“support 4 suicide farmers families” TURNS ONE!

18th March 2010 - 18th March 2011: Turning ONE!

61 COUNTRIES: Australia, Austria, Algeria, Belgium, Brazil, Bahrain, Belarus, Canada, Czech Republic, China, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Ireland, Japan, Korea Republic, Latvia, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Mauritius, Malaysia, Mongolia, Mexico, Morocco, Moldova, New Zealand, Norway, Netherlands, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, South Korea, Slovenia, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Taiwan, United States of America, United Kingdom, Uruguay, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Vietnam... 

45 BLOG FOLLOWERS:

45 TWITTER FOLLOWERS:

3008 + Page Views in the last 11 Months

1568 + Visitors Worldwide in the last 11 Months

To be honest, I had never even thought my small step of destiny will connect so many people and so many countries in one thread within a span of 11 months (only after the first month was over, I started recording all the details) worldwide. Truly-truly amazing and I am very-very thankful and grateful to Sai Baba and everyone who has shown great support and kindness to encourage and support me in the last one year. The journey would garner so many people across the world speaks about the universal problems and crisis of the farmers in every single country.

Many people across the globe got connected sharing their experiences about their countries and farmers’ problems. Vidarbha certainly is my karmabhoomi for life. The first year has been great in many ways... the base was established in Wardha with the help of Swapnil Barai, hundreds of shopkeepers from Andheri - Bandra & Thana, nameless Indians on the streets & local trains, 10 Special Angels and many beautiful angels from all across the world... who have come forward to support and encourage the movement. With the help of one & all, the strong base had taken great deal of hard work to build in the last one year...

I have lost many friends and so also have gained many friends in my journey of destiny... in many aspects, living life with the minimum requirement can be truly blissful... no TV, no Refrigerator, 10 T-Shirts, 2 Shirts, 1 Jacket & 4 Jeans & 5 Caps (I have near about 20 though) – one full year of wearing clothes without ironing, travelling in State Transport and pedalling my way to villages in bicycle... drinking water from wells, tube-wells in farms and villages... eating simple food served with genuine love... life has been blissful at times amidst all the miseries, pains, sorrows and poverty... the way I was being accepted in villages and yes, I have many widow sisters and nieces & nephews in Vidarbha now... I am no more alone today! I truly feel blessed and I am so-so grateful to my destiny for choosing me to bring me here!

Interacting with farmers and families in villages has given me a great learning about the ground realities of Vidarbha. Unlearning what I had learned all my life certainly was the first step that I learned after coming here. The challenges ahead are many and there are many-many years before the movement will achieve few small things to better lives of the suicide farmers’ widows and their children... the Trust registration is taking its own time and date after date are given because of being under-staff... I really don’t know how many more months will take for the final process to get over... but like Sai Baba says always – “Shraddha aur Saburi” (Devotion & Patience)... I am left with “Shraddha aur Saburi” that Sai Baba has given me in abundance.

There were too many experiences: some traumatic, some beautiful, some eye-opener & some too painful... overall, have become rich in many aspects to understand the ground realities and the love of acceptance among the poor is indeed an overwhelming experience! Vidarbha made me experience BLISS for the very first time in life among all the miseries because of the selfless genuine love given to me by poor widows & their lovely children... what I have lost and what I have got in the past one year has been tremendous in many ways... how helpless I have felt at times for not being able to save so many farmers who succumbed to suicide and how I had to fight bouts of depression time & again... only my heart knows... not many in the world would really understand the emotional trauma I have undergone in the past one year... however, every experience has made me strong for coming years to establish the movement into reality...

I wish to request all those who are reading this post to write to me about their countries’ problems connected with farmers and agriculture... everywhere the problems are the same and everywhere simple solutions are going to solve all these problems... I do hope more and more people will come forward to support the movement because this is for the future of the generation today, who are going to face a very dangerous future in another two decades... when there will be less water for drinking and agriculture, less fertile lands will be left, less number of farmers existing and but obvious food grains will be difficult to even imagine... I really shudder when I imagine the scenes from the near future... I pray to Sai Baba to give me strength to lead the poor of Vidarbha into a better future!

