी झालेल्या बैठकीत दिले होते. मात्र, आदिवासी मंत्र्यांनी सर्व कारवाईला केराची टोपली दाखवली आहे. शाळांची मान्यता रद्द करण्याचा आदेश मागे घेत त्यांचे अनुदान कायम ठेवण्यासाठी मंत्र्यांनी लाच घेतल्याचा आरोप समितीने केला आहे. या संपूर्ण प्रकरणाची सखोल चौकशी करण्याची मागणीही किशोर तिवारी यांनी केली आहे.
याबाबत मुख्यमंत्र्यांनी योग्य पावले न उचलल्यास येत्या १५ ऑगस्टपासून बेमुदत उपोषण करण्यात येईल, असा इशारा समितीचे नेते तुकाराम मेश्राम, नगरसेवक अंकित नैताम आणि भीमराव नैताम यांनी दिला आहे.

FOOD CROP CRISIS IN INDIA -TARUN BHARAT

FOOD CROP CRISIS IN INDIA -TARUN BHARAT

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

शेतकऱ्यांची धानाकडे पाठ, ऊसाकडे लक्ष-लोकसत्ता

शेतकऱ्यांची धानाकडे पाठ, ऊसाकडे लक्ष-लोकसत्ता

गोंदिया, १५ जून /वार्ताहर गोंदिया जिल्हा धानाचे कोठार म्हणून विदर्भातच नव्हे तर, संपूर्ण राज्यात नावारूपास आला आहे. मात्र, गेल्या काही वर्षांंपासून जिल्ह्य़ाकडे वरुण राजाने वक्रदृष्टी वळवली आहे. त्यामुळे शेतकऱ्यांना वारंवार नुकसानीचा सामना करावा लागत आहे. शेतकरी कर्जाच्या ओझ्याखाली दबला गेला आहे. २००९ आधी जिल्ह्य़ातील काही शेतकऱ्यांनी प्रायोगित तत्वावर उसाची लागवड केली हाती. त्यात त्या शेतकऱ्यांना चांगले उत्पन्न मिळाल्यामुळे इतर शेतकऱ्यांनी त्यांच्याशी प्रेरणा घेतली असल्याचे दिसून येत आहे. आता शेतकरी पाहिजे त्या प्रमाणात धान पिकाच्या आशेवर राहिला नाही. त्याने या पिकाकडे पाठ फिरवण्यास सुरुवात केली असून उसाचे उत्पादन घेण्याकडे लक्ष केंद्रित केले आहे. जिल्ह्य़ातील २ लाख ७२ हजार १०० हेक्टर भात उत्पादन क्षेत्रांपकी एकूण १ हजार ८६६ क्षेत्रात ऊस पिकाची लागवड करण्यात आली आहे. जिल्ह्य़ात एकूण पीक क्षेत्र २ लाख २० हजार हेक्टर आहे. या क्षेत्रात धानाशिवाय इतर पिके सुद्धा घेतली जातात. मात्र, जिल्ह्य़ातील प्रमुख पीक धान