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June,2010
Editor’s desk
Farmers short-changed again:
The racketeering in warehousing and storage facility
Warehousing plays a crucial role in the food value chain, from production to
distribution and retailing. Food is produced by farmers.They produce food, feed,
fodder and fibre that sustain this nation of 1.24 billion people. They need
warehousing facility and all those support systems promised to them six decades ago by Nehru's government. Instead, the
UPA-II wants to establish COLD-CHAIN that only supports the corporations who buy raw foods cheap from dying
farmers, convert them into processed foods for domestic and export consumption. The farmers have been short changed
time and time again.
Please recall that the Reserve Bank of India [RBI] in 1946 formed an “India Rural Credit Survey Committee” that
recommended the establishment of warehouses to strengthen the rural credit and marketing.
As a result of the recommendations of the Committee, the Government of India enacted the Agricultural Produce
(Development and Warehousing) Corporation Act, 1956. Among the four key recommendations were:
Scientific storage: In Warehouses the stored produce could be protected from the vagaries of weather and pests [rodents,
insects, etc.] and substantially reduce post harvest losses that according to various estimates ranges between Rs. 20,000 to
50,000 annually.
Financing: Warehouses were mandated to meet the financial needs of farmers with a provision for issuing
'WAREHOUSING RECEIPT.' It was felt that the farmer could obtain cash support from any bank against the receipt for
his/her stock.
Price stabilization: Warehouses would help in regulating the price levels by regulating the supply of foodgrain in the
markets. More goods from the buffer would be released when supplies are less. They would also advice farmers when to
sell when there was glut in the market. Thus they would monitor the supply and demand in the interest of farmers. It would
also prevent distress sale.
Extension services: Provision for appointing technical officers was made at each warehouse who would advice farmers on
seeds, fertigation, irrigation, etc, for various crops consistent with data from market intelligence.
Strategies to reach out to the farmers were further refined with talks of smaller rural warehouses to large nodal warehouses.
It should be noted during the early days, the CWCs and SWCs had highly committed staff. They performed admirably and
that was responsible in no small measure for rapid agricultural growth during late 50s right up to early seventies.
Should Government promote cold chain when they could not provide vital warehousing services to 148 million farming
households? Who benefits from cold chain? Farmers or large corporation? Why should investments in cold chain be
subsidized as it is planned? If people came to know of the true purpose of Warehousing Act of 1956, taxpayers wouldn't
mind subsidizing hundreds of thousands of warehouses [large, medium, small or micro]. But warehousing corporations.
However, if people get to the truth of how warehousing corporations short changed farmers and how cold chains are going
to indirectly subsidize large food corporations and many multinational food and agribiz corporations, I doubt even one
person would support this sort of lop-sided policy.
The governments [both Central and State] need to re-focus their effort at rapidly expanding warehousing capacity for
farmers, stop indirectly subsidizing large firms' control over small producers through cold chains. Most importantly, the
government must revive the original concept enshrined in the 1956 Act because the situation for farmers is deteriorating by
the day. It will not be too long before India faces a major food crisis.
KISAN KI AWAAZ
National Magazine of Farmers’ Voice
Editor :
Delhi Network of Positive People and some of the Forum members staged an
energetic protest demonstration against the EU India FTA talks at Udhyog
Bhavan. Protesters raised slogans such as "European Commission Go back",
"FTA Nahi Chahiye", ''Halt EU India FTA' and so on.
In 2007, a California US District Court ruled in a As Kagan's office argued, "The judgment of the court
landmark case that the USDA had illegally approved of appeals should be reversed, and the case should be
Monsanto's GE alfalfa without carrying out a proper remanded with instructions to vacate the permanent
and full Environmental Impact Statement. injunction entered by the district court."
