Farmers facing shortage of DAP fertilizer stage demonstration

Farmers facing shortage of DAP fertilizer stage demonstration

Farmers all over the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) are suffering from the crisis of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer shortage. It is wheat sowing time and most of the poor farmers have not received even a sack (50 kg) of DAP from the government fertilizer distribution centres. These farmers have been staging a demonstration since 17 November 2009 demanding DAP fertilizer, said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and member, National Presidium, Lok Rajniti Manch.

Last week sugarcane price issue was highlighted by political parties at the national level and they even forced the central government to backtrack.

"The issue of sugarcane price, no doubt quite important, concerns mostly big farmers. However, wheat is sown by all, including large number of poor and marginalized farmers. If the farmers will not get DAP we can expect a poor wheat crop and impending food shortage" said SR Darapuri, Vice President of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) UP.

In addition the farmers are also facing a seed shortage. They are also harassed by the revenue department officials who charge money for using water from the canals without actually supplying them any water.

"On 25th November, 2009, the farmers who have not received any DAP so far will be organizing a protest at the Bharawan (Block) fertilizer distribution centre in Hardoi District in UP state. A dharna has been going on here since 17th November, 2009" informed Rambabu, social activist with National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and Asha Parivar.

Farmers facing shortage of DAP fertilizer stage demonstration

Farmers facing shortage of DAP fertilizer stage demonstration

Farmers all over the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) are suffering from the crisis of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer shortage. It is wheat sowing time and most of the poor farmers have not received even a sack (50 kg) of DAP from the government fertilizer distribution centres. These farmers have been staging a demonstration since 17 November 2009 demanding DAP fertilizer, said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and member, National Presidium, Lok Rajniti Manch.

Last week sugarcane price issue was highlighted by political parties at the national level and they even forced the central government to backtrack.

"The issue of sugarcane price, no doubt quite important, concerns mostly big farmers. However, wheat is sown by all, including large number of poor and marginalized farmers. If the farmers will not get DAP we can expect a poor wheat crop and impending food shortage" said SR Darapuri, Vice President of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) UP.

In addition the farmers are also facing a seed shortage. They are also harassed by the revenue department officials who charge money for using water from the canals without actually supplying them any water.

"On 25th November, 2009, the farmers who have not received any DAP so far will be organizing a protest at the Bharawan (Block) fertilizer distribution centre in Hardoi District in UP state. A dharna has been going on here since 17th November, 2009" informed Rambabu, social activist with National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and Asha Parivar.

Improved relationship between farmers and mill-owners can boost sugar output

Improved relationship between farmers and mill-owners can boost sugar output
Alka Pande

THE crisis of sugarcane in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, in the current season, has forced the sugar mills as well as the government authorities to contemplate on ways and measures for enhancing the production of sugarcane crop as well as sugar, in the state.

All stake holders including the farmers, sugar mill owners and the government are united on two major issues - improving the relationship between the farmers and the sugar mills besides timely announcement and payment of sugarcane price by government and sugar mills, respectively.

The discussions had been on for long in the state that the government should announce the State Advisory Price (SAP) before the sowing of the crop so that to encourage the farmers to take to sugarcane cultivation. However, the state – which is known to have the largest sugarcane growing area in India - has the tradition of announcing the SAP just before the crushing season.

"Now the government needs to review how this tradition can be changed," admits the Uttar Pradesh Cane Commissioner Sudhir M Bobde. Highlighting the need for correct pricing by the government and timely payment by the mills, Bobde also points out the need for the government to strike a balance between the sugarcane farmers and mills. He even mentions the shortcomings in the slip system being followed by the sugar mills for payment to farmers and also raises the issue of inappropriate weighing of the farmers’ produce by the sugar mills, besides unnecessary waiting caused to farmers, which reduces the sugar recovery from the sugarcane.

This was perhaps for the first time any government official raised such sensitive issues on a public platform. Bobde was speaking at a seminar "Sugar Tech 2009: Shorter Seasons in Sugar Industry – Opportunities & Challenges." The event was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) UP State Council in association with National Sugar Institute, Kanpur and Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. The seminar aimed at reviewing the substantial fall in the production of sugar in the state, besides assessing the challenges and opportunities in order to arrive at a meaningful solution to benefit the farmers, industry and the Government alike.

The Cane Commissioner was of the opinion that the government is required to make a long-term roadmap for sugar industry in the state as it is not sugar production alone which gets affected due to lack of proper policies, the industry also affects alcohol industry, which is a major revenue generation sector for the state government.

Bobde pointed out that increase of sugar price leads to a price hike for molasses that is used for making alcohol, which consequently increases the duty on alcohol and thereby reduces its price competency in the alcohol market of the country.

For records, the area for sugarcane has decreased by 16.48 percent in last one year and this year the availability of sugarcane is expected to be around 98 million tonnes of which 40 to 42 percent is feared to go to Khandsari and Jaggery units. The drawl for the sugar mills is estimated to be around 45 percent. The challenge before the government is to increase this drawl. Besides, the stake holders are also united on the issue of shrinking crushing season in the state. Crushing season – which used to be of 150 to 180 days – is now reduced to merely 90 – 120 days for two consecutive years.

On the occasion the government and the sugar mill owners raised their concern over sugarcane diversion to Khandsari and jaggery units. Director, National Sugar Institute, Government of India, SK Mitra advocated that the diversion of cane for jaggery and khandsari units should be discouraged. He said that recovery was another factor, which can increase the sugar production by at least 0.5% at all India level.

The Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh Atul Kumar Gupta who was also present at the seminar said that the installed capacity of sugar had though gone up this year, the production had gone down by nearly 11 percent. He cited various reasons for the same which included higher prices of competing crop, non-payment or delayed payment, litigation cases and better prices of ‘gur’ and ‘khandsari’. He advised that the mills should have a long-term relationship with the farmers whose interest was of primary importance, hence a loyalty bonus system or fixed cane price for two years could be introduced.

On the occasion, Jayant Krishna,the Vice Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) UP State Council presented a UP Sugar Vision 2015, which was based on the day-long deliberations. The salient features of this Sugar Vision 2015 included --:

* Sugarcane farmers and sugar mills should pursue a long-term win-win partnership and operate on a platform of mutual trust by 2015.