आहे. धानाला सिंचन जास्त करावा लागते. गेल्या चार वर्षांंपासून पावसाच्या लहरीपणामुळे धान उत्पादक शेतकऱ्यांना मात्र फटकाच खावा लागला. त्यामुळे जिल्ह्य़ातील शेतकरी आज कर्जाच्या ओझ्याखाली दबल्याचे दिसून येते. जिल्ह्य़ात २००९-१० पासून ऊसाची लागवड करण्याची खऱ्या अर्थाने सुरुवात करण्यात आली. यावर्षी जिल्ह्य़ातील एकूण २ लाख २० हजार हेक्टरपकी २०१०-११ मध्ये ८२९.४ आणि २०११-१२ या वर्षांत १ हजार हेक्टर क्षेत्रावर ऊस पिकाची लागवड करण्यात आली. जिल्ह्य़ात शीतपेय आणि इतर कामाकरिता बाहेरून गुळाची आवक करावी लागत होती. मात्र, काही शेतकऱ्यांनी ऊस पिकाची लागवड केल्यामुळे गुळ उत्पादनातून चांगल मिळकत झाली. त्यामुळे ऊस उत्पादक शेतकऱ्यांनी आता धान पिकांकडे पाठ फिरवून आता उसाच्या लागवडीवरच जास्त लक्ष केंद्रित केले आहे. शिवाय, धान पिकाला पाण्याची सुद्धा जास्त आवश्यकता असते. त्यामुळे कमी सिंचनात अधिक उत्पन्न मिळवून देणारे पीक असल्याने शेतकरी आता उसाच्या लागवडीकडे अधिक लक्ष देत आहेत. आता तर गोंदियाजवळील देव्हाळी तालुका तुमसर येथे पूर्ती साखर कारखाना सुरू झाल्यामुळे शेतकऱ्यांच्या आशा पुन्हा पल्लवीत झाल्या आहेत तर, भाजपचे पदाधिकारी आणि कारखान्याचे कर्मचारी उसाचे लागवड क्षेत्र वाढावे याकरिता जिल्ह्य़ातील शेतकऱ्यांना मार्गदर्शन करीत असून कारखान्यातर्फे शेतकऱ्यांना विविध प्रलोभने देण्यात येत असल्यामुळे दिवसेंदिवस उसाची लागवड क्षेत्र वाढत आहे. २००९-१० आधी जिल्ह्य़ात फक्त ८ ते १० हेक्टर क्षेत्रात उसाची लागवड करण्यात येत होती, परंतु त्यानंतर उसाचा पेरा सतत वाढतच चालला आहे. ऊस लागवडीची वाढती आकडेवारी बघता आता जिल्ह्य़ातील शेतकरी धान पिकाच्या बाबतीत उदासीन झाला असल्याचे दिसून येत आहे. शेतकरी उसाच्या उत्पादनातून चांगली मिळकत मिळवण्याकरिता सज्ज झाले असून येत्या दोन वर्षांत ऊस लागवडीचे क्षेत्र वाढून ५ हजार हेक्टर क्षेत्रावर जाण्याची शक्यता वर्तवण्यात आली आहे.

