Can we just blame the pesticides? Or is it the ignorant and indiscrimate use that is to be blamed?

The latest episode of popular program Sathyameva Jayathe (Truth only Previals) has shown this episode called Toxic food and blames pesticides for health problems etc. I am no advocate for chemical pesticide industry nor am I an advocate for Organic food industry as both have been telling some truths but some not such correct facts either.

http://www.satyamevjayate.in/issue08/

There is not one bit of evidence through numerous studies conducted to show that Organic food is in any way better than convensionally grown foods yet the myth persists among populace and this myth is perpetuated by some half scientists and vested interests. Organic production is not simple nor is it economical to feed the large population of India.

However there is some truth in saying pesticides can cause problems if incorrectly used. The pesticides of yore such as Organophosphates, Mercuric Chroride Endosulphan etc are a thing of the psat in most industries in the west as their ill effects have been demonstrated and documented. However the newer chemcials when used correctly have not know to be directly responsible for any ill effects.

So what is the problem in India? Simple incorrect use of pesticides, lack of proper training for farmers, scientists and agronomists, lack of proper safety regulations set up by the government. Most of all lack of proper handling labeling and lack of information on lables and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and Integrated Pest Management strategies. Any one who compares lables MSDS in western countries to that of Indian ones for the same product will clearly see the difference of lack of information not only in the local languages but even in English. Why is this so. Once again the answer is simple lack of rigour in regulations in India. I have yet to see minimum residual limits and maximum withholding periods etc being even mentioned.

Have a look at my post How to conduct sparys in this blog to learn how to do things properly either in your farm or home.

One can't blame these problems on farmers as they are not aware of the risks to a large extent and paying through their health for this lack of regulation in India. Some memebers of the regularotory body do not take responsibility at all for their failures. It is the irgnorant use of chemicals in an inappropriate manner is the cause of the problem. It is hightime Indians demanded that their govt trained the farmers and regulated the industry properly and not allowed the scare mongers and vested interests from both sides to spread lies and half truths and allow farmers to pay the price in the end.

Womens participation in driving agricultural productivity and income

Practical womens emancipation to increase farmgate income.

The article below in The Hindu clearly shows that this is what needs to happen all over India. In the west many women work on the farm and run the farm and ranches and huge cattle yards. In India many women contribute extensively to the farm work yet they get paid less than a man and their contribution is never acknowledged leave alone recognized as valuable. 

If women are trained in mechanization and allowed work in a farm every where then then agricultural productivity is going to shoot through the roof. More than that women who earn put it toards education of chidlren and wellbeing of the family so the enire family will benefit. Congrats on those who thought of setting up this program this is the step in the right direction to wards emancipation of women in the rural areas as well education of children in rural areas. This has more merit than things like RTE.

Advantage mechanisation and women’s group approach


M. J. Prabu  ( Hindu 27 June 2012)

Women members of Krishi Sahayi group.

About 35 out of 100 panchayats in the district are adopting this model. Amidst reports of abandoning paddy cultivation due to high labour cost and labour scarcity in Kerala, records maintained by a leading paddy farmers’ group named Avunjikad Padashekhara Samithy in Malappuram District point to a saving of Rs. 63,375 on cost of transplanting in an area of 15 acres for paddy.

The records reveal that the total expenditure of fully mechanised paddy cultivation for an area of 3 acres is Rs. 38,430 instead of Rs. 74,890 in conventional method — a saving Rs.12,150 per acre.

A study shows that the cost of transplanting using a transplanter is Rs.36,000 and that of manual transplanting is Rs. 99,375.

Individual help

“This was made possible through the intervention of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Malappuram by developing a fully equipped women’s group named ‘Krishi Sahayi’ aimed at helping individual farmers and farmers’ groups in undertaking mechanised paddy cultivation in a cost effective way,” says Dr. Ayyappan, Director General, ICAR, New Delhi.

On gaining experience in the field under the supervision of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) scientists, women trainees decided to organise themselves into a self help group (SHG).

Thus, with the support and supervision of KVK, 11 women formed the group named ‘Krishi Sahayi’. KVK Malappuram convinced the paddy growing farmers of the advantages of mechanisation over conventional methods utilising Krishi Sahayi and as a result many farmers who turned away from paddy cultivation came forward to cultivate the crop in their fallow lands. The group received several calls from farmers to undertake similar mechanised paddy cultivation in their regions. But there was one problem. The group faced the constraint of repairing and servicing of machinery costing a huge amount from their earnings.

Vocational training

“In order to solve this problem the KVK conducted a vocational training on repair, maintenance and servicing of the paddy transplanting machine for this group with which we could increase their confidence level and income,” explains Dr. Habeeburrahman, Programme Co-ordinator.