Thank you one & all from the bottom of my heart! Sai Baba bless you all!

‎12th March 2010 - 12th March 2011: I am ONE today!

‎12th March 2010 - 12th March 2011: I am ONE today! 

Last year, early morning lightening struck me, I opened my eyes for the very first time in life to look beyond I, ME & MYSELF to start the one-man-crusade - "support 4 suicide farmers families" !

First Year has been a struggle to unlearn what I had learned all my life!

First Year has been a rich & traumatic experiences to understand farmers' plight!

First Year has been enriching to meet so many interesting people worldwide!

First Year has been good to build a strong base for the coming future!

First Year has taught me a great deal about the ground realities!

I wish to thank one & all from all over the world with my deep gratitude from the bottom of my heart for supporting the cause and give me encouragement in the journey of my destiny! Every small contribution from various strangers on the streets to friends and unknown (now friends) has added great value to strengthen the movement - "support 4 suicide farmers families"!

Johnny D

support 4 suicide farmers families

Vidarbha, India

MAYURI'S CONCERN FOR INDIAN FARMERS IS TRULY AMAZING!

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/hyderabad/10-year-old-girl-makes-docu-film-on-eco-farming/254747.html

WHAT THE FARMERS NEED – PART - V

GOOD CATTLE:

I should have put this point before discussing the previous point (Organic Manure)... I missed one of the most important aspects that every farmer used to possess in the earlier days... Good Cattle. Cows, Bulls and Buffaloes used to be the proud possession of every farmer in earlier days, not any more though. As I had written earlier that in olden days, near about 90 to 95 per cent farmers of the nation used to have their own cattle, which provided them with milk, cow dung and help for ploughing the fields. However small or poor a farmer may be, they always had the least of two bulls and a cow to take care of all the field work and provide milk for the whole family to remain healthy. In the present days, if one will visit villages, one will realize that hardly 10 or even less percentage of farmers possess cattle.

Times have changed and so did the modern inventions and with times, tractors took place of the cattle, which required continuous care and attention. The arrival of modern inventions in agriculture surely has benefitted the bigger and rich farmers, who immediately shifted to mechanisation to get the field job done faster and with less labour. But the side effect cannot be ignored. The arrival of tractor made every farmer to get rid of their cattle and get used to the machine, this way, they either had to take loan to buy the tractors or else paid a particular rent to use the tractor of the rich farmers... so the poor farmers started filling the coffers of the rich without realizing that they were increasing their investment and reducing their margin of profits. On the other hand, it also made majority of farmers lazy as hard labour and love was needed to take care of cattle apart from trapping themselves into the debt circle.

The MNCs manufacturing tractors provided loans to sell their machines, thereby trapping the poor farmers in the vicious circle of debt. In the olden times, a farmer used to think a million times before taking a loan as little as Rs.1000 /- from the moneylenders by either putting their cattle or land as collateral. I have interacted with many farmers in various villages and those who possess good cattle, say, ‘Nowadays no one wants to tend the cattle because it requires a lot of labour and care from morning to evening, though it is very satisfying to have good cattle in-house. Milk, cow dung and field work, all in all, every farmer should have their own cattle because of its benefits. But tractors surely have spoilt majority of farmers from working hard in the last two to three decades. Farmers don’t realize what they have lost by not having cattle but times are changing and everyone is interested to reap more with less labour.’

