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.

Police arrested Dr Sunilam and thousands of farmers in Chindwada :Massive Tribal Protest to Adani Power Projectt in M.P.

Police arrested Dr Sunilam and thousands of farmers in Chindwada

:Massive Tribal Protest to Adani Power Projectt in M.P.

Nagpur - June 26, 2011.

Senior socialist leader and main convener of action committee who is protesting proposed thermal power plant and irrigation project Ex.MLA from Multai DR.Sunilam was arrested by M.P. Police in morning when he was going to project site where project affected tribal rally “Mahapanchayat” was organized and function to get back land for sowing and cultivation but very planned approach to crack down by police and thousand of project effected farmers who were have been arrested under leadership of Adv.Aradhana Shrivatva ,police have beaten up protesters and now their all cell phones are taken off .they have not been given food and Ther No Update To Family Members Even Dr.Sunilam Has Been Taken To Unknown Place ,Kishore Tiwari Nagpur base activist who is associated with Dr.Sunilam informed press note today.

‘this is gross violation of fundamental rights earlier too Dr.Sunilam and Aradhana Shrivasta were attacked by the supporters of union minister Kamalnath,M.P. who is associated with Adani group and Adani has also got themal power palnts which complete protection BJP National Chief Nitin Gadkari hence ruling party at the state and centre are supporting Adani Group Who Has Started This Project With Out Environment Clearance, we will atke this issue with NHRC tomorrow but this is very unfortunate developments that tribal are jailed and not allowed to protest”tiwari added

“in my last to the villages of Chindwara where during the Padyatra farmers refused to part with their lands under any circumstances. He said without any Environment clearance Adani Power Project Limited illegitimately started construction on the forcefully acquired land which has to be immediately act upon by the Ministry of Environment through the state government and acquired land should be handed over back to the farmers. He also said that as per the decision taken by Government of India in 1975 a Public Tribunal should be held to estimate the implications of any project in the affected area. Action committee appealed to the Ministry of Environment and Forests to hold a People’s Tribunal in the area again and said it is illegal that the land which was bought over by the state government at the price of Rs 1,500-10,000/- per acre in 1986 is being sold now at Rs 13,50,000/- per acre especially when land was used for agricultural purposes even until last year.

It is allged that generation of electricity in the area is only for sole purpose of benefitting Adani Pench Power Limited and Pench Project’s water will be used by Adani. This will displace 31 villages of the region where land is being acquired in the name of Public Interest. this Project will destroy agricultural land of almost 150 villages due to ash of the power plant and ash dam water therefore the farmers in the whole area are protesting against this Power Project. Villagers informed that on June 10, 2011 farmers of the area have decided to sow their land as soon as possible and thus Mahapanchayat has been called on June 26, 2011. Dr Sunilam earlier allged that that the congress goons hired by Adani in connivance with local police and administration are openly threatening to attack him again and villagers with deadly consequences. It is evident that farmer’s movement is under assault but farmers will continue with their peaceful struggle.”Tiwari said

They have appealed to the NHRC to provide security to Dr Sunilam and investigate the whole incident. They told that when farmers met Minister of Environment and Forests Mr Jairam Ramesh under the leadership of Medha Patkar, he had categorically emphasised that no permission has been granted to Adani Power Project. Despite that construction work is under process which needs to be stopped with immediate effect and constructed structures should be demolished. They declared that social movements will join the peaceful movement of farmers in order to get back their lands.

Vidarbha farmers back to Soyabean this season-TIMES OF INDIA

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Vidarbha farmers back to Soyabean this season

Ramu BhagwatRamu Bhagwat, TNN | Jun 24, 2011, 04.55am IST

NAGPUR: For the last couple of years, cotton was the preferred kharif cash crop for farmers in Vidarbha. It fetched good price in the open market and farmers made a bounty last season when prices touched a record Rs 7000 a quintal on the back of stong global demand. This season, however, a large number of cultivators are contemplating a shift back to soyabean in a last minute decision.

Confirming this on Thursday, Amravati divisional joint director of agriculture Suresh Ambulgekar told TOI that brisk sales of soyabean seeds indicated there could be at least a 10% rise in area under this crop. "This was a surprise for us too," he said. Weeks before start of kharif operations, mainly in western Vidarbha's cotton belt of Yavatmal, Amravati, Akola, Buldhana and Washim they were clearly in a mood for repeating cotton, happy over the price it commanded last season. "We were expecting cotton crop to go up by a couple of lakh hectares in these parts," the official said.

"However, now it seems they are keen on soya. Two main reasons have been identified for this change of heart among farmers. For one, soya has a shorter crop cycle of 60 to 90 days unlike cotton. Farmers sowing cotton in June are stuck with the crop for six to eight months. After first harvest, they usually wait for second and third flowering to get more yield. But the main reason driving farmers away from cotton is the high labour cost," explained Ambulgekar.

"Unlike soya, which is now-a-days harvested by machines, cotton involves employing manual labour. Last year they had to spend up to 40% of total input on labour costs. The high labour rates directly cut into farmers' profit margins. Harvesters used for soya take less time and are cost effective," he added. So a soya farmer gets good returns and has ample time to take up a rabi crop further boosting his income. Thus a soya cultivator makes more money than those doing cotton.