* The farmers of Uttar Pradesh should adopt better seed varieties and farm practices while the sugar units should embrace technological innovations to ensure a 10-15 percent increase in recovery by 2015.

* All major producers should become integrated players with at least 10,000 tonnes of daily crushing units along with alcohol production and co-generation of electricity by 2015

* Uttar Pradesh should become a significant player in global sugar market by 2015.

* Uttar Pradesh should account for two-thirds of the national sugar production by 2015.

Alka Pande
(The author is a senior journalist)

Published in:
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India
Thai-Indian News, Thailand
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
The Colombo Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Northern Voice Online
Word News Network, USA
Orissadiary.com, Orissa, India
Elites TV News, USA
Bihar and Jharkhand News, Bihar And Jharkhand, India
Connect.in.com
Agriculture Industry Today
Sugar Industry News
Newschurner

Improved relationship between farmers and mill-owners can boost sugar output

Improved relationship between farmers and mill-owners can boost sugar output
Alka Pande

THE crisis of sugarcane in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, in the current season, has forced the sugar mills as well as the government authorities to contemplate on ways and measures for enhancing the production of sugarcane crop as well as sugar, in the state.

All stake holders including the farmers, sugar mill owners and the government are united on two major issues - improving the relationship between the farmers and the sugar mills besides timely announcement and payment of sugarcane price by government and sugar mills, respectively.

The discussions had been on for long in the state that the government should announce the State Advisory Price (SAP) before the sowing of the crop so that to encourage the farmers to take to sugarcane cultivation. However, the state – which is known to have the largest sugarcane growing area in India - has the tradition of announcing the SAP just before the crushing season.

"Now the government needs to review how this tradition can be changed," admits the Uttar Pradesh Cane Commissioner Sudhir M Bobde. Highlighting the need for correct pricing by the government and timely payment by the mills, Bobde also points out the need for the government to strike a balance between the sugarcane farmers and mills. He even mentions the shortcomings in the slip system being followed by the sugar mills for payment to farmers and also raises the issue of inappropriate weighing of the farmers’ produce by the sugar mills, besides unnecessary waiting caused to farmers, which reduces the sugar recovery from the sugarcane.

This was perhaps for the first time any government official raised such sensitive issues on a public platform. Bobde was speaking at a seminar "Sugar Tech 2009: Shorter Seasons in Sugar Industry – Opportunities & Challenges." The event was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) UP State Council in association with National Sugar Institute, Kanpur and Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. The seminar aimed at reviewing the substantial fall in the production of sugar in the state, besides assessing the challenges and opportunities in order to arrive at a meaningful solution to benefit the farmers, industry and the Government alike.

The Cane Commissioner was of the opinion that the government is required to make a long-term roadmap for sugar industry in the state as it is not sugar production alone which gets affected due to lack of proper policies, the industry also affects alcohol industry, which is a major revenue generation sector for the state government.

Bobde pointed out that increase of sugar price leads to a price hike for molasses that is used for making alcohol, which consequently increases the duty on alcohol and thereby reduces its price competency in the alcohol market of the country.

For records, the area for sugarcane has decreased by 16.48 percent in last one year and this year the availability of sugarcane is expected to be around 98 million tonnes of which 40 to 42 percent is feared to go to Khandsari and Jaggery units. The drawl for the sugar mills is estimated to be around 45 percent. The challenge before the government is to increase this drawl. Besides, the stake holders are also united on the issue of shrinking crushing season in the state. Crushing season – which used to be of 150 to 180 days – is now reduced to merely 90 – 120 days for two consecutive years.

On the occasion the government and the sugar mill owners raised their concern over sugarcane diversion to Khandsari and jaggery units. Director, National Sugar Institute, Government of India, SK Mitra advocated that the diversion of cane for jaggery and khandsari units should be discouraged. He said that recovery was another factor, which can increase the sugar production by at least 0.5% at all India level.

The Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh Atul Kumar Gupta who was also present at the seminar said that the installed capacity of sugar had though gone up this year, the production had gone down by nearly 11 percent. He cited various reasons for the same which included higher prices of competing crop, non-payment or delayed payment, litigation cases and better prices of ‘gur’ and ‘khandsari’. He advised that the mills should have a long-term relationship with the farmers whose interest was of primary importance, hence a loyalty bonus system or fixed cane price for two years could be introduced.

On the occasion, Jayant Krishna,the Vice Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) UP State Council presented a UP Sugar Vision 2015, which was based on the day-long deliberations. The salient features of this Sugar Vision 2015 included --:

* Sugarcane farmers and sugar mills should pursue a long-term win-win partnership and operate on a platform of mutual trust by 2015.

* The farmers of Uttar Pradesh should adopt better seed varieties and farm practices while the sugar units should embrace technological innovations to ensure a 10-15 percent increase in recovery by 2015.

* All major producers should become integrated players with at least 10,000 tonnes of daily crushing units along with alcohol production and co-generation of electricity by 2015

* Uttar Pradesh should become a significant player in global sugar market by 2015.

* Uttar Pradesh should account for two-thirds of the national sugar production by 2015.

Alka Pande
(The author is a senior journalist)

Published in:
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India
Thai-Indian News, Thailand
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
The Colombo Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Northern Voice Online
Word News Network, USA
Orissadiary.com, Orissa, India
Elites TV News, USA
Bihar and Jharkhand News, Bihar And Jharkhand, India
Connect.in.com
Agriculture Industry Today
Sugar Industry News
Newschurner

Two days National Convention on RTI and NREGA concludes

Two days National Convention on RTI and NREGA concludes

The two days convention on the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), being held under the aegis of National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) and National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI), concluded at Gandhi Bhawan, Lucknow on 10 September 2009. The convention was attended by about 400 people, from UP to Kerala, who projected their problems and solutions.

The first session was chaired by former Justice Mr Kamleshwar Nath, Mr SN Shukla (retd IAS), Mr IC Dwivedi, Mr Rakesh Mittal (retd IAS) and Mr SC Verma. Various problems encountered at the level of implementation of the RTI were highlighted in the presence of social activists Ms Aruna Roy and Mr Nikhil De. On the whole, it came out that the mind set of not giving the information is the biggest problem. It is clear that unless the information providers like Public Information Officers (PIOs), First Appeal Authorities and information commissioners’ work with the proper mind-set, the people will not get the relief they want.