The plaintiffs argued that GE alfalfa could Despite numerous examples of cross-pollination of
contaminate nearby crops with its genetically GE crops, Monsanto argued during the April 27 court
manipulated pollen. Geertson Seed Farm, with the proceedings that this was highly unlikely to occur.
help of CFS, claimed that the farm's non-GE crops CFS and other plaintiffs are concerned that a federal
could be damaged beyond repair by Monsanto's law could be affected by the Supreme Court's ruling.
Roundup Ready alfalfa.
Courts in Oregon and California have already argued
Monsanto's well-paid legal team appealed the court's in previous cases that GE seeds must also be studied as
decision, but, in June 2009, the Ninth Circuit Court of to the potential impact on other conventional and
Appeals upheld the previous ruling and placed a organic crops.
nationwide ban on Monsanto's Roundup Ready
alfalfa. Surprisingly, it seems that Kagan does not support a
thorough study of GE seeds and their potential impact
"USDA should start over and truly evaluate the on environmental and human health.
contamination of non-GM alfalfa and the potential
affects on seed growers, organic and natural meat In doing so, Kagan has sided with conservative
producers, dairy producers, and conventional and justices on the court who appeared skeptical that the
During the Supreme Court hearings, Chief Justice Without mandatory government testing, we're
John Roberts questioned whether the Ninth Circuit clueless about the universe of keystone pollinators
had the authority to issue a ban on GE alfalfa. Roberts and other species that are being decimated as the [GE]
contented that the court ought to have instead plants continue to proliferate in our fields."
remanded the issue back to the USDA.
The Supreme Court's decision on Monsanto's alfalfa
Conservative Justice Antonin Scalia took his defense ban will likely come early this summer. Justice
of Monsanto even further, stating, "This isn't the Stephen Breyer recused himself from the case because
contamination of the New York City water supply," he his brother Charles Breyer oversaw the lower court's
said. "This isn't the end of the world, it really isn't." decision against the company.
Apparently Scalia and Roberts aren't up on the latest Unsurprisingly, Justice Clarence Thomas, who once
scientific analysis that Monsanto's GE crops have, in worked in the legal department for Monsanto, did not
fact, bred new voracious super-weeds, which have recuse himself from the matter.
forced farmers to "spray fields with more toxic
herbicides, pull weeds by hand, and return to more While Elena Kagan has no experience on the bench
labor-intensive methods like regular plowing." and has provided the public with little to no
information about where she stands on some of the
"Bowing to pressure from Monsanto and the other most important issues of the day, the fact that she came
biotech companies, our federal agencies approved to bat for Monsanto two months ago, at a time when
[GE] corn and cotton without requiring any the company is reeling from negative press, may shed
mandatory testing for environmental impacts," some light on how she could rule in future GE cases if
Andrew Kimbrell, executive director for the CFS she's confirmed as the next Supreme Court justice.
recently wrote.
The decision that Kagan and Monsanto object to was issued by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, who ruled that during the Bush
administration, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) should not have given its blessing to GM alfalfa without
considering possible environmental, financial, and health consequences (a requirement under the law). Erring on the side of caution,
Breyer said that until the USDA conducted the proper environmental assessment, no GM alfalfa could be grown. The appeal that is now
before the court has a telling aside. Justice Stephen Breyer recused himself from the case because Charles Breyer, the lower court
judge, is his brother. Notably, Justice Clarence Thomas, who was once a lawyer for Monsanto, did not recuse himself.
The case will probably be decided this summer, prior to Kagan's taking up her new post, assuming she is confirmed. But she still might
have an opportunity to show her true colors. Last fall, another lower-court judge ruled that the Bush-era USDA erred when it approved
GM sugar beets without a proper environmental assessment. The Obama administration was given the opportunity to drop the USDA's
case, but the Justice Department told the court that its position had not changed. We'll see if Monsanto pursues that case through the
appellate courts. Whatever happens, it's all but certain that the Supreme Court has not heard the last of GMOs.
