Hyderabad, November 08: Indian agriculture sector is under crisis with about two lakh farmers committing suicides in the last 10 years and 600 to 700 of them in the last six months, according to the Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA).
ASHA, a network of about 400 organisations working on sustainable agriculture began a Bus Yatra carrying ryots, agricultural scientists and young students as part of its Kisan Swarajya Yatra which began at Sabarmati Ashram on October 2. The Bus goes through the state from November 3 to 10.
ASHA is also organising a discussion on sustainable agriculture at the CESS auditorium, Begumpet on November 8 as part of it. Agriculture minister N Raghuveera Reddy and various political leaders will take part in the programme.
Similar discussions will be held in Vijayawada on November 9 and in Visakhapatnam on November 10. “We are organising the programme to underline the fact that food security of the nation depends on income security of farmers,” said Kavitha Kuruganti, Kheti Virasat Mission member and one of the Yatra coordinators, addressing a press conference here today.
“Though some state governments are pursuing farmer-friendly policies, strangely, the centre is either forcing them to cancel them or discouraging them. We are trying to create awareness among public on issues like food, farmers and freedom,” she said.
The bus yatra travelling 16,000 km for 71 days will conclude at the Rajghat, New Delhi on December 11. Later, ASHA will submit a memorandum to the central government.
She also added that in the backdrop of Obama’s visit, following pressure from the US and Europe, the government is likely to take some key decisions which don’t augur well for Indian agriculture and do not promote sustainable agriculture.
The government might give prominence to US-based firms and speed up the process of corporatisation.
–Agencies