The reality has been overlooked by many in the agriculture sector for the downfall of farmers’ output (profit margin) in the name of rapid growth and mechanisation. While the rich MNCs were earning profits and filling their coffers, poor farmers were being trapped in debt circle to increase their miseries multi-folds. A tractor will only plough the field but good cattle provides milk for the family, cow dung that are used as manures as well as to cook food by making cow dung cakes (upale) while ploughing the fields and pull the bullock cart (a trademark of every farmer in earlier days); and decreasing the initial investment. Good cattle also increase the financial aspect of a farmer whenever the cow gives birth to a calf. All these factors have been long forgotten by Indian farmers, who are blinded today with modern lives. Rapid development in the right direction should help the farmers and not push them towards the situation where in they commit suicide. The simple solution has been overlooked by many who are working in this field to help the farmers have increased the miseries of the community.

It is indeed interesting to see what the farmers have lost (once their strengths) in the name of rapid development that has increased their woes. The point is who do we blame – The policy makers, the rich MNCs or else the farmers? I would still recommend every farmer to have good cattle to sustain a balancing life with nature to get the maximum benefits!

... to be continued...

THE KILLING FIELDS PM MANMOHAN SINGH HAS CREATED

(The poem was inspired by the 28th Feb 2011

killings of innocent poor villagers by police in 

Kakarapalli, Andhra Pradesh )

है ये दास्तान मेरे हिंदुस्तान की

जहाँ गरीबों को रोज रौंदा जा रहा

गोलियों का शिकार बनाया जा रहा है 

हर लाश की कीमत लगायी जा रही है

सब हमारे प्रधान मंत्री के कहने पर

एक नया इतिहास रचा जा रहा है

Indian Shining का नारा लगाया जा रहा है 

हकीकत बयान कर रही है मगर एक सच की

जहाँ चंद अमीरजादे और अमीर बन जाये

उसके लिए सरकार गरीबों की बलि चढ़ा रही है 

छोटे-छोटे गाँवों में, आदिवासी इलाकों में

रोज सरे आम सरकारी कत्लेआम हो रहा है

Police तो बनायीं गयी थी अवाम की रक्षा के लिए

पर यहाँ तो ये बन बैठें है सरकारी दरिन्दे

गरीबों पर अत्याचार कोई नयी बात नहीं

ये तो रोज गरीबों का शिकार करते हैं सरकार के कहने पर

है ये दास्तान मेरे हिंदुस्तान की

जहाँ गरीबों को रोज रौंदा जा रहा

कौन रोकेगा इस नरसंहार को?

कब तक यूँ ही गरीबों का बलि चढ़ेगा?

कब तक भारतवासी यूँ ही मुख्बदिरों की तरह चुप रहेंगे?

क्यों विश्व के ठेकेदार UNO ये तमाशा चुपचाप देख रही है?

कब भारत के प्रधान मंत्री अपना नरसंहार बंद करेगा?

ये है दुखद दयनीय दास्तान मेरे हिंदुस्तान की...

--- स्वरचित ---  

LIFE GOES ON AS IF NOTHING HAS HAPPENED...

We wake up only for a while and then go on to the SLEEP MODE

26/11 happened, one day candles burned and then all is forgotten...

Life continues as if nothing has happened...

Ask the people who lost someone dear

Life has changed for them completely though!

Crores and crores are being looted in front of the whole nation...

We talk and discuss for a day shouting aloud

Life goes on as if nothing has happened...

Ask those who are living in hunger and poverty

How do they manage to survive just another day!

Hundreds of poor are dying daily in the nation,

We say oh...so sad as if we are really concerned

The next day, life goes on as if nothing has happened...

Ask those how they are struggling day in and day out

To feed their small-small children by staying hungry!

Only when the rich are affected, everyone wakes up

Discussion will go in length and genuine concern reflected

Government will come in action almost immediately...

Ministers will be sacked and action is immediate

The media will shout aloud on and on....

Remember how Rahul Gandhi visited Mumbai...

CM Ashok Chavan turned Mumbai into a fortress

Just to release SRK’s MY NAME IS KHAN?

While in Tembhali village, a remote village in Maharastra

Tribal villagers are surviving hunger eating tamarind leaves

Oh, we discussed at great length about SRK’s film

On and on... for days, months and even now...

