GRAIN | Imprimir artículo

The organisers of the Week of Rice Action, which culminated in the Philippines yesterday, issued a sign-on statement entitled "Saving the Rice of Asia". Among other things, the statement protests against hybrid rice and calls upon decision-makers of agricultural and food policies worldwide to:

- enable global and national initiatives to preserve, protect and uphold rice culture and biodiversity-based ecological rice agriculture;
- undertake genuine agrarian reform.
- preserve and protect the lands and food sovereignty, rights and livelihoods of peasant rice farmers and rice farming communities, especially indigenous communities;
- ensure the safety of rice and rice ecosystems. Ban the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers in rice fields. Instead enforce the use of safer, ecological-based pest and weed management alternatives;
- strictly limit the use of ground water for irrigation and ensure sustainable use of ground water; and
- close down IRRI and regulate the activities of collaborating institutions, such as PRRI and BRRI, in different countries.

The organisers say that already a million people have signed on to the statement.

Saving the rice of Asia: A People's Statement