Over a period of three years, this group has done mechanized transplanting, harvesting and threshing in an area of more than 300 hectares. Considering the demand for such work force from different parts of the district, KVK took up a project on “Formation and strengthening of activity groups for mechanized paddy cultivation in all the 14 Blocks” in collaboration with district Panchayat, Department of Agriculture and Kudumbhasree mission under the ‘Haritha Malappuram’ programme byempowering the activity groups with machinery worth Rs. 3 lakh.

With Krishi Shahayi as master trainers, KVK Malappuram became instrumental in the formation of 17 similar groups. The multiple effect of these groups resulted in bringing back 1,200 hectares under paddy cultivation in one year.

Motivational force

This successful model has motivated the KVK to adopt it in 35 out of 100 panchayats in the district.

The members of Krishi Sahayi belonged to economically backward class earning Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 12,000 annually from poultry, tailoring etc. At present they are having work on all days in the season and each of them earns about Rs. 350-700 a day,” says Er. Sajeena, Senior Assistant Professor, Mallapuram, KVK.

Proves two things

This model proves two things, according to Dr. Prabhukumar, Zonal Project Co-ordinator, ICAR.

One, is that mechanisation can be used to overcome labour shortage as and when required and two, the advantages of a group approach. It is important for farmers to know the basic mechanism of the machine with which they work. It will help them save time by taking care of it personally and reduce their dependence on others. Two, instead of a single farmer trying to do something useful, if a group comes together then they can easily upscale their work.

For more details contact Ms. Er. Sajeena, S. Assistant Professor and Dr. Habeeburrahman, P.V. Programme Coordinator, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Malappuram, Kerala, 679573 Phone 0494- 2686329, 09895703726.

Can poverty be eradicated from India? You are the answer Everyone of you!!

Among all the hoopla about growth stories, policy discussions and Global Investment Meet etc India poor have not seem any improvement. Why? There seems to be no end to the grinding poverty and unhygienic roads that even Mahatma Gandhi spoke about decades ago. While the rich watch programs such as Sathyameva Jayathe and wring their hands and shed tears regarding social issues bogging and bugging the middle class and rich people, the poor are striving and trying to feed themselves and their kids one meal per day leave alone solve other issues.

Recently I was visiting India and saw a cruel sight. As I was walking every day I used to notice a family of construction workers cooking food every morning quite early. This was going on every day. One day this young girl belonging to this group came jumping in utter joy dancing all over the street. She was screaming with happiness saying " Mom I found food I found food I found food again and again. She had in her hand a small plastic bag thrown in the garbage and it had fist full of food in it. No more. She was so happy that you would think that she had found something so unique that no one else had found.

Tears welled up in my eyes as the mother said share it and eat with others. There was only a fist full of food so how much could she share. I had to leave urgently so I had to catch the transport and go so I could not do much them. Later in the day I went to the shops and bought the best possible rice in the Shop called Sona Massori which was costing me 36 rupees a kilo and some butter biscuits and a savory item called Cahkkuli for the kids. I went and gave it to the family. Yes I could have bought some more rice for that money. But I wanted these kids to experience the joy of eating butter biscuits and chakkuli at least once in their life. Frankly it only cost me couple of hundred rupees. With the rice I gave them they could at least have 2 meals fully.

No doubt this is one of gesture and not even a drop in the ocean. However, I do hope these people would know that there are people in this world who notice them. I do hope this gesture in a society where majority of the people either throw food or just waste it as it no one wants it, this gesture would tell those children that there is hope. There is no illusion in my mind that I have done anything to solve the problem.

However let me challenge you. Next time you are in a country like India where poor are constructing homes for the richer people do you want to walk past them as if they are not human. Will you buy the best rice to the extent you can and give them so that they can eat for at least one day fully in their life? Will you say that is their karma and swing your head on the other side and move on.

Poverty does not end only with government policies. Poverty does not end because hundreds of NGOs have projects. Poverty will end when you me and every one who is blessed with wealth and food to eat share it with one poor family so that at least one meal fully. Imagine for this family only 365 people need to spend 100 rupees for rice so that they can eat for a day.

Indians need to wake up and look around them. These people are not beggars. They work hard to build homes roads and factories etc so that rich people can use them to enjoy life. Please don't ignore them. Respect them and pay them with 100 rupees once a year so that one family cant eat one day. If you can provide food for them every day when they construct your homes. These kids deserve to be fed and educated. When a child has to enjoy sharing a food bag picked from garbage bin how can policies such as Right to Education work?

When programs such as Sathyameva Jayathe also address issues such as poverty then Indian society can change. Poor people especially the working poor deserve not just their daily wages but also your respect. I will challenge you. Do their job for a day and live their life for a day and them send comments here how you feel. Do you think this life cant happen to you? Let me say here just one accident in life or one accident of nature can send you on the path of sheer poverty. So don't be so complacent in life. Poverty can happen to you too!!!!

I did not take the photo of this girl as I believe parading young children to seek to change society or donations is cruel and disrespectful.