In the longer term, we should have both the G20 and the I believe it will be important that the international
international agencies reporting to the “parliament” of community, and you as leaders in this field, send a signal
the United Nations. In this respect, a revamping of the that, despite the severe crisis, you will maintain your
UN Economic and Social Council could lend support to commitment to helping the poorest raise their own
the recent resolution adopted by the UN General capacity to develop. That you will continue to empower
Assembly on UN-system wide coherence. This triangle them to fight against poverty with their own weapons.
would constitute a potent mix of leadership, Not because of a charitable sentiment, but because this is
inclusiveness and action to ensure coherent and a question of justice, as well as efficiency. I see a strong
effective global governance. With time, the G20 could need to have a “Nordic flag” in the architecture of global
even be a response to the reform of the UN Security governance.
T he National Research Council report, which is “In particular, farmers who grow GE herbicide-resistant
being described as “the first comprehensive crops should not rely exclusively on glyphosate and need to
assessment of how genetically modified (GM) incorporate a range of weed management practices,
crops are affecting all U.S. farmers,” paints a dangerously including using other herbicide mixes.” In other words, if
rosy picture about genetically engineered crops. While applying loads of Roundup no longer works, simply start
touting benefits like lower production costs, higher yields dousing your crops with other chemical mixtures and one
and declines in insecticide use, the report does not give of them is bound to work! Problem solved! Of course, it is
justice to the seriousness of one glaring, and potentially not nearly that simple.
devastating, finding: Superweeds.
80-90 Percent of Some U.S. Crops are Genetically
GM Crops Create Superweeds and Super-Pests! Modified
Since 1996, when GM crops were first introduced, at least One day, perhaps, when the health and environmental risks
nine species of U.S. weeds have developed resistance to of GM foods have been widely accepted, more people will
glyphosate, the active ingredient in RoundUp herbicide. In look back on this statistic and shake their heads. For now,
case you're not familiar with Roundup, Roundup Ready however, while several European countries have banned
soybean, cotton and corn crops are the world's largest GM corn and other GM crops, the United States has
group of genetically modified crops. This particular allowed the technology to overwhelm much of commercial
variety of GM crops became so popular because it allows farming.
farmers to spray Monsanto's Roundup herbicide directly
onto their fields without harming the crops. Ordinarily, if As of right now, about 85 percent of the corn grown in the
you were to spray Roundup, or any other glyphosate-based United States is genetically engineered to either produce an
herbicide, onto a plant, it would die. insecticide, or to survive the application of herbicide. And
about 91-93 percent of all soybeans are genetically
As you might imagine, the use of Roundup herbicide has engineered to survive massive doses of Roundup
increased dramatically since the GM Roundup Ready herbicide. Also, according to the Institute for Responsible
crops were introduced, and now the repeated exposures Technology, about 76 percent of cotton, 75 percent of
have given Mother Nature all she needs to stage her canola and more than 50 percent of Hawaiian papaya
comeback. Weeds have evolved so that they're resistant to grown in the United States are genetically modified as
Roundup, and as a result, farmers are applying even more well.
herbicides to crops.
The Institute for Responsible Technology has also
This is, in fact, the National Research Council's advice to compiled these other sources of GM foods to watch out for,
farmers who are facing issues with superweeds: including:
Regardless of the favorable slant the National Research *Epidemic of suicides in the cotton belt of India. 100,000
Council took in their report, it's time for people to realize farmers between 1993-2003, and an estimated 16,000
that while the declared motive behind GM food is an farmers a year since, have committed suicide since Bt
altruistic one -- to alleviate hunger, poverty and cotton was introduced.
malnutrition worldwide -- in reality, the ruthless
propagation of GM crops are intended to create previously * Transgene contamination is completely unavoidable,
unimaginable profits above anything else. Despite their as science has recently revealed that the genome (whether
assurances, we're already beginning to see the real price of plant, animal or human) is NOT constant and static, which
all that tinkering with Mother Nature: unnatural crop is the scientific base for genetic engineering of plants and
combinations that can harm your health and potentially animals.