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हमी भावातील वाढ व निर्यातीची परवानगी शेतकरी विरोधी-विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचा २८ जूनपासून आंदोलनाचा इशारा-लोकसत्ता

हमी भावातील वाढ व निर्यातीची परवानगी शेतकरी विरोधी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचा २८ जूनपासून आंदोलनाचा इशारा-लोकसत्ता नागपूर, ११ जून/प्रतिनिधी कापसाच्या हमी भावातील वाढ व निर्यातीची परवानगी कापूस उत्पादक शेतकरी विरोधी असल्याचे मत विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने व्यक्त केले आहे. हमी भावात व गाठींच्या निर्यातीमध्ये आणखी वाढ करण्यासाठी येत्या २८ जूनपासून आंदोलन करण्याचा इशारा दिला आहे. कृषी मुल्य आयोगाने कापसाच्या हमी भावात फक्त ३०० रूपयाची वाढ करून कर्जबाजारी शेतकऱ्यांच्या जखमेवर मीठ चोळले आहे. लागवडीचा खर्च, कापसाचे उत्पादन व इतर खर्च याचा विचार केला तर कापसाचा हमी भाव किमान ५ हजार रूपये प्रति क्विंटल राहीला पाहिजे. त्यासंबंधी कृषी मुल्य आयोगाला विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने पश्चिम विदर्भातील ६ जिल्ह्णाातील शेतकऱ्यांच्या लागवडीचा खर्च, बँकेचे व्याज, कुटुंबाचा खर्च याचा हिशोब लावून कापसाचा भाव किमान ५ हजार रूपये प्रति क्विंटल करावा यासंबंधी माहितीसुद्धा सादर केली होती. मात्र, कृषी मुल्य आयोगाने गेल्यावर्षीचा सरासरी बाजारभाव न बघता ३०० रूपये प्रति क्विंटल वाढ करणे म्हणजे शेतकऱ्यांच्या आत्महत्येला आमंत्रण देणे होय. सध्या भारतात ६० लाखावर गाठी निर्यातीसाठी उपलब्ध असताना फक्त १० लाख गाठींची निर्यातीची परवानगी देणे म्हणजे कापसाचे भाव हमी भावापेक्षा कमी ठेवण्याचा सरकारचा डाव असल्याचा आरोपसुद्धा समितीने केला आहे. गेल्या आठवडय़ात मुख्यमंत्री पृथ्वीराज चव्हाण यांनी यवतमाळला दिलेल्या भेटीत पश्चिम विदर्भात कापसाचे बियाणे व रासायनिक खतांचा साठा मागणीपेक्षा जास्त असून त्यामध्ये काळाबाजार होणार नाही तसेच, सर्व शेतकऱ्यांना लागवडीच्या खर्चाएवढे पीक कर्ज देण्यात येईल, असे आश्वासन दिले होते. मात्र, संपूर्ण विदर्भात बियाण्याच्या बी.टी. कंपनीने कृत्रिम तुटवडा निर्माण केला असून कृषी विभागाच्या मदतीने राजरोसपणे काळाबाजार केला जात आहे. रासायनिक खताबाबतसुद्धा हाच प्रकार असून सामान्य शेतकऱ्यांना पैसे देऊनही कृषी केंद्र खत देत नसल्याचा अनुभव आहे. गेल्या महिन्यातच २३ मे रोही मुख्यमंत्र्यांनी विदर्भाची खरीप आढावा बैठक घेतली तेव्हा विभागीय आयुक्त प्रवीण परदेशी यांच्यामार्फत खत व बियाण्यांसाठी सक्ती केली जाते व लिंकिंगचा प्रकार यावर्षी होणार नाही तसेच, प्रत्येक शेतकऱ्याला राष्ट्रीयकृत बँका व सहकारी बँका दरवाज्यावर जाऊन पीक कर्ज देतील यासंबंधीचे आदेश राज्य सरकार काढेल असे आश्वासन दिले होते. प्रत्यक्षात बियाणे व खत यांचा एवढा काळाबाजार होत असून प्रशासकीय अधिकारी कोणतीही कारवाई करीत नसल्याची तक्रार समितीचे किशोर तिवारी यांना मुख्यमंत्र्यांकडे केली. गेल्यावर्षी निर्यातबंदीचा फटका बसून विदर्भाच्या शेतकऱ्यांना बाजारभाव जगात ८ हजार रूपये प्रति क्विंटल असताना आपला कापूस जेमतेम ३ हजार ५०० रूपये प्रति क्विंटलमध्ये विकावा लागला. विदर्भातील ९० टक्के शेतकरी आर्थिक अडचणीत आले असून त्यांना गेल्यावर्षीच्या पीक कर्जाची परतफेड करणेही आता शक्य नाही. शेतकऱ्यांच्या पीक कर्जाचे पूनर्वसन करा व बचत गटामार्फत वाटप झालेल्या पीक कर्जाची माफी करा यासाठी ३० जानेवारी व ८ मार्चला आंदोलन केले होते मात्र, सरकारने या सर्व मागण्यांना केराची टोपली दाखवून शेतकऱ्यांना वाऱ्यावर सोडल्याचा आरोप विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केला आहे. आपली प्रतिक्रिया नोंदवा प्रतिक्रिया (0) प्रतिक्रिया येथे नोंदवा तुमची संपर्क माहिती: नाव: ई-मेल: do not notifynotify प्रतिक्रिया: विषय: मजकुर: (Press Ctrl+g to toggle between English and Marathi, While using Virtual Keyboard Press Shift to get more Alphabets) !joomlacomment 4.0 Copyright (C) 2009 Compojoom.com . All rights reserved."

Hike in Support Price for Cotton MSP is Unjust and Irrational

Nagpur-June 10, 2011

NAGPUR: The reported decision of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) to hike the minimum support price (MSP) of cotton by Rs.300/- per quintal for kharif season 2011-12 has left three million growers of the state unhappy.

