Punjabi Bhawan, Ludhiana
“The primary threat to nature and people today comes from centralising and monopolising power and control. Not until diversity is made the logic of production will there be a chance for sustainability, justice and peace. Cultivating and conserving diversity is no luxury in our times: it is a survival imperative,” said Ms Vandana Shiva at a talk organised by the Media Artists on social, environmental and economic justice at Punjabi Bhavan here this morning.
Mr Surjit Patar introduced Ms Vandana as a winner of the Right Livelihood Award, also called the Nobel Alternative.
She has written 11 books and is the founder of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Environment, which works on biodiversity conservation and protecting people’s rights from threats of livelihoods and environment by centralised systems of monoculture in forestry, agriculture and fisheries.
Dr Vandana said, “Farmers are committing suicide all over the country as they do not get the just price. When the minimum support price is fixed, it causes uproar. Diversity in crops is the only solution to farmers’ survival.
The main reason for the diversification of crops is to save water. But mono-diversity is not the answer. The farmers have to be encouraged to sow crops that take less water like “chana and makki” crop.
She said that in foreign countries, the organic farming is increasing by 20 per cent. Economically genetic engineering of food has not been very successful. Ms Vandana said,” 99 per cent new seeds are evolved by the farmers and only 1 per cent are developed by the companies. Why should they pay money for patented seeds?”
She said the government had to stop the free import and restrict it as our farmers have to compete with the lower prices of imported produce. Developed countries are dumping their produce and causing ruination of our farmers.
The privatisation of water in Orissa caused farmers to quit farming as water cost 13 times more. The control of water is being given to MNCs’ as the government says that it cannot manage water resources. Moreover, they bring in money.
But it has been seen the world over that wherever water has been privatised and given in the hands of MNCs’ agriculture has finished. The plan is to get food from outside and divert water for industry and people.
Earlier, Mr SS Johal also emphasised on the diversification of crops to save water.
(The Tribune)
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