cause generational DNA changes, for example. Not only
that, but contrary to promises, GM crops are FAILING Instead, geneticists have discovered that the genome is
MISERABLY all across the world. The reality simply isn't remarkably dynamic and changeable, and constantly
living up to the hype of increased yields of healthy crops. 'conversing' and adapting to the environment. This
interaction determines which genes are turned on, when,
After 30 years of GMO experimentation, we have the where, by what and how much, and for how long. They've
data to show: also found that the genetic material itself has the ability to
be changed according to experience, passing it on to
*No increase in yields: on the contrary GM soya has subsequent generations.
decreased yields by up to 20 percent compared with non-
Michael Taylor, a former vice president of public policy In addition, the natural food industry has decided to turn
and chief lobbyist at Monsanto Company(who is now the October of this year into “Non-GMO Month,” and October
senior advisor for the FDA) is the person who “oversaw the 10th (10/10/10) will be “Non-GMO Day.” Please let your
creation of GMO policy,” according to Jeffrey Smith, the friends and family know about this important event, but
leading spokesperson on the dangers of GM foods. Smith don't wait until then to get started. You can make every day
continues: a No-GMO Day, and I suggest, for the sake of your health
and the environment's, that you do.
“If GMOs are indeed responsible for massive sickness and
death, then the individual who oversaw the FDA policy Please Remember You CAN Make a Difference!
that facilitated their introduction holds a uniquely
infamous role in human history. That person is Michael GMO foods have not been in Europe since 1999 because of
Taylor. He had been Monsanto's attorney before becoming public opposition. We have already been successful in
policy chief at the FDA. Soon after, he became Monsanto's causing industry to cut down their use of HFCS and our
vice president and chief lobbyist.” campaign last year against the swine flu vaccine worked to
radically reduce the number of people immunized. So
The FDA policy being referred to is the 1992 GMO PLEASE download this report and boycott GMO foods.
policy, which stated: Vote with your wallet and you will not only keep yourself
and your family safe but your action will catalyze the
"The agency is not aware of any information showing that necessary change to eliminate these dangerous crops from
foods derived by these new methods [genetic engineering] our food supply.
differ from other foods in any meaningful or uniform way."
In fact, the overwhelming consensus among the FDA's
own scientists were that genetically modified foods were
inherently dangerous and could create allergies, toxins, Sources:
new diseases and nutritional problems, and of course they
should be labeled because they are a food additive and new New York Times April 13, 2010
food additives must be labeled.
BNET April 16, 2010
However, Smith explains, the FDA was directed by the
White House to promote the biotechnology industry, and National Research Council April 13, 2010
they knew that if they labeled GM foods, most Americans
One reason for concern is that some cancers are ¶For those whose jobs may expose them to chemicals,
becoming more common, particularly in children. We remove shoes when entering the house and wash work
don't know why that is, but the proliferation of clothes separately from the rest of the laundry.
chemicals in water, foods, air and household products
is widely suspected as a factor. ¶Filter drinking water.
I'm hoping the President's Cancer Panel report will ¶Store water in glass or stainless steel containers, or in
shine a stronger spotlight on environmental causes of plastics that don't contain BPA orphthalates
health problems not only cancer, but perhaps also (chemicals used to soften plastics). Microwave food
diabetes, obesity and autism. in ceramic or glass containers.
This is not to say that chemicals are evil, and in many ¶Give preference to food grown without pesticides,
cases the evidence against a particular substance is chemical fertilizers and growth hormones. Avoid
balanced by other studies that are exonerating. To help meats that are cooked well-done.
people manage the uncertainty prudently, the report
has a section of recommendations for individuals: ¶Check radon levels in your home. Radon is a natural
source of radiation linked to cancer.