"The prices were last revised in 2008-09 and during election year it were raised to Rs 3,000 a quintal more out of compulsion. But the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) had this year recommended a hike up to Rs 3,00 based on the factors like cost of production, rise in input prices, input-output price parity, trends in open market prices, demand and supply situation, international price situation, prices paid and received by farmers and implications on national and international subsidy structure which is shocking as the recommendation are not in line with CACP calcultion hence we demand it's rejection by the government and wants minimum Rs.5000/- per quintl MSP," informed kishore Tiwari, Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti today

"While the MSP is change marginal hike totally ingnorning factors like increasing cost of production, crop failure due to drought and aggravated economic distress in the cotton belt will affect farmers in the coming season," said Tiwari. "This is betrayal of farmers in Vidarbha where cotton is the main cash crop," he added. The VJAS has written to the prime minister demanding that the cotton MSP be hiked to at least Rs 5000 a quintal.

Even for paddy growers of eastern Vidarbha, there is not much relief as the MSP hike of Rs 80 a quintal is not adequate," the VJAS claimed. In case of the widely consumed arhar dal (tur), the MSP has been increased to Rs 3,000 a quintal from Rs 2,300. But the market price of tur for whole of last year was less than than Rs 3,500, if state procurement support is hostile then such modest hike will hardly attract farmers to take up foodgrains and pulses cultivation in the coming season. Thus, the government will not be able to meet the targets set for grains and pulses and short-supply would further fuel retail prices," Tiwari warned.

"The UPA government is urged to review MSP of cotton to Rs 5,000 from Rs 3,300 and that of soyabean to Rs 3,000 from Rs1,860 a quintal in order to save the dying farmers," Tiwari said in a message faxed to the PM.
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Cotton export quota too little, says VJAS-TIMES OF INDIA

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Cotton export quota too little, says VJAS

TNN | Jun 10, 2011, 02.30am IST

NAGPUR: The Union government's decision to give permission for an additional export quota of 10 lakh bales has been described as "too little, too late" by Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS), a group fighting for the farmers' cause.

"We are very much disappointed by the half-hearted effort of the government," said Kishore Tiwari of VJAS. He said that this year, after the domestic consumption there was a surplus of nearly 100 lakh bales in the country. "Despite a good international demand, the government put a cap on cotton exports at 55 lakh bales. This was done due to pressure from the strong textile lobby that had influenced Union textile minister Dayanidhi Maran," Tiwari alleged.

"We had been demanding that at least 50 lakh additional bales be allowed for export. But the government has now allowed only 10 lakh bales. This will hardly benefit cotton growers who have already suffered a huge loss as the confusion over lifting export ban led to collapse of open market price of cotton by 50%," said Tiwari.

Ideally, cotton should be brought under open general license, he said. It took more than two months for the government to allow additional exports. Farmers having poor holding capacity had to sell their stock at the low prices ruling the domestic market.

"Farmers in Maharashtra have been agitating since October seeking lifting of export ban on cotton. Those from Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh also joined the agitation but all this failed to move the textile lobby which successfully resisted any move for export relaxation," Tiwari alleged.

"Central government should intervene urgently and lift all restrictions on export of cotton and yarn so that farmers get higher price for their produce. Right now there is a state of confusion on whether only Gujarat farmers will be allowed to export as the Congress unit of that state had intervened and finally got the export sop," said Tiwari.

Million cotton bales export permission is peanut : Farmers demand cotton under O.G.L.

Million cotton bales export permission is peanut : Farmers demand cotton under O.G.L.

NAGPUR , JUNE 8TH , 2011

Vidarbha cotton farmers advocacy group Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti(VJAS) has termed the recent decision of giving additional permission of 10 lakhs cotton export bales as against demand of 5o lakhs bales as 1 billion cotton farmers are in deep trouble as prices have slashed by more than 50% in last 45 days .
"when coutry is having surpluse stock of minimum 60 lakhs cotton bales the rise in existing cap of 55lakhs bales by additional 10 lakhs is peaunut will furhther create hostile situation in domestic market where cotton farmer and cotton traders have lost more than Rs.20,000 crore in one month .we demand lifting all export restrcition of cotton bales,coton yarn and all value added product that gives fair price to local cotton farmer.it is unfornunate that for handful textile owners that include textile minister and home minister for are forced in huge economic losses forcing them comite sucide' said Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS)

