Proposal 2011-2012

Written by Administrator | 01 April 2011

The suicide economy of globalised industrialised agriculture is pushing farmers to suicide. Organic agriculture has grown through awareness of individual farmers about organic farming and the hazards and costs of chemical agriculture. However both, the economic pressures and the risks of genetic pollution and contamination necessitate collective strategies for defending zones of living economics in which farmers have livelihood and economic security and biodiversity and environment are protected.

Under the Seeds of Hope program, Navdanya will set up a seed bank in village Billi in Vidharbha region. The seed bank will be self sustaining and is expected to serve more members each year due to the multiplier nature of seed banks. Navdanya will than distribute GMO free seeds in villages to help farmers move away from GMO Bt. Cotton. This program will impact 50 farmers and assure usage of native seeds- which will also promote Organic Farming.

GARDENS of HOPE

Sagwadi (Edible School Yard) programme is for school children, in which they are taught about the local biodiversity and its importance to human beings and environment. They are given training on the cultivation of vegetables, flowers, planting of trees, conservation of water, waste management and health and hygiene. They are also given training on compost preparation and seed saving.

Gardens of Hope will be set up in 50 schools in Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Delhi.

The moratorium on Bt. Brinjal needs to be secured. The new Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Bill needs to be stopped. The Seed Bill of 2004 which was stopped in 2006 through a Seed Satyagraha is being tabled again. The Bill prevents farmers from saving their own seeds. In addition patents on seeds are creating monopolies. They are also leading to biopiracy. Bija Satyagraha campaigns will be organized on the multi-dimensional threats to seed sovereignty. Research will be carried out on access to seed and report will be published and FoN will be recognized for supporting this work.

A national workshop will be organized.

The promotion of industrial food and also the introduction of the Food Safety Act is a major threat to women’s livelihoods and indigenous food cultures.  Awareness campaigns will be organized on health and environmental costs of industrial processing.

During 2011, Navdanya will establish links between organic cotton producers, khadi weaving and natural dying through the Fibres of Freedom project. Approximately 50 women will be supported in this progarm

Fibres of Freedom Processing Unit will be supported in Wardha, Maharashtra.

With India emerging as the capital of hunger, and with food prices continuing to rise, monitoring the hunger and malnutrition crisis, and joining campaign on the right to safe, affordable and adequate food is a vital aspect of food sovereignty. The junk food diet is being promoted and subsidised with serious consequences for public health.
A National Conference on Food Sovereignty will be organized to take stock and offer solutions, especially by linking the agrarian crisis and the food and nutrition crisis. Booklets on Nutritional Literacy will be published for public education.
Organic agriculture at the grassroots will also be scaled up. For this two community compost units will be set up – One in Orissa and one in Doon Valley