¶Particularly when pregnant and when children are
small, choose foods, toys and garden products with
fewer endocrine disruptors or other toxins. The New York Times
(Information about products is at
The Prime Minister, who chaired the council, highlighted the need to create a general consciousness about the need to use water
in the most sustainable manner. Given the fact that there were multiple uses for water and an integrated approach based on basin
development planning needed to be evolved, he said political leadership at the local body level, state level and civil society
organisations needed to be involved in activities of the National Water Mission. Ministers and other members of the council
endorsed these views.
It was stated that the first step in this direction would be to prepare a comprehensive water data base in the public domain and the
impact of climate change on water would be assessed. Action had to be focused on vulnerable areas, where ground water was
overexploited. It was also decided that water-use efficiency should be raised by 20 per cent through the promotion of new
technologies.
Members felt incentives should be created for using water in a sustainable manner. It was felt that there was need to focus on
research and development requirements of the mission. Many members stressed the need to use opportunities from the Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which already prioritises community-level water security and offers an
opportunity to convert water conservation into a people's movement.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Power Minster Sushil Kumar Shinde, Water Resources Minister Pawan Bansal, Non-
Conventional and Renewable Energy Resources Minster Farookh Abdullah, Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy,
Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja, Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh and members of the
Council were present at the meeting
(Source: Tribune News Service)
of GM crops and spotting potentially damaging less, farmers allowed mirid bugs to thrive and infest
knock-on effects arising from their cultivation, their own and neighbouring farms. The infestations
researchers said. are potentially catastrophic for more than 10m small-
scale farmers who cultivate 26m hectares of
Millions of hectares of farmland in northern China vulnerable crops in the region studied.
have been struck by infestations of bugs following the
widespread adoption of Bt cotton, an engineered The findings mark the first confirmed report of mass
variety made by the US biotech giant, Monsanto. infestations arising as an unintended consequence of
farmers using less pesticide a feature of Bt cotton that
Outbreaks of mirid bugs, which can devastate around was supposed to save money and lessen the crops'
200 varieties of fruit, vegetable and corn crops, have environmental impact.
risen dramatically in the past decade, as cotton
farmers have shifted from traditional cotton crops to The research, led by Kongming Wu at the Chinese
GM varieties, scientists said. Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing, is
published in the US journal, Science.
"This is a massive issue in terms of the environment, Bt cotton is modified to produce a natural insecticide
but also in terms of costs for the farmer. The plan with that is made by a soil bacterium called Bacillus
GM crops was to reduce costs and environmental thuringiensis. The toxin specifically targets
impact, but neither of these things seem to be bollworms, which can devastate cotton yields.
happening, because over time, nature takes its course,
and that was bound to happen. Additional reporting by Celia Cole
We need to get back to using local varieties of crops 1997: China begins cultivating Bt cotton, increasing
that are adpted to the conditions, and develop an area of the crop planted to 1.8m hectares worldwide
integrated system of pest management.”
2003: Britain's large scale field trials of herbicide
While many countries around the world have tolerant GM crops. Showed that changes in herbicide
embraced GM crops, they have never taken root in use had an impact on weeds and insects that might also
Britain, where multinational companies have faced affect country wildlifem hectares worldwide
protests and vandalism to crop trials in recent years.
Britain's large-scale field trials of herbicide-tolerant 2009: 49% of cotton production worldwide is Bt
GM crops in 2003 found changes in herbicide use had cotton, or 16m hectares
an impact on weeds and insects that might also affect
country wildlife. 2010: No GM crops grown commercially in the UK.
Spain is the biggest grower in Europe, but there are
Dr Wu's team monitored insecticide use from 1992 to also significant amounts of crops grown in France,
2008 at 38 farms throughout the six northern Chinese Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Portugal.
provinces of Henan, Hebei, Jiangsu, Anhui,
Shandong and Shanxi. They also kept records of mirid
bug populations at the farms between 1997 and 2008.
This points us to the obvious question: if genetically Life needs genetic variation to thrive. By trying to
modified crops, designed to resist herbicides, provide control the genetic code of our food plants so tightly,
such a brief window of benefit to farmers, why use making sure every planted, patented seed bears the
them at all? proper modified genes, we actually cage and cripple
them. They cannot adapt without our assistance.