“Today GOM decision has delayed by more than 2 month and fabricted CITI base data as CITI has managed the Indian Textile minister initially to restrict cotton bales export to 55 lakhs bales from earlier year 84 lakh bales even when country cotton production is higher by another 25 lakhs bales then ban export of cotton yarn and now surprisingly as per Quota Policy of Cotton items now added Cotton Waste ( Comber Noil) H. S. Code No. 5202 as Cotton Waste is a ‘By-product’ of Cotton Yarn. when plenty of quota of Cotton Yarn lying unutilized the hostile functioning of Union Textile Minister Dayanithi Maran has a allaowed textile cartel to include the by-product banned”Tiwari added

“CITI is keeping salient of the fact that Cotton prices have increased from Rs 30000/candy in April 2010 to Rs 60000/candy April 2011 which is an increase of about Rs 70-75 per kg and immediately Spinners increased the price of yarn from rs 150/- per kg in April 2010 for 30s combed to Rs 230/- per kg in April 2011. increase of Rs 80 per kg which reflects in cotton value to Rs 30000/per candy minimum. Fabric weavers too have increased prices of grey fabric of 40 x 40 counts 124 x 64 with 200 gm per mtr which is quoted at about Rs 70/- per sqmtr as against Rs 38 in April 2010. There s an increase of Rs 32/mtr which is Rs 160/- per kg which in terms of candy is about Rs 58/60000 and present ban on export has brought back cotton prices to the level of April 2010 which is artificial an stage managed and Union Textile Minister Dayanithi Maran is directly involved in this scam ” Tiwari added.

‘CITI should admit that Cotton production has grown from a low of 225 lac bales to 330 lac bales in last 5 years the undue protection to Local textile mills benefiting of buying Indian cotton at prices which are at least lower by 30% as compared to its competitor in Bangladesh, Pakistan and other countries who buy from other growths which is reason behind the present restriction of cotton export and when Indian cotton after lot of hard work and promotion by exporters have found a very stable and regular market of its cotton in foreign countries and Govt. should ensure that the markets created are not lost to competition due to faulty Govt. policies to protect handful textile mill owners .” It is alleged.