In the second session, the focus was on NREGA. The rural development commissioner Mr Manoj Kumar Singh, listened to the views of the labourers, social and political activists. Some of the major problems projected were: non-preparation of job cards, non-acceptance of applications for work, not getting 100 days work, non–abolition of contract system, taking out wages for fictitious work days, charging money forcibly after it is withdrawn from the bank account, improper social audit, persecution and assaulting the workers (or social activists for instance). Ms Aruna Roy suggested that every month a two day open session, at the state level, should be arranged between the workers, the concerned minister and officers for listening to the complaints and suggestions from the workers, and act upon these too. Mr Manoj Kumar Singh, rural development commissioner, welcomed the suggestion for providing 70-80 days of work to every labour family.

SR Darapuri (9415164845), Urvashi Sharma, Sandeep Pandey, Arundhati Dhuru

Two days National Convention on RTI and NREGA concludes

Two days National Convention on RTI and NREGA concludes

The two days convention on the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), being held under the aegis of National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) and National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI), concluded at Gandhi Bhawan, Lucknow on 10 September 2009. The convention was attended by about 400 people, from UP to Kerala, who projected their problems and solutions.

The first session was chaired by former Justice Mr Kamleshwar Nath, Mr SN Shukla (retd IAS), Mr IC Dwivedi, Mr Rakesh Mittal (retd IAS) and Mr SC Verma. Various problems encountered at the level of implementation of the RTI were highlighted in the presence of social activists Ms Aruna Roy and Mr Nikhil De. On the whole, it came out that the mind set of not giving the information is the biggest problem. It is clear that unless the information providers like Public Information Officers (PIOs), First Appeal Authorities and information commissioners’ work with the proper mind-set, the people will not get the relief they want.

In the second session, the focus was on NREGA. The rural development commissioner Mr Manoj Kumar Singh, listened to the views of the labourers, social and political activists. Some of the major problems projected were: non-preparation of job cards, non-acceptance of applications for work, not getting 100 days work, non–abolition of contract system, taking out wages for fictitious work days, charging money forcibly after it is withdrawn from the bank account, improper social audit, persecution and assaulting the workers (or social activists for instance). Ms Aruna Roy suggested that every month a two day open session, at the state level, should be arranged between the workers, the concerned minister and officers for listening to the complaints and suggestions from the workers, and act upon these too. Mr Manoj Kumar Singh, rural development commissioner, welcomed the suggestion for providing 70-80 days of work to every labour family.

SR Darapuri (9415164845), Urvashi Sharma, Sandeep Pandey, Arundhati Dhuru

Agriculture extension systems should be strengthened in India

Agriculture extension systems should be strengthened in India

The arrangements for agricultural extension in India have grown, over the last five decades, in terms of activities, organizational types and available manpower. However, public investments in agriculture, (investments in irrigation, rural roads, rural electrification, storage, marketing, agricultural research and education, land development, co-operation etc) in real terms have been declining consistently in all the states since the mid seventies.

In this context, Dr. Shiraj A Wajih, Senior Environmentalist and President, Gorakhpur Environment Action Group, GEAG, says,"The agriculture scenario is undergoing rapid changes and having the right information at the right time can make a huge difference to farmers' incomes. Farmers need information from different sources and often need help to integrate them. So the success of a farmer, in the years to come, is going to be primarily dependent upon his level of knowledge.

Advice and assistance to farmers to help them improve their methods of production and marketing is conventionally called agricultural extension. Historically, it has often been seen only in terms of increasing agricultural output. However, extension is a part of overall effort to achieve a balance between the productive and the social, environmental, and economic development of rural areas.

The basic objective of the agricultural extension system is dissemination of useful and practical information relating to agricultural activities focused mostly on improved seeds, fertilizers, farm implements, pesticides, poultry, livestock, etc. ; expert advice to farmers on cropping practices, innovation technology dissemination, crop protection from pests and diseases, market trends and prices of various crops in the markets and also dissemination of information about occupational health facilities, risk covers and provisions of crop and personal insurance."

He further said, "The major constraints of the public extension system in Uttar Pradesh are--(i) the public extension services are not need based but supply driven, (ii) there is no clear policy or practice of involving women in the extension system, (iv)lack of skills and knowledge in village level extension worker, (v) low level of involvement of small and marginal farmers in technology development and dissemination process. Thus most extension services have a curative rather than a problem solving approach.''

Small and marginal farmers and women farmers, who constitute a major part of the farming community and are the main contributors to food production, are both entrepreneurs and clients. They cannot be ignored in the extension mechanisms. Extension services have to provide space for the articulation of needs and knowledge development. Extension services should be problem solving devices, rather than be a supply-driven mechanism. They will succeed only if they address the local problems of the farmers. There needs to be a strong linkage between Extension, Need, and Supply in order to fulfill the genuine demands of the farmers.

The alternate extension system initiated by GEAG stands as a successful working model today. This model ,at household and village level, shows that poor people can actually achieve food sufficiency on their own. They can create control over agricultural inputs and escape the negative effects of the so-called free market. They can link through their groups to obtain substantial amounts of bank credit, where the groups ensure repayment and create an enduring credit-worthiness. This has benefitted all, especially the poor who have little self worth. It has actually resulted in their economic betterment, making them more self reliant.

Amit Dwivedi

(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS). Website: www.citizen-news.org, email: amit@citizen-news.org)

Published in

Agriculture extension systems should be strengthened in India

Agriculture extension systems should be strengthened in India

The arrangements for agricultural extension in India have grown, over the last five decades, in terms of activities, organizational types and available manpower. However, public investments in agriculture, (investments in irrigation, rural roads, rural electrification, storage, marketing, agricultural research and education, land development, co-operation etc) in real terms have been declining consistently in all the states since the mid seventies.

In this context, Dr. Shiraj A Wajih, Senior Environmentalist and President, Gorakhpur Environment Action Group, GEAG, says,"The agriculture scenario is undergoing rapid changes and having the right information at the right time can make a huge difference to farmers' incomes. Farmers need information from different sources and often need help to integrate them. So the success of a farmer, in the years to come, is going to be primarily dependent upon his level of knowledge.