There are heirloom varieties of corn and soy that have
been grown by organic farmers for literally hundreds But the weeds and pests that threaten our food supply -
of years -- foods that were developed through the very - wild creatures outside our genetic control -- still can.
old-fashioned, time-tested biotechnology called And they have. Will we learn from it?
crossbreeding -- foods that have proven their safety by
safely feeding generations of people.
The authors conclude that exposure to Children 6 to 11 years of age have the highest urinary
organophosphate pesticides, at levels common concentrations of dialkyl phosphate (DAP)
among U.S. children, may contribute to a diagnosis of metabolites (markers of organophosphate exposure),
ADHD. compared with other age groups in the U.S.
population. As well, children have fewer detoxifying
In the past, exposure to organophosphates has been enzymes, which contributes to their vulnerability.
associated with negative effects on
neurodevelopment, such as behavioral problems and The best way to limit exposure to pesticides is to limit
lower cognitive function. the intake of foods with high pesticides loads. What
are the worst culprits for pesticide residue?
However earlier studies have focused on populations
with greater pesticide exposure relative to the general The Shopper's Guide developed by Environmental
population. Working Group (EWG) is based on data from nearly
87,000 tests for pesticide residues in produce
This study was conducted with 1139 children 8 to 15 collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and
years of age, representative of the general U.S. the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
population. The findings showed that children with
higher urinary levels of organophosphate metabolites Here are the top 15 fruits/vegetables from the guide
were more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for that contain the most pesticide (number one being the
ADHD. worst). It is advised, whenever possible, to purchase
these items organically:
According to the study, approximately 40
organophosphate pesticides are registered with the 1. Celery, 2. Peaches, 3. Strawberries
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use
in the United States. 4. Apples, 5. Blueberries (Domestic), 6. Nectarines
The EPA considers food, drinking water, and 7. Sweet Bell Peppers, 8. Spinach,
residential pesticide use major sources of exposure.
Residential pesticide use is common, but the 9. Kale / Collard Greens, 10. Cherries, 11. Potatoes
important source of exposure to pesticides for infants
and children would be from the diet, says the National 12. Grapes (Imported), 13. Lettuce,
Academy of Sciences.
14. Blueberries (Imported), 15. Carrots
The U.S. Pesticide Residue Program Report for 2008
notes that measurable concentrations of the Mail by googlegroup.com
This technology is potentially very dangerous to your The answer is that western medicine is so arrogant that it
health freedom. Using it, governments or drug companies does not believe it needs to follow any rules, regulations or
(which are all the same thing these days) could create a laws. It is a system of "bully" medicine where drugs are
vaccine skin cream that's handed out and described as shoved down your throat by being covertly dripped into the
"sunscreen." But when you put it on, you're actually water supply without your consent. So why should we
vaccinating yourself as the nanoparticles burrow believe vaccines will be any different? If mainstream
underneath your skin and burst, releasing foreign DNA medicine can find a way to force every person to
inside your body. unknowingly be injected with vaccines, make no mistake
they will pursue it!
A history of covert mass medication
And such efforts will no doubt have the continued financial
But why would the government medicate people without support of Bill Gates.
their knowledge or consent, you ask? They already do it
Http://www.naturalnews.com/028887_vaccines_Bill_Gates.html
A
farmers.
griculture being the main source of income
for the country, the government earlier
announced some fund relief for the distressed
The audit slams the government for weak monitoring,
delays in payments of compensation and lack of
coordination in implementing the packages. The audit
conducted between March and June 2007 highlights
some glaring deficiencies.
But things has not worked according. The number of It is the first report evaluating implementation of the
suicide by the farmers surprisingly has only packages since they were announced two years back.
increased.
The CAG report says that government directives for
THE GOVERNMENT has pumped in Rs 5,000 crore moneylenders to free farmers lands were turned down
in the suicide belts of Vidarbha over the last two years. by the High Court when moneylenders approached it.