Ask any Indian about Tembhali (one such village),

Getting electricity after 63 years of freedom...

Many will say they haven’t even heard about the village

Yes, few may say they have heard because,

The first UID was given to poor tribal villagers by PM

But are we surprised that villages haven’t seen electricity

In the last six and half decades of Independence

UID or electricity and drinking water are more important for living?

Many haven’t even heard about Bundelkhand

Where farmers had to sell their wives to feed their children

Many will never even want to know too

Those who know are silent because it is too inhuman to talk

Ask those farmers who had no option to be pushed to such an extent...

There are many such realities of our nation

To which we all have shut our eyes and conscience

Poor farmers are dying cultivating food for the nation

While the nation purposely allow food grains to rot in open

Ask those who haven’t seen what is wheat or proper food in ages

Life goes on as if nothing has happened...

Everyone will quote the cliché and then forget

Till the next calamity befall on us to teach us a lesson

With so much suffering in the world all around

The point is, DO WE REALLY CARE GENUINELY?

Johnny D

24^th February 2011 

SOME ANGELS FLY IN FROM NOWHERE

I have been longing to write this post since a long time but somehow never got down to it... today, finally I am in the mood to write about some angels, who flew in from nowhere. As I have often said angels are visibly invisible in this modern world... you see them every day but cannot say which one is angel and which one is not...

Vatsa from Bangalore happens to be one of my seniors at KV Manauri Allahabad... many-many years later we got connected by the common thread called DESTINY! Vatsa’s batch were searching for their class teacher Madam Manjulata Saxena and I managed to become the medium for them to connect with her because she was also my class teacher... now, all these years we don’t even know we existed in our two different worlds...

Mails exchanged on Facebook and telephone conversation connected us as if we knew each other since years... and reliving the beautiful days of KV Manauri’s school life surely bonded us together in such a strong thread that I wonder how this angel flew in from almost nowhere. Strange are the ways of destiny and I am a great believer!

He came to know about the movement and said – “Johnny kuch karna hai ab toh...” (Johnny something is to be done now...)... I welcomed him and he shared everything about the movement with his batch mates (Shephalika Misra Sharma, Chandra Shekhar Kapri, K.A. Mahavir and Taposh Das) recently when they met in Delhi... I really don’t know their connections with me or the movement, but they have all agreed to be part of the movement in their own ways... one angel will pull so many angels... I simply thank Sai Baba for sending all of them from nowhere...

During a recent visit to Nagpur (on the way to Delhi) Vatsa gave a bundle saying – ‘I really didn’t know what I should contribute for the movement but this is a small contribution from my family and me.’ I was touched when I opened the packet at home... right now I will not disclose what Vatsa’s valuable contribution is, because at the right time, I shall share with one and all in coming months for sure! It was a brief meeting but it will last with me forever...

Days later, I received a mail from Shephalika Misra Sharma and her kind support and encouragement to spread awareness about the movement among her circle and the assurance that I am not alone any more... well, words are indeed not sufficient to write about such a passionate caring angel...who once again flew in from nowhere... the other three visibly invisible angels have not interacted with me so far... but I know we all have come together as destiny wants us to unite for the challenging work ahead!

Apart from these five angels, one angel from Pune flew in with her valuable contribution, sending a bunch of magazines for the envelope unit... Asmita Khedkar, an IT professional had read about the old magazine thing somewhere (not in blog) and the effort to contribute showed that she cares to be part of the movement... and truly, that is so beautiful!

The committed beautiful angel Parull Gossain from Bombay as usual keeps sending bunch of magazines on a regular basis... something that is truly-truly amazing! Through this post I wish to thank all of these beautiful angels, who have shown that all it takes is a small step of caring for the poor farmers and their families of the nation. After all, farmers are our anndata (one who provides food) and without them, would we even survive for a single day? Think about it please!!!

HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO WAIT PATIENTLY

“Shraddha aur Shaburi” (Faith & Patience) is what Sai Baba always told His devotees to maintain... while most of us have great faith in Him, sadly though in this high stressed life, we tend to lose patience and hence all the miseries follow. When I started my journey in the unchartered territory, I had many plans and must confess, I had perceived many things even before they were implemented on ground. That was my greatest mistake because the ground realities were completely different from what I had perceived... it also taught me that I should not be in a hurry to get results and that it is patience and perseverance which will see things to happen in due course of time.

Today, when I look back I realize that only patience and perseverance will see me through in this journey... while I was building up my base interacting with various people in Vidarbha, I realized that the complexities of the farmers’ suicide issue is far more complicated than what we all read in newspapers. However, while doing research, meeting widows in villages and interacting with farmers in villages... all have been fruitful in many aspects and they have taught me a great deal about the real problems of the poor farmers of the nation.

Implementation of small-small units for widows surely needs a lot of funds to start up and without getting the Trust register things will not be possible at all... since August 2010, I have been running around to get the Trust registered and finally on 20th December 2010, I managed to submit the Trust papers... the first date for an interview with the Assistant Commissioner is set in March... I really don’t know how many more months will see the Trust being registered... I have no option my citizen of the world but to wait patiently for the Trust registration to get over... once the Trust is registered, the fund raising process will start and only then the unit will be established. These are the ground realities of my movement that I had not seen coming when I started...

I really don’t wish to give false hopes to the poor families by only talking to them and do nothing... and at the same time, I want everyone in the urban cities to please note that things will roll slowly and steadily in the right process and systematic ways... yes, for every small unit, the Trust will need a good amount of money so that widows are paid properly for their hard work and thereby continue to establish their respective units in a profit making unit to enjoy the fruits of their hard labour. I am here for life as my destiny wants... so the journey is currently in a standstill process... yes, I have the patience to wait for things to happen accordingly because I or one must say, no human can force his / her ways against destiny...

I know there are as many as 60 plus countries following the movement and wondering and hoping for miracles to happen... and to happen real fast... I am sorry to say to dear citizen of the world, I am here in Vidarbha to help the poor suicide farmers’ families in a way where they will become self-reliant to lead a life that they are wishing in their dreams and thoughts... we all need to support them to achieve that and fulfil their dreams into reality.

Meanwhile, the long wait is surely testing how much patience I have for this work... I have full faith in my Sai Baba and certainly patience will see me through the tough times... Sai Baba blesses you all!

सोने की चिड़िया भारत

सोने की चिड़िया भारत 

बरसो से है सोता आया, बरसो और सोते रहेंगे

पहले लूट ले गए अंग्रेज़ खज़ाना सारा हमारा

अब तो लूट रहे हैं मंत्री प्रधान मंत्री के सहारा

पर हमें तो सदियों से सोने की आदत जो है...

सोते रहेंगे जब तक लूट ना जाये इज्ज़त हमारा

बरसो से है सोता आया, बरसो और सोते रहेंगे...

ये है भारत देश हमारा... (दुखी होकर)

काला धन में अवल नंबर है दुनिया में हमारा

मंत्रियों तो अरबपति है हमारे देश का सारा

गरीब दो वक़्त की रोटी ना खाए तो क्या हुआ

बरसो से है सोता आया, बरसो और सोते रहेंगे...

ये है भारत देश हमारा... (दुखी होकर)

खेतियों में ज़हर डलवा रहे है सरकार हमारा

ताकि किसान आत्महत्या कर सके सारा

सड़ जायें करोड़ों का अनाज हर साल तो क्या

बरसो से है सोता आया, बरसो और सोते रहेंगे...

ये है भारत देश हमारा... (दुखी होकर)

लूट कर करूड़ों भी, जी नहीं भरा इन मंत्रियों का

आज एक-एक करके जेल जा रहा है साला

शर्म नहीं है तभी तो बेच रहे हैं हिंदुस्तान सारा

बरसो से है सोता आया, बरसो और सोते रहेंगे...