Advice and assistance to farmers to help them improve their methods of production and marketing is conventionally called agricultural extension. Historically, it has often been seen only in terms of increasing agricultural output. However, extension is a part of overall effort to achieve a balance between the productive and the social, environmental, and economic development of rural areas.

The basic objective of the agricultural extension system is dissemination of useful and practical information relating to agricultural activities focused mostly on improved seeds, fertilizers, farm implements, pesticides, poultry, livestock, etc. ; expert advice to farmers on cropping practices, innovation technology dissemination, crop protection from pests and diseases, market trends and prices of various crops in the markets and also dissemination of information about occupational health facilities, risk covers and provisions of crop and personal insurance."

He further said, "The major constraints of the public extension system in Uttar Pradesh are--(i) the public extension services are not need based but supply driven, (ii) there is no clear policy or practice of involving women in the extension system, (iv)lack of skills and knowledge in village level extension worker, (v) low level of involvement of small and marginal farmers in technology development and dissemination process. Thus most extension services have a curative rather than a problem solving approach.''

Small and marginal farmers and women farmers, who constitute a major part of the farming community and are the main contributors to food production, are both entrepreneurs and clients. They cannot be ignored in the extension mechanisms. Extension services have to provide space for the articulation of needs and knowledge development. Extension services should be problem solving devices, rather than be a supply-driven mechanism. They will succeed only if they address the local problems of the farmers. There needs to be a strong linkage between Extension, Need, and Supply in order to fulfill the genuine demands of the farmers.

The alternate extension system initiated by GEAG stands as a successful working model today. This model ,at household and village level, shows that poor people can actually achieve food sufficiency on their own. They can create control over agricultural inputs and escape the negative effects of the so-called free market. They can link through their groups to obtain substantial amounts of bank credit, where the groups ensure repayment and create an enduring credit-worthiness. This has benefitted all, especially the poor who have little self worth. It has actually resulted in their economic betterment, making them more self reliant.

Amit Dwivedi

(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS). Website: www.citizen-news.org, email: amit@citizen-news.org)

Published in

Farmer Field Schools - a unique way to teach farmers

Farmer Field Schools - a unique way to teach farmers

Farmer Field Schools (FFS) is a unique way to educate farmers and is an effective platform for sharing of experiences and collectively solving agriculture related problems. The first FFS were designed and managed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in Indonesia in 1989. Since then more than two million farmers across Asia have participated in this type of learning. During the 1970s it became increasingly apparent that pest resistance and resurgence caused by the indiscriminate use of insecticides posed an immediate threat to the gains of the Green Revolution. At the same time, new researches demonstrated the viability of biological control of major rice pests.

However, gaps still existed between the science generated in research institutions and common farmer practices, conditioned by years of aggressive promotion of pesticide use. Over the ensuing years, a number of approaches were tried to bring integrated pest management (IPM) to small farmers - particularly rice farmers - in Asia, with mixed results. Some experts claimed that the principles of IPM were too complex for small farmers to master, and that centrally-designed messages were still the only way to convince farmers to change their practices. By the end of the 1980s, a new approach to farmer training emerged in Indonesia called the 'Farmer Field School' (FFS). These field schools were designed basically to address the problem of lack of knowledge among Asian farmers relating to agro ecology, particularly the relationship between insect pests and beneficial insects.

The Farmer Field School brings together concepts and methods from agro ecology, experiential education and community development. These FFS were initiated based on two premises. Firstly, although farming itself is done mainly on individual farms, the rural community plays an essential role in farmer's strategies for survival and development. Farmers like to get together to share information and other forms of mutual support with others whom they trust. Secondly, farmers have a tradition of developing and applying technologies and refining it through experiences. They learn tacitly – learning by doing.

In this regard Dr. Shiraj A Wajih, President of Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group and member of State Agriculture Committee of Uttar Pradesh said, "The FFS approach is built around these two premises. It responds directly to the information needs of the small marginal woman farmers who have been largely neglected in conventional extension systems. The FFS offers farmers the opportunity to learn by sharing, by being involved in experimentation, discussion and decision-making. This strengthens the sense of ownership of rural communities in technological packages and evolving new knowledge and skills."

In the FFS process, village meetings are conducted and a seasonal action plan is prepared at the beginning of the year. A fortnight before the FFS day, problem cards are distributed to the farmers wherein they enter the problems encountered by them in their fields. The problem cards are collected and distributed to the Master Trainers, who are specialists in their fields, for providing remedial solutions to the problem and for identifying appropriate resource persons. Very often, farmers also invite resource persons and experts from agriculture universities, government departments, etc. to provide valuable inputs and remedial solutions to problems. On the FFS day, participants gather at a common place and the session continues for 4-6 hours. Follow-up session of preceding month's FFS day is also conducted. Participants visit demonstration farm site to observe encouraging changes brought on by the application of suggested remedies. The Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group has been running 12 such farmer schools in two blocks of Gorakhpur district since the last five years.

Amit Dwivedi

(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS). Website: www.citizen-news.org, email: amit@citizen-news.org)

Published in
Central Chronicle, Madhya PRadesh and Chhattisgarh
Assam Times, Guwahati, Assam
The Bangladesh Today, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Kerala News, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
The Colombo Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka
News from Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Howrah News Service (HNS), West Bengal
Digg.com
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Bihar Times, Patna, Bihar
Two Circles
Truth Feeds
News Trust, USA
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Thai Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
My News, Delhi
Op-Ed News (OEN), USA
Northern Voices, Chandigarh/ Himachal Pradesh
News Track India, Delhi

Farmer Field Schools - a unique way to teach farmers

Farmer Field Schools - a unique way to teach farmers

Farmer Field Schools (FFS) is a unique way to educate farmers and is an effective platform for sharing of experiences and collectively solving agriculture related problems. The first FFS were designed and managed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in Indonesia in 1989. Since then more than two million farmers across Asia have participated in this type of learning. During the 1970s it became increasingly apparent that pest resistance and resurgence caused by the indiscriminate use of insecticides posed an immediate threat to the gains of the Green Revolution. At the same time, new researches demonstrated the viability of biological control of major rice pests.