Yet, farmers continue to kill themselves.
Neither did the government challenge the court ruling
Now, a performance audit by the Comptroller and nor did it strengthen the existing laws in favour of the
Auditor General (CAG) of India has exposed the farmers.
futility of the package..
A door-to-door survey in 2006 by the state showed
A report titled Performance Audit of Farmers Package there were 13.48 lakh distressed and 4.34 lakh very
by the CAG of India, has concluded that the package distressed farmers in these six districts. But they were
has failed in its basic purpose, that of reducing the not considered when benefits were handed out.
agrarian crisis in the six affected districts of Vidarbha.
Short-term measures like help-lines and rescheduling
The districts are Yavatmal, Amravati, Wardha, Akola, loans were ineffective for most farmers. The report
Buldhana and Washim also questioned long-term goals, like creating
irrigation potential and subsidiary occupations for
"Reduction in farmers distress in Vidarbha does not farmers.
inspire confidence,” the report emphatically states.
Adding that unless corrective measures are taken, As per CAG report, it is now official that all claims
"The agrarian distress would start rising again in the made by the state administration as per as
closing years of the package. implementation of relief packages are concern were
misleading and far away from the ground reality that
Such distress could increase significantly particularly has killed more innocent distressed Vidarbha farmers.
after the moratorium of loan repayment expires,"
cautions Sunil Dadhe, the accountant general (audit) Here is the detail of CAG report officially released by
in his concluding remarks. Maharashtran government.
A survey, covering 41,663 farmers in 383 villages of Suicides by debt-ridden Vidarbha farmers have
the six districts worst hit by cotton failures in actually accelerated after Prime Minister Manmohan
Vidarbha, was part of the CAG audit of the farmers Singh announced the multi-crore relief package in
packages announced by the state and central 2006.
governments in 2006.
The state administration is blamed for lack of co-
It found that 36 per cent of farmers were not even ordination and a faulty implementation of plans.
aware of the state and central government packages.
The CAG statistics reveal that the suicide graph has
Dadhe has demolished the state government's claim, The report said that many banks claimed interest
that alls well after funds flow from the relief package. without extending fresh loans to the distressed
In fact the CAG team has asserted that there is no farmers. Of the 17.64 lakh farmers in the six districts,
monitoring of the implementation of the packages. 9.29 lakh cases of loan having outstanding principle
amount of Rs 1,369 crore were proposed to be
"Though the state created the Vasantrao Naik Sheti rescheduled after waiver of interests.
Swawalamban Mission (VNSSM) for monitoring of
the implementation of the packages, it had no However, fresh loans of Rs 673 crore (43 per cent)
dedicated staff apart from its director general and a were given in 4.84 lakh cases. "The waiver of interest
driver. in all these cases did not help the families of the
farmers concerned in income augmentation since loan
Consequently, it failed to even watch the expenditure was not rescheduled.
incurred by the implementing departments under
various components,' ' the report said. Further the government waived interest on 1. 92 lakh
farm workers, though the packages did not envisage
The auditors, who surveyed 363 villages covering assistance to those who were not farmers,'' the report
41,663 farmers, said the state failed to implement its said.
announcements that farmers who took loans from
unregistered moneylenders can treat themselves free The Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) president
from that loan. Kishor Tiwari urged UPA government to order CBI.
inquiry in this matter as issue of huge malpractices in
In fact, the CAG survey revealed that 75 per cent of more than Rs.5000 crore.
their respondents were unaware of this announcement
in absence of adequate and effective publicity. This failure of relief package has resulted to more than
3000 suicides of farmers.
The CAG report reveals that illegal money lenders
have got relief from the courts after the assistant In fact VJAS has demanding that due to total apathy of
registrars of the cooperative societies (ARCS) administration and causal attitude, coupled with
declared the farmers free from debts. massive corruption has made this condition of rural
Vidarbha so pathetic and aggravated that the agrarian
In 18 writ petitions filed by the money lenders the crisis grew more after the announcement of relief
Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court passed package;as the relief did not reached the dying
orders setting aside the orders of the ARCS. farmers in time even after the lapse of two year.