This is complete betrayed of dying cotton community of India who opted cotton cultivation this year were forced suffer very heavy financial losses incurred due to wrong export policy to the tune of more than Rs.20,000 crore as per initial estimates, and may increase further if corrective steps are not taken immediately as 33 million bales produced this year by Indian farmers and local traders got the price that's less than 30 per cent of prevailing international price that time and now after the prices crashed in the middle of April this year, the loss has increased.
"we are stabbed from back by UPA and killed from front by nature and market forces as delay in decision and panic of further price downward correction in farmers and local traders has already done the damaged any corrective step of relaxing further export cap will only benefit market manipulator as it was part of conspiracy planed and strategicmove by Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maranto protect financial textile lobby and get the cotton bales cheaper rate ,has done damaged to and more than 1 billion cotton farmers in cotton growing state of India that include Mahrashtra, Gujrath, Andhra,Punjab, Rajthan, Karnataka, M.P. and central government.should provide bail out pakage to the farmers who suffered heavy losses due wrong export policies of the central government,” said Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS).
“The year of record cultivation of cotton in 11 million hectors and record yield of33 million cotton bales has been year record financial losses as most of the year. Indian cotton growers were forced to sell coton 30 per cent cheaper than international market due to export cap of 55 lakhs bales when as per official estimate it was clear that additional 60 lakhs bales surplus in India as against domestic requirement of 220 lakhs bales but it was PMO and textile ministry kept uncertainties and not allowed to increase additional export since February 2011," said Tiwari.
He also said that even after the frequent intervention of Agriculture Minister by writing letters directly to Indian prime minister since April 8, 2011, chief ministers of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra and Karnataka along with more than 110 MPs joined by Cotton Association of India (CAI), The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and farm activists from all over India lastly by national political parties including Congress, NCP and BJP but textile ministry controlled by touts managed to keep the cap of 55 lakhs cotton bales as against the last year export of 84 lakhs cotton bales intact resulting in farmers holding the stock till Monday to sell it at throw away prices as monsoon is coming all procurement centre are declared that that last week was last week of procurement resulting accumulated net losses more the Rs. 20,000 crore to more than 10 million cotton growers and local traders that has added further gloom and despair to dying cotton growing agrarian community inviting much more farm suicides in near future," said Tiwari.
“We welcome the assurance given by Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran to Gujarat congress delegation who met on May 19 pressing hard demand increase in Cotton export quota andit was reported that quoting Gujarat Congress’s statement, the delegation demanded approval of 1.5 million bale export of Cotton, which “was accepted by Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran and he was to call Cotton Advisory Board’s meeting to give legitimate permission for additionalexport of 15 lakh bale but it hoax as till date CAB meeting has not being called moreover in between PMO issued the statement supporting the action of textile ministry to put export restriction on cotton bales, cotton yarns and even on cotton westthat’s clear indication of having textile nexus with PMO too, we are victim wrong policies of UPA and NDA as itis first time free import started after lifting import restrictions in 2004 even WTO deadline was 2008 by then NDA government at the centre which allowed record 200 lakhs bales at much cheaper price than domestic market inviting thousands of farm suicides and now imposition of export restrictions are killing the cotton farmers hence we need economical protection to distress cotton farmers as given by USA," Tiwari added.
"Cotton prices have increased from Rs 30000/candy in April 2010 to Rs 60000/candy April 2011 which is an increase of about Rs 70-75 per kg and immediately Spinners increased the price of yarn from Rs 150/- per kg in April 2010 for 30s combed to Rs 230/- per kg in April 2011. Increase of Rs 80 per kg which reflects in cotton value to Rs 30000/per candy minimum. Fabric weavers too have increased prices of grey fabric of 40 x 40 counts 124 x 64 with 200 gm per mtr which is quoted at about Rs 70/- per sqmtr as against Rs 38 in April 2010. There is an increase of Rs 32/mtr which is Rs 160/- per kg which in terms of candy is about Rs 60000 and present ban on export has brought back cotton prices to the level of April 2010 which is artificial an stage managed and Union Textile Minister Dayanithi Maran is directly involved in this scam," Tiwari added.
"Maharashtra farmers are agitating since October 2010 for lifting of export ban on cotton. Now, the same demand is being echoed nationally but strong textile lobby is not allowing the rightful much needed decision is taken and they till lobbying hard to avoid official permission the additional export of cotton bales is granted and silent of PMO is much more irritating hence we have knocked the door of UPA convener Smt.Sonia Gandhi but nothing has resulted as on today,” Tiwari added.
"We need the urgent central intervention and demand to lift all export restriction of cotton bales and yarn too so that farmers get higher price to cotton," ’Tiwari urged.

Vidarbha Farmers joined 'Anna Hazare's fast' at Rajghat against police excess on Ramlila Maidan

Vidarbha Farmers joined 'Anna Hazare's fast' at Rajghat against police excess on Ramlila Maidan

NAGPUR JUNE 8 ,2011

UPA Govt.'s action curb anti corruption movement by police force on 4th June night has received very strong protest from vidarbh farmer who joined todys Aaana Hazare rajghat fast 'infact hundereds of farmers are victims of police action as particepted the indefinite fast by sitting near the panchayat bhavan in each village. Moreover, a group of 500 farmers and farm widows under farm activist VJAS on Saturday at Ramlila Maidan, informed Kishor Tiwari, president of VJAS.

Tiwari pointed out that after Yoga Guru Ramdev included main issues relating to country's agrarian crisis in his demands, other than bringing black money back to India, farmers have decided to support his agitation but nothing has till date as farmers demands are not even todays agenda of fast,we are treated as crowd puller that's unfortunte.