However, gaps still existed between the science generated in research institutions and common farmer practices, conditioned by years of aggressive promotion of pesticide use. Over the ensuing years, a number of approaches were tried to bring integrated pest management (IPM) to small farmers - particularly rice farmers - in Asia, with mixed results. Some experts claimed that the principles of IPM were too complex for small farmers to master, and that centrally-designed messages were still the only way to convince farmers to change their practices. By the end of the 1980s, a new approach to farmer training emerged in Indonesia called the 'Farmer Field School' (FFS). These field schools were designed basically to address the problem of lack of knowledge among Asian farmers relating to agro ecology, particularly the relationship between insect pests and beneficial insects.

The Farmer Field School brings together concepts and methods from agro ecology, experiential education and community development. These FFS were initiated based on two premises. Firstly, although farming itself is done mainly on individual farms, the rural community plays an essential role in farmer's strategies for survival and development. Farmers like to get together to share information and other forms of mutual support with others whom they trust. Secondly, farmers have a tradition of developing and applying technologies and refining it through experiences. They learn tacitly – learning by doing.

In this regard Dr. Shiraj A Wajih, President of Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group and member of State Agriculture Committee of Uttar Pradesh said, "The FFS approach is built around these two premises. It responds directly to the information needs of the small marginal woman farmers who have been largely neglected in conventional extension systems. The FFS offers farmers the opportunity to learn by sharing, by being involved in experimentation, discussion and decision-making. This strengthens the sense of ownership of rural communities in technological packages and evolving new knowledge and skills."

In the FFS process, village meetings are conducted and a seasonal action plan is prepared at the beginning of the year. A fortnight before the FFS day, problem cards are distributed to the farmers wherein they enter the problems encountered by them in their fields. The problem cards are collected and distributed to the Master Trainers, who are specialists in their fields, for providing remedial solutions to the problem and for identifying appropriate resource persons. Very often, farmers also invite resource persons and experts from agriculture universities, government departments, etc. to provide valuable inputs and remedial solutions to problems. On the FFS day, participants gather at a common place and the session continues for 4-6 hours. Follow-up session of preceding month's FFS day is also conducted. Participants visit demonstration farm site to observe encouraging changes brought on by the application of suggested remedies. The Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group has been running 12 such farmer schools in two blocks of Gorakhpur district since the last five years.

Amit Dwivedi

(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS). Website: www.citizen-news.org, email: amit@citizen-news.org)

Published in
Central Chronicle, Madhya PRadesh and Chhattisgarh
Assam Times, Guwahati, Assam
The Bangladesh Today, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Kerala News, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
The Colombo Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka
News from Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Howrah News Service (HNS), West Bengal
Digg.com
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Bihar Times, Patna, Bihar
Two Circles
Truth Feeds
News Trust, USA
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Thai Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
My News, Delhi
Op-Ed News (OEN), USA
Northern Voices, Chandigarh/ Himachal Pradesh
News Track India, Delhi

Indian agriculture is bouncing back

Indian agriculture is bouncing back

Agriculture is facing several problems in India. On the one hand natural calamities adversely affect agriculture production ,while on the other hand policy makers make agriculture policies which benefit industries more than agriculture.

According to the National Crime Record Bureau, Government of India, more than 1 lakh 50 thousand farmers committed suicide during the period 1997 to 2005. Two thirds of these belonged to Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. According to Dr. Shiraj A Wajih, President of Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group and member of State Agriculture Committee of Uttar Pradesh said, ''Increasing cost of agricultural production material, climatic changes, chemical farming, poor management of agriculture system, lack of government interest and low market value of agriculture produce-- all these factors tend to worsen the situation for small and marginal farmers."

He further said that suicides by farmers seem to be more common in relatively well-off states where they attempt to move up the value chain by going for risky cash crops, while farmers in poorer states stick to cereal cultivation and are averse to switching over to commercial crops.

In the years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, the government disbursed agricultural loans to the tune of Rs. 225 thousand crores and 280 thousand crores respectively. Thus during this two year period the farmers received 505 thousand crores rupees as loans, the annual interest on which amounts to around 45 thousands crores rupees. This means that the central government is collecting a huge amount of interest from the farmers. Yet it allocates very little budget for the welfare of farmers.

The development of Indian agriculture has always been inextricably linked with effective water-management practices that have been taken up by the state and/or local village communities. Water management has necessitated a certain degree of cooperation and collective spirit in the Indian countryside.

Only a small percentage of Indian farmers have enjoyed the luxury of natural irrigation, although in the past, in certain parts of the country, the soil used to retain enough moisture well beyond the monsoon months. However, it is equally true that the drying up of wells led to mass migrations, and sudden depopulation of old towns and villages.

Dr. Shiraj says, "Sustainable agriculture literacy can alleviate the problem of agriculture in India. We need to educate the farmers. Farmer schools can be a good measure of sustainable agriculture literacy. This school should be run by the community members and local farmers can be the best teachers and trainers of such schools." Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group is currently running 12 farmer schools in two districts of Uttar Pradesh. All these schools have proved to be a unique platform to resolve the problems of agricultural production faced by small and marginal farmers."

Thus there are signs of Indian agriculture bouncing back. It is scripting its own success story in spite of poor productivity, falling water levels, expensive credit, a distorted market, laws that stifle private investment, controlled prices, poor infrastructure, produce that does not meet international standards, inappropriate research, tax evasion by unorganized sector leading to the lack of a level playing field. We need to reshape our ideas and thoughts for the betterment of India's agriculture system only then we can be the food factory of the world.

Amit Dwivedi

(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS). Email: amit@citizen-news.org; Website: www.citizen-news.org)

Published in
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Asian Tribune, Sri Lanka/ Thailand
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Thai Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
The Bangladesh Today, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Bihar Times, Patna, Bihar
Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Truth Feeds
Digg.com
News Trust, USA
Twitter
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
Op-Ed News (OEN), USA
News Track India, Delhi
My News, Delhi
Nhatky News from India, Mohali
Kerala News, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
The Island, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Indian agriculture is bouncing back

Indian agriculture is bouncing back

Agriculture is facing several problems in India. On the one hand natural calamities adversely affect agriculture production ,while on the other hand policy makers make agriculture policies which benefit industries more than agriculture.