ये है भारत देश हमारा... (दुखी होकर)

गाँव में आदिवासी जी रहे है इमली के पत्ते खाकर (Tembhali , Maharastra )

बुंदेलखंड में किसान पत्नियों को बेच्च कर पाल रहे हैं बच्चे

प्रधान मंत्री उन्हें दे रहे है UID का कार्ड अपने भूख मारने के लिए

ये कैसा है भारत देश हमारा... (दुखी होकर)

बरसो से है सोता आया, बरसो और सोते रहेंगे

पहले लूट ले गए अंग्रेज़ खज़ाना सारा हमारा

अब तो लूट रहे हैं मंत्री प्रधान मंत्री के सहारा

ये कैसा है भारत देश हमारा... (दुखी होकर)

ये कैसा है भारत देश हमारा... (दुखी होकर)

ये कैसा है भारत देश हमारा... (दुखी होकर)

--- स्वरचित --- 

IS THERE REALLY A SHORTAGE OF FOOD IN THE WORLD? THINK AGAIN...

Is there really a shortage of food in the world? THINK AGAIN...

6.5 Billion Population of the World

11.5 Billion can eat comfortably the food the world is producing.

Yet, 1 Billion Plus people live in Hunger

WHAT THE FARMERS NEED (15th Feb 2011)

ORGANIC MANURE & PESTICIDES:

“Farmers in developed countries are now more aware and are switching over to organic manures resulting in more than 10 per cent drop in chemical fertilizer production. On the contrary, we in India are ignoring the benefits of organic fertilizers and importing huge quantities of chemical fertilizers,” says Prof. D. Narahari, former Head, Poultry Science, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai.

I have been interacting with some like-minded people all across the globe and each one of them say that their country is seeing a drastic change in dietary habit, because most of them are now aware about the ills of consuming GM Crops and have switched as much as possible to buy Organic produce to be on the safe side... it is also common sense that the West, which has been promoting GM Crops since decades have the maximum number of psychotic disorder cases as compared to the Eastern countries, who have been practicing Organic Farming since ages... dumping the poisonous chemicals fertilizers & pesticides for its GM Crops, the West has in fact, not only affected the fertility of soil but also are killing people softly through various illness in almost all the countries... obviously all these GM Crops & poisonous chemical fertilizers &  pesticides are helping the Pharmaceutical industry to grow at such a rapid pace. Haiti was a great example when they refused Monsato’s GM Food Grains offer as aid and burned whatever was supplied... the country had the guts one must say to do such a thing when they had suffered the worst tragedy in decades... Hats off to every Haitian and especially their government to show to the world, how dangerous the GM Crops are in reality!

Brazil is another latest example of how a country can fight back the GM lobby to switch over to Organic Farming to increase food grains production of the nation. Even in France, the limitation of Organic Farming is seeing a gradual growth among consumers, who are ready to shell out more money to buy Organic produce... In UK, the citizen have realized that GM Crops are the main source of all the nervous disorders and hence the slow but steady shift to Organic Farming in taking place in most of the countryside counties, so I was told by my friends from the Island nation.

A very simple test can be made by anyone who is reading this post: When you cook food, use the desi (organic produced) tomatoes instead of the Hybrid Tomato and one can see the difference. Similarly, Organic grown cucumber is much tastier than the Hybrid and yes, Organic grown Celery, Parsley, Lettuce, Broccoli, Red Cabbage, Red Raddish or any English vegetables have more value and sell at higher prices in India... sadly though, the government of India has been promoting GM Crops and teaching the farmers to use more and more chemical fertilizers & pesticides to grow more so that more Indians are affected. I used to run a hi-end vegetable supermarket in Hyderabad by the name TARKARI (in Banjara Hills Road No:1) and we had a lovely supplier of English vegetables, all grown in their Organic Farm... Maru Farm was famous in Secunderabad & Hyderabad for Organic English Vegetables.