Tiwari and Babytai Bais, president of Vidarbha Farm Widows Association, said that more than two lakh farmers have committed suicide in the last decade as a result of deep rooted corruption in Indian law and administration system. "Vidarbha farmers are innocent victims and this is a rare opportunity for us to show despair faced by them. Earlier, we supported Anna Hazare's fast and now we are supporting Swami Ramdev agitation," they said.

‘massive corruption in relief packages to the tune of Rs.5000 crore is reason of continued farmers suicides in west vidarbha .serious allegations of corruption against senior minister and executives leveled in relief package graft but nothing has been happened even after CAG and PAC has given reports hence we want accountable and stringent Lokpal Act hence we are supporting Anna hazare’s causeand we appealed all responsible civil society to join the war against corruption’ Babetai Bais president vidarbha farm widows association(VFWA) informed in press release .

‘If Annaji can start indefinite fast at the age of 73 then why we should not spread the message of ‘corruption free India’ ,we have decided that whole vidarbha agrarian community will join the agitation along with civil society to take issue to the final conclusion’Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samitiadded in press note.

,Kishore Tiwari said .

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Vidarbha farmer and farmers’ widows join Swami Ramdev’s fast

Vidarbha farmer and farmers’ widows join Swami Ramdev’s fast

Yavatmal- June 2, 2011

After Yoga-Guru Swami Ramdev has included main issues related Indian agrarian crisis in his chapter demands other than brining black-money to India ,it has got very strong support from epicenter of Indian farm capital “ vidarbha” as thousands of farmers has declared joined indefinite fast by sitting on fast near Panchayat Bhavan of each village more over selct group 500 farmers and farm widows under farm activist group Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti will join agitation on 4^th june at Ramlila Maidan New Delhi .

‘more than 2 lacs farmers committed suicide in last decade is mass genocide as result deep rotted massive corruption in Indian law maker and administrative system and vidarbha farmer are innocent victims and this is rare opportunity for us show distress and despair of vidarbha and role anti-farm policies and American MNCs who are respociable for on ging farm suicides .earlier we supported Anna hazare’s fast and we are supporting Swami Ramdev agitation’kishor tiwari is president Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti and Bebitai Bais President vidarbha farm widows association(VFWA) informed in press release .

‘If Annaji can join indefinite fast at the age of 73 then why we should not spread the message of ‘corruption free India’ ,we have decided that whole vidarbha agrarian community will join the agitation along with civil society to take issue to the final conclusion’ Tiwari added

13 points demands related agriculture and dying Indian farmer submitted by Baba Ramdev to Indian prime minister are

GM and Seeds

1. 10-year moratorium on Bt-Brinjal and all field trials and commercial release of all GM crops

2. Price regulation on Seeds

3. Every district to have a Community Controlled Seed Centre with a gene bank for traditional seeds Pesticides

4. A ban on all the 67 pesticides that have been banned in other countries but still used in India.

Sustainable Agriculture

5. 12th Five Year Plan to have 25% of total agriculture area brought under Non-Pesticidal Management as in the CMSA in Andhra Pradesh (the NPM has been repeated in 3 places in the demand annexes)

6. A Land Conservation fund for farmers to the tune of Rs. 5000 crore to be allocated each year other farmers issues

8. A Farmers Income Commission to be setup and income guaranteed to the farmer through a Farmers Income Guarantee Act (FIGA)

9. MSP to incorporate the farmer’s contribution as a Skilled Labour and not as General Labour and the MSP be calculated after fixing at 50% higher that the Cost to Cost.

10. 24-Hr Water and Electricity Supply to be given to farmers

12. Community Grain Banks in every panchayath

Land Acquisition

11. No Agriculture Land should be acquired for non-agri purposes

12. No Land should be acquired without the permission of the Grama Sabhas

13. Repeal the Land Acquisition Act 1894, and replace it with a Comprehensive Land & Livelihood Development Act which looks into all associated aspects.

‘we are thankful to Baba Ramdev that they have given importance to these issues as it is matter of serious concern to 70% Indian rural population and this is our agitation we will fight till the end ’Tiwari added.

Posted by VIDARBHA FARMER SUICIDE at 7:31 AM