According to the National Crime Record Bureau, Government of India, more than 1 lakh 50 thousand farmers committed suicide during the period 1997 to 2005. Two thirds of these belonged to Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. According to Dr. Shiraj A Wajih, President of Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group and member of State Agriculture Committee of Uttar Pradesh said, ''Increasing cost of agricultural production material, climatic changes, chemical farming, poor management of agriculture system, lack of government interest and low market value of agriculture produce-- all these factors tend to worsen the situation for small and marginal farmers."

He further said that suicides by farmers seem to be more common in relatively well-off states where they attempt to move up the value chain by going for risky cash crops, while farmers in poorer states stick to cereal cultivation and are averse to switching over to commercial crops.

In the years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, the government disbursed agricultural loans to the tune of Rs. 225 thousand crores and 280 thousand crores respectively. Thus during this two year period the farmers received 505 thousand crores rupees as loans, the annual interest on which amounts to around 45 thousands crores rupees. This means that the central government is collecting a huge amount of interest from the farmers. Yet it allocates very little budget for the welfare of farmers.

The development of Indian agriculture has always been inextricably linked with effective water-management practices that have been taken up by the state and/or local village communities. Water management has necessitated a certain degree of cooperation and collective spirit in the Indian countryside.

Only a small percentage of Indian farmers have enjoyed the luxury of natural irrigation, although in the past, in certain parts of the country, the soil used to retain enough moisture well beyond the monsoon months. However, it is equally true that the drying up of wells led to mass migrations, and sudden depopulation of old towns and villages.

Dr. Shiraj says, "Sustainable agriculture literacy can alleviate the problem of agriculture in India. We need to educate the farmers. Farmer schools can be a good measure of sustainable agriculture literacy. This school should be run by the community members and local farmers can be the best teachers and trainers of such schools." Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group is currently running 12 farmer schools in two districts of Uttar Pradesh. All these schools have proved to be a unique platform to resolve the problems of agricultural production faced by small and marginal farmers."

Thus there are signs of Indian agriculture bouncing back. It is scripting its own success story in spite of poor productivity, falling water levels, expensive credit, a distorted market, laws that stifle private investment, controlled prices, poor infrastructure, produce that does not meet international standards, inappropriate research, tax evasion by unorganized sector leading to the lack of a level playing field. We need to reshape our ideas and thoughts for the betterment of India's agriculture system only then we can be the food factory of the world.

Amit Dwivedi

(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS). Email: amit@citizen-news.org; Website: www.citizen-news.org)

Published in
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Asian Tribune, Sri Lanka/ Thailand
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Thai Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
The Bangladesh Today, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Bihar Times, Patna, Bihar
Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Truth Feeds
Digg.com
News Trust, USA
Twitter
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
Op-Ed News (OEN), USA
News Track India, Delhi
My News, Delhi
Nhatky News from India, Mohali
Kerala News, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
The Island, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Women farmers fighting for their rights and identity

Women farmers fighting for their rights and identity

"I am the first woman farmer in my block who started cultivation 15 years back," said 45 years old Aisha Begum Khatoon of Hridaypur village in Ambedkarnagar district. When she picked up the hoe for the first time, all the villagers rebuked her for treading on a man's domain. However, she decided to move forward, despite all odds, in order to look after her three daughters and one son.

Her husband lives in the city and takes no interest in agricultural activities. She owns a mere half acre land, but by resorting to organic farming, she is able to provide bread and better to her family of five members. She is now able to produce more than 20 varieties of crops, thanks to organic farming, and has become a role model for other women farmers of her area. Aisha Begum is grateful to the Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group (GEAG), for teaching her multi-layer cropping patterns, as well as time and space management.

Organic farming has provided her with a sustainable and economically viable model of agriculture production. She is also involved with Ekta Self Help Group and is the President of NARI Manch (this forum provides agriculture related information to women farmers). She has also been successful in creating more than 250 self help groups. Now her husband and her other family members take pride in her work. The Uttar Pradesh state agriculture Minister, Mr Chaudhari Laxmi Narayan, awarded her recently, during the Kisaan Sansad (Farmers' Parliament), in recognition of her excellent work in agriculture production.

Women farmers, despite being one of the biggest labor forces in India, are still fighting for their rights and identity. In India more than 84 per cent of women are involved in agricultural and/or allied activities. The agricultural sector provides employment to nearly 4/5 of the total women work force in India. One third of the agricultural laborers are women and 48 per cent of the women farmers are considered self employed in the agriculture sector.

According to a study conducted by GEAG, in Uttar Pradesh, 70 per cent of the state's population is involved in agricultural activities, making it a food surplus state. Women family members of about 80% of small and marginal farmers are involved in agricultural activities.Yet land holding rights of women farmers are a mere 6.5 per cent out of which a majority of them (81 per cent) got their land after the death of their husband, while only 19 per cent got it from their mother's side.

Neelam Prabhat, State Coordinator, Aaroh Abhiyaan, (a campaign for the empowerment of women farmers and their rights) working in GEAG, Uttar Pradesh said, "despite the tremendous contribution of women farmers in agricultural sector ,they have always been marginalized and denied their rights, not only by their family and society ,but by the policy makers as well. In general, they are treated as the assistants of male farmers."

She further said, " According to a recent report published by The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 40 million people have been pushed into hunger this year mostly due to soaring food prices, and the number of undernourished people worldwide is approaching the 1-billion mark. We can reduce this number if we empower women farmers and give them land holdings rights and joint bank accounts with their husbands."

The total number of hungry people has risen to 963 million this year, up from 923 million last year. FAO has cautioned, in the latest edition of its global hunger report, that this number could rise further as a result of the ongoing financial and economic crisis. In view of this we should strengthen production in a comprehensive way and should give the rights, long over due, to women farmers. In this way they will become an asset, not only to their families but also to society and the entire country.