"The government neither appealed against the orders It is the need of the time to provide food security
(in the Supreme Court) nor took any remedial action health care to minimum 4.34 lakh farming families
like amendment of the relevant acts to secure the who are identified by administration as farmers in
interests of the indebted farmers. deep distress, Tiwari added.
One serving of broccoli equates to about two spears. So While I believe foods, especially vegetables, are a far
we're only talking approximately 10 spears a week, folks. smarter choice to treat serious health challenges like cancer
One of the most serious mistakes a protein type can make is Eliminate sugar as much as possible as it's been shown
to consume large amounts of dark green vegetables. This again and again that sugar feeds cancer. Fructose is
tends to over-alkaline your system and worsens rather than especially problematic so also be sure to limit your fructose
improves your health if you're a protein type, despite the intake.
many beneficial phytonutrients that are present.
Eat broccoli and/or cauliflower sprouts, depending on your
This is where a deep appreciation of nutritional typing will nutritional type.
assist you in selecting the best vegetables for you.
Although broccoli, and even more so, broccoli sprouts, Consume fresh vegetable juice daily - including one small
contain the highest amounts of isothiocyanates, other tomato (lycopene).
cruciferous vegetables also contain this compound,
including: Get appropriate amounts of animal-based omega-3 fats
such as krill oil, and reduce your intake of omega-6 oils.
brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage , arugula,
watercress , horseradish Consume freshly ground flaxseeds - two ounces every
other day. Selenium - 400 mcg per day.
Good News! Free Nutritional Typing Will Soon Be
Available Vitamin E - 400 units per day. (Please note: Only natural
vitamin E should be used, not synthetic. Additionally,
I strongly believe that nutritional typing is the master key mixed tocopherol is more preferable than alpha-
to determining your optimal diet, and an optimal diet is tocopherol, as the gamma tocopherols are particularly
essential to increasing your health without ever touching a useful antioxidants.)
drug.
This is why I will soon give away my nutritional typing Boil, poach or steam your foods, rather than frying or
program completely free of charge. charbroiling them. Better yet eat as many of your foods raw
LINK as you can.
So keep on the lookout for this offer in a future issue of this
newsletter! Get appropriate exercise. One of the primary reasons
exercise works is that it drives your insulin levels down.
I want you to be aware of just how important it is to Controlling insulin levels is one of the most powerful ways
understand your body at a deeper level, because if you are a to reduce your cancer risks.
protein type and were to eat too much broccoli, the other
effects of broccoli might push your metabolic Have a tool to permanently erase the neurological short-
biochemistry in the wrong direction and thus override its circuiting that can activate cancer genes. Even the CDC
benefits. states that 85 percent of disease is caused by emotions. It is
likely that this factor may be more important than all the
When you eat properly for your particular type, however, other physical ones listed here, so make sure this is
you will experience increased daily energy, improved addressed.
emotional well-being, a feeling of satiety and satisfaction,
and, of course, optimized health and weight so you live My favorite tool, as you may know, is the Emotional
longer. Freedom Technique. Get enough high-quality sleep
Reduce your exposure to environmental toxins and sources
Further Guidelines to Help Avoid and Treat Breast of heavy metals. Reduce your exposure to EMFs like cell
(and Prostate) Cancer and portable phones.
The guidelines for preventing and treating breast cancer Check your ferritin level and make sure you don't have iron
and prostate cancer are almost identical. excess as this can clearly increase your risk of cancer.
Below are 15 lifestyle recommendations for how to avoid
and treat both types of cancer:
Be the member of
Bharatiya Krishak Samaj
(A National Farmers Organisation)
By the Farmers,
Of the Farmers,
For the Farmers.