Earlier, every farmer used to have cattle, which were used to plough fields, provide them milk and of course, cow dung... the main source for Organic manure... in olden days, 90 per cent of farmers used to have cattle as compared to today’s modern days, where in tractors have taken over from the cattle, resulting in only 10 per cent of farmers owning cattle. While a lot of noise is made about the modernisation of agriculture and development, sadly, the state of agriculture is in deterioration, going from bad to worse... soil fertility have been affected so much with the use of chemical fertilizers that even if the farmers who dare to go back to start Organic Farming, it takes almost three to five years for the soil to regain its fertility. Poor marginal farmers have no choice but to continue with chemical farming as they cannot afford to sustain for three to five year time period.

Organic Farming reduces the initial investment of the farmers many folds because the manure is free and the pesticides are prepared from Neem leaves and seeds, which also is free of cost for the farmers and the produce, needless to say are healthy and better as compared to GM produce. While there are many initiatives in the Vidarbha region where Organic Farming is being done, sadly, the government has not been taking enough initiatives to promote Organic Farming in the region, where farmers’ suicide is rampant.

The farmers have to realize that Organic Farming will only release them from all their sorrows and worries towards a better future... will more and more people propagate Organic Farming to Vidarbha farmers? Time will tell...

.... to be continued...

WHAT THE FARMERS NEED – III (12th Feb 2011)

A GOOD SEED BANK:

After the requirement of an effective irrigation system, the need of a good seed bank is the most mandatory for any farmer of the world. Sadly though ever since GM Crops have taken over the world’s agriculture system... a good seed bank is the story of the past... for which the local government and the farmers are equally to be blamed.

In the not so-olden days, every farmer used to create his own seed bank, saving from the crops produced every year... this way, the farmer used to save his money buying seeds from the market. The process was simple and not so complicated... mostly, it was the duty of the farmers’ wives to do the saving of the seeds to create seed bank... seeds are dried and stored in mud pots with Neem leaves and then it is covered by applying cow dung to seal the pots. The pots are then put at attic till next sowing season arrives... this simple process is long forgotten now in villages, except a few, who still do it. This was a perfect way for farmers to have the best seeds from their own produce and free of cost.

With the advent of GM Crops making its way to every household and shops in today’s modern times, the farmers have found an easy way to save themselves from all the hassles of creating their own seed bank. While they are shelling out unnecessary money, from their savings, to buy seeds each year... the farmers forget that they are thereby increasing their initial investment while filling the pockets of the seeds producing companies. Of course, with more GM crops making it presence in each country through their patent and rights through local governments, the policy has gone against the poor farmers, who have no choice but to buy seeds at higher rates each year. This adds up to their initial investment, a loss which they can avoid by creating their own seed bank.

The politicians - seeds producing companies - market nexus plays a more cruel game of shortage of seeds during the sowing season to raise the prices of the seeds... each year, the story is the same and the government quietly overlooks this mal-practice because the lobby pays them well... the poor farmers have no choice but to succumb to the market. GM Crops have snatched every little joy from farmers’ plates by promising them of higher yield but what they don’t tell or teach the farmers is that every GM seeds need heavy use of poisonous chemical fertilizers and pesticides to control the weeds and provide a higher yield. The heavy use of these chemicals are in turn hazardous for the crops and fertile land as it kills the fertility of the soil, requires more water and with more weeds, need more labour... all in all, a losing proposition for farmers as it increases the initial investment... and when the produce is ready, the market plays truant to buy farmers’ yield at lower rates... so but obvious, the initial investment doesn’t match the income generated...

Not that these facts are not known to the government planning commission but then farmers are the best income generating flesh and till the last drop is sucked from their bodies... the rich MNCs will not stop their greed and killing of the community, that is making the farmers the fastest depleting species worldwide! The future surely is very dangerous and before it is too late, the local government should start thinking about the age-old farming practices, which provided healthy produce and kept everyone safe from the mass genocide... do we really care or realize about the intake of poisonous food grains each one of us is consuming today???

... to be continued...