November 19th 2010: Yatra Enters Kolkata For One Day – Has An Inspiring Day, Meeting Farmer Activists And Pioneering Seed Conservers

“It is a continuation of people’s endeavor to protect their food, agriculture, environment and sovereignty of the country.”

The Kisan Swaraj Yatra is a nation-wide mobilization drawing fresh attention to the continuing agricultural crisis in India, and calling for a comprehensive new path for Indian agriculture – that will provide livelihood and food security for small farmers, keep our soils alive, and our food and water poison-free. The Yatra started at the Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram on Oct 2nd, and passed through 15 states to reach Kolkata on Dec 11th.

The Kisan Swaraj Yatra has reached Kolkata after the grueling 41-day journey around India, through 15 states, and events in 80 districts, telling the Indian government to stop anti-farmer pro-corporatist policies, to ensure dignified livelihoods for farming community, and to promote sustainable agriculture.

The programme started on 19th November, at CIMA Building on a very beautiful morning. The main organizer of the programme was DRCSE and was mainly conducted by Mr. Angsuman Das, secretary of DRCSE. Full of high spirits, we looked forward to the day, with the knowledge that some of the pioneering work related to seed conservation and rights having happened in this state with movements like Beej Bachao Andolan.

At the start of the programme, all farmers were offered with flowers and seedlings. An exhibition on different kinds of seedlings was held by farmers from states all over India.

There are now many organic farmers all over the country, and women are trying to bring back organic-based foods into their kitchens. They also try and grow vegetables without chemicals for household consumption. Arabindo Mandal and 23 farmers represented Mukti and 16 farmers from BDS attended the programme.

There was tremendous response from farmers all over the state; there is a near-unanimous understanding around how the corporate stranglehold over current-day farming is making agriculture unviable and eroding our resources. The West Bengal government has to immediately step up its efforts in promoting ecological farming in the state and set an example for other states to follow. There should be greater efforts to conserve seed diversity, to build capabilities of farmer-breeders and to promote agro-diversity in situ across the state.

Speaking to media representatives, the organizers said that they want the government to immediately scrap any agreements with corporations like Monsanto, and schemes like Project Sahyog, since it is apparent from all the evidence that these corporations are interested only in profiteering at the expense of farmers. The government should direct the State Agriculture Universities to immediately stop any GM crop trials, as this would be against the organic farming policies being pursued by the government. The USAID-supported Bt Brinjal development project should be immediately cancelled since there is no need for Bt Brinjal, which carries different hazards with it and most importantly, this project is being used for appropriation of farmers’ resources. Since native varieties like Mattu Gulla have been conferred with legal recognition under GI Act, it is imperative that the government step in at least now and scrap the Bt Brinjal development in the state. We also want the state government to take a pro-active role in Central legislations like Seeds Bill and Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill so that farmers’ interests are protected.

At the end of the session a rally took place from CIMA Building to the foot of Mahatma Gandhi statue, and a garland made of seedlings was offered. The organizers said, “If we do not protect Indian farmers and support them to take up ecological farming, the control over our food and what we get to eat will end up in the hands of big corporations leaving us with very little choices”.