"Cotton is a labour intensive crop. It needs hands at several levels after sowing like weeding, spraying insecticides, and finally at the time of harvesting. With assured work and wages available under government rural employment schemes, labour rates have shot up by 50%," said Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti. "This increased burden is not been factored in by Committee on Agriculture Costs and Prices ( CACP) while fixing the minimum support price. With all inputs ranging from seeds, fertilisers, labour, costing more, it costs nothing less than Rs 4000 an acre to cultivate cotton," claimed Tiwari. He also agreed that soya was now more lucrative in the prevailing situation of delayed monsoon and high labour rates.
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Monsoon delay worries farmers-Times of India

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Monsoon delay worries farmers in cotton belt

Ramu BhagwatRamu Bhagwat, TNN | Jun 23, 2011, 05.55am IST

NAGPUR: The first few showers in the second week of June proved deceptive for farmers in areas like Pusad and Umarkhed in suicide-prone Yavatmal district where about 70% of farmers took up sowing in the mainly cotton growing belt. Ruing their impatience, they are now desperately praying that a strong monsoon system develops in the region so that the seeds do not go waste.

Fortunately, Yavatmal district is an exception. In other districts of Vidarbha, farmers showed more patience. Having learned their lessons in last five years when monsoon has invariably arrived late, they are still to start sowing for the Kharif season that normally begins in first week of June.

"Across western Vidarbha, not more than 5% of sowing has taken place," said Amravati division's joint director of agriculture Prakash Ambulgekar. He allayed fears that wherever sowing has been done after the first showers, seeds may germinate as weather is mostly cloudy and the days are no more extremely hot.

Divisional joint director of Nagpur J C Bhutada also averred that only 10 to 15% sowing, that too in some areas of Nagpur and Wardha, has been reported. "We are advising farmers to wait for suitable conditions and start sowing only after regular monsoon develops. Unless there is protective irrigation facility, farmers should not rush to start sowing," he said.

"In large tracts of Yavatmal, sowing has been completed. In some areas, even fertiliser has been applied in the field," now we are anxiously awaiting good rains. If it does not rain well in next one week, we will be ruined," said Munna Bolenwar, a farmer from Pandharkawda tehsil in Yavatmal. "Already there was acute shortage of Bt seed. We had to buy the variety at a premium. A packet with printed price of Rs 900 was sold at anywhere between Rs 1200 and Rs 1400. There was panic buying amid reports that farmers from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh were buying up seeds because of shortage in their local markets," said Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti. "If re-sowing has to be done, farmers will have tough time getting fresh seed supply," he added.

However, Ambulgekar said there was no shortage of seeds and traders were creating artificial crisis. "We are on alert to check any cheating by dealers. But then, mostly farmers have old bonding with local farm input merchants and do not complain when they are overcharged," said Amulgekar. Tiwari expressed apprehension that if it led to re-sowing, markets would be flooded with spurious Bt cotton seeds as the preferred brands were already in short supply.

Vidarbha Crisis-Banks fail to achieve kharif season target-TIMES OF INDIA

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Banks fail to achieve kharif season target

TNN | Jun 21, 2011, 05.18am IST

YAVATMAL: The indifferent attitude of officials of banks in the district has created panic among farmers as their applications for crop loans have been either ignored or kept pending without any justifiable reason. Banks have even ignored the standing instructions given by the district collector to give loans to needy farmers.

For the kharif season, the government had given banks a loan disbursal target of Rs 903 crore - Yavatmal District Central Co-Operative Bank (Rs 372 crore), Vidarbha Regional Rural Bank (Rs 65 crore), nationalized and private banks (Rs 466 crore).

The disbursement status of the crop loan as on June 15 was - YDCC Bank (Rs 304 crore), Vidarbha Regional Rural Bank (Rs.16.5 crore) and nationalized and private banks (Rs 63 crore).

The YDCC Bank has achieved 82% of its target by giving loans to 77,020 farmers. The Vidarbha Regional Rural Bank has aided 3,429 farmers, while 14,505 ryots have gained from nationalized and private banks. The number count of the overall loan beneficiaries has touched 94,954.

Yavatmal district's deputy registrar of the co-operative societies Laxmanrao Katare expressed concern over the attitude of the banks in sanctioning crop loans.

"The loan issue was discussed at the district-level coordination committee meeting chaired by district collector Shravan Hardikar. He instructed banks to expedite loan applications so that the target for the kharif season could be met and farmers could benefit as well," Katare told TOI.

At a meeting held in Mumbai, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan met representatives of various banks and urged them to achieve their loan disbursement targets so that farmers of the region could benefit in the kharif season. Chavan's request seems to have fallen on deaf ears as there seems to be no significant change in the loan disbursement scenario. Apart from the loan issue, severe shortage of seeds and fertilizers has added to farmers' woes.

Despite tall claims of the agriculture officers regarding adequate supply of seeds and fertilizers for the kharif season, ground realities are just the opposite. Some farmers have alleged that some fertilizers are being sold at double the rate.

Shockingly, people's representatives of both the ruling and opposition parties are turning a blind eye to the burning issue.

FOOD CROP CRISIS IN INDIA -TARUN BHARAT

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. =====================================

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 Maidana

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 Samiti added in press note.

,Kishore Tiwari said .

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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.