Amit Dwivedi

(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS). Email: amit@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org)

Published in
The Colombo Times, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka News First, Sri Lanka
Op-Ed News (OEN), USA
Assam Times, Guwahati, India
Thai Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Two Circles
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand
Truth Feeds
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Bangladesh News, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Asian Tribune, Sri Lanka/ Thailand
Kerala News, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
News Trust
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Pakistan Post, Karachi, Pakistan
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
News Track India, Delhi, India
News Blaze, USA
My News, Delhi, India
Awareness Times, Sierra Leone
Khabar Express, Bikaner, Rajasthan

Women farmers fighting for their rights and identity

Women farmers fighting for their rights and identity

"I am the first woman farmer in my block who started cultivation 15 years back," said 45 years old Aisha Begum Khatoon of Hridaypur village in Ambedkarnagar district. When she picked up the hoe for the first time, all the villagers rebuked her for treading on a man's domain. However, she decided to move forward, despite all odds, in order to look after her three daughters and one son.

Her husband lives in the city and takes no interest in agricultural activities. She owns a mere half acre land, but by resorting to organic farming, she is able to provide bread and better to her family of five members. She is now able to produce more than 20 varieties of crops, thanks to organic farming, and has become a role model for other women farmers of her area. Aisha Begum is grateful to the Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group (GEAG), for teaching her multi-layer cropping patterns, as well as time and space management.

Organic farming has provided her with a sustainable and economically viable model of agriculture production. She is also involved with Ekta Self Help Group and is the President of NARI Manch (this forum provides agriculture related information to women farmers). She has also been successful in creating more than 250 self help groups. Now her husband and her other family members take pride in her work. The Uttar Pradesh state agriculture Minister, Mr Chaudhari Laxmi Narayan, awarded her recently, during the Kisaan Sansad (Farmers' Parliament), in recognition of her excellent work in agriculture production.

Women farmers, despite being one of the biggest labor forces in India, are still fighting for their rights and identity. In India more than 84 per cent of women are involved in agricultural and/or allied activities. The agricultural sector provides employment to nearly 4/5 of the total women work force in India. One third of the agricultural laborers are women and 48 per cent of the women farmers are considered self employed in the agriculture sector.

According to a study conducted by GEAG, in Uttar Pradesh, 70 per cent of the state's population is involved in agricultural activities, making it a food surplus state. Women family members of about 80% of small and marginal farmers are involved in agricultural activities.Yet land holding rights of women farmers are a mere 6.5 per cent out of which a majority of them (81 per cent) got their land after the death of their husband, while only 19 per cent got it from their mother's side.

Neelam Prabhat, State Coordinator, Aaroh Abhiyaan, (a campaign for the empowerment of women farmers and their rights) working in GEAG, Uttar Pradesh said, "despite the tremendous contribution of women farmers in agricultural sector ,they have always been marginalized and denied their rights, not only by their family and society ,but by the policy makers as well. In general, they are treated as the assistants of male farmers."

She further said, " According to a recent report published by The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 40 million people have been pushed into hunger this year mostly due to soaring food prices, and the number of undernourished people worldwide is approaching the 1-billion mark. We can reduce this number if we empower women farmers and give them land holdings rights and joint bank accounts with their husbands."

The total number of hungry people has risen to 963 million this year, up from 923 million last year. FAO has cautioned, in the latest edition of its global hunger report, that this number could rise further as a result of the ongoing financial and economic crisis. In view of this we should strengthen production in a comprehensive way and should give the rights, long over due, to women farmers. In this way they will become an asset, not only to their families but also to society and the entire country.

Amit Dwivedi

(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS). Email: amit@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org)

Published in
The Colombo Times, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka News First, Sri Lanka
Op-Ed News (OEN), USA
Assam Times, Guwahati, India
Thai Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Two Circles
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand
Truth Feeds
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Bangladesh News, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Asian Tribune, Sri Lanka/ Thailand
Kerala News, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
News Trust
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Pakistan Post, Karachi, Pakistan
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
News Track India, Delhi, India
News Blaze, USA
My News, Delhi, India
Awareness Times, Sierra Leone
Khabar Express, Bikaner, Rajasthan

Living with floods is their destiny

Living with floods is their destiny

25 years old Mr. Shravan Kumar becomes very happy when he sees his growing agriculture fields. He did his post-graduation and Bachelor of Education form Gorakhpur. He says proudly, 'I love doing farming in my village rather than doing a job in the city. This way I can sustain myself and my 12 family members and also save about 8000 rupees annually.' He owns merely one acre of land, which is often troubled by floods. In this small piece of land he produces more than 20 varieties of crops. His village Laxmipur in Maharajganj district is in the Rohini River Basin and situated just 100 meters away from this river. This village faces heavy floods every year and almost all the crops are washed away. Mr. Kumar said, ' Five years ago I had no idea how to manage crops in the monsoon season. However, when I came in contact with Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group (GEAG), I learnt many adaptive methods and also got indigenous technical knowledge to strengthen agricultural production.' Now he can easily manage his crops' production and has becomes an ideal young farmer not only in his native village but in surrounding areas too.

Floods are a natural phenomenon occurring in the majority of the rivers in India. . The north-eastern region of Uttar Pradesh like Bahraich, Sidharthnagar, Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar and district Gazipur in south-eastern Uttar Pradesh are located in aheavy monsoon prone region. People in this area have been used to living with floods, and they have no hope of getting any help from the government to come out this bane. During monsoons, they have to spend many months on temporary shelters and community made embankments. Children can't go to schools as schools remain closed until the flood waters recede. They also face acute drinking water shortage.

"The state-built embankments near rivers did little beyond providing an elevated area for people to shift to, during floods. But with human beings and livestock under the same roof and in the absence of proper health and sanitation facilities, villagers had to endure inhuman conditions three months a year. Access to safe drinking water has been an annual problem during monsoons" said, Mohna Devi, who lives in Manoharchak, a heavy flood prone village in Maharajganj district.

According to Mr. Amit Kumar, Coordinator, Research and Advocacy working in GEAG , 'Human activities also play a major role in flood creation. Ponds and lakes meant for storing rainwater are being converted into land for housing or agriculture. Also, post monsoon, farmers intensively cultivate the newly created fertile silt stretches left behind by the receding floods. Subsequently, this encourages expansion of human settlements closer and closer towards the rivers, which only adds to the problem. Over a period of time, the decrease in natural water reservoirs and increase in human activities along riversides further impedes water drainage and causes floods.'

He further said that large parts of Uttar Pradesh are regularly affected by floods, which not only disturbs the livelihood of the people but has a deep physiological impact on them as well. The Government too, seems to be focusing more abrupt mitigation of flood devastation rather than a elongated and adaptive policy of flood diminution.'

"We can save food-grains and can increase agricultural production by adopting pre and post flood cultivation. Pre-flood crops are sweet potato, maize, cucumber, barnyard millet, finger millet, and some varieties of paddy like Narendra-97. Deep water crops are; Neel Kamal, Tal Makhana, Kamalgatta, Karmua and Tinni paddy. Post flood crops are Lobia, Oil seeds, potatoes, arkil peas, lentil, kulthi, boro paddy,' said Dr. Shiraj A Wajih, Senior Environmentalist and President, GEAG.

It is evident that there is no purpose of taking up development schemes like construction of roads and bridges without finding a permanent solution to the problem of floods, as the money spent on such project will only be washed away by the flood waters of the mighty river Rohini and its tributaries.

Close coordination with the neighboring states and the country of Nepal is also necessary as time and again gushing flood waters come down from Nepal. Despite the fact that a sizeable portion of the funds and time and energy spent on various development schemes are washed away by floods every year, the Government does not seem to be taking effective steps to solve the problem. If the Government is really serious about the development of Uttar Pradesh, especially eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh, then it has to adopt a multi pronged strategy to alleviate the sufferings of the flood victims.

Amit Dwivedi

(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS). Email: amit@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org)

Published in
Asian Tribune, Thailand/ Sri Lanka
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh/ Chhattisgarh
The Colombo Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Assam Times, Guwahati, Assam
Two Circles
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Op-Ed News (OEN), USA
Sri Lanka News First, Sri Lanka
Lanka Everything, Sri Lanka
News Trust
Bihar Times, Patna, Bihar
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Thai Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Howrah News Service (HNS), West Bengal
Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
USA Today
Twitter
Truth Feeds
Northern News Lines, Chandigarh
News Track India, Delhi
News Blaze, USA
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea

Living with floods is their destiny

Living with floods is their destiny

25 years old Mr. Shravan Kumar becomes very happy when he sees his growing agriculture fields. He did his post-graduation and Bachelor of Education form Gorakhpur. He says proudly, 'I love doing farming in my village rather than doing a job in the city. This way I can sustain myself and my 12 family members and also save about 8000 rupees annually.' He owns merely one acre of land, which is often troubled by floods. In this small piece of land he produces more than 20 varieties of crops. His village Laxmipur in Maharajganj district is in the Rohini River Basin and situated just 100 meters away from this river. This village faces heavy floods every year and almost all the crops are washed away. Mr. Kumar said, ' Five years ago I had no idea how to manage crops in the monsoon season. However, when I came in contact with Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group (GEAG), I learnt many adaptive methods and also got indigenous technical knowledge to strengthen agricultural production.' Now he can easily manage his crops' production and has becomes an ideal young farmer not only in his native village but in surrounding areas too.

Floods are a natural phenomenon occurring in the majority of the rivers in India. . The north-eastern region of Uttar Pradesh like Bahraich, Sidharthnagar, Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar and district Gazipur in south-eastern Uttar Pradesh are located in aheavy monsoon prone region. People in this area have been used to living with floods, and they have no hope of getting any help from the government to come out this bane. During monsoons, they have to spend many months on temporary shelters and community made embankments. Children can't go to schools as schools remain closed until the flood waters recede. They also face acute drinking water shortage.

"The state-built embankments near rivers did little beyond providing an elevated area for people to shift to, during floods. But with human beings and livestock under the same roof and in the absence of proper health and sanitation facilities, villagers had to endure inhuman conditions three months a year. Access to safe drinking water has been an annual problem during monsoons" said, Mohna Devi, who lives in Manoharchak, a heavy flood prone village in Maharajganj district.

According to Mr. Amit Kumar, Coordinator, Research and Advocacy working in GEAG , 'Human activities also play a major role in flood creation. Ponds and lakes meant for storing rainwater are being converted into land for housing or agriculture. Also, post monsoon, farmers intensively cultivate the newly created fertile silt stretches left behind by the receding floods. Subsequently, this encourages expansion of human settlements closer and closer towards the rivers, which only adds to the problem. Over a period of time, the decrease in natural water reservoirs and increase in human activities along riversides further impedes water drainage and causes floods.'

He further said that large parts of Uttar Pradesh are regularly affected by floods, which not only disturbs the livelihood of the people but has a deep physiological impact on them as well. The Government too, seems to be focusing more abrupt mitigation of flood devastation rather than a elongated and adaptive policy of flood diminution.'

"We can save food-grains and can increase agricultural production by adopting pre and post flood cultivation. Pre-flood crops are sweet potato, maize, cucumber, barnyard millet, finger millet, and some varieties of paddy like Narendra-97. Deep water crops are; Neel Kamal, Tal Makhana, Kamalgatta, Karmua and Tinni paddy. Post flood crops are Lobia, Oil seeds, potatoes, arkil peas, lentil, kulthi, boro paddy,' said Dr. Shiraj A Wajih, Senior Environmentalist and President, GEAG.

It is evident that there is no purpose of taking up development schemes like construction of roads and bridges without finding a permanent solution to the problem of floods, as the money spent on such project will only be washed away by the flood waters of the mighty river Rohini and its tributaries.

Close coordination with the neighboring states and the country of Nepal is also necessary as time and again gushing flood waters come down from Nepal. Despite the fact that a sizeable portion of the funds and time and energy spent on various development schemes are washed away by floods every year, the Government does not seem to be taking effective steps to solve the problem. If the Government is really serious about the development of Uttar Pradesh, especially eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh, then it has to adopt a multi pronged strategy to alleviate the sufferings of the flood victims.

Amit Dwivedi

(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS). Email: amit@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org)

Published in
Asian Tribune, Thailand/ Sri Lanka
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh/ Chhattisgarh
The Colombo Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Assam Times, Guwahati, Assam
Two Circles
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Op-Ed News (OEN), USA
Sri Lanka News First, Sri Lanka
Lanka Everything, Sri Lanka
News Trust
Bihar Times, Patna, Bihar
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Thai Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Howrah News Service (HNS), West Bengal
Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
USA Today
Twitter
Truth Feeds
Northern News Lines, Chandigarh
News Track India, Delhi
News Blaze, USA
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea